2010 Democratic County Convention Is Saturday, March 20th

Join the Democratic Party of
Collin County for our County Convention!

Meet Democratic Candidates
Vote on Important Measures*
Network with Other Democrats
Celebrate Democratic Values!

*If You are an Elected Delegate to the County Convention

The 2010 Collin County Democratic Convention is our kick-off event for the general election season.

With a record number of local candidates and strong regional and statewide candidates, Collin County is poised to elect Democrats from the Courthouse to the Governor’s Mansion!
 
All are welcome to come to the convention and be a part of the excitement!

Admission is free, but the County Convention will be funded by local Democrats like you, and donations from those able to contribute are greatly appreciated.  To be a recognized sponsor of the event (as an individual or a business), rent an exhibit table, or get more information about the convention, please contact Convention Organizing Committee Co-Chair Linda Magid at countyconvention@collindems.us.

We look forward to seeing you there on March 20th!
 
Sincerely,

D. Shawn Stevens
Chairman

Democratic Party of Collin County           Become a fan of the DPCC on Facebook    

2504 K Avenue, Suite 200
Plano, TX 75074
Phone: 972.578.1483

www.collindems.us

Paid for by the Democratic Party of Collin County
Oscar Peña, Treasurer

Not Authorized by Any Candidate or Candidate Committee

FRISCO SQUARE STREETS CLOSED SATURDAY, MARCH 13 FOR PADDY DASH AND IRISH

(March 11, 2010) Many of the streets within the Frisco Square area will be closed Saturday morning, March 13, between 6 – 10 a.m. for the Paddy Dash 5K Race and Irish Parade.

•       Frisco Square Boulevard will be closed between World Cup Way and Frisco Street;
•       Page Street will be closed between Dallas Parkway and Library Street;
•       Library Street will be closed between Frisco Square Boulevard and Cotton Gin Road;
•       Cotton Gin Road will be closed between Dallas Parkway and Library Street.

During this closure, there will be no vehicular access to City Hall or the Library (which includes access to the drive-up library book drop-off). All traffic approaching Frisco Square during this time should approach on Main Street and access the area via Coleman Boulevard or John W. Elliott Drive.

The following groups should use Coleman Boulevard to access the parking lots behind the Frisco Square businesses:

•       Race participants
•       Library staff and patrons who arrive before 10:00 AM*
•       Business traffic on Coleman Blvd
•       Residents who live north of the Plaza

The following groups should use John W. Elliott Drive to access their facilities:

•       Frisco Senior Center
•       Heritage Center
•       Residents who live east of Library Street

Traffic headed to the Sci-Tech Discovery Center before 10:00 AM will need to access the facility using its driveway on northbound Dallas Parkway.

*As a reminder, the parking lot behind the Library is closed for construction and so all Library parking is located in front of or on the sides of the Library.  Library patrons can also use the parking lots behind the Frisco Square businesses.

Courtesy of  The City of Frisco’s News and Information service

FRISCO SELECTED AS NEW HOST SITE FOR NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Frisco is the new host city for the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship game, which will played at Pizza Hut Park on January 7, 2011. The NCAA announced earlier today that the 23,500-seat multi-purpose stadium will be the host site for the championship game for the next three years.

“Touchdown! We can’t wait for college football to come to Frisco,” said Mayor Maher Maso. “Frisco is a sports town and a Division I Football Championship is another chance for sports fans everywhere to not only experience great football but to also discover all our community has to offer. We also want to thank folks from all over the country who supported our bid effort.”

Less than five weeks ago, Frisco launched an online pledge drive inviting football fans to show their support for the effort to move the championship games to Pizza Hut Park. Frisco received pledges from people living in 103 cities throughout Texas and from 17 other states. Frisco estimated the pledges represented more than 8,000 tickets.

“Pizza Hut Park and Hunt Sports Group couldn’t be more excited to host the NCAA Division I Football games,” said John Wagner, President, Hunt Sports Group. “Along with Southland Conference and the City of Frisco, we look forward to showcasing our venue and our city.”

The local organizing committee consists of the City of Frisco, its Economic Development Corporation and Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hunt Sports Group/Pizza Hut Park, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and Frisco based Southland Conference.

“The Southland Conference is honored and privileged to serve as the host conference for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game,” said Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett. “Since beginning the planning process last August, our Team Frisco local organizing committee has worked diligently to bring this national championship to Pizza Hut Park. We also knew from the start our community would support this effort. Given all the built-in advantages of Frisco and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, we always felt confident the NCAA would be attracted to what we were offering the game.”

