Travis County Commissioners Court
May 16, 2006
Item 3
3. 2005 combined charities campaign awards ceremony. Should we come down front or just do it from here?
>> our meeting was late yesterday. That happened -- I understand there was a -- there was
>> [indiscernible] that happened right after our meeting. We have organized this program
>> [laughter] in such a way that we can call the honorees up by group. Then maybe hand out their certificates, shake hands, take pictures, then move on to the next group.
>> [laughter] welcome to the 2005 combined charities awards ceremony. Last year's campaign brought in $129,000 in contributions from cash, checks, events and pledges, that are deducted each pay period from earnings. Many local, state and national and international charities benefited from the generosity of county employees. The campaign manager and financial management were country for us by the fundraising fed rage, another way Texas shares. That was an advisory committee of county employees that were responsible for the overall direction, planning and execution of the campaign. Department coordinators provided on the ground leadership and support. Provided for the ground leadership and support, and many more county employees contributed their time, imagination and passion for combined charities to make last year's campaign a huge success. Today we are here to honor those county employees and departments for their contributions. Now, if we could have the coordinators up as a group. The department coordinators, right. If you all will stand right there, to Commissioner Davis' left, let me read this next part. And we have got certificates there. Rather than touch and soil your certificates, we left them on the table outside.
>> [laughter] each year elected and appointed officials designate a coordinator within their department to be in charge of the combined charities campaign. These coordinators plan campaign events, obtain speakers for employee meetings, collect and remit money, give advice about the workings of the campaign, organize participation in the halloween festival, and other sorts of creative and wonderful things to encourage and educate their department about the campaign. The department coordinators are the backbone of the campaign, they make it happen. Because of their talented work, many local, state and international charities benefit. These individuals give their time so that others are helped. Please help me applaud their work for the 2005 combined charities campaign. They are ... Community supervision and corrections, cynthia rodriguez. Cynthia here?
>> [ applause ] constable precinct 1, sharon coleman from constable precinct 2, eric sanchez, from constable precinct 3, courtney schmidt. From constable precinct 4, letisha vallejo. Constable precinct 5, emma barrientos. Counseling and education, jennifer fabarito. Not even close.
>> [laughter] and sheryl franklin. County attorney, david escondido, the county -- david escomilla, county attorney himself. County commission precinct one, president 2, precinct 3 barbara smith. County Commissioner precinct 4 norma extravaganza, county medical examiner, esmeralda gonzalez, county tax assessor pat kramer. President treasurer rhonda ambrose. District clerk, john levalle. Facilities management diana floyd. Health and human services, blanca lehey. Human resources management
>> [indiscernible] and monica canales. Its
>> [indiscernible] steel, j.p. Precinct 1 robbie brown. J.p. Precinct 2, cindy mueller. J.p. Precinct 3, lisa stewart. J.p. 4, deanna cantu. J.p. Precinct 5 wolf, juvenile defenders office, terry escoval, district attorney vicki skinner and erica ciporia. And rebecca rodriguez. Rebecca rojas. Probate court nicholas dominguez. Records management tom aspren. T.n.r. Sydney crosby, administration lynn harper. Criminal justice planning, christie vargas. Emergency services, don kovar. County judge, sheryl brown. Planning and budget, marisa forenbox. She did so well we earned her a promotion to another place with, the state I believe
>> [laughter] purchasing cyd grimes. Sheriff, josie methias and kathy jones. Cooperative extension service, julie anne rumphold. The wellness clinic, josie pena and emma
>> [indiscernible] that was the last one. Ms. Hammada. Give them a big round of applause.
>> [ applause ] are you getting our pictures already? Thank you all very, very much. Certificates outside. Next year we will try to get them framed for you. While they're headed outside to pick up their awards, let's call up the advisory committee as a group. Each year I choose, I being the county judge, two co-chairs and with their input an advisory committee to oversee the entire campaign. This year's co-chairs are the owe over the campaign were cecilia burke, director of Travis County domestic relations office, carol co-burn, director and counseling in education services. The advisory committee meets weekly during the campaign, they are responsible for recruiting the department coordinators, coordinating training for the department coordinates, liaison with the -- with the campaign manager, another way Texas shares, planning and executing the halloween festival and handling all of the money and all of the myriad of other activities that go into a successful campaign. There is more than I talk about today, but please give the advisory committee a big hand for their hard work.
