Aggieland, TX

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to team up with some of my Connective Realty sister agents and several ABWA (American Business Women's Association) friends to Walk for the Cure. It was a beautiful crisp fall morning in College Station, Texas and we set out on our two mile journey.

Both of my granddaughters joined in to find a cure for this disease. This disease has affected my family for many years. My grandmother and Uncle Rick have already lost their battle with the disease and now two other uncles are facing the disease.

Each year, teams across America join hands to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for this and many other diseases. Each of you have personal connections to many different causes. I ask each Realtor out there to find a cause that has meaning for you and join their team give back to your community.

Each day we are tasked with finding homes for people. These people become clients and friends. Each has their own story, In finding out the "story" for each client and friend we will discover lots of needs and causes that could use our help. Get active in your community as your community is the lifeline of your business and your HOME!

The BCS Dream Team is working in conjunction with Caitlyn Lopez and Stanberry & Associates, Realtors in Bastrop to accept donations to help the evacuees of the largest populated wildfire in Texas.

Evacuee Items Needed:
Toiletries
Towels
Baby Diapers
Baby Food
Canned Food & Non-Perishables
Sheets
Blankets
Water
Etc...
(They've told us no clothes or furniture for now)

Firefighter Items Needed:
Chapstick
Eye Wash or Eye Drops
Water
Gatorade
Baby Wipes
Advil

Donations Can be Dropped off Today & Tomorrow at:

Cortiers Real Estate
547 William D Fitch Pkwy
Cambridge Building
College Station, Texas 77845

BCS Regional Assocation of Realtors Office
1901 Greenfield Plaza
Bryan, TX 77802

All American Stone & Turf
3312 State Hwy 6
College Station, TX 77845

Carla's House
5601 Blue Ridge Dr
College Station, Texas 77845

If you can't make it by any of these drop locations, please contact Carla, Karen, or Andrea to schedule a pickup/place to meet.

Carla: 979-255-0298
Andrea: 979-255-1109
Karen: 979-255-0238

If you are in Bastrop and wish to donate, you can drop your items off at:
111 N Hasler Blvd, across the side street from HEB, next to Chicken Express.

The BCS Dream Team will be driving to Bastrop on Friday morning to deliver all donations collected.

If you prefer to donate money, you can do so at the Red Cross website:
https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_Donate_OnlineGiving&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000

Join the Event on Facebook to stay up to date with the most current needs!

Chef Tai’s Mobile Gourmet was the FIRST Gourmet Food Truck in the Bryan / College Station area. In his food truck, Chef Tai serves a unique blend of globally inspired cuisine - similar to what can be found in his kitchen at Veritas Wine & Bistro.

As a Texas A&M University Alumni, Chef Tai felt a a strong need to create something not only budget friendly, but unique to Aggieland. His inexpensive and fun menu includes: BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos, Korean Short Rib BBQ Bowl, and Brussels Tofu Florentine all priced under $8. Chef Tai has developed a menu that delivers high-end food at street level prices.

Want to know where to find Chef Tai this week? Look no further -

WEEK OF 9/5 - 9/10:

LUNCH: 11AM - 1:30 PM ( Some @ 1:15 PM)

MON: A&M United Meth. Church, Northgate, map
TUE: Blinn College, map
WED: St. Joseph's Hospital, map
THU: Scott & White Clinic, map
FRI: Citibank, map
SAT: Food Truck Mash Up, Village Foods, map

DINNER: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

MON: CLOSED
TUE: COPY CORNER, map
WED: Chase Bank, map
FRI: NORTHGATE, map

It's the first game day of the 2011 Football season in Aggieland! Tonight the Texas Aggies are going to battle SMU.

Tickets for tonight's game have been sold out for a while, so unfortunately I don't get to go to the game. So, I decided to share last year's opening game experience with you instead.

The day started with a good old fashioned tailgate at Texas A&M. Since it was also an evening game last year, we spent quite a while out at the tailgate site. Holt brought some of his homebrew, Curt was our master chef, and lots of relaxing and games of washers ensued. This photo is of me and two of my best friends, Sheree and Erin. The three of us were roommates years ago, and are still best friends even though we all live hours apart from each other today.

After the tailgate, we walked over to Kyle Field and joined the sea of maroon on the trek up to our seats.

One of Texas A&M's greatest football traditions is the marching of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. When I was a trumpet player in high school, I wanted nothing more than to march with the Texas Aggie Band - until I realized that the Aggie Band was an extension of the Corps of Cadets. That wasn't really in my plans. I've known some amazing musicians and friends who were in the Aggie Band though. They put on a great halftime show. If you haven't gotten to see them march in person, I highly recommend making the trip to a Texas Aggie Football game.

This is a photo of Holt and I after a long day of tailgating, football, and friends. As I mentioned earlier, I don't get to go to the game today, but Holt was invited by a family friend who had one ticket left. While I am jealous that he gets to go and I don't, I am proud that I've converted him into an Aggie. When I met him 3 years ago, he didn't even own a maroon shirt, much less an Aggie shirt!

Let's go Ag's! BTHO SMU!! Whoop!!

TEXAS A&M NOTIFIES BIG 12 OF CONFERENCE EXPLORATION

COLLEGE STATION, TX -- Texas A&M University today officially notified the Big 12 Conference that it is exploring options related to the institution’s athletic conference affiliation. Texas A&M also requested that the Big 12 outline the process to be followed should the university elect to withdraw from the conference.

In the letter to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin indicated that if the university withdraws from the conference, Texas A&M would do so in a way that complies with the Big 12’s bylaws. Additionally, Texas A&M would be supportive of the Big 12’s efforts to seek a new member of the conference.

“As I have indicated previously, we are working very deliberately to act in the best long-term interests of both Texas A&M and the State of Texas. This truly is a 100-year decision,” said Loftin. “While we understand the desire of all parties to quickly reach a resolution, these are extremely complex issues that we are addressing methodically.”

“Ultimately, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs,” Loftin added. “As a public university, Texas A&M owes it to the state’s taxpayers to maximize our assets and generate additional revenues both now and well into the future.”

Below is the letter Texas A&M sent to the Big 12 Conference.

August 24, 2011

Mr. Dan Beebe, Commissioner Big 12 Conference 400 E. John Carpenter Freeway Irving, Texas 75062

Dear Commissioner Beebe: As you know, the Texas A&M Board of Regents has authorized me to take action relating to Texas A&M University's ("Texas A&M") conference alignment. While this letter is not a notice of Texas A&M's withdrawal from the Big 12 Conference (the "Conference"), we are exploring our options. There has been a great deal of speculation and comment in the media about Texas A&M leaving the Conference, including discussions of other institutions joining the Conference. If Texas A&M withdraws from the Conference, we want to do so in a way that complies with the Bylaws and is supportive of your efforts to seek a new member of the Conference. We would appreciate your conferring with the other member institutions and outlining for us the process to be followed by Texas A&M should it withdraw from the Conference. We look forward to hearing from you. cc: Member Institutions

View the original article at KBTX: Texas A&M Notifies Big 12 Of Conference Exploration.