Frisco emerged from a pool of several cities that submitted bids to serve as the host site for the championship games, beginning with the 2010 season.

The championship game will be the culmination of a newly expanded 20-team championship bracket. As a result of this expansion, the game will be played a few weeks later than in years past.

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, includes the conferences and institutions that compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship, in addition to two conferences who choose not to participate in the football championship, the Ivy League and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The FCS embodies a tradition of excellence through high level competition, student-athlete character and sportsmanship throughout the regular season and the championship experience.

The decision to award the championship site to Frisco, Texas, was recommended by the Division I Football Championship Committee and approved by the Administrative Committee of the Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.

“We are excited about the opportunity for the football championship game to be played in Frisco,” said Damani Leech, NCAA director of baseball and football. “With the quality of bids that were submitted, it was not an easy decision to make. But we feel the right decision and right place to serve as the site for the Division I football championship is indeed Frisco.”

For more information on the NCAA Division I Football Championship, log on to NCAA.com/football.

Are You Up For The “Take 10″ Challenge?

On behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau, we are asking our partners to join us in making history by helping to boost the mail back participation rates across the Nation and in your community during the 2010 Census.

During each Decennial Census, the Census Bureau undertakes the count of every person residing in the United States, as mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. To encourage everyone to take 10 minutes to answer the 10 simple questions on the 2010 Census form, we are launching the “Take 10″ campaign. Through “Take 10,” you can visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to get updates on the proportion of households that have mailed back the 2010 Census forms. You also will be able to view differences between your community’s participation rates and those of neighboring communities or other areas across the country.

The “Take 10″ Challenge – Tools to Inspire the Mail Back Participation Rates for the 2010 Census

During the 2000 Census, 72 percent of occupied households mailed back their forms. In 2010, we are challenging communities to do even better. The Census Bureau’s “Take 10″ campaign gives you a wide range of tools to inspire your community to meet our challenge. These include:

• An interactive, map-based, “Take 10″ Web site that allows local areas to track and compare their 2010 Census mail back participation rates, which will be updated on a daily basis at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/, and to look up their 2000 Census participation rates.
• An electronic toolkit is available which includes talking points, sample speeches, new releases, newsletter copy, event suggestions, flyers, stickers, and doorknob hanger templates, and more.
• Suggestions on how to use friendly competition with other communities to inspire participation in the census.

You can play an important leadership role in encouraging your community to mail back their forms. Most 2010 Census questionnaires are delivered from March 15-17, 2010. From the time the forms are delivered until the closing of the mail campaign at the end of April, you have the opportunity to remind your area residents of the importance of mailing back their census forms. We believe that you can encourage participation through speeches, special events, and challenges.

The stakes are high; an accurate count of the local population helps to ensure that your community receives its fair share of federal funding. This funding includes resources for services, such as health care, education, and roads.

Your constituents must complete and mail back their census forms between March 15, 2010 and April 15, 2010. The good news is that the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest in history-just 10 questions that only take about 10 minutes to complete. We hope we can count on you to encourage participatation in the 2010 Census. Visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ now to see your area’s 2000 Census mail participation rate and check the site daily for updates beginning March 22.

The 2010 Census: It’s in our Hands.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Director
U.S. Census Bureau

Questions for the US Census 2010?
Contact Us

NCAA Pitches Go Well… Chattanooga and Frisco Feel Good About Bids

John Frierson
Chattanooga Times Free Press
26 February 2010

After several months of preparation, representatives from Chattanooga and Frisco, Texas, made their cases Thursday in Indianapolis for why they should host the next three NCAA Division I Football Championship games.

Both groups met with the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee for about an hour, and afterward both sides said they felt good about their presentations.

“It couldn’t have gone any smoother,” Greater Chattanooga Sports & Events Committee president Scott Smith said. “We feel like we’ve done what we can do, and now it’s up to them to make a decision.”

Tom Burnett, commissioner of the Frisco-based Southland Conference, was equally upbeat.

“I thought it went well,” he said. “We had a good visit with them and left with them some things to consider.”

The committee voted Thursday afternoon, and its recommendation was passed along to the Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. That group will make a final determination on who will host the game during a conference call today.

Finley Stadium has been the home of the FCS title game for the past 13 years, so Chattanooga had the familiarity advantage with the committee, which includes Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb and Montana AD Jim O’Day. Their schools have played in the championship game at Finley a combined eight times.

“There were a couple of comparisons between us and Frisco and the Dallas area,” Smith said of the presentation, “but it was mostly focusing on what we do well and what we’re going to do and continue to do.”

