RGV LIfe Magazine issue#3

Inside this issue:
14
Raymond Orta:
“Prende La Vela”
02
www.rgvlifemagazine.com

Content List
05
Diabetes in the RGV
The Silent Killer
09
11
14
16
18
25
29
The Hooest Restaurants
We hit up some of the hooest places
to eat in the Brownsville Area
Charro Days Special
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer
adipiscing elit.
Raymond Orta
Exclusive RGV Comedian going wild
Prende la Vela Tour
The Camille Playhouse
Incredible shows being performed.
Have you aaended one yet?
Zika.. Are you Aware?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer
adipiscing elit.
Have you driven a VW
Volkswagen makes a comeback with
the Atlas.. Check it out.
Jalapeño 100
Another great cycling event by
Bicycle World RGV
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Meet our Staff
Roger Davila/ CEO/ Editor
I along with my business partner and co-founder, Alan Novelo, had a vision of what we
wanted to be our main focus when we began this magazine. We wanted to showcase
what truly transpires in the RGV. We are more than just more Corruppon, Immigraaon,
Drug Cartels and Obesity. The people that make up the RGV are hard working individuals
that are deep rooted in family, culture and love.
email: rdavila@rgvlifemagazine.com
Alan Novelo/CFO/HR Director
With a strong work ethic and aaennon to detail, Alan Novelo, handles the day to day
operaaons of coordinaang events, training and maintaining our staff. Have a quesson
about our hiring process, he is the one to contact. Need to book an event? Get a hold
of Alan. Co- Founder of RGV Life Magazine with the same vision and determinaaon
to recognize the happenings of the RGV.
email: anovelo@rgvlifemagazine.com
Erica Casas/ Marketing Director
Have a quesson about our ads? Would you like to adverrse in RGV Life Magazine?
Then Erica is the one to speak to. She will carefully structure your Markeeng Plan to
maximize your growth. If you would like to schedule an event, call Erica. Her professional
work ethic combined with her markeeng experrse will help your business grown
email: ecasas@rgvlifemagazine.com
David Salinas/ Contributing Editor
David originally came on board as our Markeeng Director but due to his aaennon to
detail and perserverance he has become our Contribuung Editor. If you have an idea
for a story or know of an interessng event, do not hesitate in contaccng David. He will
coordinate with the rest of our staff to insure that the event gets covered in a professional
manner.
email: dsalinas@rgvlifemagazine.com
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The RGV’s Silent Killer
Diabetes
One of the Rio Grande Valley’s biggest health issue is The Silent Killer known as Diabetes. With the
love of flour torrllas, taquitos and the rest of the food in the RGV it makes it difficult to maintain a
healthy lifestyle.
ccording to the Naaonal Insstute of Diabetes
and Digessve and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), diabetes affects 25.8 million
AAmericans.
Diabetes is a chronic (long term) condiion marked
by abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the
blood. People with diabetes either do not produce
enough insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert
sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed
for daily life, or cannot use the insulin that their
bodies produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the
bloodstream. If lee untreated, diabetes can lead to
blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, heart disease,
and stroke.
There are 2 major types of diabetes:
Type 1. Also known as juvenile or insulin dependent
diabetes, type 1 diabetes occurs when the cells of
the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin
are destroyed by the immune system. As a result,
the pancreas permanently loses its ability to produce
enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels appropriately.
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childcured.
Type 2. This form of the disease makes up 90% or
more of all cases of diabetes. It usually develops in
adulthood. It occurs when the pancreas cannot
make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels
normal and is made worse by poor food choices, a
sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. Thus the
biggest problem in the RGV.
RGV Life Magazine 05

