Ch, ch, ch, ch - Change – 2019 Spring Managers’ Conference – 

Oooo yea, come and listen to a story about a rural group of telecom friends — who one day up and moved their manager’s meeting, Spring Managers Meeting, to Galveston, Texas, that is! 

Yes, we are taking this wonderful meeting just up the road to beautiful Galveston. It has been a while, a long while to be exact, since we’ve met in Galveston. But we are excited. Excited about the change in location and the adventures available in Galveston. Excited about the program — another great program. Excited about spending some time with all of you. Quality time.  
 
In June, we will have just come out of the legislative session. While we don’t have big legislation that was brewing this session as we have in the past, we are pursuing some issues for our members and we are defending our members from some unintended (perhaps some intended) consequences.   
 
But for now, let’s focus on our preparation for the 2019 TSTCI Spring Managers Conference at the HOTEL GALVEZ in Galveston, Texas, June 12-14, 2019.  In addition to a great program and speakers, we will also be in a new location with new things to do, places to go and people to meet!  If you haven’t you really should make plans to see the Moody Gardens, the Moody Mansion, the Grand Opera House (“Kinky Boots” is being performed during our time), and museums — the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, the Railroad Museum and the Seaport Museum to name a few.  Lots of history in the Galveston area. So maybe we can learn some history while we are making some history?  
 
As always, this conference continues to be a family-friendly conference. In addition to Business and Pleasure time with industry associates, this is also a time when kids/ grandkids / and dare I say great, grandkids are out of school and there is some down time to reconnect with them. The meeting environment is casual. The program content is relevant and riveting. The educational benefit is pertinent and the socializing is fun and necessary. 
 
Every year and every meeting, our membership steps up to help sponsor so that the quality of our meetings continue to be excellent. So, thank you in advance for your consideration of all of our sponsor opportunities for this and all meetings.  
 
As we begin this new season of meetings, just a slight refresher course of sponsorship opportunities: “Premiere Sponsor Package” allows you and your company to take care of sponsoring at all the TSTCI conferences this year in one transaction. In addition to the enhanced acknowledgement you will receive before, during and after at each meeting, you also get four (4) registrations to TSTCI meetingsthat you can use as you choose. You can either use your 4 registrations at one single conference or you can use 1 registration per conference.  You also get a foursome at the Golf Tournament at either the Spring Managers’ OR the Annual Meeting;you get a tee box sponsor at the Golf Tournament at both the Spring Managers and Annual Meeting; you get a Table Sponsor at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Annual Meeting; and, you get a Tabletop Display at the Annual Meetingwith table location preference. We have been fortunate to have several members participate as Premiere Sponsors, and this year we already have two:  VTX1 Companies and Moss Adams. We also have some beefed up benefits under the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorshipsas well. To help you refresh your memory on all the wonderful additions to the Sponsorship Opportunities, CLICK HERE to view the Sponsorship Menu so you can select the sponsor level that best suits your situation. 
 
The Program Planning Committee and TSTCI Staff work together with members of our industry and our Association to bring materials and speakers to each conference that are relevant to our work world and relevant to the world we live in.  We aim to bring issues, topic and speakers that hit on comfort areas but also hit on areas we are less comfortable about but ones we need to know and hear. So, as we do with every meeting — between the planning minds of the Planning Committee, help from the evaluation forms of meetings past, and the generous nature of our membership with speakers and sponsorships — we present the preliminary outline for this year’s TSTCI Spring Manager’s Conference. REGISTER NOW BY CLICKING HERE 
 
This Preliminary Agenda gives you a flavor of the meeting and topics to be addressed. As you will note, we are still working to confirm some of our invited speakers. We have not gotten official information from the Texas Expo folks on the fishing tournament; however, we anticipate hearing from them after the Expo event in April and will begin including that information in our weekly information. We do know that the generous vendors that have been hosting their event on Tuesday night before the conference begins have already secured a location for that at…Bubba Gumps.  
 
On Wednesday morning, June 12, we tee off the TSTCI Spring Managers’ Conference with the Wesley B. Roberts Memorial Golf Tournament at the MOODY GARDENS GOLF COURSE. The golf registration includes the cart rental, green fees, driving range balls, full breakfast buffet, beverages on the course, lunch buffet, chance for great door prizes, and opportunity for team prizes (and bragging rights). You also get to enjoy the company of your friends and peers and enjoy the game and the scenic location! Registration for golf and opportunities to assist with golf sponsorships are available on the online registration page.
 
After returning from golf, the Texas Lone Star Network (TLSN) will hold its Annual Membership Meeting beginning at 3:30 p.m.  
 
The Registration Table opens at 4:30 pm to begin the welcome to the conference. Our Welcome Reception begins Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m., this gives everyone a chance to enjoy the casual atmosphere, fantastic food and fellowship as we share the end of the day with each other at a beautiful location.   
 
