August 2004
| Inside |
The Mathios family, restaurateurs for 30 years, invite all VTRC members and friends to their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 3. Located at 147 Maple Avenue West in Vienna, Barnaby's serves an assortment of Greek and American food-- including great burger Vienna Mayor Jane Seeman and State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis will be on hand to welcome this new restaurant and member of the Chamber. (click here to RSVP)
Golf Tournament
Get ready for the VTRCC Annual Golf Tournament! It will take place at Westwood Country Club in Vienna on October 4, 2004. A portion of this year's proceeds will go to the Women's Center in Vienna. The Women's Center provides resources to meet life's challenges. Supported through donations, the Center offers psychological, career, financial and legal services to women and families regardless of their ability to pay.
If you are interested in playing in the Tournament, please contact the Chamber to register your foursome. It is a captain's choice format and is $195 per player. The cost includes Golf & cart fees, beverages, driving range, awards banquet with dinner and great door prizes.
If you are interestred in contributing but do not want to play, the Chamber and The Women's Center will be selling 50/50 raffle tickets (you do not have to be present to win). Past winners have taken $1500-$2500 from a single winning ticket.
Another way to contribute is via sponsorship. We offer the following sponsorship levels: Title ($3000), Eagle ($2000), hole $(300), putting contest ($800), scoreboard ($800), beverage cart ($800), closest to the pin ($400) and longest drive ($400). If you are interested in any of these and want more details on what exposure they include, please contact the Chamber. This has been a great event in the past, and we are looking forward to our best tournament ever this fall!
Karin
Collis of |
Each month the Tuesday Lunch and Leads Group will spotlight one of the top members of their active networking group. Karin Collis, the first honoree, is one of the group’s founders.
Karin’s Custom Images provides the best in advertising specialties for a diverse clientele. Headquartered in Great Falls, VA, KCI has developed a reputation for top quality products and responsive service.
Owner Karin Collis has more than 30 years experience of sales and customer service with over 15 years in the ad specialty industry. She brings a customer-oriented perspective to every project and works individually with clients to satisfy their special advertising needs.
Karin graduated from George Mason University with a B.S. in Business. She has worked in a family owned business for many years. In 1994 she started Karin’s Custom Images. She was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 for the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the Leadership Fairfax Class of 2003.
Karin has two sons, Peter and Bill. Peter is a recent graduate from VA Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering and is working for an Engineering firm in Springfield. Bill has one more year of college at Shenandoah University where he is studying music; he is an excellent percussionist
Karin has always been involved in the community and networking business groups in the area. She held many positions, including President of Forestville Elementary PTA from 1986-1995. She has sat on the board of many networking groups and enjoys connecting businesses to help them promote their business. She is currently in SBN, Network Stars, VTRCC Lunch and Leads, VTRCC Executive Lunch Group, Professional Connections, Network Referral Group, The Message Movers and Team Network. She is also an ambassador for “The Networking Community”.
Tuesday Lunch and Leads meets every week at Shula's Steakhouse in the Tyson's Corner Marriott. We seek VTRCC members who are committed to attend, develop and pass bona fide business leads to each other. For more information, call Harvey Silverman at 703-759-4946.
Calendar Updates
Visit our events pages for August and September events. Looking ahead? Keep the following dates open for October:
Monday, Oct. 4 - VTRCC GOLF TOURNAMENT
Thursday, Oct. 14 - NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Wednesday, Oct 20 - VTRCC TYSONS BUSINESS FORUM
Tuesday, Oct. 26 - INDEPENDENT PUBLIC RELATIONS ALLIANCE (IPRA) WORKSHOP SERIESWednesday, Oct. 27 - 58TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARADE AND MIXER
August
Business Spotlight September
Business Spotlight Click here for more information about these members or to find out how your business can be "Member of the Month". |
Dear VTRCC Members,
August 2nd is the cut off date for inclusion in our 2005 Chamber Directory. If you have not yet paid your dues, do not mail a check; call the office with your credit card number today to make your payment. As you are aware, the VTRCC has limited resources and a three person staff. As your President, I strongly encourage you to call the office TODAY to let us know your intentions. By renewing on time, you will help keep our overhead down, prevent a waste of limited office resources, and allow us to continue to grow and improve the VTRCC. Please don’t delay and thanks for your continued support.
