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The Lower Rio Grande Valley

Development Council (LRGVDC)

membership has approved the

2013 Work Program and Budget

that will allow the Council tocontinue its active role in the

Region. The new FY 2013 budget

puts emphasis on, and addresses

needs within Cameron, Hidalgo

and Willacy Counties in programs

such as Transit, Criminal Justice

Assistance, Homeland Security,

Law Enforcement Training, 9-1-

1 Coordination, Solid Waste,

Water Quality/Quantity Planning,

Economic Development, the AreaAgency on Aging, and Disaster

Recovery as a result of Hurricane

Dolly.

The LRGVDC employs 137

individuals and will operate on a

projected annual budget of $53.5

million in 2013.

The budget reects a sound

organization and continuedregional support of comprehensive

services provided, stated

Mayor Steve Brewer, LRGVDC

President. Local revenues are

used successfully to leverage state

and federal funds. Less than 1% of

the LRGVDC budget is generated

from membership dues.

State income sources include the

Texas General Land Ofce, Texas

Water Development Board, Texas

Commission on Environmental

Quality, Criminal Justice Divisionof the Governors Ofce, Texas

Department of Transportation,

TDPS/State Homeland Security,

and the Texas Department of

Aging and Disability Services.

Federal sources for funds include

the Economic Development

Administration, the Corporation

for National Service and the

Federal Transit Administration.

Membership Approves WorkProgram and Budget forFY 2013

Director of Area Agencyon Aging Selected for Award atAnnual Texas Conference onAging

LRGVDC Staff Recognized

For Years Of Service

Regional Police Academy andTraining Center

Public Awareness Eventson Prevention of Medicareand Medicaid Fraud

LRGVDC Regional Small CitiesCoalition (Rscc) CommitteeOfcers For 2013

LRGVDC Ombudsman ProgramRecognized

Love Lives On Workshop

REGIONAL PURSUITS is the newsletter

published by the LRGVDC.This publication is nanced in part through

funding assistance from State

and Federal grants.

REGIONAL PURSUITS is available without cos

and inquiries should be directed to:

Ken Jones, Executive Director

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Counci

301 W. Railroad Street, Weslaco, TX 78596

E-Mail: info@lrgvdc.org

website: www.lrgvdc.org

(956) 682-3481, Fax (956) 631-4670

APRIL 2013 VOLUME LXXVI

Membership Approves

Work Program and Budget for FY 2013

LRGVDC 2013 BUDGET

Federal 8.8%

Operating 3.4%

Local 1%

State 90.2%

Programs 96.6%

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Board President, Steve Brewer, City of La Feria Mayor

was honored to recognized staff for 5, 10, 15, 20 and

35 years of service and contributions to the Region.

Jose (Joe) L. Gonzalez, Director of Area Agency on

Aging for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development

Council was awarded the 2012 Texas Conference on

Agings Outstanding Professional Award. The award

is presented every year to an individual who has made

signicant contributions to the eld of aging. Joe

joined the Area Agency on Aging on June 19, 1980.

He has been an ofcer and past president of the Texas

Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and served on

the Texas Aging Well Advisory Council. Joe is alsopast and current Board member of the Texas Alliance

of Information and Referral Systems. He has served

on the n4a (National Association of Area Agencies

on Aging) Board as an Alternate and Board member

representing Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico,

and Louisiana for the past 19 years. In his second term

on the n4a Board he served as Second Vice-President.

Active at the local level with various organizations

such as the McAllen Senior Citizens Advisory

Council, Coalition for Valley Families, Regional

Transit Advisory Panel, and Colonias Workgroup, to

name a few. He has been a strong advocate for seniors,

caregivers, and Area Agencies on Aging, including

his colleagues among the Indian Tribes serving Indian

elders.

Lrgvdc Staf reonizeFo Yeas O Seie

Front row l-r: Debby Morales, 10 years; Jennier Trevino, 5 years;Mary Carril lo, 5 years; Anna Trevino, 5 years; Elida Carranza, 20 years;

Anna Hernandez, 35 years.

Back row l-r: Board President Steve Brewer, City o La Feria Mayor,

Manuel Cruz, 10 years; Oscar Garza, 5 years; Fernando Rodriguez, 10 years;Orlando Nino, 5 years; Fernando Castillo, 10 years;

Paul Dulcet, 10 years; Juan Torres, 10 years.

Not pictured: Yolanda Hernandez, 5 years; Mario Perez, 5 years;Diana De Anda, 10 years; Robert Diaz, 10 years; Olga Arias-Hernandez, 15 years,

and Alma Guerrero, 15 years.

