For additional information or to set up a business account, call Dr. Dappen or Gail Hale, R.N., at 703-938-4604.

Jackson Lewis is hosting a breakfast series on Workplace Law: Critical Issues in Employment Law through April 2004 at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner (8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia). This series is geared toward Human Resource Executives, in-house counsel, chief executive officers and financial executives. Registration is $50 per person/per session or $200 per person for the entire series. A continental breakfast and program materials are included in the fee. Registration is from 7:30-8 a.m. and the program runs from 8-9:30 a.m. For further information, contact Brenda Hansen at 703-821-4307.

“Doing Business in Fairfax County” -- The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the U.S. Small Business Administration, conducts monthly workshops for people interested in starting a business in Fairfax County. Highlights of the workshops 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 the first Tuesday of each month. There is no cost to attend the workshops however pre-registration is required. The next workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6th, 7:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m.

The Town of Vienna –

Goodman & Company has hired Nancy V. Whipp, as a manager. Ms. Whipp brings over ten years of accounting experience to Goodman & Company, with six of those years devoted to being a controller for a financial services company, and four of them as an audit supervisor in the public accounting industry. She has prepared tax returns for c-corporations, s-corporations, partnerships, and not-for-profit organizations. With Goodman & Company, her primary role will be overseeing audit engagements and staff, and she will work with the construction and government contracting areas. Serving clients since 1932, Goodman & Company is a regional certified public accounting firm delivering quality accounting, tax and specialized services.

Jammin' Java owners, Luke and Daniel Brindley, had their CD release concert at Jammin' Java on Saturday December 13th. In addition to running Jammin' Java, the Brindley Brothers http://www.brindleybrothers.com are nationally touring musicians and celebrated the release of their latest record, Playing With the Light, out now on Paste Records (http://www.pastemusic.com/brindley). People are already catching on - Here's what Marianne Meyer of The Washington Post said about the record: "[Playing With the Light] shows the brothers to have a natural ease with material that runs the gamut from Wilco-esque alt-country to bright Marshall Crenshaw-style pop and most shades of catchy song craft between." For more information, visit http://www.brindleybrothers.com - the new website - the Dubya/Letterman clip - message board - more! Visit http://www.pastemusic.com/brindley - to buy the CD.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Virginia Chamber of Commerce – On November 24 Governor Warner released his long-awaited plan to restructure Virginia’s tax code and in the process raise about $500 million more for the General Fund in each of the next two budget years. The key elements include an increase in the sales tax to 5.5 percent, a reduction in the sales tax on food, a change in the income tax that lowers the burden on most families but creates a new top bracket at $100,000, continued reduction in the car tax, a compromise proposal on the estate tax and a major increase in the cigarette tax. Details of the plan are not yet available and many implications won’t be known until the Governor releases his proposed budget on December 17.

Virginia Corps was established in September of 2002 by Governor Mark Warner to enlist Virginia citizens in volunteer and community service. As the Governor said at its inception, Virginia Corps “is a sustained partnership between the Commonwealth, localities and the volunteer and service community.” Virginia Corps is designed to make it easier for Virginians to link with the volunteer service of their choice. The focus at Virginia Corps is to encourage and increase participation in emergency preparedness and security efforts. This is implemented primarily through a program called Citizen Corps, which includes but is not limited to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, and Medical Reserve Corps. Virginia Corps also serves as a catalyst to increase volunteerism and community service in general through cooperation with Virginia’s Commission on National and Community Service, which also promotes and supports civic engagement in the Commonwealth. The Commission oversees programs such as AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, VISTA, Learn and Serve America, and others. To increase access to Virginia Corps, we have developed several resources that promote the program and can be used to reach out to more Virginians, including: a Web site, www.virginiacorps.org; a blurb about Virginia Corps and link to the Web site to add to your webpage; a toll free number: 1-866-239-4868; a printed flyer for distribution at meetings or conferences; we will also work with you to find speakers upon request for your meetings and conferences. If you have any questions, e-mail susan.swecker@governor.virginia.gov or call 804-358-2618.