Don't miss our August Mega Networking Luncheon with our Tuesday TIP Lead Share group at Shula’s Steakhouse August 10 or our Joint Evening Mixer with the McLean Chamber of Commerce on August 18 5:30-7:30 at the Vinson Hall in McLean. To learn more about the August 3 Ribbon Cutting at Barnaby’s Restaurant, and the next Tysons Business Forum on August 11, visit our website, www.vtrcc.org. Our weekly TIP Groups will continue to meet every Tuesday and Friday for lunch at Shula's Steak House.
The VTRCC Fall Golf Tournament will take place on October 4 at Westwood Country Club. The field has started to fill up already, but there is plenty of time to enter your foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available for hole, longest drive, and "closest to the pin." Call the chamber office for more details.
The 58th Annual Halloween Parade will take place on Wednesday October 27 in the heart of Vienna. The theme of this year's parade is "VIENNA…a Community Portrait". T.R. Cook from Cook’s Photo Art Studio has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshall.
In order to grow our Chamber and implement programs of interest for our members, area businesses, and the community, I need your help. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas that you think the VTRCC should consider or if you would like to schedule a time to meet with me, please call (703) 281-1333 or email me at gpowersjr@vtrcc.org. I am looking forward to hearing from area businesses and community members so that we can continue to improve the chamber. Additional information about the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce can be found online at www.vtrcc.org. Please remember to call the Chamber to RSVP for our events and activities.
I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Very truly yours,
Francis G. Powers, Jr.
President
Legislative Affairs
Gov. Warner
Signs Del. Shannon’s Child Protection Bill;
Groundbreaking Legislation to Serve as Nationwide Model
On June 23, Delegate Steve Shannon (VA-35) joined the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC) President and CEO Ernie Allen to support and witness Virginia Governor Mark Warner sign the freshman delegate's first bill into law. The law will require that local law-enforcement agencies enter descriptive information about a missing child into the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) systems, forward the report to the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse maintained by the Virginia State Police, notify other local law-enforcement agencies, and initiate an investigation within two hours of receiving a report of a missing child.
Currently, the law requires that this be done "immediately," but does not define what this means. The amendment clarifies that "immediately" means in no case more than two hours within receipt of the report.
"The first few hours after a child's abduction are critical to the safe return of the child," said Delegate Shannon. "If an abducted child is killed, most deaths occur within 3 hours of the abduction. Time is of the essence in these cases, and this bill establishes a rapid response protocol that will help save children's lives."
"Time is the enemy when investigating a missing child case," added Allen. "This law will ensure that law enforcement around the state and the country will immediately have the necessary information to identify a missing child or suspect, dramatically increasing the chances of quick detection and recovery. We are deeply grateful to Delegate Shannon for his leadership and vision on this vital issue."
Virginia is the first state to enact this legislation. NCMEC will use Virginia as the model to take the concept nationwide.
Prior to serving as state Delegate, Steve Shannon was an Assistant Commonwealth 's Attorney for Fairfax County and specialized in prosecuting child sex crimes. He and his wife Abby Shannon co-founded the Northern Virginia Amber Alert program in 2001. Shannon was elected to the House of Delegates in November 2003, with the support of a broad coalition of community groups, including the Fairfax Coalition of Police, the Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff's Coalition, and the Fairfax Firefighters and Paramedics.
For more information visit The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at http://www.missingkids.com or Delegate Steve Shannon at http://www.delegatesteveshannon.com.
Member News
Potomac Valley Bank was recently renamed Mercantile Potomac Bank to reflect the strategy of Potomac Valley Bank and its parent, Baltimore-based Mercantile Bankshares Corporation (Nasdaq: MRBK), to take a unified approach to the Washington, D.C. regional market. Mercantile, a recognized leader in the mid-Atlantic financial community since 1864, is well-known for its strength in commercial lending and wealth management. Potomac Valley Bank has provided lending and deposit services to small- to mid-sized businesses and professionals in Montgomery County for more than 45 years and recently expanded its efforts into Northern Virginia. Additional information can be obtained at www.mercantile.com or www.potomacvalleybankmd.com.
TML Copiers & Digital Solutions, a locally owned and operated Office Technology Dealer, is proud to announce that during the recent poll of their Total Satisfaction Survey for 2004 four out of five customers would come back again to purchase their equipment, service, and supplies from TML. TML has been in business since 1985 and strongly believes that Customer Total Satisfaction is their top priority. Visit www.tmlcopiers.com for more information.
