November 2003
"Meet the Candidates"
The Government Affairs Committee hosted a forum for Vienna Candidates for Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates. Senate Candidates Delegate Jeannemarie Devolites and Ron Christian, and House of Delegates Candidate Steve Shannon and Robert McDowell discussed their backgrounds, qualifications and goals.
After the brief Candidate addresses, attending businesspeople and residents had the opportunity to ask questions on issues of importance to them, including education, taxes and transportation.
The Candidates also appreciated the opportunity to speak at this Chamber event. Delegate Devolites commented that it was great to see so many general Chamber members, not just members of the Government Affairs Committee. Congratulations to the Government Affairs Committee for a job well done.
Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4!
| November
Business Spotlight December
Business Spotlight Click here for more information about these members or to find out how your business can be "Member of the Month". |
By Robert Stemetzki
Is the Chamber working for you? We recently completed our annual membership renewal and I’m happy to say we achieved an 83% renewal rate. Let’s have a round of applause for ourselves.
At our recent mixer I was talking to Jerry Magri (Magri & Associates, Inc.), a member for 21 years and a prospective member attending his second mixer. During our conversation I asked Jerry why he has been a member for so long.
For those of you who don’t know Jerry, he has been very active with Membership Development and more recently, the Business Development Committee. He has contributed a lot of time to our Chamber through committee work and as a volunteer at different events for many years. As a member of the Business Development Committee, he is working on the proverbial question of how membership in the Chamber can help you develop business.
What he said was simple: through his participation and involvement in the chamber he has developed new business, referral sources and contacts. Many members know him, use his services and are very comfortable referring his business to others. This has led to new business for his company.
Jerry also has been a great advocate for the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce. In our brief conversation, he offered another thought. He said that with one more staff person we could do so much more for our membership. He threw out some more ideas then said, of course, we have to be able to afford it.
This is how it works for one long time member. I look forward to hearing from other members. Feel free to pick up the phone and call me at 703-591-5200. Come to a luncheon or mixer and tell another VTRCC Board member or me what works for you. Give us your ideas and success stories.
How else does the Chamber help? We recently raised more than $2,600 at our annual golf outing for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in honor of their 100 Year Anniversary. By the time you read this, the 57th Annual Vienna Halloween Parade will be over. The parade is sponsored by the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Vienna.
To close, some members that have “worked” this past month deserve special thanks. Co-Chairs Debbie Earman and Joe Cacciapaglia for their work on the golf outing and Joan Fletcher and Cathy Salgado for their wonderful parade. Jobs well done. Thanks.
Hope to see you soon at a Chamber event!
Protecting Your Business Against ERISA Benefit Plan Penalties
By Karl Pilger, Boring & Pilger, P.C.
Businesses that provide almost any kind of benefit for their employees need to be aware of their potential liability for substantial civil penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The benefit plans affected include retirement, health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance.
ERISA authorizes the award of civil penalties against the administrators of a plan (usually the employer or its H.R. director) when they fail to follow the law’s requirements for disclosing information about the plan to employees participating in the benefit plan. Employers must distribute to all covered employees a summary plan description (“SPD”) containing detailed plan information as specified in federal regulations, as well as other plan documents.
Courts are permitted to award up to $110 for each day that plan information is not communicated in the proper manner to an employee. Some judges have ruled that civil penalties can be awarded for each document that is improperly withheld, resulting in judgments that can be greater than $110 per day.
Civil penalties are most commonly awarded when the employee covered by the plan (called a “plan participant”) makes the written request for copies of documents that control how the plan is operated. The employee is not required to use any “magic language” in making the request for plan documents; the court will look to see if the request reasonably should have been understood as a request for benefit plan information. Employers are given 30 days in which to respond with the plan documents. After that, civil penalties accrue at the rate of up to $110 per day in the discretion of the court.
Many small- to mid-sized companies are unaware that they must create and distribute SPDs and other plan documents. A failure to provide the SPD and certain other documents upon request of the employee is virtually a “strict liability” claim; prevention of such claims is a much better strategy than defending against them in court.
