Charity Challege Returns

Who will be CultureMap’s 2017 charity partner? That’s up to you.

CultureMap Charity Challenge is back, which means you have work to do: Vote in this poll for your favorite of these 12 young professionals organizations to determine which one will become our 2017 charity partner.

The group with the most votes wins big: an advertising package valued at $10,000 and bragging rights as CultureMap’s 2017 charity partner. The winner will be announced on January 6, 2017.

You can vote once a day, every day, through December 17 at 11:59 pm. But before you do, learn more about these YPs making a difference in our community:

Dallas Autumn Ball
Dallas Autumn Ball is one of the hottest black-tie events in town. But when the party’s over, DAB mobilizes young adults to make a positive impact in underserved schools in South Dallas through its collaboration with Reading Partners of Dallas and monthly service projects.

Dallas CASA Young Professionals
Dallas CASA Young Professionals is a vibrant group of volunteers with a passion for improving the lives of abused children through outreach, volunteerism, and fundraising. This year’s black-tie-optional CASAblanca party promises an evening of casino games, cocktails, fare, prizes, and a whole lot of fun.

Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce
Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce cultivates and empowers young leaders in the community through service opportunities, mentorship, professional development, and special projects. DJCC hosts a variety of events, including wine tastings, an Easter Egg hunt for kids, and the Johnny Sides gala.

Dallas Museum of Art Junior Associates
In conjunction with the Dallas Museum of Art, the dynamic Junior Associates program offers young professionals unique educational, social, and networking events year-round. These like-minded individuals have a passion for the arts and value immersive, cultural experiences found only at the DMA.

Flight
Members of Flight take a service-first approach to further the efforts of Vogel Alcove. This dedicated lot’s mission is to engage young professionals, raise awareness of the plight of homeless children, fundraise, and grow future leaders. Flight’s signature event is Flight for the Alcove Urban Race.

Heart of Dallas Young Professionals
Heart of Dallas Young Professionals aim to inspire the next generation of leaders in the Dallas sports and entertainment fields by connecting young professionals with one another and providing opportunities to fuel bold social change. Fast Pitch allows nonprofits to make a live pitch to a panel of judges.

KT Trailblazers
The newly formed KT Trailblazers is a dedicated group of Katy Trail enthusiasts that support the efforts of Friends of the Katy Trail. These outdoor aficionados ensure the Katy Trail remains a clean, safe, and beautiful retreat for the community to enjoy while connecting trail lovers with one another through social and networking events.

Lee Park Junior Conservancy
Lee Park Junior Conservancy supports the conservation and preservation of 20 acres of urban green space and the historic building within the park. LPJC members host creek clean-ups, business networking opportunities, and social events like A Day at the Races, one of Dallas’ best Derby soirées.

The One Society
The One Society supports Children’s Health Children's Medical Center by engaging and fostering young leaders to make life better for children through philanthropic, educational, fundraising, volunteer, and social opportunities. The Annual One Society Gala is a fête favorite among the Dallas YP crowd.

Rhapsody in Red
The newly formed Rhapsody in Red young professionals group recently hosted a sold-out, inaugural, black-tie charity ball benefiting Cherish Uganda. The global organization ministers and serves children in Uganda diagnosed with HIV by providing them with much-needed foster homes, education, and medical services.

Yellow Rose Gala Foundation
The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation, founded by Dee and Jimmy Wynne, works to advance research to treat, cure, and ultimately eliminate multiple sclerosis. Today, Dee’s children continue her legacy through the relaunch of the highly anticipated Yellow Rose Gala and its partnership with the National MS Society.

Young Friends of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
The Young Friends auxiliary organization furthers the Ronald McDonald House’s mission of meeting the needs of seriously ill children and their families. Young Friends offers opportunities through volunteer nights, fall and spring happy hours, membership drives, and their not-to-miss signature Young Friends Party held each spring.

The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation

Photo courtesy of Yellow Rose Foundation

The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation

charity-challenge

License Plate News

Dallas car buyers get metal license plates stat under new Texas law

DMV

Texas license plate

A new state law will go into effect in Texas that makes it easier for car owners to get permanent metal license plates: The new law, House Bill 718, was actually passed by the 88th Legislature in 2023, but it goes into effect on July 1, 2025. It will allow car dealers to begin issuing metal license plates directly when they sell a car, whether it's new or used.

In the previous needlessly elaborate process, new car owners would receive a temporary paper license, and then apply for metal license plates. The new law will eliminate that requirement, allowing car buyers to get metal license plates when they purchase a car from a dealer.

The new law arose out of the huge imbroglio over temporary paper tags, which were designed to be used on a temporary basis while car buyers waited to receive their permanent plates. But scammers were obtaining car dealer licenses, then printing up hundreds of thousands of temporary paper tags and selling them to people hoping to avoid paying for insurance and car registration.

The paper tags gave Texas a black eye because they became a crime problem not just in Texas but nationally, turning up on cars involved in crimes in Texas, New York, and beyond. In a 2021 investigation, the FBI found more than a half-million fraudulent paper tags, sold by just three people to buyers across the country.

Bill 718 was initially designed to go into effect in September 2023, then March 2025, but the final bill bumped the deadline back to July 1, 2025. That's thanks to The Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association, who were "concerned" about having an adequate supply of metal plates in such a short time frame. Let's hope they got it together!

The new rules are as follows:

Buying from a Dealer: Consumers purchasing a vehicle from a Texas dealer will receive metal license plates instead of paper temporary tags, driving off the lot with their plates already in place.

Until their registration sticker arrives from their county office, customers must keep their buyer’s plate receipt in the vehicle to be able to verify the purchase and pending registration to law enforcement.

Trading In a Vehicle: When consumers sell or trade in a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers may transfer the plates to another vehicle sold within 10 days, if the plates match the appropriate vehicle type, per Senate Bill 1902, passed by the 89th Legislature this year. (Consumers with specialty license plates will keep their plates.)

Buying/Selling a Vehicle in a Private Sale: The private party sales process remains unchanged: Sellers should remove their license plates and registration sticker from the vehicle when they deliver the vehicle to the buyer. The seller can request to transfer the plates to another vehicle they own—if appropriate for the vehicle type—by visiting their county tax assessor-collector's office.

Sellers should submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle.

Buyers must submit a title and registration application at their county tax assessor-collector’s office and obtain new plates to register the vehicle in their name within 30 days of purchase.

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