United Stor-All Vienna (previously, Self Storage Plus) recently opened its doors to the Vienna community. Live-on Property managers Russell and Stefanie are willing to take care of your storage needs. Their well maintained 571 storage units with climate control and extended access hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) are just a few features. United Stor-All offers computerized access, individual door alarms and 24 hour taped video surveillance for added security. They have move in specials for new customers as well as a moving truck for customer use. They also offer discounts for military personnel, senior citizens and local businesses. And if you are in the need for boxes and packing supplies, there are many to choose from! United Stor-All Vienna is located conveniently at 300 Mill Street, NE (on the corner of Ayr Hill Ave and Mill St.). Call 703-255-0185 today or just stop by and they will be happy to help you!
Goodman & Company recently announced the following promotions:
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Christopher R. Davidson, CPA was promoted to Manager. Davidson has extensive experience in the preparation and review of tax returns for consolidated corporate groups, partnerships, and S corporations and dedicates considerable time consulting on tax planning matters for businesses and their owners.
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Carl Sweetnam was promoted to Senior Consultant. Sweetnam has over 15 years experience in the fields of contract cost accounting, financial management and accounting system design. From his experiences serving as the principal accounting and financial executive throughout his career, he has a diverse knowledge base in the government contracting industry.
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Raquel Pena, CPA was promoted to Senior Manager. Pena has over ten years of professional experience working on private and public accounting. Her expertise focuses on small to medium sized construction companies. Fluent in Spanish, she represents local and international Hispanic-owned businesses.
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Allison Huss, CPA was promoted to Senior Associate. Huss has three years experience with Goodman & Company in the government contracting and not-for-profit industries.
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Michael A. Brown was promoted to Senior Associate. Brown’s primary duties include performing audits, reviews and compilation engagements for multiple industries including government contracting and nonprofit organizations.
Serving clients since 1932, Goodman & Company is a regional certified public accounting firm delivering quality accounting, tax and specialized services.
Virginia Commerce Bank —Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCBI), parent company of Virginia Commerce Bank (the “Bank”), today announced record second quarter earnings of $3.4 million, an increase of 21.2% over 2003 second quarter earnings of $2.8 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2004, the Company achieved earnings of $6.5 million, also a record, and an increase of 24.1% compared to earnings of $5.3 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2003. On a diluted per share basis, second quarter and year-to-date earnings were $0.38 and $0.74 compared to $0.33 and $0.62 for the same periods in 2003, an increase of 15.2% and 19.4%, respectively. The Company’s year-to-date return on average assets and return on average equity were 1.38% and 21.26%.
Business News
The Business Development Assistance Group is presenting Access to Success, the 2nd Annual Multicultural Conference to discuss Creating Opportunities for Ethnic Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. It will be held on Thursday, August 12, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Johnson Center, George Mason Campus, Fairfax, Virginia. Keynote speakers include The Honorable Michael J. Schewel, Secretary of Commerce and Trade; Chapman Petersen, State Delegate; Dr. Alan Merten, President of George Mason University; and Dr. Roger Stough, Director of Mason Enterprise Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
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Develop critical access to government contracting opportunities;
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Provide business related information, tools, methods and techniques for ethnic minority emerging entrepreneurs and existing business owners, to help them succeed in the mainstream economy;
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Learn the basics for starting a successful export/import business; and
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Explore innovative ways for businesses to obtain startup capital.
DBA Offers Free Emergency Preparedness for Virginia Businesses–The Virginia Department of Business Assistance (DBA) is pleased to announce the addition of StargazerNET ReadyLinks to its list of web-based resources. StargazerNET is a not-for-profit internet platform and portal designed to facilitate and support the activities of individuals and organizations – providing a private link on the web for critical information in an emergency. StargazerNET can be used to communicate and collaborate, share knowledge and experience, find and organize resources, and contribute and volunteer for the benefit of others. It is a global internet platform and portal that expands the capabilities and web presence of nonprofit activities and organizations. DBA is the state agency devoted to the growth and success of Virginia’s business community. DBA provides access to capital, workforce training and business information and assistance. For more information, please visit www.dba.state.va.us or call 804-371-8200.
