Contact: Rhonda Minton

(936) 468-4572 - Office • (936) 468-1007- Fax • (800) 765-1534 rminton@sfasu.edu

If you are interested in learning more about how you can become part of the grassroots efforts to strengthen and promote Stephen F. Austin State University, use the information at the left to contact the SFA Alumni Association.

Our goals for the program are:

• To partner with the university to educate alumni about legislative issues important to SFA and higher education
• To encourage alumni to participate in the building of a strong university by sharing messages from the university with their legislators through personal meetings, phone calls and/or letters
• To stimulate alumni and friends to build and maintain relationships with their elected officials

If you know of SFA alumni who work at the Capitol or related legislative organizations, please let Rhonda Minton know so she can keep her "Capitol 'Jacks" list updated. Helping us identify members of our SFA family who work in the legislative arena is important when we need alumni to reach out in support of our SFA. Ax'em Jacks!

The SFA Alumni Association often partners with the Lufkin and Nacogdoches Chambers of Commerce for "Lufkin-Nacogdoches-SFA Day in Austin" during the Legislature's in-session years. Our next event is tentatively set for 2009. The organizations will co-host the Legislators Reception and also schedule their own individual meetings with legislators and staffers at the Capitol. Our 2007 schedule is provided below to help give you an idea of how the event is structured.

To coincide with the event, the SFA Alumni Association's Austin Chapter typically hosts a social event for Austin alumni and the Nacogdoches teams who are visiting Austin.

During the off-session years, the SFA Alumni Association partners with the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce to host the "Lone Star Legislative Summit," an event designed to bring legislators to Nacogdoches for a two-day conference. The summit consist of tours of the SFA campus, panel discussions on top issues of concern and a luncheon at the university. As part of the 2008 Lone Star Legislative Summit, the SFA Alumni Association hosted a welcome breakfast on the first day of the event. The next Lone Star Legislative Summit is tentatively scheduled for 2010.

SFA alumni are welcome to attend all of the events to show your support for the university.

February 2007 Legislative Day Events

Tuesday

6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -- Austin Chapter Social at Stubb's BBQ for SFA alumni, 801 Red River, Austin, TX 78101, 512-480-8341. Private room downstairs. Cost is about $13 per person which includes dinner. Families welcome. Complimentary tea and soft drinks, cash bar available in the room. Concert with "the Roots" begins at 8:30 p.m.The concert is a separate ticketed event. For chapter information, contact Emily Payne, For concert info, visit Stubb's BBQ.

Wednesday

7 a.m. -- Breakfast on your own at Capitol Grill

8:30 a.m.  -- Photo & quick visit w/Sen. Kim Brimer, ’67 SFA Graduate, E1.806

9 a.m. -- Rep. Joe Crabb, 1N.12

9:20 a.m. -- Rep. Jim McReynolds, GS.6

9:45 a.m.  -- Rep. Wayne Christian, E2.902

10 – 10:30 a.m. -- Legislator Visits – Senators Nichols, Eltife, Duell, Zaffirini, Williams and Shapiro; and Representatives Paxton, Hopson, Morrison, Hughes, Merritt

11 a.m.  -- Photo & quick visit w/Sen. Jane Nelson, 1E.5

11:20 a.m. – noon   -- Resume Legislator Visits

2:30-3:15 p.m. -- Legislative Briefing, E1.016 with Sen. Robert Nichols, Rep. Wayne Christian and Rep. Jim McReynolds. 10 minutes each with Q&A to follow.

3:15 - 4 p.m. -- Legislative Briefing on Mental Health issues. Speaker panel includes Tim Hayward, David Cozadd and Thomas Kerss. Panel will address in-patient psychiatric treatment facilities, safe-holding areas while waiting for psychiatric hospital beds and funding; Issue affects law enforcement, hospital emergency rooms and local courts.

5:30 - 8 p.m. -- "The Lufkin-Nacogdoches-SFA Day in Austin" Reception for Legislators at th Omni Hotel, Longhorn Room. (700 E. San Jacinto and 8th Street, downtown)

Thursday

7 - 8:15 a.m. -- Private breakfast at Legislative Conference Center, E2.002. A "meet & greet" event for SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo, Regents, SFA Alumni Association, university administrators, SFA alumni and SFA-connected legislative staff members and elected officials.

8:15 - 8:30 a.m. -- Assemble at South Capitol steps for group photo with elected officials

8:30 a.m. --- Group Photo (SFA group, Lufkin and Nacogdoches Leadership classes and large group)

10 a.m. -- Briefing with Ag Commissioner Todd Staples at E1.020 on Certified Retirement Community program. Logo unveiling, program's future plans, promotional efforts, etc. Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Athens are the first communities to receive the CRC designation.

10:45 a.m. -- Assemble at 3rd Floor Rotunda in Capitol to enter House Chamber Galleries for public introductions

10:45 - 11:30 a.m. -- House Chamber Galleries for recognition by elected officials.

Noon -- End of official program

(Optional) 1-4 p.m. -- Texas Department of Agriculture will hold a workshop on Certified Retirement Community programs at the Stephen F. Austin Building.