The Community's Local News Source

The Strawn Advocate is a monthly newsletter published by the Strawn Chamber of Commerce.   Past editions will be uploaded annually.  

For those former residents, Strawn Alum and fans of Strawn, you may subscribe and receive a mailed copy of the Advocate each month. To subscribe, we ask that you join the Chamber (and help support Strawn in the process).  Memberships are available for as little as $50 per year.  View/print membership form.

Click on a file name below to open the newsletter issue you wish to read. A PDF reader is needed to view the file. Adobe's free PDF Reader is available at the following link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

December 2014: december_2014_advocate.pdf

November 2014: november_2014_advocate.pdf

October 2014: october_2014_advocate.pdf

September 2014: september_2014_advocate.pdf

August 2014: august_2014_advocate.pdf

July 2014: july_2014_advocate.pdf

June 2014: june_2014_advocate.pdf

May 2014: may_2014_advocate.pdf

April 2014: april_2014_advocate.pdf

March 2014: march_2014_advocate.pdf

February 2014: february_2014_advocate.pdf

January 2014: january_2014_advocate.pdf

December 2013: december_2013_advocate.pdf

November 2013: november_2013_advocate.pdf

October 2013: october_2013_advocate.pdf

September 2013: september_2013_advocate.pdf

August 2013: august_2013_advocate.pdf

July 2013: july_2013_advocate.pdf

June 2013: june_2013_advocate.pdf

May 2013: may_2013_advocate.pdf

April 2013: april_2013_advocate.pdf

March 2013: march_2013_advocate.pdf

February 2013: february_2013_advocate.pdf

January 2013: january_2013_advocate.pdf

December 2012: december 2012_advocate.pdf

Mission

The mission of the Strawn Chamber of Commerce is to advance and promote a progressive economic environment for business, to advocate responsive government and quality education and to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Strawn and the surrounding area, while preserving the positive, unique community characteristics of Strawn, Palo Pinto County & the region.

To accomplish this mission, the Strawn Chamber of Commerce shall adhere to these guidelines:

• Encourage business and community prosperity by promoting economic programs designed to strengthen and enhance the financial opportunities for all businesses in Strawn and the surrounding areas.

• Serve as an effective non-partisan, non-sectarian voice for business & members on legislative, business, social, governmental, educational and community issues affecting Strawn, Palo Pinto County and the region.

• Identify and overcome obstacles that are detrimental to the business climate and community growth.

• Support civic, social, educational and cultural programs designed to increase the functional and aesthetic values of the community.

• Promote life-long learning.

2025 Strawn Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

• Tommy Lackey, President
• Susan Hurley, Vice President
• Mike McCoy, Secretary/Treasurer
• Jeff Hinkson, Immediate Past-President
• Sheryl Russell
• Janis Janes
• Brandy Sizemore
• Ashley Mallory
• Chuck Sowders
• Alan Alison
• Josh Moore

The Strawn Area Chamber Board of Directors meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month, at 6:00 pm, in the Chamber Conference room (located in the back of Texas Family Health Building).

Anyone interested in volunteering or serving on the Board, please contact the Chamber at 254-595-0197.

Staff

• Alejandra (Ali) Huizar, Executive Director

Projects & Actions

In June 2012, during Strawn's biennial Ex-Teachers/Ex-Students Homecoming event, a small group of locals met to discuss ways to hold an annual event that would draw people to Strawn. Recognizing that the future Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is a huge economic opportunity for not only Strawn but the surrounding region, it was determined that Strawn's needs were much greater than simply hosting an annual event. In August and later in October 2012, a group of Strawn business owners, civic leaders and concerned citizens met and voted to move forward with the creation of the Strawn Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber selected an interim Board of Directors that served through December 2013 at which time, an elected Board was seated.

In the last 13 years, the Chamber has accomplished a tremendous amount for the city, its businesses & citizens and for our Members. The Chamber, its Members and numerous volunteers, have racked up an impressive list of accomplishments such as:

• Published The Strawn Advocate newsletter

• Developed new Chamber logo

• Designed/Installed I-20 Billboard (pictured below)
  
  

• Published an area-wide Marketing Mailer, the Palo Pinto Mountain Marketer (sent to 3500 area residents) (pictured below)
  
  

• Developed a joint website for the Chamber, Booster Club, DCOS, Strawn Museum, and Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Partners

• Launched & maintained Facebook pages for Chamber & Historical Museum

• Designed and co-sponsored tourism ad in TMCN & Possum Kingdom Visitor Guides

• Placed 3rd in statewide Governor's Community Achievement Awards program

• Coordinating & Facilitating funding advocacy efforts for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

Lead purchase & installation of:

• Downtown Holiday lights

• Downtown landscaping & planters

• US & Texas flags (Displayed each national & state holidays and special local occasions)

• Strawn Mural (located in Downtown Strawn) (pictured below)
  
  

Coordinated & Produced:

• Merry Hometown Christmas Parade & Chili Supper (2012 - 2024)

• Bash-on-the-Bricks Festival (2013-2016..soon to be revived)

• 2013-2025 Texas Trash-Off (i.e. town clean-up)

• Strawn Angel Tree Program (2013-2024)

• Coordinated Vial of Life Initiative

• Community Economic Development Tour (2024) pictured below)
  
  

• Biannual Community-wide Garage Sale

• Candidate Forums (2016-2024)

• Palo Pinto Mountain Marketer

• Palo Pinto Soil & Water Conservation District

• Launched 2nd Saturday Farmers Market (pictured below)

• Strawn Chamber Scholarship

• Strawn ISD Teacher Breakfast

• Holiday Hay Bale Displays

• Gordon ISD & Strawn ISD Student Awards (pictured below)

Facilitated memberships in:

• Keep Texas Beautiful

• Texas Midwest Community Network

• Texas Forts Trail

• Friends of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park

• Texas Downtown Association

Facilitated Numerous Landscaping/Cleanup Projects:

• Pruned trees at Post Office and around Museum/City Park

• Planted wildflowers along railroad Greenbelt

• Spearheading efforts to clean & renovate the historic Strawn City Hall and City Auditorium

• Landscaped & installed fountain on downtown corner lot

• Xeriscaped area along North Main between railroad crossings

• Sponsored and promoted numerous town clean-ups

• Sponsored Strawn Spring Clean Fling Contest

• New carpet for Pavilion Stage

• Cleaned windows on all downtown buildings

• Cleaned City Pavilion building

• Removed brush/weeds/debris from around downtown buildings

• Re-stained & cleaned downtown wooden benches

• Purchased & installed over 30 concrete and colored planters in downtown area

• Landscaped and built flower beds and brick sidewalks around historic, Strawn Depot

• Cleaned and maintained N. Front Street flower bed for several years

• Planted wildflowers down south Hwy 16 corridor

• Partnered with the Class of 2016 to plant the 16 Cedar Elm trees along S. Front Street

The Strawn Area Chamber is proud to have partnered with the following groups & organizations:

Participation

We have much to be proud of, but there is much more we could and should be doing to improve and promote Strawn and its businesses. However, we can't achieve these things without the support of area businesses, area residents, Strawn alum and fans of Strawn.

Chamber Membership is open to any reputable person, business, association, corporation, partnership, non-profit or estate with an interest in seeing Strawn progress, thrive and grow.

We rely primarily on Membership dues, so support from our Members is crucial. We believe that our efforts, our hard work and our achievements over the course of the last 13 years prove that the Chamber is a good investment for you and for Strawn.

Please take a moment to download & complete the Membership Form and return to us along with the applicable payment.

And stay tuned... We've got more good things to come!