Free Seminar: Starting A Business (In Spanish!) Tired of working for someone else and would like to own your own business? Don't know where to start but you need the correct information and access to the right small business network to help you build your business? If so, this seminar is developed especially for you. Learn how to complete a certificate of occupancy, business license, and trade name when starting a business in Arlington. Presented in Spanish. Thursday, July 22, 2004, 6 P.M. - 8 P.M., Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22201, Auditorium (first floor). Free, Outdoor & Garage Parking. FREE, but registration is required. Please contact Isabel Guisantes at 703-228-0802 or iguisantes@iberochamber.org.
Courses
to Address the Different Challenges of Opening and Building a Business
– The National Women’s Business Center, Inc. (the Center)
a non-profit organization serving women business owners at all stages
of business development. The Center is the premier organization in the
Washington metro area dedicated to delivering women entrepreneurs with
high quality, accessibly-priced business training and support to grow
their businesses. The full range of services available from the Center
can be found at www.wbiznet.biz. Funding for the Center is provided
in part by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s
Business Ownership.
The Center offers the following program schedule for August. Men are
welcome to attend these events. For registration information on any
Center program, call (202) 785-4922 or e-mail info@womensbusinesscenter.org.
(Classes to be held at NWBC, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 919,
Washington, DC. For more information, visit http://www.wbiznet.biz/pandw/courses/bizown.html)
Introduction to Business Ownership
Tuesday, August 3, 2004, 6:00-8:00 p.m.,
Monday, August 16, 2004, 12:00-2:00 p.m., or
Tuesday, August 31, 2004, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Free – This seminar provides an introductory look at what it takes to establish a sound business. The session combines advice on how to research your business idea with tips for preparing for the multi-faceted demands of business ownership.Breakfast for Emerging Businesses
Wednesday, August 4, 2004, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
NWBC, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 919, Washington, DC
$30 ($20 NWBC members) – Growing your business is a different challenge than managing it day-to-day. This breakfast roundtable will discuss managing growth issues for businesses under $1 million. The goal is to provide an open forum to share ideas about how to balance the hands-on requirements of daily operations with the desire to take your company to the next level, and how the Center can help you achieve your goals.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):
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A new study indicates that small firms may rely more on e-procurement tools for obtaining federal contracts than do their larger counterparts. Among their findings, the report’s authors noted that certain barriers appear to prevent small businesses from more effective use of e-procurement. These include shifts in the government’s e-procurement system, the expense of monitoring procurement offerings, and confusion over multiple points of entry to procurement systems.
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The SBA announced the funding of 34 existing Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). The WBC program provides training, counseling, and mentoring services to women entrepreneurs and was established by Congress in 1988. The WBC Program, administered by the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO), provides female entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start and grow a business. The 34 existing WBC sites will share $5.1 million in SBA funding. Each site is required to match a portion of the federal funds with private contributions, and services are tailored to the community in which the WBC is located. The WBC program provides funding for an initial five-year term. The 34 centers, one located in Springfield, VA, are included in this part of the program. The program also offers an online Women’s Business Center that can be accessed 24 hours a day at http://www.onlinewbc.gov/. For more information on the SBA’s Women’s Business Center Program or to find the location of the nearest center, contact your local SBA office or visit the Office of Women’s Business Ownership’s home page at www.sba.gov/financing/special/women.html
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SBA announced that it is withdrawing proposed rules that would have changed the standards by which a business is designated ‘small’ for the purposes of government programs. “Administrator Barreto has worked hard to make the SBA more like the small businesses it serves every day, and that means being responsive to our customers,” SBA Associate Deputy Administrator for Government Contracting Allegra McCullough said. “That is why we have decided to revisit this issue. All new rules have a 60 day comment period. Because we knew this issue was so important to America’s small business owners, we actually extended that period to 105 days. During that time, we strongly encouraged our small business customers to contact us with their thoughts on the revisions. They did just that, and what they told us was, ‘good intention, good idea, but needs a little more work.’
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To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto issued the following statement: "The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 marked a major victory for America's better self. It is a major milestone in our ongoing national quest to give all Americans a fair shot at achieving the American Dream. “Today, African-Americans who would have been denied equal access to hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other public accommodations 40 years ago, are now proud owners of these very accommodations. But there is still much to be done. Our goal is an ownership society where all Americans will have the opportunity to own their own homes, to exercise greater control over their own health care - and to own their own businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to helping make this vision a reality, and to honoring the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dreamt of the day 'when justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.’"
