Nominations are now being accepted for the 23rd Annual Texas Family Business of the Year awards which will be presented November 1, 2012 at a banquet on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas. The Institute for Family Business at Baylor University hosts this annual awards ceremony to recognize and honor outstanding family enterprises from across the state of Texas. The deadline for receiving nominations is April 18, 2012.

If you know of an outstanding Texas family business, please fill out the online nomination form available at http://www.baylor.edu/tx_family_business/nom. If you are proud of your own family business, then you owe it to yourself, your family, and your employees to self-nominate your family enterprise!

Applying for a prestigious Texas Family Business of the Year award is a great opportunity to recount the story of your family’s business, its history and highlights; to authorize a health check on your family business; explore commonly held Family Business Best Practices, and spot areas in your business that might need attention.

Past winners of the awards have received positive nationwide publicity, highlighting their products and services, and paying tribute to their staff.

For further information please see http://www.baylor.edu/business/entrepreneur/tx_family_business/index.php?id=24140, contact Dawn Maitz, Associate Director of the Institute for Family Business, at phone 254-710-4159, or email Dawn at Dawn_Maitz@baylor.edu.

Activities planned to honor our graduates include a Senior Breakfast, Senior Picnic, and an All Night Senior Party following graduation (as recommended by the Department of Transportation). The estimated cost for these special activities is $135 per student. However, we know there are some for whom that will be a hardship. Therefore, we are asking for everyone’s help so that ALL seniors will have the opportunity to participate in these activities. Any contribution is appreciated.

Your tax-deductible donation should be made payable to “Project Graduation 2012” and mailed to:
Donna Cambron
3061 Brads Way
Midlothian, TX 76065

cell: 214-683-1435
email: cambron123@msn.com

There are many ways to contribute other than monetarily as well. Examples are “Door Prizes” to be given out to the students at activities or perishable/nonperishable items to be used at the Senior Breakfast, Senior Picnic or the All Night Party.

Thank you for your consideration and making an investment in the future of the “Midlothian Class of 2012.” We hope to make this one of the most memorable times in the lives of our seniors.

Donations are being accepted now through mid February. Download the PG2012_DonationForm.

Share the Love Gala 2012 Dinner and Auction
benefiting CASA of Ellis County

Date 2/11/2012
Time 6:00 PM
Waxahachie Civic Center
1950 North Interstate Highway 35 East Waxahachie, TX 75165

Save our date to impress your Valentine date!  Proceeds will benefit CASA of Ellis County, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of abused and neglected children.   Dr. H. Leroy Fenton will also receive a special award for his service to CASA over the past few years. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.casaofelliscounty.org.  For more information, please call 972-937-1455 or e-mail rlrawls@sbcglobal.net.

CASA recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who are selected to act as Court Appointed Special Advocates to be a voice for the child in court. CASA of Ellis County is part of a nationwide organization of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) with 940 programs and 52,000 volunteers nationwide. For more information, visit www.casaofelliscounty.org.

Buy, Sell or Trade for about a dollar a day on the KBEC 1390 Online Flea Market
The best place to sell or buy in Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman and Hill and Southern Dallas Counties!
www.kbec.com
or call Andy at 972-923-1390

What a smart way to shop!

1440 N. HWY 77 Suite 3,
Waxahachie, TX 75165
972-923-4446
www.floanns.com

Nominate a business now for the quarterly beautification award!  Keep Midlothian Beautiful community beautification award is given four times a year, and is bestowed upon a Midlothian Chamber of Commerce member who has been nominated for their beautification efforts at their business or store.  To nominate a business for the Beautification Award please visit the Chamber website, and click on the Keep Midlothian Beautiful tab. A nomination form must be filled out and return to the Midlothian Chamber of Commerce.

Beautification Award Nomination Form

Criteria:

·         Landscaped green spaces (trees, shrubs, flowers, grass kept nice and neat)
 ·         Fresh paint
 ·         Signs that are neat and well cared for
 ·         Seasonal decorating that is visible from the street
 ·         A clean, litter free parking lot
 ·         Nice window displays
 ·         Curb appeal visible from public byways
 ·         Is the establishment contributing to the beauty of Midlothian

Anyone in the community can nominate a business, and a business can nominate themselves for the award. Pictures will be taken of the business in order to assist the judges in the judging process. Previous recipients of this award include: Earth tones Greenery, Technical Support, and Holcim (Texas) LP.

Nominations must be received by the close of business on Friday, October 21.

Happening at the Ranch!

Fall Field Trips for Special Needs Classes now booking.  Have you called to reserve your class’s date? Spots are filling quickly and we’d love to have YOUR class visit the Ranch. 

We are once again offering Horseback Riding Lessons (therapeutic and non-therapeutic). Interaction with the magnificent horse is time well spent. Want to give it a try? Reserve your space today.

Music Therapist, Cora Lansdowne, has a few time slots open for new clients. Music therapy is a wonderful outlet for people of all ages and backgrounds. See the difference music can make!

Of course, our other programs are still available as well… 
    *  Harmony in the Herd is our company/organization team building program. 
    *  Counseling, assisted by equines and other animals, is always available.
     * Boots of Honor features programs tailored for military veterans.
     * Volunteers needed for special events and weekly.  No previous experience necessary.
     
For more information on the Ranch or any of our programs, please call the Ranch at 972-775-8966 or email pawsforreflection@att.net. We’d love to hear from you! 

See you at the Ranch!

Melode Seremet, RVT
Paws for Reflection Ranch
www.pawsforreflectionranch.org
5431 Montgomery Road, Midlothian, TX 76065
972-775-8966     fax 972-775-8967

Connect with us on facebook:  www.facebook.com/pawsforreflectionranch