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nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo,
rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenaas vitae,
justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis
preeum.
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27th Annual Bicycle World’s
Jalapeño 100
The 27th Annual Jalapeño 100 Bicycle
Ride sponsored by Bicycle World RGV was
as usual a huge success. Hundreds of cyclists
signed up for this annual ride. It was
an amazing day for a ride. The riders truly
enjoyed this event and so did we. Looking
forward to next years ride.
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Crisis Within Our
Borders
s newly elected President Trump takes office the
contraversy surrounding the building of the Border
Wall begins to intensify. What should we do with
Athe Border between Mexico and United States.
The argument remains that President Trump believes that most
immigrants are pedophiles, rapists and murderers. That cannot
be further from the truth. Being from the RGV myself I associate
each and everyday with people that have come from Mexico. I have known many different types of people in my life and have
come to the conclusion that there are bad people in all races. Case in point, a few days ago a United States Ciizen walked up to
a man in his 70’s and shot him point blank for no reason at all except that he had an argument with his girlfriend. Should he be deported?
What about the Caucasion, naturally born ciizen, that killed members of a church only because they were of the wrong
color?
Should HE be deported? Violence , hate and pure hatred does not
have a color, a religion or a face, it is simply that.. PURE HATRED. President Trump believes that the best soluuon is to completely
close the Border and not allow anyone in. How can that solve the problem? “They take our jobs” “ They are Criminals” As stated
before, jobs are everywhere, what one chooses to do is what separates what someone wants to do from what someone WILL do
in order to feed their families. As the Immigraaon Reform protests seem to grow more and more, we are faced with the decision
as to what we should do to fix this situaaon. Everyone believes that the people that come to the United States Illegally will always
be just that.. illegal. Many have become doctors, aaorneys, architects as well as teachers and other professionals. They want the
chance that everyone else has to succeed. They have the passion and the drive that forces them to work the odd jobs, the many
menial labor jobs someemes in downright degrading posiions in order to reach their goals and be able to support their families.
What are we willing to do in order to succeed. Many Americans are simply lazy.. We have become a society dependent on Smartphones,
computers, tablets as well as video games , GPS and backup cameras. Have we become that lazy that we are threatened
by hard working individuals that want the same opportuniies that everyone else is afforded? Are we scared of what they will
FORCE Americans to do? WORK!! Immigraaon Reform is happening naaonwide. Are you going to be a part of the movement?
By: Roger Davila

The Hooest Restaurants
Where Do We Eat?
P
eople in the RGV take their dining
very seriously. Let’s face it, we love
to eat. We will begin our series of
Where do we Eat?
RGV Life Magazine will be hiing up the finer
places to dine in every city in the RGV. We will
begin in Brownsville, South Padre, Los Fresnos
and Port Isabel. We will be looking for
that one special place or even that hole in
the wall that you love to eat at. We will soon
begin our campaign on Social Media and will
be needing your help RGV. We will be asking
for your input. Where do you like to eat?
Who has the best food around? What about
the best drinks? Where would you take your
love to enjoy a nice dinner? We will be giving
you our input as well. Log into our website
and click on the link. We will keep you posted.
www.rgvlifemagazine.com 09

Charro Days Spectacular
10
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6th Annual Sombrero Fest
Kayak Races
12
RGV life magazine

Praise on the Hill
This years Praise on the HIll was simply amazing.
Check out the pics from this incrdible and upliiing
event.
An incredilbe performance by all of these anointed
arrsts that chose to Praise God instead of going the
secular route. Amazing night in Harlingen, Texas
Magazine Template 13