The ERISA statute and its regulations remain a trap for the unwary business owner. Ignorance of the law’s provisions provides no effective defense to civil penalty claims. Periodic review of the employer’s benefit plan administration, including its information disclosure procedures, is a cost-effective strategy for minimizing the risk of civil penalty claims.
Annual Golf Tournament at Westwood Country Club
The Annual Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament took place once again at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna on Monday, October 6 with 82 players representing over 70 area companies.
In first place were Debbie Earman, Lori Marsengill, Jackie Lutz and Rose Anne Thompson. Second place finishers were Billy Thompson, Ron Slingerman, John Thompson, and Alan Kendall. In the “Closest to the Pin Category” the winner was Jackie Lutz for women. Lori Wood demonstrated her talent in the “Longest Drive” category. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors who helped raise over $2,500 for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
Thank You to Our 5th Annual Golf Tournament Sponsors
Birdie
Sponsors
All Star Movers
Financial
Asset Solutions Technology
Princess Jewelers
Virginia Commerce
Bank
Closest
to the Pin
Burdette Smith Group (for Men) and Hallmark Title (for Women)
Longest Drive
Signature Title (for Men) and ProAd (for Women)
Hole
in One Sponsor
Moore Cadillac
Beverage Cart Sponsor
Bank of America
Putting Contest Sponsor
Debbie Earman, Long & Foster
Scoreboard Sponsor
Business Bank
Lunch Sponsor
Goodman & Company, CPAs
Live Auction Sponsors
Tropicana Casino; UT Settlements; Debbie Earman; Burning Tree Golf Club/Lee
Bazzarone; and Mike Magnotti
Hole
Sponsorships
Fast Signs; United Bank; Welcome Wagon, Absolute Home Inspections; Buhl
Electric; Caddie Tours; e Home Solutions; Freedom Bank of Virginia;
Gutterman Services; Home Savings and Trust; McCormick Insurance Agency;
Northwest Federal Credit Union; Nautilus Communications, Inc.; Potomac
Bank, Don Weber; and Vienna Inn
Door Prize Sponsors
Vienna Vintner; Karin’s Florist; Debbie Earman; Staples; Lowes
Island; Joe Cacciapaglia; Vienna Inn; Premier Wines; Dr. Papastergiou;
Financial Asset Solutions Technology; Congressional Fire Services Institute;
Outback Steakhouse; Washington Golf; Karin Collis; Fauquier Springs
CC; Virginia Oaks; South Riding Golf; Pleasant Valley Golf Club
VTRCC Anniversaries
The VTRCC is happy to acknowledge members who have belonged to the Chamber for many years. Those celebrating anniversaries during November/December are:
| 15 Years: | Vienna Choral Society |
| 14 Years: | Pie Gourmet, Ltd. |
| 12 Years: | UBS/PaineWebber, Larry J. Murphy; United Bank, Amelia Toten |
| 11 Years: | Vienna Family Medicine |
| 10 Years: | Hallmark Title, Inc.; Vienna Oaks Chiropractic Center |
| 6 Years: | Ace High Entertainment, L.P.; BISTRO 123; Turner, Jones & Associates, P.L.L.C. |
| 4 Years: | Grove Center for Chiropractic and Wellness; Homestead Village Guest Studios; Northern Virginia Massage Center; Riggs Bank, NA |
| 2 Years: | Gravitas International, L.L.C. |
| 1 Year: | 4R Digital Solutions, Inc.; Absolute Home Inspections; American Disposal Services; Apex Internet Systems; Beers & Cutler Outsourcing, L.L.C.; Fairfax Heating & Air Conditioning; Geeks on Call; Koester Financial Services Corp.; PhotoGraphix; Signature Title & Escrow, L.L.C.; Transwestern Commercial Services; Vanguard e-Medical Solutions, L.L.C.; Veterinary Holistic & Rehabilitation Center |
Business/Community News
The Washington Times will publish a feature page in support of The Vienna Holiday Stroll on Church Street on November 26th.and 28th. Carrying a festive headline and including much of the events schedule, small space ads can be purchased promoting your specific merchandising opportunities or your tie in to the Stroll. Ads are just $240 for the two runs and are 1 column x 3 inches. All ads will run as part of the feature page and will run in the main news part of The Washington Times. You can call Chris Jacobs at 202-636-3078 or reach him on his cell at 202-528-7151 for professional assistance in developing your ad. There are only ten spots available on the page, so call soon to reserve your spot.
