Recently I heard someone say that the difference between where the cave dwellers were when they harnessed fire and present time will be similar to the difference between the present time and only thirty years from now. Technology – and change - is moving really fast. So, how do we keep EWTG relevant with this in mind? Where will we be in ten years? Who will our membership be and how will we be able to continue to provide a valuable service as time moves forward at lightning speed? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I am tossing this out to the membership for consideration as we move forward.

This year we have had three luncheons/mini-courses focusing on social media, yet that term only came into widespread usage in the last 3-4 years. Facebook became available to the public in September 2006; Twitter also started in 2006 with eight employees but became really popular in 2012. YouTube videos started being available sometime in 2005. Instagram launched in fall of 2010; Snapchat’s initial release was fall 2011. And does anyone even use Myspace anymore? We didn’t really have the internet 25 years ago, and now there are whole classes and discussions on designing and improving our web pages. In the early 2000s, EWTG’s newsletter was printed and distributed at the monthly luncheons. Even when we went digital in the mid-2000s, the newsletter was still a pdf that people received and printed or read on their computer screen. The technological changes in just the way we can acquire and disseminate information in ten years are astounding. How those changes affect the way we interact at work and in life remain to be seen.

So – moving forward. Maybe we can get a futurist to talk at our conference in 2018 or even earlier at one of our luncheons. Maybe we’ll convene in small groups to discuss our next innovative way to provide service looking forward. I welcome any and all thoughts on bringing EWTG forward and will certainly take the ideas you send me to the 2018 board of directors, who are announced at the October luncheon.

And again, I remind you to register this month for the conference to get the best rates and the best selection of workshops. We have our last mini-course this month, our October luncheon, and then the holiday luncheon in December when the new board is sworn in. In November, we are all about the Conference! This year at the conference, we’ll be collecting unsigned boxed Christmas and holiday cards for our women and men in the armed services. Boxes of mixed cards are especially useful so that our service personnel have something nice to mail to their loved ones. You may even have a few left over from previous holidays that you can combine to create a nice boxed set!

See you at the conference!

Clare Dyer
2017 EWTG President

EWTG STAR loves to celebrate the accomplishments of our members. If you know of any members who have achieved any accolades, promotions, acknowledgments, recognitions or other achievements, please let us know. We want to share with other members.

Please send the information to communciations@ewtg.org with the subject line– EWTG STAR. The submission deadline is October 27, 2017.

Public Service Employees and Community Engagement: Avoiding Pitfalls While Serving in Your Community

Guest Panel

There is an ongoing need for, and heightened interest in, community and social engagement in our society today. From natural disasters to social injustices to political parlays, there is no lack of causes for interested individuals to engage in our communities and society as a whole. There is, however, some sensitivity surrounding engagement when you are an employee of a public entity. Whether it is local, state or federal, public employees can meet their professional obligations while pursuing their passions. A special panel has been gathered to discuss how to do so while avoiding the potential pitfalls along the way. Disasters have occurred recently that demands our attention as citizens and members of the human race. Our compassion to help others during these times has been commendable. Come join our panel discussion on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.

The program begins at noon, lunch is served at 11:45 a.m.  To help you make the most of your lunchtime, EWTG will have pizza from Eastside Pies, fresh green salad, a drink and dessert for $10 per person, or you can bring your own lunch. Pizza will be served from 11:45 a.m. to noon. The program begins at noon and ends by 1:00 p.m. The mini-course is held at the Carver Library, 1161 Angelina St., TX 78702 - view map.

Cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to the event to receive a refund for pizza orders.  Acceptable forms of payment onsite are cash or check. For information contact EWTG by email, ewtg@ewtg.org or by telephone, 512-220-4298.

Online registration will end at 10:00 am Monday, October 9, 2017.

Submitted By Patricia V. Hayes
Mini-Course Director

Building Relationships and Balancing the Budget: An Update on the State of the Texas Economy

featuring

Glenn Hegar

Texas Comptroller

Elected as the 36th Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in November 2014, Glenn Hegar continues to serve the state of Texas. Hegar is Texas' chief financial officer — the state's treasurer, check writer, tax collector, procurement officer and revenue estimator. Upon taking office, he reorganized the Comptroller's office for quicker and more effective decision-making and reduced its size by eliminating some inefficient programs and transferring others that didn't fit its core missions.

Hegar is focused on his agency's constitutional duties and committed to improving its customer service and transparency. He believes a less-burdensome tax system will foster a better environment for job creation and business expansion, and thus a healthier Texas economy. As CFO for the world's 10th-largest economy, he monitors Texas' financial health to ensure it maintains strong fund balances. He employs sound fiscal management, invests resources wisely and approaches budgeting with a consistently conservative point of view. In 2015, Hegar decided the state would not issue Texas Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) for fiscal 2016. Texas has issued these short-term debt obligations for the last three decades to address periodic mismatches between revenues and expenditures during the fiscal year.

Hegar's decision to meet these cash-flows needs with the state's substantial cash balances rather than debt was a significant departure from the status quo. He also played a pivotal role during the 2015 legislative session. His attention to the state's long-term financial obligations helped focus lawmakers on important issues affecting Texas' credit rating, such as pension obligations, deferred maintenance of state facilities, transportation needs and the state's Economic Stabilization Fund, or "Rainy Day Fund." Hegar also led the effort to repeal eight minor but burdensome taxes, resulting in an administrative saving for his agency. He was also instrumental in ensuring the Legislature cut taxes and fees by $4 billion.

