Where does the time go? The PTGAH has had a busy second quarter of 2004. Most of the membership reported a great first quarter with the Super Bowl and the All-Star game is going to be another great addition for Houston to show itself to the nation.

For our April meeting, we were given a “Runaway Scrape” Tour of old Harrisburg by yours’ truly. I had a great time showing all the Santa Anna Capture Site and Vince’s Bridge. Gary White also gave us another tour of the Glendale Cemetery. Gary is such a great resource for our organization because he knows everything about cemeteries and he has the key to the Gate… Dinner followed at El Jardin on Harrisburg Blvd.

May saw us at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Burke-Baker Planetarium. We were shown a great new venue on the Domed Screen about Mars. We were some of the first in town to learn that the old Planetarium is now more - it is called the Domed Theater. We also were able to tour some of the museum.

Dinner was at the “Black Lab Pub” on Montrose.

Our June meeting took us to Clear Lake. Captain Pip of Baywatch Tours gave us a tour of the Lake while we partied. Dinner was Cajun and great! We were also treated to a tour of Mike and Suzy’s new remodeled home and bathroom. Several of us tried to see how many could fit in the shower. (Fully dressed).

July Member Meeting Date Changed

Please Note!!

We will conduct our July monthly meeting on the 4th Thursday instead of the usual 3rd Thursday. We are, therefore, meeting on Thursday, July 22nd. We are to meet for networking between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. at the main entrance to Toyota Center at the intersection of LaBranch and Polk. We will have a tour of the facilities beginning at 7:00 p.m. with a presentation and light refreshments provided. We will also have a brief business session during the evening.

Please RSVP to Mike Kees (mrk1807@houston.rr.com or at 281-474-1225) no later than Sunday, July 18th. Please feel free to bring your spouse, significant other or any prospective members to this fine outing. We will be among the first to experience a tour of Toyota Center as this month marks the launching of their new Tour Program.

(President’s Message Continued)

We have two new members, Andrew Groocock and John Robinson. Andrew works at the Museum of Fine Arts and is a local artist. John Robinson is a retired schoolteacher and he has been in the tour business for many years. Welcome to both and by the way, all members are

challenged to bring in new members. These two are mine… Where are yours…

The next few months look great. We have several items on our agenda and the Executive Committee is working on several projects to add to the many benefits of belonging to the PTGAH.

Richard Cook

President

PTGAH TRIVIA

1. What famous movie star that was in the cast of “Gone With the Wind” lived in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood?

2. What apartment building in downtown Houston did young Howard Hughes live during the famous “Camp Logan Riots”?

3. Is Buffalo Bayou named after the Buffalo?

Look for the answers in the October newsletter

EDUCATION NEWS

The PTGAH is in the process of creating a tour guide information/training manual. The manual will contain sections for the different areas of the city such as Downtown, Museum District, Medical Center, Reliant Park, Galleria Area, River Oaks, Historic Neighborhoods, Great Houstonians, etc. The sections will contain a wealth of information about each subject. We are currently collecting the information from the executive committee members and are asking all members for their help. The details of how and to whom the manual will be distributed have not been decided but will be discussed with the membership at more length in the near future. If you would like to contribute information for a section or have suggestions for the manual please let us know. Contact Esther Porter via phone (281) 992-4124 or email evphoutx@aol.com

Museum District Day Bus Docent Training

Museum District Day will take place on Saturday, September 18, 2004. For the fourth year, the Museum District offers certified and associate members of the PTGAH an opportunity for free training to serve as bus docents during this event. There will be two four-hour shifts on Museum District Day. You can sign up for one or both shifts.

Training will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2004, from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the GHCVB Board Room inside City Hall at 901 Bagby. Free on-street parking is available.

Following completion of their training, bus docents will receive a 2/1 pass to the Houston Museum of Natural Science's IMAX Theater, a gift certificate for 2 people for Discover Houston Tours' Ghost Walks in October ($20 value), and an updated copy of "A Self-Guided Tour through Houston's Museum District." On Museum District Day, each bus docent will be given a free box lunch and, if available, a souvenir T-Shirt. Following the event, the Museum District will mail each bus docent a $25 check for each shift worked.

To register for your free training, please call Sandra Lord at (713) 222-9255 or email her at sandraslord@aol.com

Museum District Educators Open House

For the first year, the Museum District is offering four (4) bus docents who have worked on at least two Museum District Day events -- you know who you are! -- an opportunity to act as bus docents during the Museum District's Educators Open House. This event will take place on Thursday, September 2, 2004, from 3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Free training will take place on Saturday, September 18, 2004, from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m., also in the GHCVB Board Room inside City Hall at 901 Bagby. Free on-street parking is available.

Each bus docent for the Museum District's Educators Open House will receive a complimentary box meal and a souvenir tote bag. The Museum District will mail each bus docent a $50 check following the event.

Bus docents for this event will be chosen in the order in which they apply for training. To be considered for training for this event, please call Sandra Lord at (713) 222-9255 or email her at SandraSLord@aol.com.

What is in a signature?

This is a typical 19^th Century signature by a notable person. This is the signature of the Famous “Hero of San Jacinto”. He is the namesake of our great city, General Sam Houston.

During his lifetime and with his place in history, he was either admired or hated. He was the kind of personality that made people notice. He was taller than most, reported to be at least 6’2” in an age where most men were under 6 feet. When he came into a room, he was, and most certainly wanted to be, noticed.

He was at peace with his adoptive brothers, the Cherokee, making him an “Indian Lover” to some. He loved to dress in native costumes so as to attract attention.

He was a politician; he was a proven soldier, rising to rank of General. He was, most certainly, noticeable.

So, take a look at his signature. What do you see? It does have the standard flair of the time with swirls and curlicues…but take a closer look…

Some say that he did not sign “Sam Houston”

Some say that he was signing “I Am Houston”

What do you see? For me, knowing some of the traits of his personality, I think he was signing the latter.

Richard Cook

AUGUST MONTHLY MEETING

Riding the Rail

Presented by Sandra Lord

Thursday, August 19, 2004

6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Networking

6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Rail Tour

Join Sandra Lord, owner of Discover Houston Tours, and learn how to design and conduct a tour using Metro's new light rail system.

Meeting Location: Humble Cafe, Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 916 Dallas at Main. Cash bar. Free on-street parking near Main Street after 6 p.m. Bring $2 in cash for your MetroRail Day Pass.

Itinerary: Main Street Square Station south to Fannin-South Station, Fannin-South Station north to Museum District Station. Rest Stop: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Dutch-treat dinner at Cafe Express. Museum District Station north to the UHDT Station. Downtown skyline view. UHDT Station south to Main Street Square Station -- USS Houston monument and fountains on Main Street Square.

Handouts: Souvenir Metro bag full of MetroRail information, 2004 Downtown Tunnel Map, and Sandra Lord's guide to "Riding the Rail." RSVPs suggested so that there will enough souvenir Metro bags available.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

RICHARD COOK

President

ESTHER PORTER

Vice-President

BOB ZURIK

Recording Secretary

KATHARINA UPCHURCH

Membership Secretary

GARY WHITE

Treasurer

LYNN GAINES

Director-at-Large

MIKE KEES

Immediate Past President

MEETING NOTICE

GUIDE POSTS

The Professional Tour Guide Association of Houston

P.O. Box 2844

Voice Mail: 281-586-2161