Because the committee is less familiar with Frisco — only four members attended the site visit in January — Burnett said more basic information about the Dallas suburb was included in its presentation.

“We told the Frisco story,” he said. “We felt an obligation to share some basic information about the community, the facility (Pizza Hut Park) and who we are for those that didn’t come to Frisco.

“We talked about the growth in our community, the great things we have going on, our leadership, the expansion of business, and obviously we talked about our facility and support staffs and some of the other things we can provide.”

The committee members forwarded all media requests for comment to Damani Leech, NCAA director of football and baseball. Leech did not return several phone calls from the Times Free Press seeking comment.

Sorry for Confusion, But Frisco Chamber Candidate Forum Officially Cancelled

We apologize for the confusion, however due to the weather and chance for dangerous driving conditions this evening, tonight’s Candidate Forum at The Chamber has been cancelled. We follow FISD weather closings and they will officially shut down at 5:00 pm.

Check the website next Tuesday for complete candidate coverage and information. Be safe and remember to vote in March!

2/11 Frisco Chamber Candidate Forum: Weather Update

Tonight’s forum will go on as scheduled, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at The Frisco Chamber of Commerce, 6843 Main Street (parking in back).

However, safety is our first priority. If any attendee or candidate cannot attend this evening due to weather conditions, please tune in to RadioFreeFrisco.com for complete live coverage and interviews.

Please visit www.friscochamber.com for a complete listing of all March 2010 races, candidates, websites, information and email addresses to be posted by Tuesday 2/16.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Chamber at (972) 335-9522. Be safe and have a wonderful day.

How To Write A Proper Press Release

How to Write a Press Release

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A press release, also known as a news release, is simply a written statement to the media. They can announce a range of news items: scheduled events, personnel promotions, awards, new products and services, sales accomplishments, etc. They can also be used in generating a feature story. Reporters are more likely to consider a story idea if they first receive a release. It is a fundamental tool of PR work, one that anyone who’s willing to use the proper format can use.

Steps

1. Write the headline. It should be brief, clear and to the point: an ultra-compact version of the press release’s key point.

• News release headlines should have a “grabber” to attract readers, i.e., journalists, just as a newspaper headline is meant to grab readers. It may describe the latest achievement of an organization, a recent newsworthy event, a new product or service. For example, “XYZ Co. enters strategic partnership with ABC Co. in India & United States.”
• Headlines are written in bold and are typically larger than the press release text. Conventional press release headlines are present-tense and exclude “a” and “the” as well as forms of the verb “to be” in certain contexts.
• The first word in the press release headline should be capitalized, as should all proper nouns. Most headline words appear in lower-case letters, although adding a stylized “small caps” style can create a more graphically news-attractive look and feel. Do not capitalize every word.
• The simplest method to arrive at the press release headline is to extract the most important keywords from your press release. Now from these keywords, try to frame a logical and attention-getting statement. Using keywords will give you better visibility in search engines, and it will be simpler for journalists and readers to get the idea of the press release content.

Write the press release body copy. The press release should be written as you want it to appear in a news story.

• Start with the date and city in which the press release is originated. The city may be omitted if it will be confusing, for example if the release is written in New York about events in the company’s Chicago division.
• The lead, or first sentence, should grab the reader and say concisely what is happening. The next 1-2 sentences then expand upon the lead.
• The press release body copy should be compact. Avoid using very long sentences and paragraphs. Avoid repetition and over use of fancy language and jargon.
• A first paragraph (two to three sentences) must actually sum up the press release and the further content must elaborate it. In a fast-paced world, neither journalists nor other readers would read the entire press release if the start of the article didn’t generate interest.
• Deal with actual facts – events, products, services, people, targets, goals, plans, projects. Try to provide maximum use of concrete facts. A simple method for writing an effective press release is to make a list of following things:

Communicate the 5 Ws and the H. Who, what, when, where, why, and how. Then consider the points below if pertinent.

• • What is the actual news?
  • Why this is news.
  • The people, products, items, dates and other things related with the news.
  • The purpose behind the news.
  • Your company – the source of this news.
• Now from the points gathered, try to construct paragraphs and assemble them sequentially: The headline > the summary or introduction of the news > event or achievements > product > people > again the concluding summary > the company.
• The length of a press release should be no more than three pages. If you are sending a hard copy, text should be double-spaced.
• The more newsworthy you make the press release copy, the better the chances of it being selected by a journalist or reporting. Find out what “newsworthy” means to a given market and use it to hook the editor or reporter.

