The August monthly general meeting will be at Bayland Park Community Center from 9:30AM to Noon on Saturday, August 22.  Our special invited speaker will be the Honorable Al Green ,  US Congressman, Texas 9th CD.  Congressman Green's previous visits to the SDC have been very informative and lively.  This is our opportunity to communicate our interests and concerns directly with our US Congressman and to get his perspective on the current session's activities and prospects for the remainder of the session.  Congressman Green is a terrific speaker and I'm sure he will present a interesting and enlightening picture of the current state of various legislative matters important to all members.

Congressman Green's time will be limited so in the interest of allotting as much time as possible to Congressman Green, please arrive early at the meeting room by 9:30AM to meet and greet local candidates, sign petitions, visit with club members, share the latest political gossip and enjoy our usual snacks.

Joyce Akins called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.  Candidates in attendance introduced themselves and had a few minutes to give a brief presentation. Those with petitions collected signatures before the meeting.  Candidates included M. Isenberg, J. Sullivan, P. Simon, representative for C. Silverman, D. Roth, K. Derr, D. Daniels, N. Oakes, W. Rice, H. Litt and L. Cook.  Gerry Birnberg, chair of the HCDP, was also in attendance.

Joyce introduced our guest speaker, Dale Wortham, president of the Harris County AFL-CIO.  In Houston, Mr. Wortham serves on numerous boards, including the Harris County Hospital District and Greater Houston Red Cross.

Mr. Wortham mentioned many of the union activities at the federal, state and local levels.  Nationally, the Obama administration regularly consults with the unions, which is a change from the previous administration.  The labor movement is strongly behind the health care bill, light rail, and work place safety.  Texas has the highest rate of work place deaths in the country.  To address this issue, the state will increase the number of work place safety investigators.  Also, the unions have expanded to reach out to white collar workers in different fields, such as health and communications.

Locally, AFL-CIO is assisting Houston Community College to develop apprenticeship programs.  The unions have also been trying to get HISD to use skilled labor and pay market wages for electricians.  The union supported HISD's bond package after reaching a written agreement that the district would pay appropriate wages, but HISD has since reneged on the agreement.

Following Mr. Wortham's presentation, members reviewed the minutes from the June meeting and voted to approve them as written.  Joyce gave the Treasurer's report in Rod Haper's absence.  Rod filed the Texas Ethics Commission Semi-Annual Reort which was due by July 15.

We again collected for the USO care packages, adding $46.50 to the $138 collected in June.  Members were encouraged to write messages to the troups to put in the care packages.

Thanks to Joyce for our refreshments.  Aster Eyob will provide them in August.

Our August speaker will be Representative Al Green.  Members suggested that questions be submitted on cards or by email before the meeting to save on time.  We are expecting more candidates next month, inclulding those running for at-large City Council seats.  Joyce encouraged everyone to arrive at 9:45 so we can start promptly at 10:00 a.m. on August 22.

For the July meeting, we had 30 people in attendance.

Respectfully submitted,

Sylvie Adams for Mary Haper

Joyce Akins called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.  Several candidates were present for petition signing and they introduced themselves one at a time with short speeches.  The candidates included G. Glass, S. Hersokowitz,  B. Mosier, D. Crenshaw, C. Silverman, D. Roth, L. Cook, M.Laster, and P. Brown.

 Joyce introduced our guest speaker, Caleb Crow.  Mr. Crow spoke of using the word "sustainability" rather than the word "green".  Crow has helped with bird programs in schools and worked in Bill White's energy conservation group.  Houston is driving Texas as a first wind producing state though the Dakotas produce more wind. Houston is receiving new press about our environmental new buildings.  Other cities are way ahead of us, but we are making progress.  Crow spoke about REEP, a program that will go neighborhood to neighborhood to help make homes more energy friendly.  (See website GreenHoustonTx.gov ).

Regarding recycling, Crow said sorting is very expensive but land is inexpensive here so it is not fair to compare Houston to a city like San Francisco.  Houston has a single stream pilot program going on and we will recycle more because we will want to do what is right.

Houston water is treated but we prevent algae blooms by using agitators and it has been very successful.  Houston is dominated by the oil industry.  The Port of Houston is working on reducing their environmental footprints--one way by slowing down barges to reduce carbon output.  Regarding vehicles, Houston may get some help from the "cash for clunkers" federal bill just signed.  Greenwaste--debris from Ike is being composted in open areas, and eventually we will have Ike compost to buy.   This compost will be better than mulch.  Houston stop lights are being changed to LEDS to save energy; LED street lamps are coming.  Currently, 272 city buildings are being energy audited and retrofitted.

Solar--Texas uses very little solar; there are no good residential options at this time.  Although solar panels will last 50-60 years, it would cost $40,000-50,000 to power your home at 100%.  But energy has always beat the stock market, so as energy costs go up, it is smart investment.  Panels are hail tested and do not break from vandalism.  Putting solar shading over parking lots is being done and some have a way to charge up electric vehicles.  Third World countries have more solar than the USA.  The USA subsidizes other types of power, but not solar or wind.

Electricity--Austin and San Antonio have low rates and incentives for users to use less.energy.  In Houston, CenterPoint is the least innovative of the companies and not efficient in repairs after big storms.  Clean coal is NOT happening.  We don't need coal if we use solar, wind, and natural gas--the USA needs to be a leader.

Crow can be reached at

Several more judicial candidates came in for introductions and petition signatures:  R. Ray. R. Hinohosa, W. Kronzer, and K. Grider.

The minutes were circulated.  Mike Laster motioned they be approved, Rod Haper seconded the motion and the minutes were approved as written.  The Treasurer's report was approved as read.