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SBA has published four new brochures in Spanish designed to provide its Spanish-speaking customers with additional, easy to use information about basic entrepreneurship and SBA resources. Information for the Small Business Owner, How to Start Your own Business: A Practical Guide, How to Finance a Small Business, and Assistance for Small Businesses at Women’s Business Centers are the latest additions to the growing selection of educational, informational resources available in Spanish from the SBA. The brochures are available through district offices as well as through resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers and Women’s Business Centers in areas with large Hispanic populations. They also will be available in electronic, downloadable (PDF) format on the SBA’s Spanish language Web site, at www.negocios.gov.
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SBA and the American and African Business Women’s Alliance (AABWA) have signed a cooperative agreement to promote programs that will help small businesses nationally, and internationally, and to jointly participate in international trade opportunities, particularly on the African continent. The two organizations have effectively agreed to share information on women’s business ownership network, training, procurement and online programs - as well as international trade programs, export assistance, general resource and other outreach materials. All activities are subject to the availability of funding. The implementation of the agreement began upon signing and the activities undertaken under its provisions will continue for two years, at which time they may be extended for a similar period.
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The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call 202-205-6533.
The following is excerpted from ACCE Link:
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Why People Stay: Since the days of the dot-com explosion, it seems like employees stick hop from job to job with increasing frequency. There are, however, ways to keep good employees around and this lengthy article looks at some of those factors. Most respondents to the survey said challenging work, flexibility, compassion, investment in training and open-door policies are what keep them happy. Read more here: http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/07/05/smallb1.html
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IT 100: From BusinessWeek, a look at the top 100 information technology firms worldwide. Factors involved in the rankings were revenues, revenue growth, return on equity, total return and profits. View the list here:
http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0425_it100.pdf
Community News
The year 2003 Water Quality Report for the Town of Vienna and surrounding service area has been mailed to each address that receives a water bill from the Town. Additional copies are available at Town Hall, 127 Center St., S., or call 703-255-6300 to have one mailed to you. The report is also posted at the Town's Web site, www.ci.vienna.va.us. The annual report, required as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, contains information about where the Town's drinking water comes from, what it contains, and how it is treated. Citizens are encouraged to read it and contact the Town with any questions or comments.
The Vienna Youth Players will present the musical "Runaways" at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St., S.E.) Performances are scheduled August 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and August 15 at 2 p.m. The show, which features reggae, rap, hip-hop and salsa beats, is based on stories collected from runaways in New York City and is not recommended for small children. Tickets are $8 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
Auditions for the Vienna Theatre Company's fall production, "Pack of Lies," will be held August 9 and 10 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Bring a two-minute contemporary monologue. For more information, call 703-242-6423.
The "Break It Down" Dance Team Training Program for ages 12-17 will be held August 9-12 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. The program provides training to aspiring school dance team members and current team members who want to sharpen their dance skills. The program also incorporates a fitness component of good nutrition and exercise habits to meet the needs of adolescents. The cost is $150 for Town of Vienna residents and $165 for out-of-town participants. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Babysitting Fundamentals, for boys and girls age 12 and older, will be held August 7 and repeated August 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Learn how to care for infants and young children, including bathing, games/activities, basic first aid, diapering, and safety practices. The fee of $30 per person includes a manual and certificate upon completion. Bring a bag lunch and a doll. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
"Caring for Your Newborn" will be presented on Tuesday, August 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Topics will include choosing a pediatrician, preparing the nursery, nutrition, changing and clothing, carrying, bathing, umbilical cord care, car seat use, and when to call your doctor. This program is free of charge, but registration is required. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
The Fairfax County Park Authority, in cooperation with the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, will host an athletic field maintenance workshop on Thursday, August 12 from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Nottoway Park in Vienna, VA. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in hands-on demonstrations, equipment presentations, and interactive discussions of athletic field maintenance, artificial playing fields, volunteer partnerships, air quality and stewardship. This workshop is appropriate for athletic organization representatives, coaches and other individuals seeking enhanced understanding of how local fields are maintained, the challenges encountered in keeping a variety of field surfaces playable, how protecting the environment is an important part of these efforts, and how the Park Authority works with volunteers and in partnership with field monitors and the Adopt-A-Field program. To participate in the program, please register by August 5, 2004 by calling Mike Hanson at 540-788-4867. The registration fee is $35 per person and includes the program, lunch and an Athletic Field Manual as well. For workshop information call Dan Sutherland at 703-324-8591.
