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January 2003 Building
Better Government, Online Before adjourning in mid-November, Congress passed legislation I sponsored that will help bring the federal government fully into the Information Age. The Electronic Government Act of 2002, which codifies a new Office of e-Gov within the Office of Management and Budget, will greatly improve the coordination and deployment of information technology across government. I was proud to be in attendance when President Bush signed the Act into law on December 17. I believe that if given time and resources, e-Government can revolutionize American’s relationship with their government. Technology today is like a steamroller: either you’re on board, or you’re destined to become part of the pavement. But for too long, the federal government has been moving at Old Economy speed in terms of realizing e-Gov’s potential. This legislation seeks to rev up our engines, by sending a signal to all federal agencies that the goals of e-Gov are a top priority for Congress, that e-Gov is not a fleeting trend. The bill includes several programs to improve e-Gov deployment, such as the creation of a governmentwide web site, privacy provisions, and various studies, such as one on the digital divide. And we authorize the necessary investment in cross-agency initiatives, to overcome the historical trend toward “stovepiped” organization. Electronic Government is not just a theory or concept, it’s a reality. For years we’ve talked about how e-Gov can make the government more efficient and less costly, and certainly that’s a big part of the equation. But just as important are the ways in which e-Gov can better serve our citizenry. Americans – especially tech-savvy Northern Virginians -- see the benefits of e-Government as more than better or more cost-efficient services; they regard it as a way for citizens to become better informed and more involved in government. We’re talking about the ability to get information on Members’ voting records and access to FEC filings. We’re talking about the opportunity for constituents to offer comments on legislation or monitor hearings over the Internet. We’re talking about the ability to access on-line student loan applications. We’re talking about no longer having to wait in line to register your car or renew your license at the DMV. Yet, before passage of this legislation, federal, state and local governments remained in the early stages of recognizing the real potential of e-Government. Sure, we’ve all got Web sites, and more and more constituents are communicating with us via e-mail. And government is moving to the Internet for basic transactions, online procurement, and information dissemination. But there’s still much work to be done. We need to find new and innovative ways to make services more user-friendly. The Web-experienced citizen of the 21st century is accustomed to the standard of service on commercial Web sites, and will accept nothing less from government sites. We need more effective leadership and management. We need to develop a stronger “citizen-as-customer” focus. We need more reliable software and hardware. We need more sophisticated technical expertise. And, as the legislation recognizes, we need to better assuage concerns about security, privacy and access. Studies indicate that most Americans want to proceed slowly rather than quickly in implementing e-Government because of these sorts of concerns. Americans view e-Government through the same lens with which they view the Internet: very positive, but not entirely trusting. That’s why we included language addressing privacy concerns, and why we mandate several studies, including one on the digital divide. The high degree of interdependence and interconnectivity between information systems, both internally and externally, exposes the vulnerability of the federal government’s computer networks to both benign and destructive disruptions. This factor is important to understanding how we devise a comprehensive and flexible strategy for coordinating, implementing and maintaining federal information security practices throughout the federal government as the rising threat of electronic terrorism emerges. And I believe the government has a moral obligation to address so-called digital divide issues, so that it’s not just those who can afford a computer and Internet access who gain the benefits of online government services. I want ALL of my constituents to be able to contact me via email, not just the ones with a PC in their home. Creativity in this regard will be vital: we should consider, for example, whether we can post government kiosks in our grocery stores or shopping malls to create equal access. E-Government has the very real potential to improve the public’s perception of government effectiveness. As we continue to move forward, we must ensure that our government is utilizing the latest technologies to improve operational efficiencies and streamline the delivery of services. I think if we use technology to our advantage, it will prove to be the best vehicle we have for the creation and maintenance of good government.
