1) Southern Living Magazine (attached) – This magazine, with an over 2.8 million circulation and a high-end reader demographic, doesn’t usually include anything as far west as Taos, but for the last year the Taos team has been working with Jennifer Frazier to get this story completed and published. Thanks to all who helped, including the writer, Frazier. It is a great Taos promo piece in a A-list media outlet. It’ll be officially out February 1, 2009.
2) Town of Taos State of Town Last Night – New Meeting Dates: The Council passed Resolution 09-01, Open Meetings Act, at last night’s State of the Town meeting. Following is the new schedule of Town Council meetings schedule (revised), held in Town Council Chambers:
· Regular Meetings – 2nd Tuesday of month at 1:30 p.m.
· Special Meetings – 4th Tuesday of month at 1:30 p.m. These meetings will be held as needed for time sensitive items that come before the Town between Regular Meetings)
· Quarterly Briefing Meetings – 9:30 a.m., April 14, July 14, October 13. These meetings are non action meetings where council members are briefed in person by Town department directors outside of their monthly written reports.
· Quarterly Citizen Forums, 6:30 p.m., March 31, June 30, September 29, December 29.
3) Town of Taos Top Annual Awards, bestowed last night at the State of the Town Meeting – Employee of the Year, Judy Esquibel, Programs/Events Coordinator, Youth & Family Center. Photo with Mayor Darren Cordova, left, and Council Member Gene Sanchez (Judy is pictured here also received her 10 year Town of Taos pin).
Department of the Year, Buildings Department. Staff include, in alpha order, Carmen Gonzales, Administrative Assistant; Griego Porfirio, Maintenance Specialist III; Manuel Pacheco, Buildings & Grounds Director/Chief Building Official; Elias Padilla, Buildings Maintenance Foreman, Maintenance Specialist III, Charlie Sanchez, Buildings Superintendent; Raymundo Valerio, Maintenance Specialist III; Guillermo Voigt, Maintenance Specialist III.
Buildings Department, pictured in photo left, at the State of the Town meeting last night receiving their award, (L to R), Charlie Sanchez, Carmen Gonzales, Elias Padilla, Porfirio Griego, Manuel Pacheco, and Mayor Darren Cordova.
4) Matthew Spriggs, Town of Taos Economic Development Director, and now overseer of the Planning & Zoning Division, has officially received his designation as a Certified Economic Developer from the International Economic Development Council. Congrats. News release below.
5) GRT in the Town of Taos: At last night’s State of the Town meeting, the Finance Department reported via the Mayor’s address that gross receipt tax revenues as generated July through November, 2009, compared to 2007, are down .23%, or a quarter percent. Given Sept/Oct’s national economic occurrences, this is welcome news. Town’s $11 million operating budget is based predominantly on gross receipts revenues. Note: The Town’s annual report has a 3% GRT positive growth rate reported in it for year over year, but this was based on an earlier reporting period. The Town has based this fiscal year’s budget on a 3% growth in GRT, and Finance still anticipates meetings this figure, but examines real revenues each month and adjusts as needed.
6) Snowboarders win Sipapu competition – see info below.
Arts Advocacy – the Taos Gallery Assoc. passes on important federal lobbying info.
7) Arts Advocacy at the Federal Level, passed on by the Taos Gallery Assoc. See specifics below at end of email.
ECONOMIC NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/28/09– Matthew Spriggs recently earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of principal skills in economic development, professional attainment and a commitment to personal and professional growth. The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive three-part, two-day examination, which tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the key areas of economic development, including business retention and expansion, marketing, finance, workforce development, community development, real estate, strategic planning, and management. As highly competent economic development practitioners, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the economic development sector. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the well being, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities. There are currently more than 1,200 CEcDs in the United States. The International Economic Development Council is the premiere organization for the economic development profession. Serving over 4,600 members, IEDC is the world’s largest professional membership organization providing a diversity of economic development services, including research and advisory services, conferences, professional development and legislative tracking. IEDC provides economic developers with the information and tools they need to build local economies and strives to draw upon and increase the collective expertise and influence of its diverse membership. IEDC also manages the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) which brings together public and private sector professionals involved with the redevelopment of closed military bases and privatization of military infrastructure. Visit IEDC’s website at www.iedconline.org to learn more about membership, upcoming events and how IEDC can serve you.
January 27, 2009
Dear Jennifer:
The legislative action surrounding jobs funding for the arts in the Economic Recovery Package in Congress is picking up speed, and we need you to take action! Americans for the Arts has been working with Congressional leaders to build support for this emergency funding for local and state arts organizations to prevent job losses during this recession.
House
As you recall, last week the House Appropriations Committee approved a plan that included $50 million in supplemental grants funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and a number of other provisions that can benefit the arts. Starting tonight, and continuing tomorrow, the House will be considering the recovery legislation on the floor, and a number of votes are expected.
Senate
The Senate will be starting their debate on the bill on Friday and continuing through next week. While the Senate Appropriations Committee did not include an arts jobs funding provision in their version of the bill, advocates still have several opportunities over the next few days to change the final outcome. Amendments could be made to the Senate bill or the House arts funding provision itself could prevail in the final House/Senate conference bill.
Please take two minutes to take action and ask your Member of Congress and Senators to support the arts in this legislation. Americans for the Arts has supplied you with fresh research and key quotes that support this funding—your help in communicating this information to your Member of Congress is critical.
Thank you for your support of the arts!
Click here. to remove your name from receiving e-mails regarding arts advocacy
Click to also remove your name from receiving other e-mails from Americans for the Arts or its Arts Action Fund
1000 Vermont Avenue NW6th Floor
Washington DC . 20005
T 202.371.2830
F 202.371.0424
One East 53rd Street . 2nd Floor
New York NY . 10022
T 212.223.2787
F 212.980.4857
info@artsusa.orgwww.AmericansForTheArts.orgwww.ArtsActionFund.org
Cathy Connelly
Public Relations Director
Town of Taos
400 Camino de la Placita
Taos, NM 87571
575-751-2001
cconnelly@taosgov.com
Quad Erat Demonstratum
