Last Tuesday, Vision FW hosted its first "Pencils, Paper and Pasta" school supply drive at Bravo Cucina Italiana. Guests enjoyed noshing, networking and school themed games in support of the local school children of Washington Heights Elementary in Fort Worth. Admission to the happy hour was free; however, each participant was required to bring at least two needed school supplies from a list provided. L to R: Mary Ryglewicz, Homewood Suites Hotel by Hilton-Fort Worth/Medical Center; Lindsey Daniel, Brown Pruitt; Holly Ayoub, Halff Associates, Inc.; and Katie Anderson, Westermann & Accociates, P.C.


View additional event pics here.

(Advance through the Chamber photo gallery using gray arrows upper right)

When there's a will (and wine), there's a way: You may have heard about wine, women and shoes. Wine appears to be the key component. Hear ye, hear ye ... we now call to order Women, Wine & Wills, which has three very important components. Chamber members Karen Telschow Johnson of her namesake law firm and Helen Stephens of Aspen Wealth Management are offering a fantastic, two-night deal for women Sept. 1 and Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m. It's a networking party where you get to drink fine wine, enjoy a great meal and protect yourownself, your family and/or assets. First session Sept. 1 is education. And when you leave Sept. 10, you will have in hand a simple will. Done. Stress free.

That person was very cold:  "Not interested. You have the wrong number. Take us off your list, please!" Hang ups? Cold calling can be miserable. (Especially if you're on the receiving end of one of those Wall Street brokers. Yikes!) If you're making the call, it doesn't have to be that way. Donnie Boivin of Salesmastery/Sandler Sales Training can sell you on a better way. August 21st, from 1-4 p.m. at the Arlington office, sales executives and managers will understand how to get out of their own way and just pick up the phone to make cold calls. How do I get past gatekeepers? How do I get them to set and keep an appointment with me? Answers to these questions and more if you are sold on going.

Why can't they be like we were? Millennials. Latest generation in the workplace with the latest and greatest mindset about work/play. According to Dale Carnegie, even the best companies are struggling with turnover among their millennial workers.  Ryan Akins of Dale Carnegie and Pinnacle Bank are sponsoring a breakfast from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Aug. 25 at the Fort Worth Club to discuss new methods to interact with Millenials (if English isn't working) and how to create a culture that drives productivity AND enhances engagement. If you're THAT boss, grab one of these two seats.

Congratulations to August 5 Prize Winners:

Real dog day of summer: Monthologist John Fletcher of hisownself's marketing company points out that Aug. 26 is THE official Dog Day. The 25th is Kiss and Make Up Day and the 27th is Burger Day, which deserves its own day if French fries have one.

Cryin' eyes: Today is the final (goof off) day of work for Kayla Kelly at Tarleton State University's Fort Worth campus. She has been a great friend to the Chamber but is off to be Associate Dean of Instruction, New Programs at Hill College.

Screen shots: Red Sanders, founder and President of Red Productions, says the company's most recent movie originally was called Intramural. After a deal with MGM's Orion Pictures, their marketing folks released it as Balls Out. Red says the company's documentary short, Melville is being written and will be pitched as a TV/cable series. And this nugget, according to Red -- Texas is No. 2 among states for video game production.