The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) invites you to attend a free workshop on green purchasing August 11-15. There will be a series of interactive workshops held across the state for professional purchasers, where they can learn how to use a free, web-based tool called the Purchasing Impact Estimator (PIE) to help them make purchasing decisions that benefit the environment. Attendees who are Certified Texas Purchasers or Certified Texas Procurement Managers can earn four hours of continuing education to meet their certification renewal requirements.
 
Dr. Gregory A. Norris (Harvard University professor and creator of the tool) will conduct the workshops. He will explain lifecycle cost analysis and how it is used to measure the impact of different products on the environment, then will demonstrate how to use the software and incorporate the results into purchasing decisions. Attendees are invited to bring along their own purchasing data-coded in BEA or NIGP-for a hands-on demonstration. They will leave the workshop with a prioritized list of the environmental impacts of their purchases.
 
For more information about this event, including the specific dates, times, and locations of the workshops, a registration form, and an agenda for the workshop, please visit the event homepage at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/events/purchasing-tool.html.

 
Peeks Travel Service has special group pricing on two sailings for a limited time. Departing from Galveston, "Christmas in the Caribbean", Dec. 21-28, ports include: Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Jamaica. Rates are: balcony cabin - $1334, ocean view - $1124 per person.
 
There is also a fundraiser to select from, supporting "Faith in Action",  and Eastern Caribbean Cruise departing from Galveston, itinerary for select sailings is May 17, 2009, inlcudes these ports: Key West, Freeport and Nassau Bahamas. Rates are: balcony - $1119, ocean view - $944.
 
$250.00 per person due immediately to hold space on both sailings. Contact Karen Duncan, 529-3696 or Karen@peeksvacations.net.
 

The Central Texas Regional Health Coverage Project (CTRHCP) is developing low cost Health Coverage Plan(s) for small Texas employers (2 to 50 employees). CTRHCP intends to offer two Health Plans -- a Low-Cost Plan and a Mid-Cost Plan. Both plans will offer the same benefits, however, the Low Cost Plan's out-of-pocket expenses will be slightly higher than the Mid-Cost Plan's. CTRHCP hopes to makes these Plans available in Fall 2008. In order to ensure that the benefits the Plan(s) offer meet the health coverage needs of you and your employees please click here to take the important and less than 10 minute survey. Your participation is greatly appreciated.