Greetings Houston YRs!  Following are some news and updates.

First of all, at our August meeting we made a big decision:  we decided to move our meetings to the Hotel Derek!  We’ll still be meeting on the 4th Tuesday (which this month is 9/28 with author and radio host Kevin Price), but we’ll now be at the Derek (Westheimer and the 610 West Loop in the Galleria area).  Come join us at our new location and enjoy the free valet parking!
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Secondly, our September Happy Hour will be at the Gallant Knight (2511 Bissonnet).  Our Social Director continues to demonstrate his negotiation skills, so we’ll have no cover and $1 beers.  Our monthly happy hours are the 2nd Thursday, so join us at the Gallant Knight on Thursday, September 9 at 6:30 PM.
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From Allison Gilbert, Marketing Director for the Houston Symphony:

The Houston Symphony has a fantastic Young Professionals group called Young Professionals Backstage (YPB).  We are just about to start our season, and I would love to invite your group to attend our Opening Night concert on September 11.  This will be the first YPB gathering of the new season.  Tickets normally start at $45 for this concert, but we have been able to arrange for a $20 ticket in the orchestra level for YP groups who would like to attend the concert.  The $20 also includes a complimentary drink pre-concert at our YPB mixer on Mezzanine Level.
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Finally, while we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with campaign events, I wanted to pass along the following message from Bekah Hotze (bekahhotze@rickperry.org), who’s joined the Rick Perry Team as North Houston Regional Director:

Just 8 Weeks until early voting starts!  The heat is on, and we need your help.  Here are a few opportunities to help out.  Let me know if you are interested in coming to any of the following:

*Thursday, September 2nd, 5-7 PM:  Recruiting Home Headquarters at the Texans Game

*Saturday, September 4th, 10 AM-2 PM:  Recruiting Home Headquarters at the UT vs. Rice Game

If you can’t make it to one of these events, please try to recruit just 5 Headquarters this week.  You can have people sign up using the attached form, or send them the following link: http://hq.rickperry.org/join/j9xp1.

At our August meeting, we voted as a group on a new meeting location!  Our regular monthly meetings will remain at 7 PM on the 4th Tuesday of each month, but we are moving to the Hotel Derek.  The Derek is one of Houston’s most stylish hotels, located in the Galleria area at Westheimer and I-610 (West Loop).  The Derek will be providing free valet parking at regular events and has a great bar & restaurant area for post-meeting socializing.  We hope you’ll stop by our September meeting and check out our new location!

The August Monthly Meeting of the Houston Young Republicans will be Tuesday, August 24 , 7 PM downtown at the Magnolia Hotel.  We’ll be hearing from Texas House candidate (and Young Republican) Sarah Davis, from the Fernando Herrera for Texas House campaign, and possibly from Texas House candidate Jim Murphy as well. 

We’ll also be discussing a proposal for a new location for our monthly meetings! A rival hotel has made us an offer for a new meeting location, so we’re going to discuss this.  You must be a dues-paid member to vote!

Afterward, as usual we’ll have a social hour on the 2nd floor.

Other important events:

Young Professionals for Rick Perry Reception.  Come out join other Young Professionals for a reception for Governor Rick Perry on Thursday, August 19th at Warehouse Live (813 St. Emanuel Street) from 5:30 to 7.  Minimum contribution: $25.  Featuring Live music from Rich O’Tool.  Please RSVP/contribute at: http://www.rickperry.org/youngprofessionals

Houston YR Campaign of the Week – Jack O’Connor For Texas House.  This is a seat that Republicans have a real shot in winning. We need to help volunteer in order to make this happen. We will meet at the Campaign Headquarters, located at 13320 Westheimer Road, Suite 300.  Blockwalking will be this Saturday (August 21) from 8:30am-12:30pm. Let’s help Jack O’Connor take back District 149!