1979 marked the reorganization of the Council. Corresponding Secretary Pat Gaines of Area III had been holding it together after all the other elected officers resigned. Some of the significant milestones of this resurgence period of effectiveness include:

1. Incorporation of the Council (which only cost $25 and a lot of hard work).
2. A State Council newsletter was started by Ed Pessink of Tyler who wrote, published and mailed four issues to every Team in Texas during its first year of publication.
3. The State Disaster Coordinator had lists of equipment available and had direct support from the Red Cross.
4. Set in motion a statewide program of recognition for exceptional Teams.
5. "Caused REACT Teams in Texas to change from CB Clubs to Civic Organizations" AND, according to Ed Pessink, REACT International wanted to know the details of how this was done!

The Correspondence Report for the March 3, 1979 meeting near Lake Belton included the reinstatement of Sweetwater REACT #2683 and the assignment of Team #4272 to Laguna REACT. Quad County REACT in Gladewater had received charter #4288. Region 5 Council had sent information about nearby motels and camping facilities as well as a map showing how to get to Frank's Lakeview Inn on Lake Belton. This had been copied and mailed to all Regions and to the State Council officers. New teams approved were Plano REACT #4305 and Spring Creek REACT #4307. The new Council stationary was Orange on White and did not list the officers or addresses.

The first item of business at the meeting was the acceptance of Pat Gaines' resignation as Corresponding Secretary. When the meeting was called to order at 10:35 a.m. there were no delegates there from areas 1, 2 or 4. Delegates from Area 2 arrived later. The treasurer was absent. President Stevens noted that he expected a 5-state Region to be set up soon, so the 8 regions in Texas would now be called Areas in the by-laws that would soon be adopted. The Council approved a charter application from Gray County REACT in Pampa and they would be team #4333. Ark-La-Tex requested and got reaffirmation of their name change. It was noted that REACT International would not be able to get new membership cards out until April.

Area 8 was to host the July meeting at Lake Livingston, but the date had to be changed to July 21, 1978. Art Findley announced that the site would be the Waterwood Country Club and the Saturday night meal would be a Bar-B-Que at $2.50 per person. All teams and Area Councils were requested to send the names and addresses of newspapers in their city or Area to the Council Public Relations Officer. Reba also needed information for the calendar of events. The Parliamentarian, Dr. Bullit Lowrey, was introduced. Sharon Svoboda accepted the appointment as Corresponding Secretary. The state training officer, Lynn Carter, was involved in getting a State Training Manual ready for guidance to teams.

The State Council logo was officially adopted.

The State Council adopted the $11,380 budget proposed by VP Pessink even though the only anticipated revenue was the $700 that the Council expected to get as reimbursement from REACT International. Jim Craghead and Jack Ottaway, assisting Ed with Ways and Means, badly needed suggestions on ways to make some big money! The need for bulk mailing came up again and Dr. Lowery and Jim Craghead had noted in the executive board meeting that even though printing costs would escalate when 200 items instead of 60 or 70 had to be copied, the lower postage would actually reduce the cost about $6 per mailing which would be even more valuable in terms of improved communications with all 116 teams in the state.

The proposed Constitution was approved with minor changes. The proposed by-laws were amended according to the will of the majority of the delegates and were approved 10 for and 2 against. Pat Gaines of Area 3 moved and Jerry Jennison of Area 2 seconded the motion that a newsletter be sent to every team in the state and those teams would donate $10 per year to defray postage and printing costs.

On June 14, 1979 letters went to the Board of Directors calling a special meeting of the Board for June 23 at Sharon Cherry's home in Dallas. The first State Council newsletter appeared during the summer of 1979. It noted that the oldest teams in the state were Madisonville and Stevens County REACTs. The first competitor for the coveted Team of the Year title was the very "responsive" Potter County REACT.

The July 1979 Correspondence Report listed new teams: Plano REACT #4305, and Frisco REACT #4367; and applications from three Area V teams: Gillespie County REACT, Fredericksburg, Diamond Back REACT, Lometa and San Saba County REACT, San Saba. After a long delay, Coleman REACT #4330 had received their charter in May.

When the State Council meeting was called to order on July 21, 1979 at the Waterwood Country Club near Huntsville, there were no delegates there from Areas 3 or 6. Area delegates were: 1 - Ronald Speer and Doris Baker, 2 - Jerry Jennison and David Kincaid, 4 - Joe Wilson and Robert Beran, 5 - Dick Pratz and Al Forehand, 7 - Jack Ottaway and Sharon Svoboda Cherry, 8 - Terry O'Keefe and Robert Owen. Payment of bills approved that day left the Council treasury with less than $200. Richard Pratz passed a black hat around to solicit funds for the Council and gathered $33.78.

