Presidents Message for March 2025
EFWBA Friends and Members,
The Ides of March, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick’s Day have all whizzed past. We are now officially into spring and tax deadlines. Seems like only yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and the new year.
During the past months East Fort Worth Business Association Board members have been breaking into various committees to determine how changes can be made to make our organization more efficient and more helpful for our members. After 50 years a lot has changed, and we need to change as well.
A communications and Marketing committee headed by President Elect Amanda Hollins is working on enhancing how the Business Association processes information. Committee members are Michael Shedd, Ialeen Cole, and Dan Shelley. They will be coming with recommendations soon.
Paul Kerpoe is also charring a finance committee Their charge is to look at budgeting, and membership dues and/or other aspects of keeping our organization viable and financially stable. Members of that committee include, Don Boren, Amanda Hollins, Charles Ivory, Ialeen Cole, and Dan Shelley.
Bill Schwennsen and Gary Cumbie are moving forward with the Candidate Forum set for our April meeting. With a crowded slate in District 5 this should be an informative meeting. They plan to invite all the candidates from Districts 5, 11, and 8. Bill has had a proceedure to deaden a nerve in his neck which was causing him a lot of pain, He will be wearing the dog collar /neck brace for 4 weeks.
Our paid members are the reason we exist. It’s still just $75 for membership and $40 for an additional member.
Please RSVP for the April 3rd meeting and I’ll see you there.
The Prez
April 3, 2025: Candidate Forum
Vice President,
This election cycle is very active, which is good for voters. There are multiple candidates running for office throughout the city.
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District 5, which has six candidates who want to represent the Eastside, has hosted multiple Neighborhood Association Forums to allow candidates to introduce themselves to the District 5 voters. These events have been well attended by residents who care about who next holds the seat on City Council. Voter questions have been sharp, and answers don’t come easy. (Some questions were side-stepped and not actually answered.)
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We have invited the candidates who will have the greatest impact on our members, and citizens of the Eastside.
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Bill Schwennsen has requested that you email your questions to him prior to the meeting. Click the button below to start a message with your question. (or a get-well note.)
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Charles Hodges
We received heart-breaking news on February 26, 2025, that Board Member Charles Hodges passed away.
Charles Hodges, serving as an EFWBA Director, was employed by Fort Worth ISD Family Action Center. After a 30-year career in public relations and corporate communications working for several Fortune 1000 companies, the Fort Worth native began working for Fort Worth ISD in a community relations and family support role. His favorite thing was helping facilitate behavioral, mental, physical and community resource support for east side students, families and residents. He was instrumental on the Wanda Conlin Scholarship Committee, helping to select the best students for scholarship awards, the Breakfast Optimist Club and several other organizations on the East Side of his beloved home town.
EFWBA Polo Shirts
Polo Shirts
3900 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, 76103.
Order your embroidered logo button polo shirt for $30. Wear this shirt to represent our organization at your community or civic events.
Selecting a size will take you to the SwipeSimple checkout page.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, First Time Visit
EFWBA has started each year with a visit from the Mayor. This year, we break tradition, and have invited the Arlington Mayor to be our guest.
Mattie Parker
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. We are excited to hear her State of the City report, detailing where we have succeded and where growth and opportunities still exist.
Josh Eadie
Josh Eadie is vice president, development for NexMetro Communities, the national leading developer of luxury leased home neighborhoods with more than 40 projects in multiple markets either built, under construction or in development and a robust pipeline of projects in new and existing markets. Josh is responsible for all land acquisition, entitlements and due diligence, and construction execution in the Dallas Fort Worth metro area.
Candidate Forum
Gary Cumbie has invited the local candidates for office to particiapate in our Candidate Forum and introduce themselves to our group.
Last year’s Forum was extremely informative, this interaction allows us to meet people personally before casting our votes.
May meeting: Will Northern