TML Copiers & Digital Solutions held their Ground Breaking ceremony of their new corporate facility on Wednesday, October 29, on the newly named Capital Court in the City of Manassas. The event was hosted by Manassas Mayor Marvin L. Gillum and Vice Mayor Harry J. Parrish III, City Officials, and Chamber of Commerce as well as TML’s CEO and President. The building will house the 40 plus employees comprising their administrative, production and service technicians.
Crash Course in Customer Service - November 3, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Virginia Employment Office, 13370 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, VA and November 6, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., NVSkillSource Once Stop, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 305, Falls Church, VA. Cost: $59 per person. For details or to register, contact Ellen Gray at 704-323-3251 or Linda Hawk at 703-916-0178.
Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), in cooperation with the American Management Association (AMA), is pleased to offer a series of courses leading to a certification in “Managerial Skills” and “Administrative Professionals.” To receive a certification in either program, students must successfully complete a series of 5 eight-hour courses (totaling 40 hours for the certificate) in the specific area. Cost will be $150 per course (or $750 for the five-course certification). The full selection of courses (and individual course outlines) making up the “Administrative Professionals” track can be found on the AMA website www.amanet.org/selfstudy/admin_pro.htm. Similarly, the full selection of courses (and individual course outlines) comprising the “Managerial Skills” track can be found on the AMA website www.amanet.org/selfstudy/manskills.htm. The following representative courses from each track will be offered by NVCC in Day, Evening and Saturday classes in the Spring 2004: Communication Skills For Managers; Getting More Done through Delegation; Fundamentals of Business Writing; and How To Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills. The NVCC website at www.ced-nvcc.com/businesstrain.htm also has information on this program. You can also contact Bill Forster at 703-323-3427 or 3447. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to add to your business knowledge and to advance your professional career.
Fairfax County Park Authority
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Clemyjontri, a playground where children with and without disabilities can play side-by-side, is the dream of Mrs. Adele Lebowitz. She has donated her entire 18.5-acre McLean estate to the Fairfax County Park Authority to build a playground for children with disabilities. Since this was an unanticipated gift, the Park Authority did not have funds to build the playground. It has reallocated funds from other park projects but is still $500,000 short. There is a time restriction for donations and the clock is ticking. The Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Friends of Clemyjontri have stepped in to raise funds for the playground with a goal of $500,000 by December 31 so that the playground could be built as early as next summer or fall. For further information on Clemyjontri playground, call the Fairfax County Park Foundation at 703-324-8581 or visit www.clemypark.com. The Website enables individuals to donate securely and directly online through the giving portal “Network for Good,” considered the Internet’s leading charitable e-philanthropy resource. The Park Foundation is a registered nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. For more information, call 703-324-8681.
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Sully Historic Site will sponsor “Sully Autumn Adventures,” on Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dip candles, stir apple butter over the open fire, spin wool, make a cornhusk doll or soldier and learn other skills needed to survive 200 years ago. Timed tours. Rain or Shine. Reservations are required. Cost: $7 adults per adult and $5 per child. For more information and reservations, contact the Sully Historic Site at 703-437-11794.
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Do you know of a fast-growing Virginia company that is creating jobs and making steady profits? Success deserves recognition, and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce would like to honor 50 such companies with one of its annual “Fantastic 50” Awards, to be presented at a gala next Spring. Submit your nomination online by visiting www.vachamber.com or www.goodmanco.com.
Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), a non-partisan organization, has a database of contributions to candidates for Fairfax Chairman and Board of Supervisors. This is the first time voters in Fairfax County will have access to this detailed information about which interests (developers, environmentalists, political parties, etc.) have invested in the candidates. The data is being brought to the public through a joint project of VPAP and The Washington Post. The data will be in the same format as VPAP's site for state candidates: www.vpap.org.
