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AHCCC dines with Mayor White

 Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce’s “Lunch Bunch” got their first taste of Mayor Bill White when he spoke to a standing room only audience at our monthly (each first Thursday) Network/Luncheon that was held at the Beulah Ann Shepard’s Acres Home Center for Business and Economic Development, 6132 Wheatley, on August 5, 2004. Although the “Lunch Bunch” didn’t know exactly what to expect from our new Mayor, who allegedly spread his considerable wealth among African Americans sufficiently enough to keep 2003 from being “Turner Time” (when he showed up in his political foe’s stronghold), he made himself right at home.
In fact, as it turned out… he, indeed, was at home in the northwest Houston community, insofar as he settled in the Inwood Forest area (that borders Acres Home), when he first moved to Houston. He also has a history of working with the Chamber’s Matriarch, Beulah Shepard, who greeted him before a widely diverse audience, which included the table sponsors: North Harris College-Carver Center, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Community College-NE, SBC, Montalbano Lumber, Houston Minority Business Council, Doctors Hospital Parkway-Tidwell, Houston Fire Department, Reytec Construction Resources, Malonson Company, Inc, Houston Police Department, METRO, Dr. Kim Horn, M.D., HEB Pantry Foods, City of Houston Affirmative Action, Houston Police Department, Shirley Ann’s Black Art & Kollectibles, Peter Brown and Rieche Baumann.

The event was also greatly supported by a large contingent from the City of Houston Housing & Community Development (CHHCDD) and African American News & Issues, that sponsors all Chamber events, as usual was well represented. But I was wearing my Chamber chairman’s hat (See We Must Understand on Page 3). Mayor White, spoke convincingly about his agenda, which includes an equitable community development plan. But, most of all, he expressed a desire to somehow convince communities to work together to make “our” city the best that it can be. He even admitted that he has made some “rookie” mistakes, but vowed that his “on the job training” would include interacting with citizens in their neighborhoods as much as possible. To make a long story short, Mayor White made a very impressive speech.

And from what I could discern, the “Lunch Bunch” was making mental notes, although they also were appeared to like what the mayor was saying. Need I even mention that Lacy’s Cafeteria and Restaurant’s delicious food was enjoyed by all as usual? And, of course, everybody was very impressed with the Beulah Ann Shepard facility that is near completion. The luncheon deviated slightly, insofar as Alicia Marcha, coordinator of the Acres Home Center for Business and Economic Development, made the opening address and Mrs. Shepard welcomed the guest and rendered prayer. Daisy Stiner, Executive Director of CHHCDD, introduced Mayor White and he proceeded to charm the audience, which included: The Chamber’s Senior Citizens: Earnest Houston, Corine Sweed, Callie Hector Oveta Hunter and Ella Sayles.

Also enjoying the occasion were: Linda Henderson, Keidra Lewis, Kenneth Douglas, Carolyn Konecny, Alan Beauchamp and DeeDee Hernandez (Doctors Hospital); Earleane Bell; Sylvia Teague, Katrina Dowdell (CIS); Natasha Young (CPE); Dr. Kim J. Horn, Reginald Hebert, Thomas Corbin, Emma Holon, Bruce Horn, Keidra Lewis, Karen Horn, Martha Craig, Curtis McKelvey, Patricia Anderson, Bishop Larr Stevens and Mins. Linda Stevens (Dr, Horn); Greg Gholston (HMBC); Vander Phelps (VEP Consultant); Harold Warner, Jr., Janette Hammond, Clifford Brown, Susan Wheeler, Frank Jeanes and Scott Burke (CenterPoint); Mary Ann Collier, Anna Patrick, Faye Marshall, Felix? and Carolyn Kenner-Varner (MET-RO); Larry Hunt (Hunt & Hunt Ent.); Georgia Provost and Jacquelyn Crowe (Provost Associates) and Ernest Chou.
Yvette Pinder, Robert Aldridge and Janet Moore (Paradise Funeral Home); Carl Davis and Rubye Everett. Alda Ayers and Rachel Davis (AHYA); Dr. James Henderson (HISD’s North Acres Home); Winell Herron. Jay Green, James Harris, (HEB); Monica Craft (SBA); George Edwards and Phillip Telden (COH-AAD); Cynthia Finley, Merle Ray and Katy West (Macedonia Outreach); Chief Harold Hurtt, Larry Ware and Dorothy Edwards (HPD); Linda Johnson and Charles Hurst (Gulf Shores Academy); Fran Gentry (NAACP); Patrick Trahan and Terrance Fontaine (Mayor’s Office); Greg Richard (Pre-Paid Legal); Andrea Jones, Kelly Shreck (City of Houston); Kerrick Henry (SBC); Joseph Do (Annan CDC); Dr. W. M. Stewart (Dr. Stewart & Associates); Jimmy Dansby (Dansby Employee Benefits); Don Aaron and Super barber Booker T. Spencer.
Mary Crowe (ERA/Michael Group); Bridgett Edwards (AmeriGroup); Morris Fountain (NCRC); Clarence Bush, Margaret Bush, Wylene Jacobs (Reiche Baumann); Omowale Allen and Mildred Milton (Commish Franco Lee’s office); Cynthia Buggage and Angel Tate (Cons. Sheila J. Lee’s office); Melissa Reyes (Reytec Cons.); Tom Kallar (AFLAC); Dr. Margaret Forde, Robert Mulcalay, Patsy Flowers, Abe Bryant, James Smith, (HCC-NE); Pam Joyce (AmeriPlan): Bruce Hillegeist (Tomball Chamber’s Prez); Jesenin Villasana (S. Texas Dental); Clara Hough (Sheraton Suites); Worley Barker (ADC Pallet Corp.); Halesica Wooten, R. Clayton? and Betty Martin (Houston Chronicle); Sheila Richardson and MacNet’s Don Scurlock.

Roderick Thornton, Phil Boriskie, Rodney West, Tyrone Freeman, C. Johnson, Rick Flanagan and Donnie Dennis (HFD); Sheneke Cooper, Trina Lowery, James Hills, Michael Cade, David Sam and Cher Brock (Carver Center); Benjamin & Cheryl Smith (B. Smith Cons.); Colette Semien (Houston Now TV); Arthur Fuller (Artful Enterprises); Michael Davis (Excel Group); James Galvin (J. G. Plumbing); Byron Horn (Klein Prop.); Eldridge Peugh (Councilmen’s R. Green’s office) Downell Barnes; the Chamber and Shirley Ann’s Black Arts & Kollectibles Showroom’s Marlise Armstrong and Robert Leday, who usually coordinates the luncheons represented his R. L. Tax Services. The Chamber’s Sharon Johnson, took care of the amenities, which included presented Mayor White the Chamber’s Appreciations Award and the rewarding the lucky ticket holder, Dr. Bill Stewart, who won a Centerpiece and art from Shirley Ann’s Showroom that was sponsored by Justice of Peace candidate Reiche Baumann. Meanwhile, I was delighted to close the outstanding luncheon out with a Chamber update. For Chamber information call Sharon Johnson @ (713) 692-7003.