A ticket for fun, information and fellowship invited readers to the Ponderosa Inn next to Scott & White Hospital in Temple for the March 5th meeting as guests of Bell County REACT who had celebrated their tenth anniversary in January. President Jerry Jennison's "From the President" article was a mini-lesson on Team goal setting that was worth re-reading! VP Curtis Bell announced that Rockwall County REACT had won an Antenna Specialists base station antenna for signing up the most new Team members in Texas during the membership contest.

Visitors to Temple for the March meeting were greeted by the "Red Carpet Ambassadors" of Temple's Chamber of Commerce and made to feel extra-welcome. They learned a little bit about the way the Bell County DWI and Seat Belt Task Force helped reduce accidents in the county. Proposed State Council Bylaws changes were explained by Chuck Thompson and Frances Riley. The November, 1987 death of Fred Ryle of Grayson County REACT was announced. He had been Treasurer of North Central Texas REACT Council.

BREAK-9 Vol. 9, letter 2's first page shows a man loafing in a hammock "Restin up for Perryton." The newsletter informed the readers that 81 people attended the March meeting and that Team Tally votes on the proposed Bylaws were due and summarized those changes which simplified the language of the document and reduced its size from seventeen pages to eleven.

Vol. 9, letter 3 went out to every REACT Team that addresses could be located for - 709 of them. The welcome mat was out in the Panhandle as Wheatheart REACT of Perryton prepared for visitors from the South. Some readers were even able to identify the Texas shaped wheatfield on the first page. Biographical data on each of the nominees for Field Director were condensed from The REACTer. While Richard Pratz did not win the election, he gained some valuable insight into the election process. Only 246 correctly filled out ballots were submitted. 182 people had preregistered for the convention in Roanoke.

Sixty-five REACTors traveled a long ways to get to the Perryton Meeting and it was worth the trip! Frank Stamps will agree with Jerry Jennison that it is more fun to travel to a meeting than it is to host one. Twenty-six of thirty-six Texas Teams received 100% retention certificates. Rena Pittman issued tickets for the fund-raiser: an emergency blanket and $50 for the winning ticket-holder on November 12, 1988.

Team of the Month Awards went to: Brownwood REACT for January for community service, Sweetwater REACT for Community Service and Houston Metro Emergency REACT for seeking and getting a grant from Tenneco Oil Co. for communications equipment - both for February, Bexar County REACT for community involvement and emergency response for March, and Guadalupe County REACT for community involvement and emergency response for April.

A new award called the Emma Knox Fun award was created to be given to the person who seems to have the most fun at a State Council meeting. It was won in Perryton by visitors, Aubrey and Kathy King of Oklahoma. The Council voted to allot $100 for the printing of the State Council History. Each Team would receive a copy with the remainder to be sold at $4.00 each. Advance subscriptions for 17 copies were taken at the meeting. Back issues of "BREAK-9" were available for those who wanted them. The August/September issue of BREAK-9 featured the traditional farm couple with a pitchfork, on page one, inviting REACTors to San Angelo on November 12. More than a fourth of the 32 page newsletter was devoted to a very comprehensive report of the International Convention in Roanoke, VA which was attended by REACTors from five Texas Teams. They brought back the first "Getting Help By CB Radio " pamphlets seen in the state. They learned that of 34 Texas Teams who could have voted in the Field Director election, only 21 Teams did so. A memorial fund was set up to accept donations to the Council as special memorials.

A pair of gun-hands promised to "See you in San Angelo, November 12, Heah" on page one of the October/November, 1988 BREAK-9. Minutes of the June State Council meeting in Perryton took sixteen of the 36 pages. Area VI President LaVada Thomas provided some insights into the life of the Knox family in her article in memory of Emma Knox who passed away on May 17, 1988. The Area II news column announced that Mary Healer had been chosen Individual REACTor of the Quarter for the first quarter. She'll never forget the call she took at 1:00 p.m. of August 12, 1988 reporting an accident with five fatalities when a truck and a van loaded with children collided. She called the proper authorities and the thirteen injured were transported to hospitals, some by air.

Jerry Jennison's last meeting as President of the Council was remarkable for many reasons. The Area II Teams hosted the meeting at the Ramada Inn in San Angelo. Their own delegates were Bobby Jones and Stacy Elms. David Benz represented Area IV. Keren Pratz and Lee Besing voted for Area V. LaVada and Tommy Thomas were the delegates from Area VI. J. L. Riley and Charles Thompson were Area VII delegates, while Judy Bell and Weldon Pittman, Sr. represented Area VIII. Sixty-four REACTors were there.