The Construction and Property Management Subcontractor Fair to hire subcontractors for new construction will take place on Monday, November 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Grand Ballroom of the BWI Airport Holiday Inn, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, MD. RSVP by November 3 to rsvpmeade@picerneri.com or call 410-672-4570. For further information about the fair, contact Rhonda Willingham at 410-672-4570 x 4025.
“EU Enlargement: Opportunities for American Companies in Central and Eastern Europe,” seminar will take place on November 3, 2003, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., at the University of Maryland University College Adelphi, Maryland. The accession of eight Central and East European countries into the European Union in May 2004 offers an historical opportunity for American business to expand their operations into the EU. The seminar will offer opportunities to network with business executives, scholars, and diplomats from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Presenters will include scholars with expertise in the CEE region business and government executives Diplomats from CEE embassies. Co-sponsored by the World Trade Center Institute, U.S. Department of Education, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. For more information, visit info.umuc.edu/mba/BIE/CEE.htm.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a new Website at www.AssessYourInternationalRisk.org. It is designed to provide small businesses with information that will help them determine what insurable exposures they may encounter in doing business overseas. These can range from credit and liability risks with unknown customers to workers’ compensation laws, which can vary widely. Small businesses are more likely to be unfamiliar with the risks involved in doing business overseas. A lack of knowledge may needlessly stifle or jeopardize a company’s expansion. The site will help entrepreneurs in creating an environment where they can gain the knowledge to expand and protect their business on an international scale. The Website features a convenient ask-the-expert option where small business owners can ask questions about the risks in doing business overseas.
SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Office will host a “Women in Business Empowerment Forum” on Thursday, November 20, 2003, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, VA. This forum is designed to provide information on the Agency’s programs and services and other resources available to assist women who are seeking to start, grow and expand business ventures. Information will be provided on SBA’s key programs and services (e.g. advocacy, financial assistance, management and business development assistance, and procurement assistance). In addition, an educational seminar will be presented on “Smart Women Finish Rich” TM based on the best-selling book by David Bach, Broadway Books, 2002, which provides seven steps to help you plan for financial security and seek your dreams. These simple steps are designed to help you improve the quality of your financial life! There is no cost for this seminar. However, persons are encouraged to register early by contacting Delcine Montgomery at 202-606-4000 extension 331, or via e-mail to Delcine.Montgomery@SBA.GOV.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the U.S. Small Business Administration, will conduct workshops, “Doing Business in Fairfax County,” for people who are interested in starting a business in Fairfax County. Highlights of the workshops will include start up information (licenses and permits), Virginia Department of Business Assistance workforce service programs and training information, and an overview of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s resources (financing and certification). The workshops will be held on November 4 and December 2, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. There is no cost to attend the workshops however pre-registration is required. For more information or to register for either workshop please call 703-790-0600 or email info@fceda.org.
Town of Vienna
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2004 Town of Vienna dog licenses will be available beginning Monday, November 3, in the Finance Department at Town Hall, 127 Center St., S. All dogs over four months old must be licensed by January 31 each year. The fee is $10 for a fertile dog and $5 for an infertile dog. A current rabies vaccination certificate must be shown to obtain a license, and a spay/neuter/infertile certificate must be shown for a reduced price license. Dog tags are also available by mail. Call 703-255-6323 for more information.
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Fall leaf collection schedule for Town of Vienna residents: South Vienna: November 3-15 and December 1-17; North Vienna: November 17-29 and December 18-31. All leaves must be at the curbside prior to the first scheduled collection day for each pass through town. Once a street has been covered, crews will not double back. Residents are reminded to rake leaves just to the curbside, not into the street. For more information about leaf collection, call the Vienna Public Works Department at 703-255-6381.