Pictured L-R: Gary Lut, President o T4A; Robert Lopez, President o TAAP;

Joe Gonzalez, LRGVDC Area Agency on Aging Director;and Chris Traylor, ormer DADS Commissioner.

Director of Area Agencyon Aging Selected for Award at

Annual Texas Conference on Aging

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With the start of the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, the

Police Academy is anxiously awaiting the changes inthe current laws and any new laws that will be enacted.

Following each legislative session, Texas peace ofcers

are required to attend a course designed specically for

peace ofcers that focuses on the new laws and changes

to the laws as they pertain to law enforcement and public

safety. For example, the 82nd Legislative Session

added pets and companion animals to protective

orders. Even though the Texas Legislature will discuss

the budget, they will also discuss issues of public safety.

If you are interested in tracking bills during the session,

please visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.

The Police Academy continues to address the needs of

the public safety community. On Friday, March 8, 2013,

the Academy will offer the Excited Delirium course.

Excited delirium is a medical emergency. The course

is designed to present information to police ofcers

and other rst responders who may encounter persons

suffering from excited delirium. Often, when members

of the public are exhibiting signs and strategies to harmthemselves or others, police are called to rectify the

situation; however, one of the situations ofcers may

confront is excited delirium and ofcers should be

properly trained to protect the ofcer, third parties and

the excited delirium subject. Law enforcement ofcers,

re rescue and emergency medical personnel must

train together in the recognition of excited delirium and

prepare plans for successful intervention. One aspect

would be learning new procedures and protocols that

are currently being used in the eld by emergency

medical personnel.

The Academy is testing for the upcoming academy

classes. We are conducting the academy entrance test

at the LRGVDC Transit Facility in Weslaco. The cost

for the test is $25 and one can call our Harlingen Ofce

at (956) 364-4507 to register for the test. Please visit

our webpage for academy start dates: www.lrgvdc.org.

Regional Police Academy andTraining Center

Mr. Robert Obregon with the

Senior Medicare Patrol of the Area

Agency on Aging helped coordinate

a two day public awareness event on

February 6 & 7 for professionals and

seniors respectively on the prevention

of Medicare, and Medicaid fraud.

The rst day of the event was held

at UT Pan American in Edinburg.

More than 200 professionals from

medical equipment providers, home

health agencies, local hospitals,

state agencies, and partner agencies

attended. The second day of the

event was held at Knapp Conference

Center in Weslaco. This event catered

to the general public and seniors and

included a pubic shredding service.

The public was invited to bring any

items they wanted shredded at no

cost.

Some of the topics covered were

Medicare and Medicaid fraud,

identity theft, and information

on recent cases prosecuted for

scamming the public.

Weslaco Police Ofcer J.P. Rodriguez addressing a

group o seniors during the Fraud Awareness event atthe KMC Conerence Center

Public Awareness Eventson Prevention of Medicare

and Medicaid Fraud

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LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Contact: Terrie G. Salinas, Program Director

301 West Railroad Street Weslaco, Texas 78596 (956) 682-3481

Business Name or Owner:

Number of Employees:

Address:

City, Zip Code:

Phone:

Email:

What service(s) do you/can you provide?

Would you be interested in learning about: (Check all that apply)

We are currently recruiting businesses to begin this program, so please fill out this form and mail or fax to the address below.The rst planning meeting will be scheduled for March. There is no cost to join this program.

_____ How to Start a Business _____ Technical Schools _____ Licensing/Certification Programs

_____ Apprentice Programs _____ Marketing Strategies _____ Continuity of Operations Plan

_____ Mentoring Programs _____ Financial Assistance _____ Small Business Incubators

_____ Building Codes _____ GED _____ English Language Classes

Other:

STIR-BIZ-UPBusiness Registry

Disaster Assistance Program

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC)/Economic Development District (EDD) received funding from

the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for a new program to help businesses that provide disaster recovery

services. After a hurricane or a natural disaster there is a great need for businesses that repair roofs, windows, ooring,

drive-ways, cabinets, or clean up brush or do landscaping, etc. Some of these businesses are just starting or are too small to

compete for jobs, therefore, this program is designed to provide you with some of the information, education, resources, and

support your business needs to help stir-up some business for you.

DO YOU NEED HELP

GETTING MORE BUSINESS?

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The LRGVDCs Ombudsman

Program received two awards at

the 2013 Access and Assistance

Training Conference held in

Austin. The conference was held

Monday, February 4 Wednesday,

February 6.