aymond Orta... Comedian of the RGV has
grown in popularity over the last couple of
years. The Facebook sensaaon has made
Rhis mark lately with his Prende La Vela
Tour in which most of his rouune is based in part to a
strong Hispanic Tradiion and Heritage. Raymond is an
up and coming Comedian that has become famous in regards
to his anncs regarding America’s Team, The Dallas
Cowboys and their quest for Six. Quarterback Tony
Romo has become a staple in his show with a makeshii
candle or “Vela” as referred to by Hispanics all over the
country. “Prende La Vela” as his recent tour is called is
the brunt of his jokes on stage. He supports his football
team ooen possng videos on social media depiccng the
inconsistencies of the most infamous football team in
the NFL. Raymond travels all over the country with this
latest show and has dates booked for the rest of the
year. A Rio Grande Valley naave, Raymond has always
stayed true to his roots and his upbringing ooen depicting
jokes about how Hispanics live, love and laugh.
OOen, Raymond has been compared to George Lopez
or Carlos Mencia that have also used Hispanic upbringings
as their inspiraaon for their shows, but Raymond is
a true professional and will sell out a show in a heartbeat.
With his show on Tour and an expanse of his merchandise
on sale on his website, Raymond has become
a huge success. He even has been linked to having his
own show someeme in the future. We wish Raymond
all the success in the world. Another RGV product that
is making a difference.
“Prende La Vela”
Raymond Orta
14
RGv LIfe Magazine spotlight

Having played music for more than 15 years you’d
think I could easily answer the quesson, “What is a
guitar?” It’s not so simple.
The guitar does not have lineal ancestry. Rather, it
comes from a variety of chordophones, or stringed instruments,
possibly tracing its earliest roots to the
Babylonian empire and its name to the kithara, an ancient
Greek instrument of the lyre family. The most
influennal of these chordophones was brought to
Spain by the Moors in the 8th century, later to
become the Spanish vihuela and viola in the 15th
century, and eventually the modern Spanish guitar.
Fast forwarding to the 21st century, the most versa-
-le of instruments has connnued to evolve and
given birth to infinite variaaons in materials, sizes,
number of strings and so on. The most common
types of guitar are the Spanish, the steel-string, and
the electric guitar-amplifier combo.
It is my favorite instrument to play and one I’ve had
a lifelong relaaonship with: as an infant by listening
and observing others playing; as a child by essennally
playing with it as a toy. By the me I turned 12 I
was forming bands with friends, and at 14 joined my
parents as a professional musician on stage.
Even as I sit here wriing this, I pause for a moment
to clear my head and organize my ideas while I pick
up the guitar that is siing by me always. It has
shaped who I am as a person, it is my job and my
hobby, my passme and my responsibility. When I’m
happy I’m compelled to play it, and when low I play it
to get high. I play it when I’m alone or in front of hundreds
of people. It’s my way to interact with the
world.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to play guitar.” If I had
a dime for every me I’ve heard someone say that. My
advice: Get a guitar, learn it, get to know it, make a few
bucks with it. Build a guitar. Buy one, three strings,
twenty, whatever. Plassc, metal, electric, acoussc —
the sky’s the limit! That’s a guitar.
-Adrian Foncerrada
If you would like to place an
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shoot us an email :
info:rgvlifemagazine.com
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Camille Playhouse
Chris Ikner: New Arrssc Director
By David Salinas
In the fall of 1963, a small group of Speech and Drama teachers, along with interested community theater buffs,
joined together and formed a theatre company called The Brownsville Players. Their first season, consissng of two
produccons: “Thieves’ Carnival” and “Green Grow the Lilacs” was a success. They did their best with what they had
and performed in an abandoned cooon sampling warehouse which provided no ameniies for the audience or
actors.
The Brownsville Players’ hard work, devooon and creaave efforts was recognized by the SAMS Foundaaon and in
the summer of 1964, this theater group was awarded a grant for the construccon of an actual theatre space. The
City of Brownsville donated the land locaaon in Dean Porter Park and on January 31, 1965, the Camille Lightner
Playhouse was born. This theater was dedicated and named in tribute for Earl Croder Sams’ (founder of SAMS
Foundaaon) daughter...Camille Sams Lightner.
In the 52 seasons since that crude beginning, the Camille Playhouse has connnued to grow both in audience and
in reputaaon for arrssc achievement. This community theater features a year of wonderful mainstage plays and
musicals. A Youth theater produccon is scheduled every spring and the Summer Workshop for Kids has become increasingly
popular.
It’s important to note that since the theater’s iniial endowment, The Camille Lightner Playhouse has become en-
-rely self-supported and the vision of the original founders…connnues.
The Camille Playhouse has started their 53rd Season. Along with an impressive, ecleccc line-up of produccons,
this season also brings a fresh face and new creaave leadership with the introduccon of Camille’s new Arrssc Execuuve
Director Christopher Ikner.
With rehearsals for Wit (1st show of the 53rd Season) underway, Chris graciously took the me to sit and chat
with RGVLife Magazine. I had the pleasure of meeeng and interviewing Chris. I was impressed with his background,
his insight on Community Theater, and excited to hear the new changes awaiing the Camille.
Franchise Business
If you would like to read the rest of this arrcle ,please
log into our website at www.rgvlifemagazine.com
Chris is doing amazing things at the Camille. Check
out one of their shows.
16
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A Liile Bit of Mexico
We had a great me at this event. Incarnate Word
Academy put on an incredible performance for this
special me of the year here in Brownsville. Check
out the pics. The costumes were amazing. The people
that aaended were in awe at the performers. Such a
great site to see people enjoying our culture.
www.rgvlifemagazine.com 17