Joyce mentioned that dues need to be paid yearly and they are low  - only $10/annually by calendar year.

A red, white and blue container was passed around to collect monies for the USO; we collected $138 to buy care packages for the troops.  The board will handle dissemination of the monies.

Joyce announced that Rod needs a volunteer to help him with the website, as he will eventually turn over this responsibility to someone else.  Joyce also mentioned voter registration training--things have changed, so people who previously received training as a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar need to be retrained.  Please contact Joyce for more info.  Joyce also mentioned again about the Health Care Panel that is planned for after the first of the year; Mike Laster has agreed to moderate the panel.

Phone tree volunteers were Pat Powers, Margaret Buckhorn, and Kenneth Jenkins.

The July 25 meeting speaker will be Richard Shaw who will talk about the state of the labor unions.  Mike Laster volunteered to bring July refreshments.

Thank you to the Walkers for bringing June refreshments and Sylvie Adams for making the coffee.

New business included a notice about the Coalition Against Human Trafficking having a concert at Jones Hall on August 29.  The meeting adjourned at noon.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Haper

As Senior Director of Program Services for Tagos Group and a LEED AP, Caleb designs and implements energy efficiency programs for K-12 schools, colleges, universities, single-family residences, multi-family residences, and office buildings.

Prior to joining Tagos, Caleb worked with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) implementing the Houston Residential Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program which targeted 10,000 homes annually in City of Houston with a focus on reducing residential greenhouse gas emissions. In additional to his work on the residential program, Caleb facilitated performance contracting to performance halls, municipal buildings and higher education. Prior to CCI, Caleb served as Vice President for Services to Programs for Performance Systems Development, a nationally-recognized consulting and contracting company. Caleb managed state, utility and not-for-profit energy conservation and home performance programs. He managed the development of custom software applications for tracking ESCos and building owners with deemed, predicted and realized energy savings. Caleb worked with clients to deliver tailored program and software solutions in energy efficiency through the entire project life-cycle: design, development, training, marketing, launch and maintenance. He also understands the field work for energy conservation, having been on retrofit installation crews and working as a photovoltaic (solar) installer.

The meeting was called to order by Club President Joyce Akins at 10:15 a.m.  Approximately 20 persons were in attendance.

Joyce introduced Michael Davis of the Texas Veterans Commission.  Mr. Davis stated that veteran considerations started with President George Washington but the modern VA has its roots from the Lincoln years.  There are three basic benefits offered:  1) health care-- there are 165 major VA hospital centers and outpatient clinics; the current prosthetics coming out of VA research are state of the art; 2) disability benefits (the VA is so large that claims can take 14 months); and 3) memorials--national cemeteries which are used by veterans and their spouses.

Davis talked about General Shensheki's new job, disability compensation--Congress sets the amount, but the percentage of disability is a medical decision.

The Texas Veterans Commission is very large, robust and very involved in Texas; it helps support vet claims, represents vet in the appelate process--making legal arguments on behalf of the vet.  It is the largest state service agency in the country.  It also helps vets with employment and education (GI Bill) and the Texas Veterans Land Board assists vets in purchasing property. 

Davis noted that a general discharge is not a bad discharge. This commission is  a state funded group.  Regarding homeless vets, the VA has active homeless programs; Houston has apartments to assist them get on their feet, health care prioritizes these vets and the VA has an active outreach program which visits streets to identify vets who need help.  San Antonio is part of the Houston veteran section and Texas and Florida have the biggest vet population.

Stand Downs happen in Houston twice a year; tents are set up  with food, medical care, dentistry, legal help, etc.  Contact Harris County Coalition for the Homeless to volunteer for Stand Downs.. Q&A followed.

Several club members talked about the military experiences of their loved ones or themselves.  Mr. Deeds served in Japan with MacArthur's HQ after WWII and Sylvie Adams described her experiences in Iceland when her son retired from the Navy.

Scott Hochberg then spoke about the state budget; updated us on state government issues, ranging from the stimulus package to education, textbooks, low income and special ed.  Texas has $7.5B in rainy day fund but Governor Perry has yet to see any "rain"!

 Other guests included Karen Duran and Herman Litt, both running for Houston City Council positions.

The minutes from March 2009 were approved as read.  The treasurer's report was approved as read.

Joyce discussed that we would like to, as a club, collect monies and send a check to the USO for troop packages.  The USO prefers to package their own  as they know what the troops need and have a better way to ship them.

Joyce talked about the January 2010 club plans to have a Health Reform panel.  Mike Laster was suggested as moderator.  Joyce and the board will be working on putting this panel together and we hope to co-sponsor it with other southwest clubs.  Possible panelists could be reps from the Harris County Hospital District, community activists and physicians (one member suggested a Dr. Zimmerman ).

Phone tree volunteers were Pat Powers, Kenneth Jenkins, and Mary Haper. The Walkers offered to bring refreshments to the June meeting.

Bert Anson announced  District 17 needs help on committees such as fair elections, communications, finance, etc.; training will be provided

We talked about the JRR dinner--there were 1200 people at the last dinner, the largest ever, and $125,000-$150,000 was raised for the HCDP. Joyce would like our club to have at least one table at the JRR dinner.

 Joyce announced that Caleb Crow will be our June speaker and the subject will be energy savings; in July Richard Shaw will be our speaker and will talk about the state of the "unions".  Joyce is working on scheduling  Al Green as our speaker for later in the year.  There will be no meeting in May as Bayland will be  unavailable.

The meeting adjourned at 12:10.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Haper