TXMPA State Meeting, June 30th, Austin

TXMPA Annual Membership Meeting & Election
Sponsored by
School of Management and Business
St. Edward's University

Saturday, June 30, 2007
10:00 AM until 2:00 PM (Approximate)
The Ragsdale Center at
St. Edward’s University
3001 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78704
512-448-8400
(Directions below)

Dear TXMPA Members,

Come to the annual meeting in Austin! The Texas Motion Picture Alliance is meeting for the first time as an association in a statewide meeting and we need you to attend.

If you are feeling like the work is done and there’s no reason to gather, you could not be farther from the truth. We are just getting started and we need everyone involved.

Come find out what needs to happen between now and the next legislative session only 18 months away. Come elect your representatives to the board. Make your vote count by being present for the election.

Prior to the Austin Annual Meeting, there are Regional Meetings in Austin (June 18), Houston (June 19), Dallas (June 26) and San Antonio (June 28). Watch for more details at www.txmpa.org.

At some of the regional meetings, there will be discussions regarding the election of the Regional Representatives. In accordance with our By Laws, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio’s Regional Reps are being chosen this year. Keep in mind, the actual vote will occur in Austin during the Annual Meeting, so it is important you come to Austin to cast your vote. Our By Laws do not have proxy voting for the membership.

Please remember, this is a membership meeting. If you are not yet a member, visit our Web site (www.txmpa.org) and join. It’s free. If you are not receiving this directly from our site (i.e., if this was forwarded to you or you received it from a list serve), you may not be a member. Please join today.

Our meeting should end at approximately 2 PM. The new board will then convene and choose its President.

I have decided not to run for the Presidency again but I do want to re-run for an At-Large Seat on the board so I can continue my involvement with TXMPA. This has been a tremendous year and I have enjoyed your support. Leading this organization during its first year was an enormous privilege and the memories will last a lifetime. Thank you for all your work, your energy, your enthusiasm, and your input. Together we made a difference.

See you in Austin!

Hector Garcia
President

Directions:

The Ragsdale Center is on the campus of St. Edwards University in Austin. The TXMPA meeting will be held in Jones Auditorium (located on the west side, ground floor of the Ragsdale Center).

1. Link to St. Edwards University www.stedwards.edu/map/maps.htm

2. Link to campus map www.stedwards.edu/map/campmap.htm

From Southbound I-35 take the Woodward St. exit.
From Northbound I-35 exit Ben White and remain on the access road until you reach Woodward St.
Head west and in a short distance you will see the campus on the right. There are two entrances from Woodward, the first is Theatre Pass and the second is Andre Drive. Turn right at Andre Drive, park and walk across to the Ragsdale Center.

From Mopac/Ben White
From southbound Mopac exit Loop 360 and stay on it when it changes to
Hwy 71 East. Exit So. Congress Ave. Turn left onto Congress and right on Woodward. Turn left into campus at Andre Drive, park and walk across to the Ragsdale Center.

TXMPA ANNOUNCES AUSTIN REGIONAL MEETING FOR MONDAY, JUNE 18

Attention Screen Door folk, listen up!

(Austin, TX) - The Austin region of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance announced today it will hold its next meeting Monday, June 18, at Mother Egan's Irish Pub, 715 West Sixth Street. At the meeting, attendees will choose a new Austin regional representative and discuss two at-large seats from the Austin region and the group's on-going structure.

Current representative Rebecca Campbell, executive director of the Austin Film Society, will attend with alternate Janet Pierson and Texas Film Commissioner Bob Hudgins.

The meeting will begin promptly at 7 p.m. To RSVP, email austintxmpa@mac.com.

TXMPA last week celebrated the passage of HB 1634, which included $22 million in funding for film incentives grants. On Monday, May 28, the Speaker of the House and the Lt. Governor signed the bill, and this Thursday, June 7, Governor Rick Perry is expected to sign the bill at a ceremony at Austin Studios, 1901 E. 51st Street, beginning at 10 a.m.

TXMPA is also celebrating its exciting and productive first year. Last June, the TXMPA formed at a statewide meeting in Austin with an elected board that includes a representative for each of seven regions throughout the state: Amarillo/Panhandle, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso/West Texas, Houston, Rio Grande Valley/Brownsville and San Antonio.

Its next annual meeting to elect new board and discuss the upcoming year will be held Saturday, June 30, at 10 a.m. See the TXMPA Web site, www.txmpa.org, for details. Location TBA.

In preparation for the next legislative session in 2009, there is still a great amount of work to be accomplished. TXMPA will assist in marketing the new incentives program, monitoring the results of these grants and embarking on an Economic Impact Study.

About the Texas Motion Picture Alliance:
The Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization founded in Austin on June 16, 2006 to become the advocate for the film, video, interactive, and digital media production industries in the Lone Star State. The Alliance is committed to building a strong community of industry professionals. It is charged towards creating competitive economic incentives to present to the state legislature in the upcoming session. TXMPA also is committed to educating the general public about our businesses and how we impact their lives through the hundreds of millions of dollars our productions pump into the economy.