The Pierian Study Club met January 8, 2009 at the exquisite Spanish style home of Joycelyn McRorey with Sandy Smith and Geanne Taylor acting as co-hostesses. Other members attending were: Connie Adams; Ann Alison; Loy Nell Behrens; Millie Burnham; Kathleen Hawkins; Zolly Jones; Anita Miles; Dorothy Miller; Elsie Millican; Susie Nettleship; Kay Nettleship; Jane Randolph; Patty Shaw; Vickie Stevenson; Martha Roe Terry; Patricia Warren; Martha Leigh Whitten; Louise Williams; and Betty Jo Miller.

As the members arrived they were served a divine chocolate cake accompanied by nuts and spiced tea or coffee.

The Study Club had a very distinguished speaker, the new City Manager, Stan Weik, who spoke on “San Saba - A Work in Progress”.

Mr. Weik was introduced by the Yearbook Chair, Kathleen Hawkins.

Mr. Weik has now been City Manager for over a year. He came from Angleton, Texas were he served as the Director of Parks and Recreation. Prior to his service in Angleton, he served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Brazoria, Texas. Mr. Weik has over 20 year of business experience. He is a trained mediator, successful grant writer and a former Army officer. He is a graduate of Texas A & M University with a Bachelors of Science degree and he has a Master of Public Administration from Madison University. He is currently a member of the Texas City Management Association, a board member of Keep Texas Beautiful, and a Knight of Columbus. He is a former City Councilman for the City of Angleton, Past Chairman of the Angleton Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Keep Brazoria County Beautiful. Mr. Weik has received numerous awards to include the Presidential Volunteer Life Time Service award, the Keep American Beautiful - Iron Eyes Cody Award, the Keep Texas Beautiful - Individual Leadership Award and the KTB - Sadie Ray Graff Award.

Stan began his talk with how much it has meant to him and his wife, Joanne, to have been blessed to be in San Saba, Texas. They had a dream plan to move to Llano but the Lord had other plans and San Saba was blessed to get this very talented dedicated hard working man with a dream for our City. He is well aware of our most wonderful natural resource, our water!

Which makes all our dreams and hopes a possibility. Mr. Weik’s first impression was not the best until he visited with the people, another valuable asset of San Saba, Texas. Mr. Weik praised the City employees and their dedication and competence. Immediately with the City Council he began his quest to make San Saba all that it could be. One of his first projects was to see that we had the Texas Flags flying and a clean up project.

The City has now removed over 100 junk cars and an untold number of tires. Nine buildings have been torn down and many curbs replaced. Citations were issued and now vacant lots have removed the weeds and clutter.

A San Saba logo was created. It was done in conjunction with the school and a high school student designed the new logo. It is very symbolic as it is in the shape of a pecan tree or perhaps you might think of the wedding oak. One side depicts the Colorado River and it is divided into three colors and the right side of the emblem is the outline of San Saba County. It is emblazed with San Saba The Pecan Capital of the World! And if you look closely at the top you can see the outline of an armadillo. A Visionary Committee was formed led by Tony Guidroz, head of the economic development board.

This committee along with our local business men have many plans for the future such as, upgraded sewer system, underground electricity, sidewalks replaced with paver bricks, and are in the process of having the downtown area a designated historical district.

Only recently, in refurbishing a building on the square if was discovered a sign on the building which read “Opera House” which was most exciting and will be an added feature to a historical district.

The San Saba Municipal Golf Course was renamed as the San Saba River Golf Course and there are some great plans for improvement and beautification to this area.

The new RV Park at the golf course is the first step. There are many events scheduled for this next year. The annual banquet will be March 12, 2009 where the Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Business award will be presented, the Rotary Club will have a musical on the square in April, and there will be an old time street dance on the square in May.

The Economic Development Board has purchased a large lot from Golding Motors for parking to enhance the future plans for the city. San Saba is now featured on the internet and in several magazines. Tourism is on the horizon for San Saba! Every one has noticed the beautiful new entry signs on highway 190 welcoming people to our city. Soon they will be on all four entry highways. The ladies certainly enjoyed this presentation by Mr. Weik and appreciated his attendance. Martha Roe Terry, Gifts Chair, presented Mr. Weik with a gift of pecan products in our appreciation.

The business meeting was called to order by the President, Patricia Warren, and the Club Collect was led by Kathleen Hawkins. The Secretary, Dorothy Miller, read the minutes and gave the roll call. The Treasurer, Louise Williams, gave the financial report.

Patty Shaw made an earnest plea for the EMS. There were over 100 shifts that were not filled last month until they held an emergency meeting. There are not enough people to fill the shifts. They are trying to start a new class and at this time they have no members from Cherokee or Richland Springs, which makes an extra hardship. This is a very serious problem for our county and the organization is in serious trouble. We would hate to loose this service. It would be most detrimental to our county.

Kathleen Hawkins read a letter of resignation from Kynda Jordan, which was accepted with regrets and announced the new member will be Janice Duggan from Cherokee, Texas.

The President, Patricia Warren, ended the meeting with some most timely resolutions for a healthier, happier, more blessed 2009, which was most enjoyable.

The February meeting will be February 12, 2009 at the home of Bebe Bagley and the speaker will be Jane Kirkman, a travel agent, and I am sure it will be a very informative meeting.