Larry Todd of Canson Associates, Austin told of their contract with the state of Texas to promote safety with a mass media campaign, education for beginning drivers in high schools and working with fleet type operators. He needed help from REACTors with his grass roots campaign, by listening to our safety ideas and keeping us informed on traffic safety laws and energy conservation measures such as "Drive 55". Mr. Todd thought that he could help get REACT better cooperation with state law enforcement agencies. The Council voted to give Canson Associates a copy of our mailing lists and try to send updates to them often.

John Wann was elected Sgt. at Arms. Jerry Jennison announced that the San Angelo communications van would be available for viewers after the meeting. Charles Clark of Central Texas REACT invited the delegates to meet in Lampassas in November. His invitation was repeated for the March meeting since the Council had always met near the capitol during REACT Month. Dick Pratz of Area 5 read a copy of the new state law concerning interference with emergency messages on the radio. It was pointed out that proof of this interference must be furnished, but the penalties would be severe.

Five REACT Teams had gone to Wichita Falls after the April tornado and participated in communications under the direction of the Red Cross. Jack Ottaway was appointed Disaster Communications Chief for the Red Cross and he would also head REACT's Disaster Plan in Texas. Dennis Cherry was appointed General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) Committee Chairman. Richard Pratz proposed an amendment to the Council by-laws allowing each Team a vote in the Council.

There was not enough money in the treasury to pay for printing and mailing the new Constitution and by-laws. The Council decided to print 150 copies and sell them for $1.50 each. Ed Pessink donated the expenses of the first Council Newsletter which started the "Team of the Month" feature. It was planned that this would also result in a Team of the Year. Ed also stated that it would cost about $50 per issue to put the newsletter out and he planned to do it monthly. He needed teams to send information to him and hoped that each team would send donations to help defray the cost of the newsletter. Jack Ottaway brought a beautiful trophy to the meeting to display it. The trophy was worth $230 but REACT's cost would be $50. The delegates and members present at the November meeting donated the money for the trophy. Brazoria County REACT donated $20 toward the State Council's expenses and challenged all other teams to do the same. Bexar County REACT donated $13.

The Council voted to send International a list of the State and Area Council officers with their addresses and telephone numbers in order to participate in the national listing of Councils. Sharon Cherry announced that since International meetings had been canceled, the Pennsylvania State Convention would be expanded to a national meeting. She and Dennis planned to go. Terry O'Keefe of Area 8 moved to back the proposal asking for three field people on the International board of directors. The motion carried.

The second newsletter announced that the date of the next State Council meeting had been changed to October 27, 1979. Team of the Month for August was the 40-member well-trained Brownwood team who had constant community involvement and who held competitions to judge their efficiency and speed in emergency situations.

The Correspondence Report for the October 27, 1979 meeting noted that newsletter donation checks had been received from Gillespie County REACT #4374, Nueces County REACT and San Patricio County REACT. Charter numbers for San Saba County REACT and Diamond Back REACT were received: #4376 and #4375 respectively. Capitol City Communications, Atlanta GA requested and received a State Mailing roster so they could disseminate early information about the 1980 International Convention.

There was some discussion of the contingency plan that would keep REACT in Texas alive in the event that REACT International ceased to exist. The treasurer noted that International was a year behind on reimbursements to teams and owed the Texas Council $664.40.

Since Publicity Director Reba Mosely had missed three meetings, Ed Pessink agreed to assume the chairmanship of the Publicity Committee until it could function without him. A hat was passed for the funds to pay for the Team of the Year trophy. $47 of the necessary $50 was donated.

The bill from the Mariott Hotel for the meeting room, coffee, etc. for this meeting was $354.50. Mike Lucky had made the original arrangements with the hotel and made an effort to get the cost reduced. Jim Tanner offered an invitation to have the July, 1980 meeting in San Antonio at no cost to the Council. The Council accepted his invitation.

An Area V delegate pointed out that an article in the REACTer had outlined the Texas State Disaster plan before it was adopted at the last meeting.

Each Texas Team had been asked at the end of 1979 to donate $30 or $1.50 per member, whichever was less, to help defray the expenses borne by the State Council in supporting the Teams. The first donation was sent by an Area V Team.