Here are a few highlights for January, Click here for the full VTRCC Calendar of Events. Jan 7: Lunch
and Lead Tip Group Meeting and Open House BUILDING THE CHAMBER FROM WITHIN It has almost been six months since serving as the Chairman for our Chamber and it continues to be a challenging and fulfilling experience. The Board has been busy initiating new programs and carrying out traditional tasks. We are beginning to see consistent growth in membership, and are striving to achieve the goals set forth at our Annual Board Retreat. Our work continues as we start the New Year. It is my hope and continued plea that our growth comes from each of us—can you make a commitment to sponsor one new member? Bring a prospect to one of our upcoming events, follow up with that person, making them feel welcomed and comfortable, and I can assure you they will WANT to be a member of the Vienna Tyson’s Regional Chamber of Commerce… the BEST Chamber in the area! There are a lot of exciting things forthcoming over the next few months—the 2nd Tyson’s Business Forum, Casino Night, a three-month Membership Drive, being concluded at our Annual Sip and Sample Celebration. Be a winner of sponsoring the MOST members during our campaign—details to follow! Have you visited our web site recently? We’re proud and excited about our new look and its many capabilities. Our new brochure is in its final stage of editing. Look for its release soon! All these tasks take HOURS of volunteer time and effort. We want you to benefit from your membership, not only by expanding your business opportunities, but also by getting INVOLVED. Start 2003 with a commitment to participate on a committee or in an event that interests you. Remember each of us has talent and expertise that can be utilized. Don’t miss the opportunity! A special thanks
to Gary, Elaine, each Board Member and their committees for the leadership
and commitment that has been displayed thus far. It is my hope that
the next six months will be even greater and more exciting for us all.
Renee Younes, Chairman Fundraising Committee Vienna will have a coat drive Jan. 2nd – Jan. 31st at Whole Foods Market, with all coats going to FACETS in Fairfax. For information, contact joana.duma@wholefoods.com On behalf of the entire Fundraising Committee and myself we'd like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year! -- Joana Duma Government Affairs Committee On November 6 Francis Gary Powers, Jr., Donald Weber, Sr., George J. Creed, Roy Baldwin met with Supervisor Catherine Hudgins, Hunter Mill District, at the North County Government Center in Reston. One major topic was the defeat of the ½ cent tax transportation referendum for northern Virginia the previous day by a significant margin. Concerns were raised about the future of getting needed roads funded and built in the region, the way VDOT conducts the business of road engineering, cost analysis and construction, and the ability of Fairfax County to fund and finance roads. This general discussion led to no hard conclusions or recommendations. Another issue discussed in general terms was of Town of Vienna receiving fair share tax revenues paid by residents and businesses. There is some concern that Town of Vienna taxes may be duplicative of revenues paid to the county without being properly offset. Ms. Hudgins provided a copy of the county budget as it pertains to the town. The final discussion item concerned Maple Avenue. There was community disappointment that the Annual Halloween Parade was not held this year due to the sniper concerns and safety issues from the construction on Maple Avenue. We have a winner! The 1st Annual VTRCC Scavenger Hunt took place during the month of November. In visiting the most businesses, Carolyn Horton took 1st place with a prize of $500.00. Whole Foods Market awarded the second prize, a dinner for eight, to Jennifer Young. The two third prizes of $100 each go to Brian McGrail and Lynda Sielaty. Three fourth place prizes of $50 each will be awarded Len Jaffee, Coleen Fay, and Terry More. VTRCC would like to thank all those who participated in this fun event, including our participating businesses: bikes@vienna; Cook’s Photo-Art Studio; Drs. Papastergiou and Van, Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry; Edward Jones; HQ Global Workplaces; Karin’s Florist; Jasmine Moghissi, MD; Harmonia School of Music & Art; Natural Healing Center; Northern Virginia Massage Center; Pie Gourmet; Self Storage Plus; Dr. Michael Chung, Softouch Dental Care; Tequila Grande; T. Rowe Price; United Bank; Barbara McHale, Weichert Realtors; Whole Foods Vienna; Aerial Photographers; Angles Software Solutions; Errands, Etc.; Hawk Associates; Karin’s Custom Images; Staff Xpress; Stickdog Telecom; TML Copiers and Digital Solutions; and Venturi Staffing Partners. For more information on these companies and other Chamber members, please click on “Find a Member.” The VTRCC is happy to acknowledge members who have belonged to the Chamber for many years. Those celebrating anniversaries during January/February are:
Special