Arts in the Parks Children’s Summer Entertainment Series will host the Fairfax Symphony’s OTO, Overture to Orchestra Percussion Duo. The OTO Percussion Duo is the orchestra’s introduction to the wide range of percussion instruments that provide the underpinning of orchestra music. The presentation of “What is Rhythm?” features music ranging from Bach to Ragtime. The performances will take place at 10 a.m. at E. C. Lawrence Park on July 24th, on August 7th at Burke Lake Park, on August 14th at Lake Fairfax Park, and on August 21st at Mason District Park. For more information visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.htm
The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin making improvements at Clark’s Crossing Park, located at 9850 Clark’s Crossing Road in Vienna. It is not anticipated that the project will dramatically impact adjacent neighborhoods however some minor traffic or parking issues may be encountered. The scope of work includes demolition of existing pavement, installation of a storm drainage system, construction of a curb, and gutter and asphalt pavement for the street and cul-de-sac. Work will also include construction of a five foot concrete sidewalk, installation of a split rail fence, a gate and bollards, energy dissipater and rip rap. Construction costs are estimated at $260,000. Project completion is slated for December, 2004. For more information, call Project Manager Jim Duncan at 703-324-8747.
The Fairfax County Park Authority named three Elly Doyle Park Service Award winners, recognizing volunteers who donate their time and talents to protect natural and cultural resources, enhance educational and recreational services and help the public enjoy their parks. This year’s recipients include C.K. Gailey, a longtime volunteer archaeologist, Al Peek, volunteer weekend Opening Manager at Pinecrest Golf Course, and the Ravensworth Farm Civic Association, an organization which actively supports improvements and programs at Lake Accotink Park. The members of Bailey’s Beautification Alliance received Special Recognition for their work at Bailey’s Park in the Culmore area, and Eileen McCaffrey, a volunteer at Hidden Pond Nature Center, was named student honoree. The Elly Doyle Park Service Award was established by the Fairfax County Park Authority on December 20, 1988 in recognition of Ellamae Doyle’s years of outstanding service toward the preservation of parkland, natural and recreational areas for the benefit of Fairfax County residents. The purpose of the award is to publicly recognize a volunteer or group of volunteers for outstanding contributions to Fairfax County parks. An award recognition ceremony will be held in October and will honor these designees as well as the many other volunteers who work in county parks and facilities. For more information about these awards or the presentation of these awards in October, please contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662.
W&OD Fans Celebrate Trail’s 30th Anniversary in 2004. The Friends of the W&OD Trail (FOWD) and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of NVRPA’s popular National Recreation Trail. NVRPA opened the first section of this multi-use recreation corridor in Falls Church in 1974. The final paved segment of the 45-mile trail was completed in 1988. The trail follows the route of the former Washington and Old Dominion Railroad from Shirlington in Arlington County, through the City of Falls Church and on west to Vienna, where the trail splits to become parallel pathways, one for equestrians and one for cyclists and pedestrians. The dual trail continues more than 30 miles to Reston, Herndon, Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg, Paeonian Springs, Hamilton and Purcellville. Information about the trail is available on the Friends of the W&OD Trail website at www.wodfriends.org, www.nvrpa.org and at the trail’s Smiths Switch headquarters at 703-729-0596.
| Bill Daly, chair of the Community Affairs Committee, is seeking committee members with any amount of time and energy to work on projects. If you are interested in helping out this year, please e-mail wdaly@rbdlaw.com with your contact information. Include the best days/times for meetings that fit your schedule. |
Business Development Committee Adopts an Active Agenda and Invites New Members
The purpose of the Chamber’s Business Development Committee is to promote business development, especially for small businesses. The Committee has adopted a robust lineup of projects for the remainder 2004.
The BDC’s Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Mike Fox of Synaptic Source LLC, has organized a series of small business seminars on how to make best use of computers and other technology. At the subcommittee’s first seminar, held on June 16, Gary Moonan of Geeks on Call made a presentation titled “Outsmarting and Protecting Your PC Systems.” The second seminar, held on July 27th, featured Togg President George Gould’s discussion on small business network security.