>> [ applause ] their certificates are outside, also. Should I call out the names. They are josie methias, sheriff's office. Josie is outside picking up her certificate in the other category. Alice leslie. Domestic relations, don kovar, christie vargas, david salazar, health and human services, cynthia crosby, sheryl brown, renada claireridge, cecilia burke, carol coalburn,
>> [indiscernible], fred to see var, russell hann, lynn harper. Big round of applause for them.
>> [ applause ] that's the advisory committee members. Notice how we timely recognize these people because it's time to start the next year's campaign, right?
>> [laughter]
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> most of them are still outside. Hard to get a picture. For those outside who want to take a picture, under this category --
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> last opportunity, advisory committee. The names we just called out.
>> thank you.
>> [ applause ]
>> thank you for your dedication, hard work, et cetera.
>> festival notables. For the last two years, the combined charities festival has taken the form of a halloween festival. It is noted for the food, the dunking booth, the costume contest and of course the sheriff's office haunted house. What a great way to benefit charities and get together with your fellow employees. We all deserve a little fun at work. Ms. Burke says.
>> [laughter] I would now like to present certificates of -- to appreciate of appreciation to all of those that made the charity the festival possible. Our profound thanks to don kovar and christie vargas. Affectionately referred to as the queens of the combined charities festival.
>> [ applause ] their overall planning and direction and just plain hard work made it happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Don is at star flight working for the county, probably thinking of the next combined charities. Now, for those of you getting tired hearing the county judge read this, if we raise more money next year, I will defer to somebody else.
>>
>> [indiscernible] the color guard. As a group. We have got certificates for them.
>> yes.
>> 2005 was the second year that we were fortunate enough to be honored by the presence of the colors by the sheriff's office color guard. Under the direction of captain art goadness, we thank them for being part of the campaign. They are captain art
>> [indiscernible], sergeant jerry kovar, melissa falcon, senior certified peace officer, kimberly getdis torres, kevin
>> [indiscernible], david hogate, russell marburger, russell the last one. Thank you all very, very much.
>> [ applause ] come on over here in front of us so we can take a picture with you. We don't mind standing behind you. This one time.
>> joe gieselman, and his staff. One of the most anticipated events at the festival is the dunking booth. T.n.r.'s people are the one that's bring the water trucks and fill the dunking booth and help with other aspects of setting up and breaking down the festival. What would we do without them? Thank you for your contribution and making the festival a success. I notice that joe is the only one here. To get this recognition. But there are others. He would assure you. That make this possible. Others like jimmy jensen, cecile petri, les jones, robert saldana, sonya padilla, jay rodriguez, alvin veele, and paul garcia. Give them a big round of applause.
>> [ applause ] they are at work now, I take it joe. You will make sure that they receive accolades from us. Okay. Now, the director of facility, roger el khoury, while he's coming, we wouldn't, couldn't have any kind of festival without the facilities department. They hook up the electricity, set up the tables and chairs and otherwise make sure that the physical facility is ready to go for -- by festival time. They then break it all down and clear the area. Afterwards. All of you can be proud of the contribution that you make each year to the combined charities. And for your assistance to other departments. Thank you and they are in addition to roger el khoury, lloyd evans who is here, albert carmona, albert Gomez, angel hernandez, I know you are a little jealous, benny cantu, carlos contraers, and cruz baron, daryl houston, that one I know and dolores mendez, no, don cody, earnest ladesma, frank roberto, fred peyton, gary gonzalez, james ellison, jason irving, jerry albert, john flurnoy, jerry we called already, john gonzalez, jose alcala, karl spencer, mark ybarra, castillya, from the authority, richard zavala, ralph,
>> [indiscernible], roger woodworth, ronnie macharo, rudy esquival, rudy rios, Sam barolla, victor
>> [indiscernible] next year Commissioner Gomez will call out the names for facilities. Thank all of them for their outstanding work with combined charities.