Include information about the company. When a journalist picks up your press release for a story, he/she would logically have to mention the company in the news article. Journalists can then get the company information from this section.

• The title for this section should be – About XYZ_COMPANY
• After the title, use a paragraph or two to describe your company with 5/6 lines each. The text must describe your company, its core business and the business policy. Many businesses already have professionally written brochures, presentations, business plans, etc. – that introductory text can be put here.
• At the end of this section, point to your website. The link should be the exact and complete URL without any embedding so that, even if this page is printed, the link will be printed as it is. For example: http://www.your_company_website.com. Companies which maintain a separate media page on their websites must point to that URL here. A media page typically has contact information and press kits.

Tie it together. Provide some extra information links that support your press release.

Add contact information. If your press release is really newsworthy, journalists would surely like more information or would like to interview key people associated with it.

• If you are comfortable with the idea of letting your key people being directly contacted by media, you can provide their contact details on the press release page itself. For example, in case of some innovation, you can provide the contact information of your engineering or research team for the media.
• Otherwise, you must provide the details of your media/PR department in the “Contact” section. If you do not have dedicated team for this function, you must appoint somebody who will act as a link between the media and your people.
• The contact details must be limited and specific only to the current press release. The contact details must include:
  • The Company’s Official Name
  • Media Department’s official Name and Contact Person
  • Office Address
  • Telephone and fax Numbers with proper country/city codes and extension numbers
  • Mobile Phone Number (optional)
  • Timings of availability
  • E-mail Addresses
  • Web site Address

Signal the end of the press release with three # symbols, centered directly underneath the last line of the release. This is a journalistic standard.

Tips

• Include the company name in the headline, any subhead, and in the body of the first paragraph for better visibility via search engines and for news professionals and other readers. If you’re mailing a hard copy, you may put it on company letterhead.
• If the press release is for immediate release, you may write “IMMEDIATE RELEASE” in all caps on the left margin, directly above the headline. If the release is embargoed, put “EMBARGOED UNTIL…” with the date you want the story released. A release with no release date is presumed to be for immediate release.
• Research actual press releases on the web to get the feel of the tone, the language, the structure and the format of a press release.
• The timing of the press release is very important. It must be relevant and recent news, not too old and not too distant.
• A follow-up call can help develop a press release into a full story.
• Include a “call to action” in your release. This is information on what you want the public to do with the information that you are releasing. For example, do you want them to buy a product? If so, include information on where the product is available. Do you want them to visit your Web site to enter a contest or learn more about your organization? If so, include the Web address or a phone number.
• Do not waste time writing the headline until the release is done. Copy editors write the real headlines in newspapers and magazines, but it is good to come up with a catchy title or “headline” for the release. This headline may be your only chance. Keep it concise and factual. But if you try to write it before you write the release, you waste time. You don’t know yet exactly what you – or those you interview, will say. When you have finished a draft of the release, you may decide to revise your lead — or not. Then and only then think about the headline.
• Send your release by e-mail, and use formatting sparingly. Giant type and multiple colors don’t enhance your news, they distract from it. Put the release in the body of the e-mail, not as an attachment. If you must use an attachment, make it a plain text or Rich Text Format file. Word documents are acceptable at most outlets, but if you are using the newest version (.docx), save down a version (.doc). Newspapers, especially, are on tight budgets now, and many have not upgraded. Use PDF files only if you are sending a full media kit with lots of graphics. Please don’t type a release on letterhead, scan it, and e-mail a jpeg of the scan. That’s a waste of your time and the editor’s. Just type the release into the e-mail message.
• Use your headline as the subject line of the e-mail. If you’ve written a good “grabber” headline, this will help your message stand out in the editor’s e-mail inbox.
• Craft each release to target a specific media outlet and send it to the specific reporter who covers that beat. This information can usually be found on the outlet’s Web site. Blasting the identical press release to multiple outlets and multiple reporters at the same outlet is a sign that you are taking shortcuts rather than targeting a specific market.
• Avoid jargon or specialized technical terms. If accuracy requires the use of an industry-specific term, define it.

