We're thrilled to announce a new name for our Traveling Spirit Award! For those who may not be acquainted, at each ETCOG Board gathering, the county in East Texas that shows the most spirit during roll call gets the prestigious title and possession of this trophy until the next meeting. The anticipation runs high, with attendees often breaking into cheers, exuberant hollers, and bringing props to take home the win. A notable past board member, former Upshur Commissioner Paula Gentry won this award multiple times and is the sole individual in history to secure this honor single-handedly. In a historic move, the Board recently approved to bestow upon this cherished accolade a new designation that pays tribute to Paula Gentry's indelible mark on the region—the Paula Gentry Traveling Spirit Award. Congratulations, Paula! We love your enthusiasm, contagious spirit, and pride for East Texas!

🌟Join our team🌟 We're hiring a Contract Support Specialist to execute and implement contract administration, service delivery, and financial management for Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) programs. • $56,000-65,000/salary • Full-time with benefits

Help us welcome a new team member! Sheri is one of our Child Care Development Specialists in our Workforce and Economic Development Department. Welcome Sheri!

Happy Birthday to Mayor Ben Middlebrooks! Councilman Middlebrooks represents the City of Rusk on our Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He also recently served as the past Chairman of our Executive Committee.

🌷It may not feel like it, but it is officially spring!🌷

Time change is this weekend! If you still have any battery powered devices, make sure to turn them back an hour😄

Last month, our Communications Director Lindsay Vanderbilt spoke with the Rotary Club of Carthage about ETCOG services and shared the FY2023 Solutions Report for Panola County, highlighting service impacts to residents and jurisdictions in the county. We want to especially thank former County Judge David Anderson for the invitation!

Help us congratulate these seven incredible employees who are celebrating work anniversaries in March! 👏👏👏 Your commitment to the region is appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

Happy Birthday to Representative Jay Dean! Rep. Dean represents District 7, which includes Gregg and Upshur Counties in the Texas House of Representatives.

Did someone say leap day? Oops wrong kind. Well we had fun and hope you do too on this extra day! 😊😂

ETCOG's rural transit system, GoBus, is honored to receive an American Public Transportation's annual AdWheel Award for promoting the annual hiring fair! The APTA AdWheel Awards fosters creativity and innovation within the public transportation industry, highlighting best marketing practices that contribute to the betterment of public transportation. The selection process involves evaluations by industry experts for creativity, impact, community engagement, and overall effectiveness. We are proud of our communications, human resources, and transportation teams! 👏👏

Happy Birthday to Commissioner Rashad Mims! Commissioner Mims represents Anderson County on our ETCOG Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

• Save the Date • The 105th ETCOG Board of Directors meeting takes place on March 21 in Marion County. Five regional awards will be given to deserving individuals in East Texas during this meeting. Board members and special guests, be sure to RSVP!

We want to congratulate Sandra McChristian on five years of service this month! Sandra is one of our Program Specialists with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas. Thank you, Sandra, for all you do!

We are grateful for our elected officials who support ETCOG and our mission to serve East Texas! Harrison County Commissioner Hatfield serves as the Chairman of the ETCOG Executive Committee and has been instrumental in spreading the word about our programs and services. We serve as the bridge between federal, state, and local governments, helping cities and counties solve challenges and impact the future regionally.

Happy Presidents Day! This holiday is to commemorate George Washington's birthday but didn't officially become a federal holiday until 1879, known as Washington Day. It didn't shift formally to "Presidents Day" until the late 1960s to commemorate Lincoln's birthday as well.

⭐Regional Award Nominations⭐ If you know of an elected official in East Texas who deserves recognition, nominate them! The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable and dedicated service to regional cooperation. Nominations are due Friday, February 23.

⭐Regional Award Nominations⭐ If you know of an exemplary corporate partner in East Texas who deserves recognition, nominate them! The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year recognizes a company or organization that has significantly contributed to the well-being of the East Texas region. Nominations are due Friday, February 23.

• Save the Date • The 105th ETCOG Board of Directors meeting takes place on March 21 in Marion County. Five regional awards will be given to deserving individuals in East Texas during this meeting. Board members and special guests, be sure to RSVP!

We want to congratulate Debra Marshall on five years of service this month! Debra is one of our Aging Program Specialists with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas. Thank you for all you do!

We'd like to wish Representative Matt Schaefer a Happy Birthday! Representative Schaefer represents District 6 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which encompasses 76% of Smith County in our region.