The Business Incubation Center, a new program of the Community Business Partnership (CBP) will open February 2, 2004 at 7001 Loisdale Road, 2nd Floor, Springfield, Virginia 22150. The center offers office space to those who have outgrown their home office, but aren’t ready for commercial space. For $650 a month, members receive office space, access to the advice of business professionals, discounts on educational programs, state-of-the-art telecommunications and computer equipment, access to training and meeting space and networking opportunities. The Center will house other CBP programs including: Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia, South Fairfax Small Business Development Center, Business Finance Center and Hispanic Entrepreneur Center. For more information contact Barbara Wrigley, CBP’s VP of Public Relations at 703-534-6220 or bwrigley@wbcnova.org.

The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia (WBC) has relocated to 7001
Loisdale Road, 2nd Floor (zip code 22150). This site is off of I-95, just south of Springfield Mall. ABCs of Starting a Business, a FREE 3-hour seminar to learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, how to register a business, selecting the right legal entity, developing business and marketing plans, where to get financing, and how we can help you along the way, will take place on Thursday, January 22, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, February 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 31, 6-9 p.m. ABCs of Starting a Non-Profit will be held on February 18, 6-9 p.m. (FREE). Network with WBC Northern Virginia clients and guests while learning more about women entrepreneurs, at the "ENTERPRISING WOMEN: 250 Years of American Business" exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. It will be held on Wednesday February 4, 2004, 1:00-4:00 p.m. FREE Admission. (We'll have lunch first at the Mezzanine Café on site.) To sign up and read more visit http://www.wbcnova.org/ - first come, first serve! Register for all events at http://www.wbcnova.org/classes.

The Fairfax County Park Authority

The Marine Corps – As a Hometown Link for the Marine For Life program, Captain Allan Sabol assists Marines returning to the D.C. metro area as they transition from active duty back to civilian life. The Marine For Life Program’s mission is to provide sponsorship for our more than 27,000 Marines each year who honorably leave active service and return to civilian life. Marine for Life is a great way to honor our commitment to our fellow Marines inherent in our ethos “Once A Marine, Always A Marine.” In addition to helping Marines, the Marine For Life program offers a free and easy way for local employers to find reliable, high-quality employees. The program also provides online support through its website: www.MarineForLife.com. If you are an employer in the Northern Virginia or D.C. metro area, and are interested in being part of the network, please contact Captain Sabol at 301-275-0745 or woodbridge@marineforlife.net. If you are interested in becoming part of the program outside of the D.C. Metro area, contact the Marine For Life Team at 703-784-9140, DSN 278-9140, or email at MarineForLife@MarineCorps.com.

The following businesses were approved for membership during the December Board of Directors meeting. Please welcome them.

From the Business Development Committee

The Business Development Committee met via email during the month of November. The committee is working on connecting with the Town of Vienna regarding Vienna businesses. A date is being set for the Chairman’s breakfast and participation in Executive Dialogue groups is being considered. If you would like to join us for breakfast on the ninth floor of the Olive Garden building overlooking Tysons Corner please meet us on January 28th and February 25th at 8:30 a.m. If you have any questions or would like to find out more please contact: Joan Fletcher, chair of the committee – jfletcher@winningwaysinc.com.

RICHMOND, Va. – Dominion Virginia Power customers in Northern Virginia and the Northern Neck will receive letters this week encouraging them to sign up for a new competitive bid pilot program approved by the State Corporation Commission with an opportunity to save money on electric bills.

Customers can also volunteer by visiting www.dom.com or by calling 1-888-667-3000 and, with account numbers in hand, following the voice response prompts.

“This is an innovative opportunity for our customers to become more involved in the competitive electricity market in Virginia and have a choice in who provides their electricity,” said Jay L. Johnson, president and chief executive officer. “I encourage customers to sign up for this pilot program. For those who choose another provider, Dominion will still be there to deliver the electricity for you.”

Volunteering for the competitive bid pilot, which is for residential and certain small businesses, began formally Nov. 17. Customers will be selected by late January 2004 and placed in a “buying group” with about 14,000 other customers in their geographic area. The State Corporation Commission will oversee a competitive bid process to select the lowest cost supplier to provide electricity to each group. The pilot will continue until July 1, 2007, when capped rates expire.

Regardless of which company supplies a participant’s electricity, Dominion will deliver it to the customer and maintain wires, poles and equipment. Any time during the pilot customers can return to Dominion for electricity supply service at their current rate, which is capped until July 1, 2007. Dominion expects the program to provide valuable experience for customers, suppliers, utilities and regulators as Virginia continues to develop a competitive electricity marketplace.

Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers of energy with an energy portfolio of more than 24,000 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves 5.3 million retail energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s Web site at www.dom.com.