What do Woodstock '99, Lilith Fair, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and RODEOHOUSTON have in common? They all produced top 10 grossing pay-per-view concerts. According to a study by Viewer's Choice, the nation's leading pay-per-view network, RODEOHOUSTON was listed in Broadcasting & Cable for occupying the ninth and 10th slots with two concerts broadcast in 1997.

Rodeo fans across the country can enjoy the 2000 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo through two pay-per-view events. On March 3 at 7 p.m., the Rodeo semifinals will give viewers a double dose of rodeo with events from the first two go-rounds. An exciting live broadcast of the Houston Rodeo finals will be available March 5 at 7 p.m.

Start the Show with a bang by kicking up your heels at the Show Membership Dance, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.,in the Astrohall. Exclusively for members and their guests, this evening of fun will feature entertainment by country music duo Montgomery Gentry.

Don't forget that the METRO Rodeo Express will be available at six locations for the 2000 Show: METRO North Shepherd Park and Ride lot; Delmar Stadium; Aramco Building Parking at 9009 West Loop S.; METRO West Loop Park and Ride lot; Gulfgate Mall; and the newly added METRO Monroe Park and Ride lot. As an added bonus, the shuttles will run Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 10-12, during the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

Again this year, the Aramco lot will serve as the committee volunteer park and ride location. With a 2000 committee parking sticker or hang tag on their vehicles, volunteers can take advantage of a designated pick-up point and extended shuttle hours. From 3:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, committee members and their guests arriving in the same vehicle can utilize this service free of charge.

Don't forget that unused Rodeo tickets can be returned as a charitable contribution for those unable to use their tickets. There are three ways to turn back tickets:

Turn back tickets in person at the Show ticket office and receive a charitable donation receipt. Turn back tickets by phone. Call 713.791.9000, ext. 523. Show operators will ask a series of questions, including the name on the ticket, the seat location and a unique ticket order number found on the ticket. Turn back tickets by fax. Fax a copy of the tickets to 713.794.9539.

Receipts for tickets turned back by phone or fax will be mailed to the original purchaser after the Show. When turning back tickets by phone or fax, the tickets must be secured to ensure that the tickets cannot be innocently used.

Even the most "at-risk" kindergarten through second grade students can learn to read, and read well, according to the current evaluation of the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence. RITE is a three-year pilot-program instituted by the Show in 1997 to address the pervasive problem of failure to learn among public school elementary students.

Show General Manager Dan Gattis was elected president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions during the 109th IAFE Convention in Las Vegas. Gattis joined the Show staffin 1976 and was named general manager in 1984.

In 1999, for the eighth time in the last nine years, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was named the Indoor Rodeo Committee of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The Show has a long history of recognizing FFA students for excellence. But the tables were turned at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., when Mike Nathanson, educational programs co-coordinator, Logistics and Service Support Department, was presented an FFA Honorary American Farmer Degree.

Five new additions have joined the Show staff in recent months. In the Agricultural Exhibits and Competition Department, Brande Miller takes on the task of Director ­ Auctions & Sales, and Stacy Scott lends her expertise as Director ­ Horse Show. The Operations Department has two new staff members with the addition of Julie Ballweg as Special Attractions Coordinator and Tiffany Collins as Administrative Assistant. The newest member of the team in the Logistics and Service Support Department is Leticia Rodriquez, who joins the staff as Ticket Office Coordinator.