We want to congratulate Beverly Brown on 20 years of service this month! Beverly is our Associate Director of Aging Programs with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas. Thank you for all you do!

Help us welcome a new team member! Parker is our new Economic Development Manager in our Workforce and Economic Development Department. Help us welcome him to ETCOG!

⭐Regional Award Nominations⭐ If you know of an exemplary resident in East Texas who deserves recognition, nominate them! The Regional Citizen of the Year recognizes an elected official, volunteer, or private citizen who has significantly contributed to the well-being of the East Texas region. Nominations are due Friday, February 23.

We want to congratulate Norman Roberts on five years of service this month! Norman is one of our Aging Program Specialist with the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas. Thank you for all you do!

⭐Regional Award Nominations⭐ If you know of a first responder in East Texas who deserves recognition, nominate them! The Regional 1st Responder of the Year recognizes those who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. Nominations are due Friday, February 23.

Happy Birthday to Judge Leward LaFleur! Judge LaFleur represents Marion County on the ETCOG Board of Directors and as the Chairman of the Chief Elected Officials / Rural Transportation Planning Organization Board.

We're excited to share our latest website design projects for several East Texas partners! At ETCOG, our collaborative approach with members and organizations focuses on identifying and implementing cost-efficient solutions. It's an honor to be part of these initiatives, and we anticipate great success for everyone! If you'd like to discuss how ETCOG can help revamp your website, visit → www.etcog.org/digital-design

Help us congratulate these seven incredible employees who are celebrating work anniversaries in February! 👏👏👏 Your commitment to the region is appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

Happy Groundhog Day! Legend has it that the groundhog comes out of the ground after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow and predict the seasons. This morning, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow, which calls for six more weeks of winter. What do you think?

Help us congratulate these 10 incredible employees who are celebrating work anniversaries in January! 👏👏👏 Your commitment to the region is appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

• Save the Date • The 105th ETCOG Board of Directors meeting takes place on March 21 in Marion County. Five regional awards will be given to deserving individuals in East Texas during this meeting. Board members and special guests, be sure to RSVP!

We want to congratulate Christy Fowler on 20 years of service this month! Christy is our Transportation Program Specialist in our transportation department, GoBus. Thank you for all you do!

•Criminal Justice Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

Happy Community Manager's Day! We want to thank all of our local city managers for their leadership in supporting and guiding the East Texas communities in the best direction.

•Homeland Security Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

We want to congratulate Terri Ray on 30 years of service this month! Terri is our Office Manager in our workforce and economic development department. Thank you for all you do!

📢 Meeting Cancellation Notice 🚫 The regularly scheduled open meeting for the EasTexConnects Committee today is canceled. The meeting has been rescheduled for February 7.

❄️ Delayed Start ❄️ On Wednesday, January 17th, our offices will have a delayed opening of 10:00 AM.

Congratulations to our 2023 wellness winners! The ETCOG L.I.F.E. Wellness Program rewards employees for their efforts throughout the year in improving their overall well-being through the following: • Preventative health screenings • Physical activity • Education • Community Involvement Staff members are encouraged to participate, and the top three with the highest points are rewarded gift cards!

Due to inclement weather, ETCOG offices will be closed tomorrow, January 16th. Please stay safe and check back for updates!

This morning, ETCOG staff attended the annual MLK breakfast hosted by Kilgore College. The event raises money to provide dual credit scholarships for students in East Texas, and ETCOG is proud to sponsor continuing education for young adults.

We want to congratulate Brandon Deaton on five years of service this month! Brandon is our IT Systems Manager in our admin department. He works across the agency to assist with technical support in different departments. Thank you for all you do!

At our annual Christmas party, ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland honored longtime employees. In 2023, Sloane Bodle reached her 40-year milestone. Help us congratulate Sloane!

•Office Closure Notice• Our offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, to observe MLK Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, January 16.

•Homeland Security Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

•Criminal Justice Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

At our annual Christmas party, ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland honored longtime employees. In 2023, Kamme Lau reached her 25-year milestone. Help us congratulate Kamme!

🌟 Big Thank You to our Board Chairman, Commissioner William Hatfield, for delivering an insightful presentation on ETCOG programs and services to the Marshall Citizens Advisory Committee. Commissioner Hatfield has been a driving force on our Executive Committee for nine years, passionately sharing about vital services partnered through ETCOG for the region's benefit. 👏 Your dedication is truly appreciated! 🙌

At our annual Christmas party, ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland honored longtime employees. In 2023, Brandy Brannon, Jennita Carter, Valerie Hatten, and Katey Pilgram reached their 15-year milestone. Help us congratulate them!

