From the President

By the time this column is published, schools will have started, the weather may be somewhat cooler, most of us have completed a tentative budget, and most of all, I hope the Texas Legislature has gone home.
With my term as your president drawing to a close, I have had a few moments to think about the past year for our Association. This being a legislative year, we had many distasteful changes placed on our plates, and our Association, leaders, members and staff rose to the call and had them squashed. I appreciate all you have done for the benefit of county government and our citizens. At this writing, the legislators are in their second special session, so again the final outcome is unknown.
On to better subjects. The annual County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Conference is in the final planning stages. The staff and officers of the CJCAT, and the staff of Texas Association of Counties, County Progress, and V.G. Young Institute of County Government, Texas Cooperative Extension, have put in many hours to construct an informative and exciting conference.
The Opening General Session will be at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4. This year we will have a total of 18 credit hours for commissioners and four judicial credit hours to take care of the education portion of this conference.
True to form, this conference will not be all about business. The Vendor Appreciation Night will be held at the National Ranching Heritage Center with a traditional chuck wagon meal and western dance on Monday, Oct. 3. The host court, Lubbock County Commissioners Court, will host an event on Tuesday night, Oct. 4. The conference activities also will include golf, pool and domino tournaments on Wed., Oct. 5. This year’s golf tournament will be at the new Raws Golf Course.
The banquet and installation of officers will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6. We will be welcoming and swearing in your next president, Commissioner Gilbert Pargmann from DeWitt County. Gilbert and his wife, Mary, have been active in county government for several years, so most of you are acquainted with them. Gilbert is a good man and will be a great president for the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas. He is by no means a rookie, but a seasoned leader.
Do not forget to bring your spouses to the conference! We have a great time planned for the ladies/gentlemen spouses. On Monday, she/he may tour the Ranching Heritage Center before dinner. On Tuesday, the luncheon will be a catered meal by Stella’s in the mezzanine of the Civic Center. The luncheon includes gifts for everyone and hopefully a style show. Other planned events include a session on Lifestyles, trip to the mall, and a visit to the Ranching Heritage Center Museum.
I am looking forward to seeing you in October.
Van L. York, Association President