Vienna Parks and Recreation Department
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The Bob Brown Puppets will present “Panda-monium” at 2 p.m. Monday, November 3, at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. The show will bring to the stage the chills, thrills and excitement of a Chinese circus. Admission is $3 per person for ages 1 and older. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
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"Mortal Thoughts: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go” will be presented on Monday, November 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Attorney David Hoffman will discuss medical directives (living wills), gift planning, Medicaid, funeral and burial options, probate in other states, tax law, and wills and trusts. This program is free of charge and no registration is required. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
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“Neighborhood College,” a leadership program for grades 9–12 will be held each Wednesday, October 29–November 19, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Our future community leaders will learn how to run effective meetings, make decisions within a group and work in a multicultural environment. There is no charge for the program and a light meal will be served at each session. For more information, call Robin Patton at 703-787-4998 or e-mail Robin.Patton@fairfaxcounty.gov. The program is sponsored by the Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services in partnership with the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department and the Vienna-Madison Community Coalition.
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A pottery show and sale will be held at the Bowman House Arts and Crafts Center, 211 Center St., S., in Vienna on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free admission. The show will feature both hand built and wheel-thrown items crafted by students and teachers in the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department's pottery program, including bowls, vases, mugs, and casseroles. For more information, call Vienna Parks and Recreation at 703-255-6360.
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Auditions for the Vienna Theatre Company's winter production of “The Nerd” will be held November 10 and 12 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and November 11 from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Actors should come prepared to do a cold reading from the script. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
SCORE and content provider Easi Media, Inc. announce a new partner alliance agreement to provide a free copy of its electronic Small Business Technical Guide, iEdition, to small business owners and entrepreneurs who receive personal and email counseling from SCORE or attend one of the more than 5,000 local business training workshops SCORE chapters hold each year. Easi Media's exciting software product iEdition has been developed to shorten the time it takes to research a business venture and provide small business with immediate access to business information, ideas and concepts, hints and tips on running a successful business, opportunities, industry resources, tax and small business regulations, products and services directly from their desktop without having to search through the "chaos of the web". A CD-ROM copy of iEdition can be obtained by visiting your nearest SCORE office or through link at www.score.org. It is the most comprehensive and used small business technical guide and is available free to small business and organizations that promote entrepreneurship. Call 858-391-1033 or visit Easi Media on the Web at: www.easimedia.com.
Vienna Jaycees
5K Turkey Trot will take place on November 16 to benefit the
Volunteer Fire Department. We are still looking for a few more sponsors.
Contact John Scheib for more information at john_scheib@hotmail.com.
U.S. Small Business Administration - A record number of small businesses turned for credit assistance to the U.S. Small Business Administration over the past year, producing a 29 percent increase in the total number of loans backed by the agency in FY 2003, including sharp jumps in the number of loans to women, minorities and veterans. During the fiscal year ending September 30, the SBA backed 76,465 loans to small businesses in the agency's three major loan programs.
Newsmakers
The Community Enhancement Commission and the Town of Vienna will have a Town Clean-up Day on Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. to 12 noon (rain or shine). Individuals, families and community service groups are welcome. Clean-up assignments can be tailored to you and your group. Garbage bags and gloves provided. Check-in at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St., SE) for supply pick-up. Call Cathy Salgado at 703-255-6356 for more information.
Committee for Helping Others (CHO) is having a food drive November 1 to January 3. Special needs for CHO include canned meats, canned fruits, powdered milk, diapers, and laundry detergents. You may take your food contributions to: Vienna Town Hall; Vienna Community Center; Patrick Henry Library; Bikes@Vienna (128-A Church St., NW); Connell’s Valet (148 Maple Ave., West); or Jammin’ Java (231 Maple Ave., East).
First Virginia Bank has merged with BB&T Corporation. Effective October 14, 2003, First Virginia changed its name to BB&T.
Cardinal Bank became even more convenient to the Tysons Corner community with the recent opening of its second Tysons location at 8270 Greensboro Drive, a short distance down the street from the Tysons II Galleria shopping mall. The new office is located on the street-level of the bank’s corporate headquarters and provides 24-hour ATM. Cardinal Financial Corporation’s investment subsidiary, Cardinal Wealth Services, maintains an office at the new Greensboro banking center location as well. For additional information, visit www.cardinalbank.com.