At our annual Christmas party, ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland honored longtime employees. In 2023, Brigitte Farrell, Deborah Johnson, Shauna Lyke, Doug Shryock, Steffany Vercher, Stephanie Bell, Tangela Jackson, and Nellie Henry reached their 10-year milestone. Help us congratulate them!

•Homeland Security Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

The schedule for the 2024 meetings for our Chief Elected Officials Board / Rural Transportation Planning Organization has been approved and released. For more information regarding open meetings, visit → www.etcog.org/open-meetings

•Criminal Justice Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

At our annual Christmas party, ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland honored longtime employees. In 2023, Brian Brown, Jonathan Hunt, Vince Huerta, Mike Kader, ShaRhonda Miles, and Sonia White reached their 5-year milestone. Help us congratulate them!

•2024 Holiday Closure List• ETCOG will observe 12 holidays in 2024. Please plan accordingly and enjoy the new year!

🌟Now Hiring🌟 We're hiring a Special Projects Director to support the Executive Director with developing and implementing special projects and programs in East Texas. • $85,000 - $110,000/salary • Full-time with benefits • Apply online at → www.etcog.org/employment

Happy Birthday to Commissioner! Commissioner McHam represents Henderson County on the ETCOG Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

•Homeland Security Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

•Office Closure Notice• Our offices will be closed on Monday, January 1, to observe the New Year holiday. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, January 2.

Happy Birthday to Senator Ted Cruz! Senator Cruz has represented Texas in the U.S. Senate since 2013.

We want to congratulate ShaRhonda Miles on five years of service this month! ShaRhonda is a Child Development Specialist with the Texas Rising Star team in our Workforce and Economic Development department. Thank you for all you do!

•Homeland Security Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

Even though we've been experiencing colder weather for a few weeks, it's the first official day of winter!

The schedule for the 2024 Executive Committee has been approved and released. There will be no meetings in January or July. We can't wait to see everyone next year!

•Office Closure Notice• Our offices will be closed on Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday. We will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, December 27.

Happy Birthday to Representative Pat Fallon! Representative Fallon represents Texas' 4th District, which covers parts of Camp, Rains, and Upshur counties in our region.

Happy Birthday to Judge Joel Hale! Judge Hale represents Rusk County on the ETCOG Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of our Chief Elected Official Board / Rural Transportation Planning Organization.

Congratulations to Sandra McChristian on receiving an Executive Director's On the Spot Award! This award is presented to employees who exhibit exemplary service to those around them. Sandra received the award for her support in leading two workshops during the October REACH Conference when two speakers were unable to join. Help us in congratulating Sandra!👏

We want to congratulate Sonia White on five years of service this month! Sonia is the Student HireAbility Navigator in our Workforce and Economic Development department! Thank you for all you do!

Happy Birthday to Commissioner William Hatfield! Commissioner Hatfield represents Harrison County on the ETCOG Board of Directors and Executive Committee, in which he serves as our Chairman.

We are so grateful to have amazing employees who donated over 50 items and toys for the Buckner Longview Family Hope Center!

•Criminal Justice Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

To encourage staff comradery, ETCOG held a Christmas tree decorating contest! The Public Safety Department went with a classic first responder theme in red, white, and blue! Thank you to Harrison County Commissioner William Hatfield for taking the time to visit all divisions and judge!

To encourage staff comradery, ETCOG held a Christmas tree decorating contest! The Operations Department went with Santa's Workshop decorated with vintage toys employees had on hand!🪀🧸 After judging by Harrison County Commissioner William Hatfield, they were announced as the winners and will have the opportunity to ride the GoBus trolley to our ETCOG Christmas party next week! Congratulations!🎉🤩

To encourage staff comradery, ETCOG held a Christmas tree decorating contest! The Administration Department went with a vintage Hallmark theme decked out with a red truck, popcorn, fireplace, and TV. Thank you to Harrison County Commissioner William Hatfield for taking the time to visit all divisions and judge!

This week, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) released the adopted 20-year Solid Waste Management Plan, which aims to reduce waste and prevent illegal dumping in East Texas. We want to thank representatives from the private sector and local governments for participating in developing a comprehensive plan for our region.

