The Bandera Chamber of Commerce and the Bandera Business Association held a joint mixer upstairs at T.J.’s at the Old Forge on Friday evening.
The upstairs loft was filled with people who worked in both organizations as well as some interested locals. Chamber Executive Director James Hernandez and BBA President Arlene Guerra chatted together as they greeted party goers.
The event took place during T. J.’s Happy Hour and many of the folks at the mixer enjoyed a glass of wine, pina colada, or a sangria at a bargain rate.
Complimentary snacks were provided by T. TJ’s kitchen. All the participants agreed that the snacks were delicious and that the drinks were potent.
As the group assembled, BBA Vice President Kimmie Williams passed around tickets for the door prizes. Some groups clustered by the upstairs bar while others chose to occupy the tables provided. A few even stepped out on the balcony for a quieter place to talk.
The mixer was different from the Chamber Cork Poppers program. This party was designed to provide time for city and county businesspeople to gather.
Chamber Ambassador Teresa Utz explained “it is a fabulous opportunity to mingle with different business owners, find out what they are doing with their business, and take it back to our home neighborhoods.”
Carol and Buck Murray attended the mixer, which Buck said was “a time to tell all your favorite lies.”
Carol related that it “brings us all in with knowledge about what is going on.” T he Murrays were preparing to leave on a long cruise vacation and were quick to share the particulars of that fantastic experience.
Chamber Executive Director James Hernandez explained the similarities and differences between the two organizations.
Hernandez related that the BBA focuses on businesses located in the city of Bandera while the Chamber is a county wide organization. He stated that a lot of the Chamber members volunteered at BBA events.
The BBA sponsors the Shoppers’ Jubilee in December, Market Days monthly, Riverfest in June, the National Day of the American Cowboy in July, and the Cowboys on Main re-enactors.
Hernandez said that both organizations work together to the benefit of Bandera and that this mixer was designed to bring people in to see what T.J.’s was all about as well as strengthen the cross-organization ties.
Kimmie Williams and Arlene Guerra spoke about the upcoming Riverfest at the end of June and invited all present to attend the planning meeting on Monday. G uerra said that Riverfest is one of the BBA’s biggest functions. She invited the citizens present to come out to volunteer, help, or get involved behind the scenes.
Guerra also said that working with the City of Bandera this year allowed the BBA to make the event free to the public.
This open admission policy was designed to allow more people to attend and to attract more food and retail vendors to the park.
The 26th annual Riverfest will be held on Saturday, June 29th.