PREVENTION
OF ZIKA
Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite
during the day and night. Mosquitoes
that spread Zika virus also spread dengue
and chikungunya viruses.
Other Methods of Prevennon:
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Treat items, such as boots, pants, socks,
and tents, with permethrin* or buy permethrin-treated
clothing and gear.
Permethrin-treated clothing will protect
you aaer mullple washings. See product
informaaon to find out how long the proteccon
will last.
If treaang items yourself, follow the product
instruccons.
Do not use permethrin products directly
on skin.
Control Those
Mosquitoes
Use screens on windows and doors. Repair
holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
Use air condiioning when available.
Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air condi-
-oned or screened rooms are not available
or if sleeping outdoors.
Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over,
cover, or throw out items that hold water,
such as res, buckets, planters, toys, pools,
birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes
lay
eggs near water. Change water in wading
pools and bird baths several mes a week.
Maintain backyard pools or hot tubs.
Cover trash containers.
Water lawns and gardens carefully so water
does not stand for several days.
Zika: Are you
Prepared
T
he risk for birth defects posed by Zika virus infeccon are related
to neuro abnormaliies and/or microcephaly. Recent
updated research shows that exposure to Zika during the
first trimester are highest.
With spring here and the summer approaching, the mosquito populaaon
has become an increase threat, women of childbearing age should be
aware of the threat posed by Zika virus. While the focus has been targeted
to women, men are also at risk for transmiing the virus. Studies are
underway to find out how long Zika stays in the semen and vaginal fluids
of people who have Zika, and how long it can be passed to sex partners.
Current research shows that Zika can remain in semen longer than in
other body fluids, including vaginal fluids, urine, and blood.
On December 14, 2016, CDC issued guidance related to Zika for people
living in or traveling to Brownsville, Cameron County, TX. On November
28, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported the state’s
first case of local mosquito-borne Zika virus infeccon in Brownsville.
Since then addiional cases of mosquito-borne Zika have been idennfied
in the area, suggessng that there is a risk of connnued spread of Zika
virus in Brownsville. As a result, CDC has designated Brownsville as a
Zika cauuonary area in yellow areas is unknown, there is ssll a risk to
pregnant women. Brownsville, TX, is currently designated as a yellow
area. Protect yourself. If you need more informaaon keyword ZIKA.
18
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2017 Ocelot Run
Every year the Ocelot Run becomes more and more poplular. Runners come
from all over the RGV in order to run in this Historic Event.
Run Crew LLC has its annual running event
at the Gladys Porter Zoo. Runners come
from miles around in order to run for this
2crazy but entertaining race.
The Ocelot Run features a 5K and 1 Mile division that
runs Gladys Porter Zoo and kicks off the Ocelot Conservaaon
Fessval organized by the Friends of Laguna
Atascosa. The Ocelot Run has become among the Valley's
most popular yearly running events and sold out in
13 hours in 2016! This year proved to be no different.
The run Sold Out in historic fashion. Sheralee Six, everyone’s
favorite running coach loves showcasing the
ocelots and also bringing people into the zoo to enhance
the natural beauty of the zoo and its residents.
rgvlifemagazine.com 19