The Vienna Arts Society is sponsoring the 33rd annual Treasury of Art Exhibition and Sale, to be held November 14-16. The judged and juried show at the Vienna Community Center promises to be an exciting and varied exhibit. Over $1,400 in prizes will be awarded, including $600 in cash awards. There is no fee for entrance to the show, which runs from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15; and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. The public is also invited to a free reception with refreshments and live music to be held on Friday, November 14, 7-9 p.m. The judge for this year's event is Stephen Bennett Phillips, Curator at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
Goodman & Company is proud to present its “2003 Year-End Payroll Update” on Wednesday, December 3 at the Westwood Country Club (800 Maple Avenue East, Vienna). This three-hour seminar is a practical review of payroll, benefit reporting and year-end filing requirements and will address business needs and services critical to bookkeepers, controllers, and business owners. The seminar will review: Cafeteria/Flex Plans; Legislative Updates; Employees vs. Independent Contractors; Retirement; Fringe Benefits; Year-End Preparation for the State of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia; and Accounting Software Updates. The speakers consist of Art Auerbach, Senior Manager; John McDowell, Senior Manager; Bonnie Hoopengardner, Senior Manager and member of the Board of Directors of the VTRCC; Beth Moffett, Supervisor; Chris Davidson, Tax Supervisor; Karen Bavis, Small Business Specialist; and Liz Olivieri, Software Support Specialist. The registration & continental breakfast will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the seminar to follow until 11:30 a.m. The registration fee of $20 is waived for clients of Goodman & Company and members of the VTRCC. For more information about this event, or to register to attend, please contact Matthew Brensy of Goodman & Company at 703-970-0413 or mbrensy@goodmanco.com.
The Women’s Center offers educational programs and counseling to women and their families for their legal, financial, psychological and professional needs. Polish Your Professional Image will be held on Saturday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at The Women’s Center, 133 Park Street, Vienna. Cost is $25 members/$35 nonmembers. Call 703-281-2657 for details on schedules and pricing or visit www.thewomenscenter.org for current schedule and educational programs.
New Members You’ll Like Doing Business With
The following businesses were approved for membership during the September/October Board of Directors meetings. Please welcome them.
| American
Express Financial Advisors, Inc. Uttam Bharwani 1445 Research Blvd. Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 240-314-4310 Fax: 301-294-7484 E-mail: uttam.d.bharwani@aexp.com Website: www.aexp.com We help clients achieve their financial objectives - prudently and thoughtfully - through a long-term relationship based on trusted and knowledgeable advice. |
Bank
of America-Annandale Laura Emerson 7611 Little River Turnpike, #200 Annandale, VA 22003 Phone: 703-750-4059 Fax: 703-750-2167 E-mail: laura.j.emerson@bankofamerica.com We provide mortgage and banking services to consumers. We can process loans in 13 states (mainly on the East coast) |
| Harrison
Consulting Group, Inc. Bill Harrison 901 Cooper Court, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180 Phone: 703-255-5820 Fax: 703-255-5821 E-mail: harrison@harrison-group.com Website: www.harrison-group.com Professional writing and editorial services. Eighteen writers. Proposals, ads, brochures, speeches, videos, reports, newsletters, Websites. |
The
HoneyBaked Ham Company Debbie Pearson 7511-M Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22043 Phone: 703-556-4455 Fax: 703-556-0543 E-mail: dpearson@honeybaked-oh.com We are not just a ham store. We are a gourmet food store. |
| Konica
Office Products, Inc. Mike Williams 2100 Washington Blvd., #100 Arlington, VA 22204 Phone: 703-842-3234 Fax: 703-553-0007 E-mail: williamsm@konicabt.com Document management solutions provider (storage, retrieval, production, copying, printing) |
Potomac
Valley Bank Jared Giordano 8229 Boone Blvd. Vienna, VA 22182 Phone: 703-288-0534 Fax: 703-288-0968 E-mail: jared.giordano@mercantile.net Full service community bank specializing in small- to medium-size business banking. |
| Sexton