The BDC is also working to create a small business incubator to help burgeoning entrepreneurs get a strong start. Planning for the incubator is well underway under the direction of Bill Daly of Rees, Broome and Diaz, and Mark Chernisky of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Currently the subcommittee is exploring possible sites for the incubator program.
In June the BDC held the first event in its new Ribbon Cutting Program. This service helps new businesses garner publicity by inviting business and community leaders to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the business opening. The Committee is taking steps to circulate news of new members and new business openings in packets that go out to members of the Vienna Town Council and its committees.
The BDC also conducts the Chamber’s Past Chairs Breakfast, which is a great source of historical knowledge for the VTRCC Board Members.
Recently the BDC has started publishing small business success stories in the Enterprise newsletter. The first article appeared in the June newsletter, written by Pieter van den Assum of 1st Nebelus Group, and featured Billy Thompson of AllStar Movers.
BDC Chair Joan Fletcher says, “I am pleased that we have an active and enthusiastic committee. It’s a great committee for learning about new businesses and who is doing what in the Vienna-Tysons area. I invite all VTRCC members to join the fun!”
Chamber members who are interested in learning more about the committee should call Joan Fletcher of Winning Ways, Inc. at (703) 273-9299 or email jfletcher@winningwaysinc.com. The next BDC meeting will be on August 18. Contact the Chamber office for details.
Government
Affairs Committee Report
Town of Vienna Council Meeting, July 12, 2004
Dear Chamber Members:
Greetings from your new chair of the Government Affairs Committee! This committee has historically had the objective of giving our elected leaders the benefit of the Chamber’s views on matters of importance. My first report to you goes the other way: it gives you, the Chamber member, the benefit of a report on our elected leaders’ actions. What follows is an account of the Town of Vienna Council meeting of July 12, 2004. If this new Committee project proves worthwhile, you will get a report of what the Town Council does, a few days after its regularly scheduled meeting, on matters that concern businesses in the town. The idea is that this way you won’t necessarily have to go to the meetings yourself.
Please let me know if you think this report is helpful, because having your feedback will help us decide whether to continue this project. So, without further ado, here’s what happened at the meeting of importance to businesses in the town:
Report of the Town Manager: Catherine Salgado, sitting in for the Town Manager, declined the invitation to give a report, stating only that “It’s been a quite week in Vienna.”
Report of the Mayor: Beltway Widening. Mayor Jane Seeman reported on the hearing she recently attended concerning widening of the Capital Beltway in Virginia. She stated that the new plans are a big improvement over the previous plans. Two options are being considered. The first would expand the Beltway to 10 lanes, with the new lanes being HOV. This would result in the loss of 1 house. The second would expand the Beltway to 12 lanes, with the new lanes being HOV and HOT (“High Occupancy Toll”) lanes. This would result in the loss of 3 houses. She said “I’m in favor of anything that keeps traffic out of Vienna.” She feels the plans are on the right track, but that they have to go through a lot more stages (8-10 years in the best of all possible worlds) before becoming a reality. Mayor Seeman ended by saying she will keep on top of this issue in the future. Therefore, it looks like the Mayor is the person to contact if you have input on this issue.
Iraqi Women: The mayor also recognized a delegation of 15-20 Iraqi professional women, who are visiting Vienna on their visit to the U.S. to learn about how local democracy functions in America. Both she and Councilwoman Maud Robinson, who had met with them earlier in the day, praised them for their courage and stated that they are a wonderful group.
Wright Building Lease. The Council gave the Town Manager the authority to lease the vacant restaurant portion of the Wright Building, 144 Maple Ave., East (the space formerly occupied by the White Tiger Restaurant) to Vienna Presbyterian Church for $3,000 per month. This is the building which was bought by the Town several years ago with the proceeds of the tax increase on meals and lodging, and which is slated to be demolished in 2006 to make a village green around the Freeman House and the old Town Library. No other entity expressed an interest in renting the space, even after it was advertised, most likely because the space would be available for such a short period of time (August 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005) and the Town made it clear in the advertisement that it is not willing to do any improvements. Vienna Pres will evidently use the space as extra meeting space rather than as a restaurant. The lease will bring some $51,000 in rent before the building is torn down. Councilman Lovelace moved to authorize the Town Manager to enter into the lease. The motion passed unanimously.