5 Tips Every Business Needs to Know
With companies like Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly helping people create their
own e-commerce stores, taking a business online has never been so easy. And yet,
it’s ssll a challenge to run an online business successfully.
1. Have a point of view and unique product offering
The more difficult industries for Amazon and others
to compete in are those with high degrees of differen-
-aaon and low degrees of uniformity. “Your offering
must stand out and have a point of view,” says Vidisheva.
“If what you’re selling is not special, your business
will never get off the ground,
2. Logisscs are key
Consumer expectaaons today are heavily influenced by companies
such as Apple, Amazon, and Uber. Consumers want products
and experiences that are intuiive, operate smoothly, and
arrive virtually on-demand. Once customers take the leap and
buy from your store, restaurant or even a dry cleaner, it’s important
you don’t lose their trust with a bad delivery experience.
3.Embrace the omnichannel
Your brand is your brand, wherever customers experience
it. “Cullvaang a brand idennty is criical for a small
business” Technology is what will allow small business
owners to operate on a global scale.
4. Always be on their minds
There are more ways than ever to be in touch with your
customers. Social media is an essennal communicaaon
tool for a company to engage with customers on a regular
basis, and so is email. For brick-and-mortar stores, an
online presence is also a way to cross-promote
5. See what else is out there – and use it
As a result of technology, services that were once only
available to mullnaaonal companies with millions of dollars
in revenue are now only an app away for small businesses.”
Small businesses shouldn’t shy away from using
these types of services to grow their digital footprint.
20
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Rancho Viejo Red Dress Event
Authennc
Mexican Food
•Tacos
•Ensaladas
•Antojitos
•Carnes
3065 Paredes
Line Rd
Brownsville,
TX 78526
(956) 561-4799
Look for us at a location near you 21

The Taste of
La Frontera
22
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Sombrero Fessval
Gala 2017
23

