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The meeting was called to order by Joyce Akins at 10:10 am. Joyce introduced State Rep. Scott Hochberg. He has been tracking his district and he sees good numbers of voters. Democrats seem to be turning out. Rep. Hochberg discussed education issues in the state. Texas is $18 billion in the hole. Only one third of entering Texas college freshman finish with any type of degree. Texas colleges are performing below national peers. Collegeresults.org can be checked out to see what colleges do better at graduating kids. Where is Texas' leadership on education? It is not always the kids who are the problem. Texas is first in the percentage of jobs that can be done by high school dropouts therefore companies will not come here to hire workers. We export 7,000 college students a year to other states. Texas is the 99 cent store--low prices, low quality. We compete on price not education. Locally, PlazAmericas Mall (formerly Sharpstown Mall) is trying to put a night club where Finger Furniture Store used to be. St. Agnes Academy is purchasing the lot on the corner of Fondren and Bellaire and would encroach on the parking lot of the proposed club, so that fight continues. At the conclusion of his talk, Rep. Hochberg encouraged everyone to help with phone banking, blockwalking, taking people to the polls, and any other activites to get out the vote on election day. The minutes of the September meeting were read and approved. The treasurer's report noted $457.51 and was approved. Joyce reported on the club budget. We have decreased expenditures on postage by changing to post cards for meeting notices and reducing the number of people receiving notices by regular mail. We also rent a post office box and have a sustaining membership in the HCDP ($120/annually). Other costs include our web site and participation in the JRR. Our revised budget is $936. We need more members; bring your neighbors and precinct members. Current dues are $10. Joyce and the board proposed to raise dues to $15. The membership voted to approve the dues increase to $15 effective January 2011. Club officer elections are in February. Sylvie Adams and Mary Haper are rolling off the board, so we need two people to replace them. We also need a replacement for web site maintenance, which is now done by Rod Haper. Joyce is interested in the club co-sponsoring an HCDP evening brown bag and will discuss this more next year. Recap of JRR dinner: four Sharpstown High School students and a teacher sat at the Sharpstown Dems table compliments of the club, club member Pat Powers, SD17, candidate Billy Briscoe and others. Congressman Al Green hosted the principal and a couple of students at his table. Bert Anson informed us that Borris Miles agreed to buy a ticket for a Sharpstown High School student and we need to collect his donation. Joyce distributed copies of photos of members taken with Congressman Al Green on his visit to the club in August. This being the last meeting of 2010, Joyce discussed plans for the January 22 immigration panel. Gracie Saenz has agreed to participate. Prof. Kleinberg declined. Alberto Cardenas has been invited. Joyce is trying to get Patricia Gras as moderator. Marty Kerner suggested that David Jones, co-host of "Red, White and Blue," would be good. Joe Mumbach wants to video the panel. Bert Anson mentioned that our club did a great job on getting students to the JRR. He wants a contact at Lee High School to start a club there. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am. Respectfully submitted, Mary Haper |
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