At 7:30 am Thursday morning, join us for a full breakfast buffet — getting mind, body and spirit ready for a powerful program.  At 8:15 am, TSTCI President — Steven Steele and TSTCI CEO, Weldon R. Grayopen the meeting and introduce our Opening Keynote Speaker.  
 
Opening our conference will be Steven Iwersen.  Steven will give us insight into leadership while dealing with prickly business disruption and prickly people in his presentation, “Herding Porcupines and Leading the Reluctant.”  
 
After our keynote, we have amassed a panel of knowledgeable industry leaders to discuss “Staying Relevant in Today’s Market.”  Charlie Greenberg — Btel; Kelly Allison-Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative; and, Craig Cook – Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will share how they are getting and keeping their companies relevant in our industry and in their communities.  
 
Before we break for lunch, we will hear an update on ACAM II. Steve Meltzer, JSI — John Staurulakis, Inc.will give an update on what’s next for both ACAM and Legacy companies.
 
We’ll break for the PAC Luncheon (separate ticket required). We hope many of you will register and attend the PAC luncheon or you are welcome to lunch on your own.  
NOTE: We’d love for you to join us for the luncheon; however, in the past many of you have financially supported the PAC by buying lunch tickets but had other lunch plans. We are grateful for your support but if you want to support the PAC but won’t be joining us for lunch -we’ll have PAC donation forms available for your use. It will save us the cost of your lunch at the PAC luncheon.
 
As we return from lunch but before we introduce our first afternoon session, we will draw for a come back door prize.      
 
In 2019, we can’t leave a meeting without hearing about Cybersecurity. It is everywhere — good or bad.  Chris Neaves, K2Share, Inc., will lead us through “Cyber Security — A New War Every Day.”  As it is every time we hear about Cyber Security, this topic is real, it is relevant, it has already impacted some of our members — so plan to join us for this interesting, scary, relevant and necessary presentation to see and hear.  
 
Before adjourning for the day, we will do the Grand Prize Drawing sponsored by Texas Communications Expo (must be present to win) followed by the PAC Raffle prize drawing (at press time, we are accepting sponsors for the PAC Raffle).  
 
After adjournment, please join the Texas Lone Star Network for their Ice Cream Social.  
  
Friday morning, Members and Associate Members are invited to enjoy a continental breakfast.  
 
The ILEC Closed-Member Meeting will convene at 8:00 am. The Member Meeting is open to all ILEC Full Members and/or their designated representatives. This portion of the meeting will include a Legislative and Regulatory Update and any other items that need to be brought to the voting membership. 
 
We look forward to spending these few days with you and the sharing of valuable time and information. Below are additional ways that you may participate in this important meeting and important additional information about registering. 
 

Sponsorships

Hotel Information

Hotel Galvez & Spa
2024 Seawall Blvd.
Galveston, Texas 77550
Online Reservations: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/groups/gr/tstci-spring-managers-conference

Rooms include complimentary wireless internet, bottled water, coffee and daily newspapers.  Attendees receive 20% off Spa services (reservations encouraged) Sunday-Thursday. For hotel questions or concerns, contact Pat Holder, Event Planner at 512-349-7470 or [email protected].
 
Rates: Single/Double - $199.00
Group rate will be honored Sunday-Thursday based on availability. Friday/Saturday night rates will be $299.00 based on availability. Reservations requested after cut-off date will be subject to space and rate availability.

Cut-off date:  May 17, 2019
 
Check-in/Check-out Times:  Check-In – 4:00 p.m.   Check-Out – Noon     
 
Hotel Parking:  Self-parking is $8.00/night and valet parking is $18.00/night
 
Transportation: Ground transportation to/from George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport or William P. Hobby Airport is available through SuperShuttle. For reservations, contact SuperShuttle at 800/258-3826 or supershuttle.com. The shuttle pick-up location is curbside near the baggage claim area at each airport. Rental car agencies are located at both airports. There are also various ride share options to consider.
 
Attire: Meetings – “Casual”

Continuing Education Units

The objectives of this conference are to improve the skills and knowledge of accounting and other issues related to the telecommunications industry.  Participants shall receive 6 Non-Technical CPE credit hours for participation, and there are no prerequisites for participation. We have registered with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy as a CPE sponsor. This registration does not constitute an endorsement by the Board as to the quality of our CPE program. TSTCI Sponsor ID# 2349

Conference Evaluation Forms

Be sure to complete the Conference evaluation forms and leave at your seat location on Thursday afternoon.  Thank you!
 
Online Registration: To register online, go to tstci.org. You can make your payment by credit card or check. Once you have registered online, make check payable to Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI) and mail payment to:  TSTCI, 505 W. 12^thStreet, Suite 206, Austin, Texas 78701.
 
CLICK HERE to REGISTER
  
Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be given after May 17, 2019; however, substitutions will be permitted.
 

See you down on the Boardwalk! 

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