Baile Del Sol
aile Del Sol is a me honored tradiion
here in the City of Brownsville. As the
dancers dress up and get ready for what is
Bcalled the Dance of the Sun.
The parrcipants came out in hoards as the day was
perfect for this event. Check out some of the pics of
this event. Want to see more? Go to our Facebook
page and check out the Album.. Baile Del Sol...
check out our website.. www.rgvlifemagazine.com
If you would like to
advertise in RGV life magazine
shoot us an email
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Choosing a seven-seat SUV
is about to get more complicated
with the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.
If you’re looking for a midsize crossover or SUV, first you
have to decide what size you are looking for. There are different-sized
three-row crossovers. Some have room for six
or seven adults, and many are made with room for kids but
only in the way back.
So how does the new Volkswagen Atlas size up?
The new Atlas is one where adults fit in the third row of
seats, puung it on the larger side for the midsize class.
Think Honda Pilot or 2017 GMC Acadia to gauge the size
of the Atlas.
The interior is nicely laid out, with leather interior on the
top-of-the-line SEL premium trim level. With this, you get
heated and vennlated front seats that seem comfortable in
the few short trips I took during the press launch of this vehicle.
That said, the second-row seat booom seems a bit hard,
while the third row had room for someone 5 feet 8 inches
tall without much of an issue at all. There is some cargo
space behind the third row, and both rows fold flat, offering
even more space. The controls seem well laid out and
easy to use, with knobs for the radio and climate controls.
The styling of the Atlas looks more like a tough SUV than a
crossover, with a more-muscular stance than most in this
class. The wheel arches are flared, and there is a large grill
with a lot of chrome trim up front. Large wheels on this
close-to-$49,000 SUV help add to the look and say, “This
is no minivan.”
The rear doors are large, too, making it easier to get in or
out of the third row, compared with some of the compee-
-on. The sides and rear have some chrome accents to help
break up its large size a bit.
As the newest seven-seat midsize crossover about to hit
the market, the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas looks like a solid
compeetor at first glance. With rugged looks, a starrng
price under $35,000 and a six-year/72,000 mile warranty,
the all-new Atlas has VW on track again.
If you are interested in test driving the new
Volkswagen Atlas head on over to Payne
Volkswagen in Brownsville, Texas. The Atlas is
going to change the SUV Market.
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Obesity in the RGV
Inaccvity is the New Normal
Lack of exercise is also a major culprit in the obesity
epidemic. It’s been decades since most Americans
worked in fields and on factory floors, a far greater
majority of us are siing throughout our workday.
This means less exercise each day. According to one
study, only 20% of today’s jobs require at least moderate
physical accvity, as opposed to 50% of jobs in
1960. Other research suggests Americans burn 120
to 140 fewer calories a day than they did 50 years
ago. Add this to the higher amount of calories we are
packing in, and we get a perfect recipe for weight
gain.
But inaccve goes well beyond the workplace. It is
also how we get to work and what we do aaer. Americans
walk less than people in any other industrialized
country, preferring to sit in cars to get around.
And at the end of the day, 80% of Americans don’t
get enough exercise, according to the CDC.
A number of other factors are thought to play a role
in the obesity epidemic, such as the in utero effects
of smoking and excessive weight gain in pregnant
mothers. Poor sleep, stress, and lower rates of breastfeeding
are also thought to contribute to a child’s
long term obesity risk. Of course, these factors are
not explicit or solitary causes of obesity, but they are
reliable indicators of the kinds of systemic healthcare
failures contribuung to this crisis.
Healthy Living
M
ore than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of adults are
considered to be overweight or obese. More than
one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to
be obese. More than 1 in 20 (6.3 percent) have extreme
obesity. Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are
considered to be overweight or obese.
Why is the obesity rate higher in the RGV?
To understand the true size of the American obesity
epidemic, we first need to understand what it really
means to be overweight. Generally, doctors and nutriionists
classify people as either underweight,
healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
In the end, though, we can’t lose sight of the big picture.
Over the past years, diet fads have come and
gone, with people rushing to blame red meat, dairy,
wheat, fat, sugar, etc. for making them fat, but in reality,
the problem is much simpler. Geneecs and age
do strongly influence metabolism, but as the CDC
points out, weight gain and loss is primarily a formula
of total calories consumed versus total calories used.
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Rio Grande Valley
Rapid Growth
With countless businesses popping up all over the RGV, it is very easy to see why the RGV
is the fastest growing porron of the Great State of Texas. Check out this piece wriien by
David Girault
s of January 1, 2012, the U.S. Census
Bureau essmated the populaaon of the
ARio Grande Valley at 1,305,782.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008, 86 percent
of Cameron County, 90 percent of Hidalgo County,
97 percent of Starr County, and 86 percent of Willacy
County are Hispanic. From having about 325,000
people in 1969, to today a populaaon over 1,300,000 in
2014. Some of the biggest ciies in the region are;
Brownsville, McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, Weslaco,
Harlingen, Rio Grande City, and Hidalgo.The Rio
Grande Valley is not a true valley, but a floodplain, containing
many oxbow lakes or resacas formed from
pinched-off meanders in earlier courses of the Rio
Grande.[1] Early 20th-century land developers, aaempting
to capitalize on unclaimed land, uulized the name
"Magic Valley" to aaract seelers and appeal to
investors.
The greatest opportunity in the state of Texas, and in
the naaon, is in the Rio Grande Valley. AAer all, that’s
why I concentrated my studies on internaaonal commercial
law in law school, and why my bride and I returned
home (for me) over 20 years ago. It is for that reason I
read with great interest the recent arrcle by noted economist
Dr. Ray Perryman (read the full arrcle here) discussing
his firm’s prognosis of the Texas economy over
the next generaaon. The Perryman Group predicts that
one-sixth of all new employment in Texas will come outside
what has become known as the “Golden Triangle”,
or “The Big 5”–Houston, Aussn/San Antonio and Dallas/Ft.
Worth for those of you unfamiliar with these
terms. Most significantly, the Rio Grande Valley, and
specifically the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission segment of
the region, will lead this growth, with an average 1.75%
annual wage and salary growth over the next 25
years–equal to that of Dallas, and second only to Aus-
-n/Round Rock (projected at 2.02%). Brownsville-Harlingen-San
Benito will follow closely with 1.58%
growth, as will Laredo at 1.56%.
“The area’s business es with Mexico,” notes Perryman,
“and the future growth in manufacturing expected on
both sides of the border are primary reasons for my posi-
-ve outlook.” From what I see, I definitely agree with
him. That is not to say, however, that our region does
not face some significant headwinds. In my perview,
populaaon growth, access to educaaon, and access to financial
capital are the three greatest.
The Rio Grande Valley is also called El Valle, the
Spanish translaaon of "the valley", by those who
live there.[2] The residents of the Rio Grande
Valley occasionally refer to the area as "El Mágico
Valle del Río Grande" ("The Magical Valley of the
Rio Grande"), and also simply by the iniials R.G.V.
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hooked for life: kids gone fishin’ 2017
A wonderful event in which kids are given
rods and reels and go fishin’ at the resaca.
www.rgvlifemagazine.com
33