•Criminal Justice Grant Workshops• ETCOG Public Safety division will host workshops for local jurisdictions to learn about the grant application process and what projects are allowed. *Workshops required for all applicants*

ETCOG is honored to receive an Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Developmental Organizations for its Regional Broadband Planning Initiative! “On behalf of the East Texas Council of Governments, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and staff, I am thrilled our organization received this well-deserved recognition,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “With this project, our aim has been to build county-level plans to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that we have a strategy to enable high-speed internet access to become a reality for underserved communities throughout the region. It has resulted in 65 total projects being planned in East Texas! I am incredibly proud of our team for their work on this initiative.”

Help us congratulate these six incredible employees who are celebrating work anniversaries in December! 👏👏👏 Your commitment to the region is appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Texas Department of Agriculture's TxCDBG kickoff meeting last week! Stakeholders discussed current grant projects, proposed changes to the application process, and new grant opportunities for communities! Special thanks to State Director Suzanne Barnard and her team for offering such excellent training.

🌟Now Hiring🌟 We're hiring an Economic Development Manager to supervise and support economic development operations, including planning, coordination, and implementation, with a focus on community & economic development, grant and program management with government agencies and private consultants. Salary range $75,000 - $85,000 Full-time with a competitive benefits package

Happy Birthday to U.S. Representative Lance Gooden! Rep. Gooden represents Texas’ 5th District, which covers parts of our 14-county region, including Cherokee, Henderson, Anderson, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties.

Happy Birthday to Representative Cole Hefner! Rep. Hefner represents Texas’ 5th District, which covers parts of our 14-county region, including Camp, Rains, Smith, and Wood counties.

🌟Now Hiring🌟 We're hiring a Transit Dispatcher and Scheduler to oversee and monitor GoBus Operators and the daily operation of transit services within ETCOG's 14-county region. • $18.00-$22.00/hourly • Full-time with benefits

Happy Birthday to Senator Robert Nichols! Sen. Nichols represents Texas’ 3rd District, which covers parts of our 14-county region, including Anderson, Cherokee, and Henderson counties.

Help us in welcoming a new team member! Jenny is our new Facilities Specialist in the Administration Department. Help us welcome her to ETCOG!

•Office Closure Notice• Our offices will be closed on November 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, November 27.

In October, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) nominated officers for FY24. Laura Hill will remain as Chairperson and Gene Keenon was welcomed as the Co-Chair. Thank you for your service to East Texas, and we look forward to a great year! Learn more about our solid waste program at → www.etcog.org/solid-waste

🌎♻️ America Recycles Day is here! ♻️🌎 This day encourages us to be mindful of our consumption, recycle responsibly, and pledge to recycle more. Keep America Beautiful, and its partners highlight the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling. Your commitment counts. Pledge to recycle more and recycle right, and let's make everyday America Recycles Day. ♻️

Request for Proposals! ETCOG is seeking qualified firms to be the Employer of Record (EOR) to provide wage payment services for Workforce Solutions East Texas. Learn more at → www.etcog.org/procurements

🎉 Congrats to Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) members Tim Perry and Tammy Lofton on their retirement! Tim Perry served 20+ years on the SWAC, including chairmanship and dedicated member, and Tammy served six years, most recently as the Co-Chair. Thank you for your dedication to our community, and enjoy retirement!

🚗🌟 Calling all Agencies & Non-Profits! Your voice matters in shaping the future of transportation in our region. Join us for an important informational meeting where your input can make a difference! 📆 Date: November 17 🕕 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM 🏠 Location: Kilgore Let's work together to improve transportation and break down barriers in East Texas. Your ideas, experiences, and insights are invaluable in creating a more accessible and efficient transportation system for our community.

We want to express our appreciation to all the Veterans who served. From our family to yours, thank you!

Request for Proposals! ETCOG seeking competitive bids for the lease of an existing commercial property for office space use in Longview and a 10-mile radius surrounding Gregg County for Workforce Solutions East Texas. Learn more at → www.etcog.org/procurements

•Office Closure Notice• Our offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, November 14.

We want to congratulate Katey Pilgram on 15 years of service this month! Katey is a part of the Transportation Department as our Transportation Operations Manager. She also received this year's Employee of the Year award. Thank you for all you do!

The polls are still open, and every vote counts! Don't miss this opportunity to have your say in shaping our future. Voting is our chance to make a difference on the issues that matter most. Your voice is your power, so exercise your right and be a part of the process. Let's come together and create a better tomorrow through the power of our ballots.