Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES-Gov. Rick Perry will deliver the keynote address at a Thursday, Aug. 10, luncheon at Stephen F. Austin State University to kick off a two-day Lone Star Legislative Summit in Nacogdoches.

The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the University Center Twilight Ballroom. Lunch tickets are $10 or may be purchased as part of the $60 conference registration. An online registration form is available on the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.nacogdoches.org.

“We are thrilled that Gov. Perry has chosen to be the first speaker for this inaugural event,” said Nacogdoches Chamber Chair John Ruckel. “It’s only fitting that he will speak at SFA because the university recently completed or has in the works more than $168 million in construction and recently received authority to issue $30 million in tuition revenue bonds—the most in the school’s history. All this has occurred under his watch as governor.”

“Part of the chamber’s motivation in beginning this legislative summit has been to showcase our great university,” Ruckel said, “It’s a coup to attract someone of Gov. Perry’s caliber for the first year. This certainly bodes well for future summits here.”

Seating is limited at the luncheon, so those planning on attending should register for the luncheon and the conference as soon as possible.

“With the news that Gov. Perry will be our speaker on Thursday, we anticipate that available seating will go fast,” said Mike Hebert, chair of the Nacogdoches Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee, which organized the summit. “We encourage those who want to attend the luncheon and the rest of the summit events to submit a registration form to the chamber without delay.”

After the luncheon, the university will offer free concurrent tours to include campus construction, the Early Childhood Laboratory, and biotechnology, pharmaceutical crops and poultry research facilities.

The summit continues Thursday evening with a 6:30-8 p.m. reception at the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center.

Friday, Aug. 11, activities begin with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast. The first session begins at 8:15 a.m. with a panel session on “Higher Education.” Rep. Jim McReynolds will participate, and Rep. Geanie Morrison, chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, has been invited.

State Sen. Todd Staples takes the podium at 9:30 a.m., presenting a “State Government Outlook.”

At 10 a.m. a panel session titled “Immigration: A National Issue Affecting Every Texan” will be held. Former Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert Nichols will be joined by state Rep. Tommy Merritt, who is a member of the House Border and International Affairs Committee.

At 11 a.m. Robert Wood, assistant commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, will join state Rep. Roy Blake Jr. for a session titled “Retiree Marketing in Texas,” which will touch on the Texas Certified Retirement Community designation. The session also will address issues such as healthcare that affect the ability of communities to attract retirees. Wood specializes in rural economic development.