Charro Days Kids Contest
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charro days kids contest

Social Media Markeeng
The Best Way to Go
Leveraging the power of content and social media markeeng can help elevate your audience and
customer base in a dramaac way. But geeng started without any previous experience or insight
could be challenging.
t's vital that you understand social media
markeeng fundamentals. From maximizing
quality to increasing your online entry
Ipoints, abiding by these 10 laws will help
will help build a foundaaon that will serve your customers,
your brand and -- perhaps most importantly -- your
booom line.
The Law of Listening
Success with social media and content markeeng requires
more listening and less talking. Read your target
audience’s online content and join discussions to learn
what’s important to them. Only then can you create content
and spark conversaaons that add value rather than
cluuer to their lives.
The Law of Focus
It’s beeer to specialize than to be a jack-of-all-trades. A
highly-focused social media and content markeeng
strategy intended to build a strong brand has a beeer
chance for success than a broad strategy that aaempts
to be all things to all people.
The Law of Quality
Quality trumps quannty. It’s beeer to have 1,000 online
conneccons who read, share and talk about your content
with their own audiences than 10,000 conneccons
who disappear aaer conneccng with you the first me.
The Law of Paaence
Social media and content markeeng success doesn’t
happen overnight. While it’s possible to catch lightning
in a boole, it’s far more likely that you’ll need to commit
to the long haul to achieve results.
The Law of Compounding
If you publish amazing, quality content and work to
build your online audience of quality followers, they’ll
share it with their own audiences on Twiier, Facebook,
LinkedIn, their own blogs and more.
The Law of Influence
Spend me finding the online influencers in your market
who have quality audiences and are likely to be interested
in your products, services and business. Connect
with those people and work to build relaaonships with
them.
The Law of Value
If you spend all your me on the social Web directly promoong
your products and services, people will stop listening.
You must add value to the conversaaon. Focus
less on conversions and more on creaang amazing content
and developing relaaonships with online influencers.
In me, those people will become a powerful catalyst
for word-of-mouth markeeng for your business.
The Law of Reciprocity
You can’t expect others to share your content and talk
about you if you don’t do the same for them. So, a por-
-on of the me you spend on social media should be focused
on sharing and talking about content published
by others.
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Selfie Awards
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rgv life magazine

2017
Valley Regional Pink Party
rgv life magazine 37

Viva Streets 2017
Viva Streets Harlingen was a huge success once again. All types of vendors and patrons took
to the streets of Harlingen, Texas for yet another great me.
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rgv life magazine

gv life magazine 39

info@rgvlifemagazine.com
rgv life magazine
“sugar” Vela