Report on the Local United Way With the help of thousands of donors throughout northern Virginia and the rest of the Washington area, the local United Way has raised more than a billion dollars since its inception in 1972 and has supported the work of a solid network of local nonprofits helping to better the lives of people in our community. Unfortunately, questionable past practices and procedures have tarnished this legacy. While much of the criticism over the past year has been deserved, we are working hard to implement needed reforms and regain the trust of the community. Here is what we’ve done to put the United Way of the National Capital Area back on track:
Now more than ever, the Washington area needs a strong United Way. There are massive regional budget cuts coming for health and human service agencies--the very agencies supported by United Way dollars. In the Fairfax-Falls Church area alone, more than 100 agencies receive United Way money. People served by these agencies, the ones who are most vulnerable, will end up paying the price if we don’t pull together. Who are those people? The uninsured mother who won’t get her child adequate medical attention because her neighborhood clinic had to cut services; the unemployed worker who won’t find employment because his local job skills training program was eliminated; the abused woman who will be forced to stay in a shelter longer because no homes are available for her and her children to begin their new life; and so many others. Our only solution in overcoming the increasing needs facing our community is to work together to solve them. We need our donors more than ever. We hope everyone will recognize the changes we are making and understand the impact of a United Way contribution. By continuing to give, we can work to empower this community and face the future together. --- The Virginia Chamber and its allies will vigorously resist any additional benefit increases that lead to higher payroll taxes. Higher unemployment benefits extended by the General Assembly last year will soon translate into higher business taxes that every Virginia employer must pay for years to come. Unemployment benefits have been in the news lately. The unemployment rate and new claims figures in Virginia are beginning to decline. As every Virginia employer is about to (re)discover, the higher unemployment taxes needed to replenish the trust fund, diminished during the downturn, come after the recession. Your tax bill will be far larger because Virginia increased its benefits by 37 percent in late 2001 and continued to pay those higher benefits through 2002. Whether or not to lower benefits for 2003 may turn into another issue before the 2003 General Assembly. The Chamber hosts an active business task force that monitors unemployment issues and speaks up on behalf of the business community. It recently called for an end to the higher benefits. It may be necessary to remind the legislature that its promise not to raise taxes also applies to the payroll taxes businesses pay to fund the unemployment system. You may need to help us carry that message. The Virginia Chamber invites you on January 21, 2003 to The Old Dominion Assembly Reception and cocktail buffet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Marriott, 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. Come and network with hundreds of business and government leaders from across the Commonwealth. This is an outstanding opportunity to express appreciation to and network with our elected officials and key state officials. Invited guests include: Governor Mark Warner, Lt.Governor Tim Kaine, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, Members of the General Assembly, the Governor’s Cabinet and Senior Staff, and State Agency Heads. For more information, call the Virginia Chamber of Commerce at (804) 644-1607. Career Fair. Find great employees that can help your business succeed at the State of Virginia’s newest career fair on February 19, 2003 at the Roanoke Civic Center. Community colleges and 4-year institutions collaborate to bring you access to over 36,000 possible candidates from a variety of disciplines, degree levels, and certificate programs. Register online at www.careerpremier.org EscapeMaker.com is the New York metro area's guide to local weekend getaways and daytrips. Promote your business on EscapeMaker.com for only $9.99 per month in our Getaway Gallery. For more info call 877-997-2726 and ask for Caylin Sanders or sign up online at: www.escapemaker.com/getawaygallery The National Geographic magazine December 2002 issue has an article featuring Tysons Corner, Virginia “Booming in the Bust.” For more information, visit their website: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0212/feature7/index.html Y2Marketing is sponsoring another free marketing seminar to be held on January 15 at the Wyndham Hotel in Washington, DC 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To register, please call Rhett Linke at (703) 438-6663. The Women’s Center offers services to help you meet your personal, family and career goals. If you're thinking about starting a business, perhaps a franchise is right for you. Franchising is a great way to be in business for yourself but not by yourself. Before embarking on a search for the perfect opportunity, start by evaluating yourself. Participants will learn how to find the right franchise that fits their skills and goals. Exploring Franchising workshop on February 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Women’s Center, 133 Park St., NE, Vienna; $35 members; $45 nonmembers. Call (703) 281-2657 for details on schedules and pricing or visit www.thewomenscenter.org for current schedule and educational programs. Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Inc. is looking for a few good mentors. If you have ever had a conversation with someone who has been mentoring a young person, it is instantly apparent how positive the experience has been. We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in giving of themselves and their time to mentor youths in Fairfax County. Your time commitment may vary but normally consists of one hour a week during school hours. Before you begin a mentoring program, the County requires that you take a two hour introductory class. The following classes are available in the new year:
To register, call Kim Monti, Program Director, Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Inc. at 703-324-5554. Once you have attended the training session, we will help with the next step -- finding a protege. Lynelle Massey, Youth and Education Committee, will be coordinating this process. Please contact Lynelle at 703-938-6070 x143. Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Inc. invites you to a luncheon on January 7 at 11:30 a.m. on 3080 Centreville Road, Herndon, VA. The luncheon is the kick-off event recognizing January as National Mentoring Month. The luncheon is hosted by Cox Communications. Find out about mentoring in Fairfax County and how you can get involved. RSVP to the Fairfax Mentoring Partnership at (703) 324-5554 by January 2. James Madison High School Crew Club has purchased boats, secured a time and place to practice, and hired a coaching staff. Formal practices will start in February (individual conditioning has already started) and Madison Crew expects to continue in the War Hawk tradition of excellence. Fulfilling the great potential that is so clearly present in this group will require outside support. This is a unique opportunity for chamber companies to partner with a new club in a new and growing sport that builds future community and business leaders. For more information contact Dave Porterfield at (703) 801-5488 or daveporterfield@yahoo.com Evolution Health & Fitness wants you to join the Fitness Challenge 2003. If you’re looking for the support and guidance to actually make those New Years Resolutions come true in 2003 we can help. We guarantee that you will improve your overall health and fitness and have fun in the process. Chamber members get a $10.00 discount off your monthly dues. Evolution Health & Fitness, located at 216 Dominion Rd., NE, Vienna, VA offers their membership personal training, massage therapy, and corporate health services. Contact them on (703) 255-9707 or e-mail: evfitness@aol.com. TML Copiers & Digital Solutions, a locally owned and operated Office Technology Dealer in Manassas, Virginia would like you to know that as color continues to evolve in small workgroups and the general office, the standard for a single device to “do it all” continues to drive the color imagery market. The standard in the office device will be a unit that can – copy, print, scan, store, etc. in both monochrome and full color. Both of our color manufacturers, Sharp & Konica, are releasing products to address these new demands. For more information on color trends and the color market contact TML or you can check out industry articles @ www.officetechnologymag.com. Fairfax County Economic Development Authority reports Microsoft Corporation, BAE Systems and Deutsche Post Global Mail all opened new centers in Fairfax County in October—including two regional headquarters. The three new centers are expected to add more than 1,200 jobs to the local economy. Microsoft Corporation opened its Innovation and Technology Conference Center at the Reston Town Center. Microsoft will use the new center to showcase its latest products and technology solutions for government and business. BAE Systems will create up to 1,000 jobs in the new headquarters of its Integrated Systems business unit. The aerospace and defense company’s Reston facility will specialize in intelligence processing and exploitation, imagery, geospatial processing and 3D visualization. Deutsche Post Global Mail, the largest shipper of U.S. business mail overseas, moved its U.S. headquarters to Herndon, adding 100 jobs to the local economy. The Fairfax
County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in partnership
with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) will conduct monthly “Doing Business
in Fairfax County” workshops for anyone interested in starting
a business in Fairfax County. The workshops are held the first Tuesday
of each month. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required.
In addition, the FCEDA will provide small business counseling services
through an arrangement with the Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE), a U.S. Small Business Administration Initiative. A SCORE counselor
will be available the first Friday of every month at the FCEDA office
in Vienna, Virginia. Appointments are required to meet with a SCORE
representative. For more information, to register for the workshop or
to schedule an appointment with a SCORE counselor, please call (703)
790-0600 or email: info@fceda.org. New Members You’ll Like Doing Business With The following businesses were approved for membership at the November/December VTRCC Board of Directors meetings. Please welcome them.
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