>> [ applause ]
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>> ... Deeply appreciated. Thank you to the king of the dunking booth, make sure that he gets this message.
>>
>> [ applause ]
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> [laughter]
>> this year we had a usurper to the king. That would be lieutenant jamie page. Travis County sheriff's office.
>> [ applause ] he like christian has a smile and a spring, unlike christian he brought a great big old check to put in the pot. So he brought a check and got dunked, too.
>> [laughter] jamie you -- it sure was fun throwing those ball at ya. Thank you very, very much.
>> [ applause ] now other smiling and volunteer is greg hamilton, who is not here due to technical problems with the drunking booth and a commitment the sheriff could not be scheduled. So he did not have an opportunity to get dunked last year. Smart, smart, too. Yeah. We thank him for his support anyway and look forward to him being a part of the dunking booth activity this coming year. Okay. Now everyone loves a ringer as long as they are on your team. All those women brought their balls and have baldo castio from t.n.r. Throw them. He often doesn't miss. Thanks for helping all of those ladies get their due with christian and jamie. So the ladies put up the money, baldo did the throwing.
>> boy did he.
>>
>> [laughter] snow this is not valdo, ladies and gentlemen.
>> [laughter] he is seven greater physical specimen, this is joe gieselman
>> [laughter] known more for his mental and speaking abilities than physical abilities. Thank you, joe, make sure that valdo gets has communication. Let's talk about who did all of the hard work at the dunking booth, that would be the sergeant, of course. Sergeant benny kertan, brought the tank, set it up, filled it up, chased the ball, took the money, made it happen. Thanks so much, benny.
>> [ applause ]
>> thank you.
>> it would not be a festival without the silent auction. The donations are heart felt and many county employees enjoy both the donations and the bidding. Thanks this year to miss teresa golf, of counseling and education services for coordinating the silent auction and thanks for russell hahn of its for making it possible to have the silent auction on the county's intranet. Theresa and russell.
>> thank you.
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> this is joe harlow, y'all. Thank you.
>> you are miss golf, though, right?
>> yes.
>> okay. It's important to us as americans in our festivals to sing the star spangled banner. And important to us as texans to sing Texas our Texas. Even if we didn't know all the words. It is also important to have someone at the mic that can really carry a tune. Jackie cross renowned Austin actress and singer kindly filled this role. And as she reminded us, she usually gets paid for these gigs. But how could she turn down a combined charities events. Thank you, jackie. That was the performance at the festival. We will make sure that she gets the beautiful certificate that even has her name on it and spelled correctly. We will make sure that she gets it. Our next hon reed was officially crowned a few years ago as the queen of the combined charities and received her own -- tierra to make it official. Vera rodriguez of t.n.r. Faithfully organizes and executes the annual softball tournament in July. All proceeds go to combined charities. A tierra is what?
>> a little crowb, is it? Crown. Oh, okay.
>> [laughter] I was feeling left out for a while, there.
>> [laughter] it's a girl thing, Commissioner Daugherty and Davis if you all are wondering about it.
>> I have one.
>> [laughter] it's a big event and takes a lot of work. Vendor a is a woman with a mission. And a can-do attitude. She shows it at the tournament. Thank you vera for your hard work and this is about the -- the 7th or 8th year that vera has done this. Yeah.
>> [indiscernible]
>> thank you, vera for organizing the annual softball tournament. Keep on keep it on. No festival would be complete without music, but how do you find a d. J. That plays music that all of us more mature employees enjoy. Music that all of the younger employees enjoy and can provide really scary halloween music at the same time. Rudy villereal can do it all. Thanks, rudy, for making this one, one of the best festivals and certainly the best music we have ever had. So b.j. For the festival, rudy villereal. Villereal.
>> [laughter] chap clap.