Church Street Two-Way Traffic Request. The major agenda item this meeting was the request of several town residents to open the one-block length of Church Street between Lawyers Road and Pleasant Street to two way traffic. It is now one way north bound, except for a short stretch of two way traffic allowed in front of the Post Office, which ends at a barrier at the edge of the Post Office property. A representative of the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission reported that the Commission has held two public hearings on the proposal and has voted 7-0 to recommend denying the request, primarily on concerns about pedestrian safety and problems of traffic tie-ups which might be caused by the mail boxes which are currently located at the curb hear the Post Office. The most important concern of the Commission was that the Post Office is due to expand in the near future and was therefore of the opinion that the Town shouldn’t take action until the nature of this expansion is made clear. Among other things, funds may be available at that time to make improvements to the intersection to make two way traffic safer. Alfredo Pistani, long time owner of Marco Polo Restaurant, requested the Council to at least move the barrier far enough back so that two way traffic can reach his restaurant. The TSC representative stated that the Commission did consider this request and was recommending against it. Mayor Seeman acknowledged receipt of an e-mail written by the undersigned which stated the Chamber’s strong support of the concept of opening Church Street to two way traffic, while at the same time recognizing the legitimate interests of residents in the area (especially on Windover Avenue) of avoiding cut-through traffic. A number of residents testified both for and against the request. After discussion by nearly every member of the Council, the Mayor moved for disapproval of the request, and it was disapproved by a vote of 5-1-1. Councilman Polychrones voted against, and Councilman Verinder abstained.
Audible Pedestrian Crossing Signals. Charles Davis, a town resident who is blind, proposed that audible pedestrian crossing signals be installed at the intersections of Maple Avenue and Center Street, and Maple Avenue and Lawyers Road/Courthouse Road. The Mayor asked if grant money might be available for this project. Councilman Verinder suggested the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a possibility. The proposal was approved unanimously.
Appointment to TBLC. Laurie C. Daugherty was approved for membership on the Town/Business Liaison Committee, to fill out the unexpired term of Elmer Clegg, which ends on December 1, 2005.
“Metro West” Amendment. Councilwoman Cole reported that the Fairfax County Planning Commission will be meeting on July 22nd to consider a proposed out-of-turn amendment to the County Comprehensive Plan by Pulte Homes to allow a project, known as “Metro West” near the Vienna Metro Station. The proposal would allow development of 2,400 residential units and 300,000 square feet of commercial space, including three 14 story buildings and four 12 story buildings. Nearly every council member opposed the idea, primarily on the basis that the Comprehensive Plan is adequate and shouldn’t be amended. Councilman Lovelace moved to authorize Councilwoman Cole to appear at the meeting for the purpose of expressing the Town’s opposition to the amendment. This passed unanimously.
Dominion Virginia Power Transmission Line Proposal. Councilman Verinder moved that the Council express its opposition to the proposal by Dominion Virginia Power to relocate 11 miles of transmission lines onto the right of way beside the Washington & Old Dominion Trail west of town. This resolution passed unanimously.
Author’s Comment: The meeting ended just prior to 11:00 p.m.– an early night, according to Councilman Verinder. The council members left, after toiling diligently for three hours, working their way patiently through the minutia of town affairs. Although the Iraqi women could not stay for the entire meeting, they could not have left without marveling at what they had witnessed -- at the seemingly mundane sorts of issues with which an elected council in a small town in America has to contend. They may also have wondered, wistfully, about whether there will ever come a time when democracy in Iraq will have been honed to the point that small town councils there will have the luxury of debate as to whether a one-block street ought to be one way or two way. After the Iraqi women took their leave, to the applause of everyone in the Council Chamber, your correspondent got to thinking about the fact that every one of them will return home to perform death defying feats every day, just by getting in their cars, going to their offices, and doing their work. He came to realize that, for the time they sat next to him that night, he was in the presence of people who are much braver than him. He walked out into the warm Vienna night, quite happy that it had, indeed, turned out to be a quiet week in our little town. May each of these brave women live to see such weeks in their home towns, and soon.
Roy J. Baldwin,
Esq.
Chair, Government Affairs Committee
Baldwinroy@aol.com