Prior to becoming Texas Comptroller, Hegar served in the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate, where he worked on a wide range of common-sense solutions to problems affecting Texans in areas such as public education, transportation, tax reform, government transparency, Second Amendment rights, water issues and tort reform. As chair of the Sunset Advisory Commission, Hegar eliminated inefficiencies in state agencies and abolished six, saving Texas taxpayers more than $160 million. In his last session as a state senator, Hegar oversaw state and local revenue matters and helped cut $1 billion worth of taxes.

Hegar is a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M University and a graduate of St. Mary's University, where he earned a Master of Arts and his law degree. At the University of Arkansas, he earned his Master of Laws. Hegar is a sixth-generation Texan who grew up farming land that has been in his family since the mid-1800s. His upbringing taught him the core values of hard work, honesty, and integrity — the same values him and his wife Dara work to instill in their three young children, Claire, Julia, and Jonah. Hegar's most important title throughout his years of service is the one closest to home: Dad!

The luncheon is held at the Austin Woman’s Club, 708 San Antonio Street, Austin, TX 78701 - view map (ample free parking located at the rear of the building at Nueces & 10th Street). Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. The program starts at noon and concludes at 1:00 p.m. The cost is $20 for EWTG members and $25 for guests.  Remember to register early for the luncheon in anticipation of a “full house,” thank you!

Reserve your seat and lunch selection today. Cancellations must be received forty-eight (48) hours prior to the event to receive a refund or for your registration fee to be waived.

You must log in to receive member lunch prices. Online registration will end at 10:00 am Monday, October 23, 2017.

Submitted By Barbara Chavis
EWTG Program Director

Conference Early Bird Discount End October 13th

BOLD LEADERSHIP: COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, & COMPASSION

Fabulous Gift Idea

Pre-Orders Start October 2017

Etched with the EWTG Logo

2 - 10 oz. Rioja White Wine Glasses
Made with the highest glass quality materials 

Special EWTG Scholarships Fundraiser

Higher Education & Other Professional Development 

Online Pre-orders will begin in October so watch your emails!

Sponsored by EWTG Houston Affiliates & the EWTG Conference Committee

Submitted By Karen Howard
EWTG Vice President

• Any Westbank Dry Cleaning
• Rainbow Room Facility at the Department of Family and Protective Services
  14000 Summit Dr., Ste. 100 Austin, Texas 78728
• Dropbox at the front security desk in H1 – 2323 Ridgepoint Dr., Austin, TX 78754

Dress for Success-Austin Professional Clothing Drive

• Suits – Interview-appropriate suits including skirt or pantsuits in all sizes, modern, classic styles in conservative colors. Light & Medium weight suits are preferred.
• Professional separates including blouses, slacks, skirts, dresses, blazers, and jackets
• Blouses - Career appropriate blouses in all sizes. Like-new cardigans. Short or long-sleeved blouses accepted in any colors or prints.
• Dresses - Classic shifts and wraps styles that work under a suit jacket.
• Shoes - Professional and like-new shoes (boots are accepted October-January)
• Handbags - Briefcases, portfolios or work appropriate handbags - Professional and like new in black, brown, navy, taupe.
• Jewelry and scarves - Classic, modern and professional

• Purses- like-new professional purses (black and brown)
• Plus-size clothing (size 16 and up) and blouses (suitable for suit jackets)
• Shoes size 6 and below
• Shoes size 9 and up
• Wide size shoes

Dress for Success- Austin requests donated clothing be clean and on hangers and that it be of appropriate style by modern standards. Drop off your new and/or gently used profession business attire at the following locations: •

• Any Westbank Dry Cleaning
• Dress for Success Austin at 701 Tillery Street Suite A-5 Hours: Mon thru Thurs 9 am – 4:00 pm and Sat 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. 
  
  Submitted By Lenora Jones
  Community Service Committee Chair

Teresa Snyder

• Establish a book club
• Share responsibility in hosting monthly sessions to enhance facilitation skills
• Inspire growth in one another to attain personal goals
• HAVE FUN

See Who Joined and Renewed in September 2017!

EWTG scholarships are awarded on a quarterly basis to those wanting an opportunity for professional advancement or personal growth. All interested members are encouraged to apply; financial need is not a factor. Take a moment to treat yourself to a course you have been putting off or a conference you would love to attend.

Guidelines for qualifying for a scholarship and applications are available on the EWTG website at ewtg.org. Email your 2017 fourth quarter application to the Scholarship Committee by 5:00 p.m. on December 29, 2017.

The EWTG Board holds its monthly meetings at the Mitte Carriage House in Austin on the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The agenda for each meeting will be posted on EWTG's website by noon on the Monday before the meeting.

A summary of the board meeting minutes is also posted on the website.

Please look over the Committee Descriptions on the EWTG website and consider becoming more active in the organization.

Participating on a committee is a great way to support EWTG, learn new skills and to meet other interesting executive women. As with so many things, "the more you give, the more you get."