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2009-2010 Annual Plan and Initiatives
Mission Statement: The District Export Councils encourage and support exports that strengthen companies (particularly small and medium sized enterprises), stimulate U.S. economic growth, and maintain and create jobs. Export expansion activities are accomplished by working with the U.S. Export Assistance Centers of the U.S. Department of Commerce in order to provide opportunities to promote greater export activity at the local level while developing a trade assistance network.
The primary objective of the Texas Camino Real Export Council (TCREC) is to support economic development and job creation in the Central/South Texas region through education, community outreach and trade policy advocacy related to international business and trade. The TCREC works closely with a number of like-minded national, state, and local partners and with the other DECs in Texas: North Texas, West Texas, and Houston, the national Border DEC and the National District Export Council.
Education Outreach
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing all international education outreach in order to prepare students and companies to take advantage of opportunities in international trade, especially through exporting. The TCREC will work with the Texas A&M and UT CIBERS, as well as Texas State University in carrying out these goals.
09-10 GOALS
Export Fellows – Participate in four week educational training programs for students at universities where they attend seminars run by export experts and develop export plans. Specifically, the TCREC will provide DEC members to teach the Export Fellows programs at local universities and colleges.
High School Outreach – Participate in education outreach programs, especially at schools located in low income areas. Specifically, the TCREC will participate in five such high schools beginning with the Austin ISD program already in place.
Export Leaders Program – Participate in this four month program designed for companies considering entering or expanding in the global marketplace. Specifically, the TCREC will provide a representative to the Steering Committee and host and/or speak at the Export Leaders Program in San Antonio, Texas supported by the City of San Antonio, the Free Trade Alliance, and the South Texas International Trade Center
Export Education & Growth (EEG) – Contribute to this ten-month program designed for companies to learn everything they need to know to be successful at exporting. Specifically, the TCREC will have members on the Steering Committee, host, and speak at the Export Education & Growth Program organized by the International Business Institute at Austin Community College.
Scholarship Program - Pay for the tuition of one or more individuals from a small or medium sized company to attend an export training program. Specifically, the TCREC will pay the costs of up to two individuals to participate in such a program
Community Outreach
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing outreach opportunities that promote TCREC visibility and increase overall participation by local communities in international trade-related activities.
09-10 GOALS
New Membership Outreach – Conduct a program to reach out to existing exporting companies in an effort to have them become associates or members of the TCREC. Specifically, the TCREC will recruit five new associates or members each year.
International Organization Participation – Identify organizations dealing with international business and trade where the TCREC can be permanently represented on the organizations’ boards or steering committees. Specifically, the TCREC will identify and participate with the boards of two such organizations
Governor’s Office – Enhance cooperation with the Office of the Texas Governor in addressing trade promotion and advocacy issues on behalf of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Legislative Outreach & Trade Policy Committee
The Legislative Outreach subcommittee is responsible for addressing legislative international issues that are of importance on the federal or state level. This subcommittee works closely with the Trade Policy Subcommittee.
The Trade Policy subcommittee is responsible for addressing trade policy matters that are considered to be of national, state, and local importance in contributing to the creation of a strong national economy and that can be affected positively through the activities of the DECs.
09-10 GOALS OF THE TWO FOREGOING COMMITTEES
Advocacy Efforts – Vigorously support the opening of border trade to international trucking as stipulated in the NAFTA. Equally support the pending Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama up for ratification in the U.S. Congress. Also support increased budget resources for the US & Foreign Commercial Service agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Congressional Visits – Meet periodically with Congressional offices located in the TCREC area to advise them of the work of the DECs, the U.S. Export Assistance Centers, and the U.S. Commercial Service posts overseas. Also advise them international trade issues of critical importance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Texas and ask for their support when such issues come before the Congress for a vote. Specifically, representatives of the TCREC will visit each Congressional office in the area at least once a year and will continue communications with them via email, letters, and telephone calls. The TCREC will also host an event or events locally for the State Directors of the Texas Congressional delegation.
Electronic Communication Committee
This subcommittee is responsible for addressing electronic communications issues of importance to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National DEC Steering Committee, and the Texas DECs.
09-10 GOALS
Website – Participate in the update of the update of the TCREC section of the www.exporttexas.com website. Specifically, the TCREC will work with the current website manager and support company in order to increase access by each Texas DEC to its section and increase the website’s credibility and usefulness to individual members, the Texas DECs, and outside individuals and organizations. This will include gaining the ability to upload content directly and initiate our own events via Paypal on the site in order to generate income for the individual DECs.
National Steering Committee – Provide members with regular updates from the National DEC and its Steering Committee. Specifically, the representative of the TCREC on the National Steering Committee will communicate quarterly with members regarding National DEC priorities, including the National DEC Conference held annually.
Administrative Matters
The Executive Committee of the TCREC is responsible for handling key administrative matters, including budget, adherence to National DEC standards, adherence to state and local standards, as well as adherence to U.S. Department of Commerce guidance governing DEC operations.
09-10 GOALS
Incorporation under Texas Law – Incorporate under Texas incorporation laws in order to qualify for 501(c)(6) exemptions for sponsorship by businesses of DEC Events.
Revision of TCREC Bylaws – Revise the TCREC by-laws to bring them into conformity with the DEC Manual recently revised by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Meeting Hosts – Identify and arrange for hosts for upcoming quarterly meetings.
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