Area II President Stacy Elms welcomed the group to San Angelo on behalf of all the Area II Teams. Ector County REACT was in charge of door prizes, Sweetwater REACT was responsible for the table decorations and Brownwood REACT was responsible for the hospitality room. George Crownover of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce welcomed the visitors and explained how important San Angelo REACT was to their community.

Ivan Knox missed the meeting because his father had died on November 10. A card from Ivan was read in which he thanked the Council members for their many kindnesses after Emma's death.

Jerry Jennison asked Teams to write to write to their State Senators and Representatives asking that Highway Department rules be amended to allow placement of the new REACT road sign on Highway right-of-ways.

The 1987 Convention Committee had not yet allowed an audit of their books. The State Council as co-sponsors wanted an audit to finalize the reports.

Bobby Jones had coordinated disaster services during Hurricane Gilbert. Teams that were especially active were Bexar County REACT and Guadalupe County REACT.

The first printed History of the Council was distributed. The Historian was honored that President Jennison chose to close the meeting with the epilogue from the History. The most useful publication from the Council was the 150 Team Information booklets produced by Richard Pratz with input from most of the Teams in the state.

A drawing for an emergency blanket and $50 resulted in a grateful winner: Corky Bryant's father, Mr Robertson. Profit from the drawing was $550.

Curtis Bell reported that both Lake Palestine REACT and Brownwood REACT had been selected Team of the Quarter by International.

Chuck Thompson advised all GMRS users to read the new GMRS rules carefully.

TEAM OF THE MONTH Awards -

• May, Lake Palestine REACT for community involvement
• June, Dallas County REACT for community service
• July, Guadalupe County REACT for Team growth and training
• August, a tie between Potter County REACT for community involvement and Rockwall County REACT for Team growth

TEAM OF THE YEAR - Brownwood CB Emergency Unit, REACT, Team C-446

Secretary Yvonne Speer reported that 5 areas sent Team Tally Votes on the Bylaws changes. Four were for the changes and one was against so the proposed new By-Laws were adopted. A proposed budget was also adopted.

New officers elected were:

• President, Frank Stamps, Wheatheart REACT, Area VI;
• Executive Vice-President, Curtis Bell, Navarro County REACT, Area VIII;
• Vice-President, Bobby Jones, Brownwood REACT, Area II;
• Secretary, Richard Pratz, Bell County REACT, Area V;
• Treasurer, Judy Thompson, Dallas County REACT, Area VII;
• Sgt-at-Arms, Allan Tyler, Brazoria County REACT, Area IV.
• Jerry Jennison of San Angelo REACT, Area II was the Past President.

Richard Pratz was elected delegate to the REACT International Convention. Curtis Bell was elected first alternate and Keren Pratz was elected second alternate.

There was a report from the Mid-west REACT Conference held in Wichita in September. Keren Pratz noted that Al Moore's workshop on Publicity for Small Teams was one of the best given.

Seventeen Teams were present for a total of 13,318 miles traveled. Brownwood REACT won the Area II travel trophy with ten members present. Bexar County REACT with only two members present won the Area V trophy. Area VIII had 23 people there and traveled more than half of the miles travelled. They won the State travel trophy. Rena Pittman was the secret judge for the Emma Knox Fun Trophy which she awarded to Lillie and Leon McCartney.

Volume 9, Letter 6 of BREAK-9, the December '88/January '89 issue sent Seasons Greetings to REACTors of the State with a present-loaded Christmas Tree on the first page. Several of the pages were decorated with holiday motifs. Each page was a full 8 1/2 x 11 inches, but it was still 28 pages long. An editorial asked for a useful Team Contact List of ALL REACT Teams. The list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of officers of each Area Council, as well as those for officers and committee chairmen of the State Council were useful tools for any BREAK-9 reader. The calendar of events made it possible for REACTors to visit other Team's meetings and participate in events they had time to help with.

In addition to subscription blanks and the Texas Sales Tax Exemption Certificate for each Team's use, a letter from the Comptroller of Public Accounts for the State of Texas saying that the Council and all of its subsidiaries meet the requirements for exemption from the state sales tax.