Anna Trevino accepted theNursing Facility Service Award

for 2012 for 100% Quarterly

Nursing Facility Coverage.

Molly Segovia accepted the

Community Education Award for

2012. Congratulations to staff

ombudsmen Anna Maria Trevino

and Molly Segovia!

LRGVDC AAA Elder Rights

staff assisted in holding the Love

Lives On event. It was held

Tuesday, February 12th at the

Legacy Event Center in Edinburg.

The event catered to widows and

widowers dealing with the grief

of losing their spouse.

Dr. Marsha Nelson was the

keynote speaker. She shared

her experience of losing her rst

husband as they arrived at the

London airport to begin their

vacation. She spoke of having to

deal with all of the arrangements

to get back to the United States.

Other committee members werefrom the Doctors Hospital at

Renaissance, Caregiver SOS,

Caring Senior Services, and

Legacy Center.

Approximately 40 people

attended. They were treated to a

reception after the program.

LRGVDC OmbudsmanProgram Recognized

Love Lives Onworkshop

Lrgvdc reonal Small ctescoalton (rScc) commttee

OFFicErS FOr 2013

On December 13, 2012 thefollowing members wereelected as the Committees Ofcers.

The following slate took ofce

January 10th, at their rst monthly

meeting of the year. The RSCC

met in Alamo where it was hosted

by the City, Fire Department, and

member representative JaimeSandoval.

Chairman Rolando Vela,City Manager of Laguna Vista

Vice-Chairman Sunny Philip,City Manager of La Feria

Secretary/Treasurer Judy Davila,City Manager of Sullivan City

Member-at-Large Eleazar Yogi Garcia,City Manger of Raymondville

Member-at-Large Javier Mendez,

City Manager of Primera

This Committee was specically

created to serve small, rural cities

with a population of 20,000 or less.

Approximately 33 of the 44 cities

in the Valley meet this criteria and

it is the goal of this committee to

reach out to all of these cities and

have them join the Regional

Small Cities Coalition. Please

call the Economic Development

Department at (956) 682-3481 for

more information on the Committeeor for becoming a member.

Molly Segovia (let) and Anna Trevino (right)

displaying the awards recently presented at the2013 Access and Assistance Training

Picture here is Dr. Marsha Nelson

speaking to the group.

Picture o RSCC Committee Members.

Meeting hosted by Mayor Barbara Collum,

Town o Indian Lake.

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CONTACTS FOR LRGVDC ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS

ExECuTIVE COMMITTEEMayor Steve Brewer PresidentCity o La Feria

Honorable Norma G. Garcia 1st Vice-PresidentMember-At-Large

Mayor Tony Martinez 2nd Vice-PresidentCity o Brownsville

Mayor Chris Boswell SecretaryCity o Harlingen

Commissioner Garardo Jerry Taolla TreasurerMember-at-Large

Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez Immediate Past PresidentCity o Edcouch

REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS

Commissioner Sofa Benavides Cameron CountyCommissioner Hector Tito Palacios Hidalgo CountyJudge John F. Gonzales, Jr. Willacy CountyCommissioner Pilar Garza City o AlamoMayor David Simmons City o Donna

Council Member Gus Garcia City o EdinburgCommissioner Jim Darling City o McAllenMayor Henry Hinojosa City o MercedesCouncil Member Norie Gonzalez Garza City o MissionMayor Leo Polo Palacios, Jr. City o PharrMayor Orlando Correa City o RaymondvilleCommissioner Joe D. Gonzalez City o San BenitoMayor Pro-Tem Armando Garza City o San JuanDr. Cesar Maldonado TSTCMr. Roberto Loredo Donna I.S.D.Mr. Gale Armstrong El Jardin Water Supply CorporationMr. J. Shane Cameron Port Mansfeld PUB &Mr. Don Medina Member-at-LargeMr. Arturo Ramirez Grassroots Organizations

Kenneth N. Jones, Jr. Executive DirectorAnn Lyles Director, FinanceAnna Hernandez Director, Human ResourcesVictor Morales Director, ProcurementJoe Gonzalez Director, Area Agency on AgingTerrie Salinas Director, Economic Development

Tom Logan Director, Valley MetroManuel Cruz Director, Homeland SecurityMarcie Oviedo Director, Regional Planning & ServicesJuan Gomez Director, 9-1-1 ServicesPaul Williams Director, Regional Police Academy & Training CenterAndrew Canon Director, Hidalgo County MPO

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LowerRioGrandeValleyDevelopmentCouncil

301W.RailroadStreetWeslaco,TX78596

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Concil

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012-2013