>> okay. This is one yearly event that we love to savor over time. At the event and later with pictures on the intranet. That is the costume contest sponsored by the county's health and human services department. At this contest we get to truly appreciate the creativity of county employees as nowhere else. Today, we want to honor the coordinators of this contest and the judges and the costume contest coordinator was judy core test. Judy -- judy cortez, contest judges
>> [indiscernible] pope, chief estella perez medina, carol coleburtton and she is also a judge. Thank you very much.
>> [ applause ]
>> the next one says very special recognition. Sneaf I hate to give it up. You see how I?m holding on to it.
>> carol awanted to make a presentation this morning to the two people who encouraged us, spurred us on, really sort of made this whole campaign possible and we wanted to say thank you very much this morning to judge Sam Biscoe and to diane fanning who is the outgoing executive director of another way Texas shares.
>> [ applause ] thank you all very much. Okay.
>> now for those wondering county money was not used to purchase these plaques.
>> that is correct.
>> that is absolutely correct.
>> [laughter]
>> next we want to honor those departments that excelled in a variety of ways in their drive to help those less fortunate. We thank you for your time, your creativeness, your caring, what departments are those? The award for department greatest increase and participation, constable maria conchola. Her department went from 0 to 100%. They -- they could not be beaten, could they? They may have been tied --
>> [laughter] congratulations.
>> thank you very much. The award for the department with greatest percent increase in dollars. That goes to the county clerk, dana debeauvoir. We don't have it here. Wes certainly get it. Dana, in your married name is simpler than your maiden name, please start using it
>> [laughter] by the way, they -- the increase was 135.6%. They went from $1,735 to $4,094. Dana, use whatever name you want to. Keep up the good work. Now, honorable mention for the greatest percent increase in dallas. Goes to precinct 4, justice of the peace, honorable he will elana diaz from zero to 235dz, from 0 to $780, great increases.
>> for those wonder)1p Davis and joe harlow. The departments with 100% participation, county judge's office, precinct 1 Commissioner, precinct 3 Commissioner,
>> [ applause ], probate court,
>> [ applause ], precinct 5 justice much the peace, precinct 4 constable and criminal justice planning. Thanks for all of those departments. Thank you. I got a little stack of awards for the county judge's office here.
>> the departments with 75% participation or more, planning and budget, which had 86%. They didn't achieve 100, but they did get more than 75%, mr. Nellis. The next group of awards goes to departments in regard to pledges or payroll deduction. These are important to the campaign because pledges paid out over the year through the payroll deduction offer a lot of advantages. Employees can give without having to write one big check rather than spread it over a year's time. Charities can plan their income and budget and use these pledges as leverage when they apply for grants and other similar types of funding. And ... Pledging through payroll deduction is a win-win way to give to charity. Now, the departments that exceeded last year's pledges, precinct 2, Commissioner, 47.1%. Planning and budget, 14.6%. Its, 36.1%. Facilities management, by 2.5%. County clerk again, 135.6%. Probate court, 15.6%. Precinct 3 justice of the peace 4.7%. Precinct 4 justice of the peace 235%, precinct 5 justice of the peace 19.7%, precinct 4 constable 780%. Precinct 5 constable, 25.5%. Sheriff's office, 22.3%. Community supervision and corrections, 36.4%. And counseling and education services, 33.3%. Records management and communication resources, 17.8%. Now, finally, our last category is -- is departments exceeding their best years pledges. They are ... Facilities management,
>> [ applause ] county clerk
>> [ applause ], probate clerk precinct 3 j.p., precinct 5 j.p., precinct 4 constable, precinct 5:00 constable again, judge going to need security to get back to the historic courthouse with all of those certificates on him.
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> counseling and education services. And last but not least, records management and communication resources.
>> [ applause ] let's give all of our employees who participated in last year combined charities campaign a big round of applause.
>> [ applause ] for those wondering, these moneys go to area non-profit agencies who help needy residents. They augment programs and services provided by governmental entities, including Travis County. They work to make this -- to make this county a better place for all of us. Any brief parting words?
>> thank you, judge. We appreciate it.
>> well said.
>> thank you, everybody that participated.
>> we will do even better this year. Thanks to you all. Cecilia burke, carol coalburn co-chairs last year and they will be helping out this year.
>> [ applause ]
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 10:30 AM