Warnings

• Always remember that editors are overworked and understaffed. If you can make life easier for them, you’re more likely to get coverage. If you write a press release that’s close to the way the editor will actually publish it, it may see publication with minimal editing. But if you fill it with fluffy advertising copy, don’t use proper AP style, etc., the editor must severely edit your piece to use it. That means he or she is more likely to just move on to the next press release–and there are plenty of them.
• Avoid the temptation to clutter your lead with a glowing generalization about your company (“XYZ Corp, a global leader in the manufacture of high-end widgets for the royalty of Europe, today announced…”) Many releases are written this way, despite the fact that editors delete this kind of fluff. Everybody says they’re the leader. Don’t waste the editor’s time. The place to put a description is in the company information section of the release. But keep it accurate and factual.
• When e-mailing a press release, do not make the subject line of your e-mail “press release.” You will only blend into the crowd. Get the editor’s attention by making the subject line your “grabber” headline, e.g. “Brand Co. wins $30 billion government contract.”

Related wikiHows

• How to Create an Advertisement
• How to Write Headlines that Leap Off the Page and Grab Readers by the Throat
• How to Write the Perfect Headline for Your Ad
• How to Use the Internet to Promote Your Business
• How to Make a Brochure That Looks Professional
• How to Distribute a News Story for Maximum Media Exposure
• How to Publicize Yourself the Right Way on wikiHow

Sources and Citations

• Information on how to write a good press release
• Information on how to submit your press release for free
• Submit your press release for free.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Write a Press Release. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

The Frisco Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum

The Frisco Chamber of Commerce invites the public and chamber members to the March 2010 Candidate Forum 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, 6843 Main Street, Frisco. Business owners and the voters will have direct access to their representatives at a unique opportunity.

The setting is informal and no set speeches will be given. Instead, attendees will decide what questions they want to ask, if they want to ask, or if they just want to listen to what others have to say. RadioFree Frisco will broadcast the event on site as well as conduct candidate interviews.

The following candidates have confirmed their attendance:

Collin County Judge Race
Keith Self Representative & John Muns Representative

Collin County District Attorney Race
James Angelino, Jeff Bray & Greg Willis

Collin County Justice of the Peace Precinct #4
Mike Yarbrough (I), Kelley Adley & Douglas Reeves

Denton County State Representative District 65
Burt Solomons (I) & Mike Murphy

Denton County District Attorney
Paul Johnson (I) & Brent Bowen

Denton County Justice of the Peace Precinct #2
James DePiazza (I) & Carlos Gallardo

For more information, contact Tony Felker at The Frisco Chamber of Commerce (972) 335-9522.

Chamber Hosts March 2010 Candidate Forum

Frisco, TX – February 3, 2010 – The Frisco Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a March 2010 Candidate Forum where business owners and the voters will have direct access to their representatives.   The unique opportunity will be informal and no set speeches will be given.  Instead, attendees will determine what questions they want to ask, if they want to ask, or if they just want to listen to what others have to say.

The Forum will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Frisco Chamber of Commerce Event Room, 6843 Main Street (parking and entrance in back of the building).

“In a time when businesses and residents are tired of hearing canned speeches and ads from candidates, we are offering an opportunity for our members and the Frisco community who want to get to see and hear the candidates in person,” said David Arbuckle, Chair of the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee.

“Business owners must make their voices heard and the Frisco Chamber is giving you the tools you need to do so,” added Kelly Kunst, member of the Governmental Affairs Committee.  Candidates will be positioned throughout the Chamber building.  Business members and residents present can circulate among those present, ask questions of who they want to know more about, listen to other questions, etc.

“Some people may have their mind made up about all candidates except one,” said Tony Felker, President of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce.  “However, if there are questions about that one office or race, and they want to stand there and listen to those two candidates and only those two candidates for an entire hour or more, they will be able to do so.”

The Frisco Chamber of Commerce feels this format will help engage more of its business members to get involved in the March elections.  “We want to be a strong resource for all business people and residents to be able to turn to for information on any election affecting our community,” said Felker.

While this particular candidate forum will be limited to races involving state representative, county judge, district attorney, and justice of the peace affecting Frisco (both Collin and Denton County), the Chamber will also be providing much more information on other elections/races.   The Frisco Chamber website will soon have a section detailing all contested races in the March 2 election, links to all of the candidates, and voting information (times, days, locations).

Candidates who have invited/committed to attend include Collin County Judge candidates Keith Self and John Muns, State Representative District 65 candidates Burt Solomons and Mike Murphy, Collin County District Attorney candidates Greg Willis, James Angelino, and Jeff Bray, Denton County District Attorney candidates Paul Johnson and Brent Bowen, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 (Collin County) candidates Mike Yarbrough, Kelley Adley and Doug Reeves, and Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 (Denton County) candidates James DePiazza and Carlos Gallardo.

For more information, visit the Frisco Chamber of Commerce website at www.friscochamber.com or call 972-335-9522.