Executive Security John Sexton 10332 Main Street, #181 Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-335-6999 Fax: 703-361-5455 E-mail: president@sextonsecurity.com Website: www.sextonsecurity.com Private security consulting firm specializing in executive protection and investigative services for businesses and private services. |
Strean
Financial Services Richard L. Strean, CPA, CFP 501 Church St., NE, #312 Vienna, VA 22180 Phone: 703-281-7800 Fax: 703-281-7980 E-mail: rlstrean1@aol.com Complete personal financial services, investments, tax planning and tax preparation. |
| Sunrise
of Oakton Patsy Hall 10322 Blake Lane Oakton, VA 22124 Phone: 703-255-2050 Fax: 703-281-7996 Website: www.sunrise-al.com Sunrise is the nation's leading provider of Assisted Living with services tailored to meet individual needs, including reminiscence programs for seniors with Alzheimers. |
TCR-Alexan
Virginia Center |
| Zinta
K. Rodgers 3822 Mode St. Fairfax, VA 22031 Phone: 703-273-0600 Fax: 703-273-4135 E-mail: zinta@zinta.com Website: www.ilovevienna.com The business is a Real Estate office run from a home office (Remax Horizons). |
Committee News
| Many
Thanks to the Golf Committee members Debbie Earman, Mike Holp, Lee Bazzarone, Joe Cacciapaglia, Herb Hecht, Bill MacReynolds, Mike Crawford and Mike Magnotti |
Through the joint effort of the Membership and Member Services committees we conducted our first “Chamber 101” session on September 25. Dan Williams of the Networking Community was our guest speaker and the event was well received by our many attendees. We hope to see all the attendees use the tools that Mr. Williams provided us with at the monthly VTRCC luncheon on Thursday, November 13 at Bistro 123. Our next exciting “Chamber 101” event will be held at 4:30 p.m. on November 20. This will be held one hour before the scheduled Chamber mixer, which will be held at the Sunrise Assisted Living Hunter Mill. For more information contact Ed Powell at 703-838-3262 or Billy Thompson at 703-560-4288.
A Report
on the Business Development Committee
By Roy Baldwin
The Business Development Committee had a well-attended meeting of nearly all the committee members on September 25, 2003. Members expanded on the ideas generated at the committee’s previous meetings to promote and enhance the services and products provided by the members of the Chamber.
The VTRCC’s participated in the Business & Technology Showcase, which was held on October 2, 2003, at the Patriot Center. The VTRCC’s kiosk was staffed primarily by volunteer members of the committee, and promoted the VTRCC to hundreds of business people from around the region. Chair Joan Fletcher pronounced the day “a great success for the VTRCC”.
Committee member Bill Daly reported that VTRCC will have had its first ever float in the Vienna Halloween Parade on October 29. Self Storage of Vienna donated space for storage and construction. The float was designed around the theme of the parade, which was “Volunteerism”.
Committee member Mark Chernisky, Business Development Manager for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, reported on two programs of great interest to any chamber member who has a start-up company. First, he told the committee about government grant money available to support the Small Business Incubation Program, which is designed to take a business from a business plan to reality. The Reston Chamber of Commerce has one, in which free or subsidized space is offered to start-up companies, as well as free or discounted services from Chamber members. Committee members Pete White and Brooke McCauley volunteered to form a sub-committee to look into the prospect of VTRCC sponsorship of such a program, and to report to the Committee at the next meeting. They invite inquiries from all interested chamber members. Mark also described the “Doing Business in Fairfax” program, which is run by the Economic Development Authority. The next sessions will be held on November 4 and December 2. He described it as a good program for people starting businesses, because it shows them the availability of state aid and local resources. Again, any interested chamber member is invited to contact him at 703-790-0600, or by e-mail at mchernisky@fceda.org.
If you are interested in joining the Business Development Committee and participating in some exciting projects this year, please contact Chairperson Joan Fletcher at 703-273-9229, or Jfletcher@winningwaysinc.com. This Committee meets for a light breakfast meeting on the fourth Thursday of every month at 8:30 a.m., at Bill Daly’s office 703-790-1911 in Tysons Corner.
