STREET TALK

It appears as though Dallas City Councilwoman Diane Ragsdale may have started off on the wrong foot with veteran City Hall reporters when she criticized City Secretary Robert Sloan for “manufacturing votes” in an April 17 District 6 election. The vote forced Ragsdale into a runoff with another District 6 candidate, Leo Chaney. Sloan’s integrity is something the press has always held in high regard. Despite Sloan’s reputation, Ragsdale requested that the April 28 runoff election be monitored by an official from the Texas secretary of state’s office. The runoff proceeded without a hitch, and Ragsdale defeated Chaney by 135 votes.



There’s talk around town that arts patrons Ray and Patsy Nasher have approached the Dallas Symphony Association with an offer anyone would find hard to refuse. It seems that the Nashers will make a $10 million donation to the new Dallas Symphony’s Music Hall, which is planned for the Arts District. The donation will consist of 10 annual $1 million payments. Ray Nasher says he will offer no information to confirm the rumor, and Dallas Symphony chairman Willem Brans isn’t commenting.



Just in case anyone east of the Trinity River is interested, the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau recently was named one of the 10 best convention bureaus in the nation by a readers’ poll conducted by New York City-based Meetings and Conventions magazine.

Fort Worth competed against cities with 7,000 or fewer hotel rooms. Readers said Fort Worth had an especially helpful and supportive convention staff.

According to Jef Russell, Fort Worth’s convention bureau director, the number of conventions Fort Worth has hosted since 1981 has more than doubled, and Russell expects the city to host 370 this year.



How many of you patriotic souls still have Bicentennial memorabilia stuffed deep in your underwear drawer?

You’ll have the chance to collect more commemorative goodies during the Texas Ses-quicentennial Celebration in 1986, and you might even have the chance to design some souvenirs of your own. It’s a prime business opportunity for one-shot entrepreneurs who want to capitalize on the state’s 150th birthday.

The Texas 1986 Sesquicen-tennial Commission in Austin is coordinating the gift ideas that will bear the official Ses-quicentennial seal of approval. Susan McClelland, a commission spokesperson, says the commission will accept ideas from both manufacturers and individuals until August 31.

The catch is that most gift categories-medallions, flags, spurs, belt buckles, boots, hats, rings, maps, metal objects, fine art prints, ceramics, pistols, rifles, knives, art posters, reproductions of early Texas currency and artifacts, Texana products and a patriotic kit for school children-will be snatched up by major gift manufacturers, which can mass-produce gifts quickly and inexpensively.

For the creative entrepreneur, however, there’s a “limited edition” category for unique gift ideas that don’t fit other categories. This is the category where an entrepreneur has his best shot. Anyone can make and sell commemorative gifts, McClelland says, but if the idea isn’t chosen by the commission, it won’t carry the official Sesquicentennial seal.

For bid information, write the Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission, P.O. Box 1986, Austin, Texas 78767, or call (512) 475-1986.