British-American Business Council Raises Almost Quarter of Million for Charity

March 3, 2010 - PRLog -- Houston TX - Members and guests of the British-American Business Council Houston (BABC) gathered at the Marriott Westchase on 25 February, 2010, for the annual general meeting of the organization.  

The highlight of the evening was a presentation of $224,364 by BABC President Trevor Parkes to the British American Foundation of Texas, a charitable organization formed by the BABC in 2006.   The monies were raised at the BABC's annual gala in December.  Since the formation of the charity, BABC has raised almost 3/4 of million dollars going toward scholarships for underprivileged students in the US and the UK.  Present to accept the check were Susan Howard, BAFTx President; Kevin Howard, Royal Bank of Scotland and major donor; Carole Serjeant, BAFTx Executive Director; and John Carrig, Conoco Phillips, major donor and director of BAFTx.

BABC members also voted on a slate of directors for 2010.  Re-elected to office were Paul Campbell of Turner and Townsend, John LaCour of DMN3,  Sally Stiles of British Airways, Trevor Parkes of Trevor Parkes & Assoc., and Kenneth Harder of Dunbar Harder.  Elected for the first time was John Reale of UK Trade and Investment.

Trevor Parkes addressed the group as the newly elected president of the BABC.  He assured the membership that BABC had weathered the economic storm of 2009 and had a full year of networking and social activities planned for 2010, including the inaugural BABC Business Awards event scheduled for October 2010 in an alliance with Continental Airlines.

Mr. Parkes also thanked the event sponsor Advancial Credit Union.  Advancial provides financial services with a special expertise in establishing credit and personal banking accounts for ex-pats.  Members of BABC are eligible for membership in Advancial.

Executive Director Becci Himes unveiled a new programme of the organization, Strategic Alliance Roundtables.  These small groups made up of BABC members will meet on a regular basis and work collectively to generate high quality referrals for each other.  Only one company from each sector will be allowed per group.  Attendees of the meeting were given first opportunity sign up for this unique opportunity within BABC.

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The British-American Business Council Houston is a 501 (c) 6 not for profit organization promoting US/UK trade and investment. Affiliation with international British-American Business connects us with over 3,000 member companies in the UK and N. America