BY KATHY WILLIAMS
HERALD DEMOCRAT
Sherman Chamber of Commerce, along with their peers in Collin and Denton counties are organizing a series of events during the next session of the Texas Legislature.
Working with legislators who represent the three counties, the cities' chambers are setting up events through which participants may express their ideas with lawmakers and ask them questions.
"Tri-County Legislative Days will be Feb. 9-10, 2009, in Austin," states a press release from the Sherman Chamber describing Grayson County's participation, "in an effort to demonstrate a bigger voice to the Texas Legislature, three North Texas counties are joining forces to bring their concerns to Austin. Entities from Grayson, Collin and Denton counties have put together a two-day program that will give attendees a chance to learn more about the inner workings of our state government, while at the same time will allow them to express their concerns to elected officials."
Frisco Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tony Felker said this kind of event, with chambers, local and state officials working together, might be unprecedented.
"The Sherman Chamber of Commerce is working with several other groups and agencies from Collin and Denton counties to make sure we have a loud voice when we go to Austin," said Traci Carlson, President of the Sherman Chamber of Commerce. "It's so important to make sure our region's issues are addressed, and to educate ourselves on the concerns our county will face in the future."
Carlson said organizers hope that people of all walks of life join the group in addition to elected officials, like county commissioners, city councilors and school trustees and superintendents.
"We want Grayson County residents who are politically active and we want business people to bring their ideas to the table," Carlson said.
Carlson said the two-day event is packed with activities, both in the chambers of the state House of Representatives and Senate, as well as experiencing the local entertainment venues. Topics of break out sessions will include transportation, taxes and spending, energy and workforce issues. Each of the three counties' judges will lead one of the breakout sessions.
We're working together with Collin and Denton counties to illustrate the concerns and issues our region faces, and to remind state legislators to pay close attention to what's going on north of the Metroplex," Carlson said. "We represent a lot of people, families and businesses - we're a force to be reckoned with," Carlson said.
Groups represented on the Tri-County Legislative Days Committee with the Sherman Chamber are chambers from Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Denton, and Lewisville.
"It's also important to note that even though we're working closely with Collin and Denton counties, it doesn't necessarily mean that we face exactly the same issues," Carlson said. "We'll be in Austin representing the needs of Grayson County, and we're counting on residents and business people from Grayson County to attend to demonstrate those needs, and also to tell our officials what they're doing right."
Registration, which has begun, carries a fee is $100 for the two days worth of events, with a $25 late fee for those registering after Jan. 9. For more information, call the Chamber office at 903-893-2583 or visit the Web site at www.shermanchamber.us.