Inside Katherine Hutt: VTRCC    Success Story Calendar Updates Message from the Chairman Legislative Affairs Business Spotlight Member News Anniversaries Business News Community News New Members Committee News Photos:   Tech Series Breakfast   Holiday Lunch

A Midwinter Mixer at Meadowlark

On January 26, VTRCC and The Networking Community are joining forces to warm the Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens. This first mixer of 2005 is likely to be our largest, so make your reservations soon.

Did You Claim Your
PREMO Reward?

Did you spend $500 at PREMO businesses in October, November and December with a minimum of 10 receipts? If you did, you qualify for one these special prizes: $50 gift certificate to Pie Gourmet; 1 hour massage from Northern Virginia Massage Center; or a gift basket from Premier Wine Cellars valued at $100-$150! Visit www.vtrcc.org/premo.htm for the form to claim your prize.

What is PREMO? P.R.E.M.O. stands for Premier Rewards Exclusively for Members Only. The PREMO Program was launched a couple of years ago to give members a reason to shop at other Chamber members' business establishments. The concept of offering discounts and/or more for your money, encourages Chamber members to choose PREMO Participants over non-member businesses. Winning these PREMO prizes is as easy as spending money you may normally spend, but doing so at PREMO businesses and saving your receipts. Everyone who meets the criteria above will win the prize of their choice!

If you didn’t qualify in the last quarter of 2004, try again during the first quarter of 2005. The list of PREMO participants is available at vtrcc.org/premo.htm. One PREMO card was sent to each Chamber member in July. To purchase additional cards ($5 each) or to become a PREMO business, please contact the Chamber office at 703-281-1333.

Good luck and we'll see you shopping at PREMO locations!

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Katherine Hutt: VTRCC Success Story
By Bill Harrison, Business Development Committee

One business owner who appreciates what VTRCC networking can accomplish is Katherine Hutt, president of Nautilus Communications. She uses her Chamber membership as a vital element of her highly successful marketing strategy. “VTRCC has been instrumental in helping me increase the visibility of Nautilus in the local business community. I have gotten several clients directly through my involvement with the Chamber, and have been able to use Chamber members for a number of business and personal services.”

Katherine founded Nautilus Communications, Inc. in 1996 as a marketing communications and public relations firm. She called the company “Nautilus” because as the chambered nautilus grows, it builds a shell of progressively larger compartments that are both functional and beautiful. Like its namesake, the company’s history has been a progressive spiral of successful growth.

Nautilus operates as a “virtual agency,” which means Katherine customizes a team for each client based on the client’s specific needs. This enables Nautilus to offer top-notch talent at very reasonable rates.

When Katherine started Nautilus Communications, she had already been public relations director of two national associations. “Although I had a terrific job,” she says, “I always knew that the next position would be working for myself. I love the variety of clients and their interests and issues, and I especially love working with other business owners and helping them enhance their corporate image.”

A writer at heart, Katherine is an avid proponent of VTRCC. She says, “In fact, I have the online directory of Chamber members bookmarked, and I go there first when I am looking for a particular product or service. I like to support other businesses which support our community, plus I feel working with fellow Chamber members helps ensure a level of quality and personal service.”

You can learn more about Nautilus Communications at www.nautiluscommunications.com.

What are you Missing? Attendees of the December 9 Technology Series Breakfast Meeting at Jammin’ Java learned how they could E-market and E-staff their businesses from Katherine R. Hutt of Nautilus Communications, Inc., and Mike McGarry, of Talent Advantage. VTRCC’s Technology Committee, under the leadership of Mike Fox, designed this series to inform chamber members of practical tools and technologies that will aid them in building their businesses. Look for future offerings of the Tech Committee in the coming months.

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Calendar Updates

Visit our events pages for the latest on our January and February events, and save the following events for March!

Saturday, Mar. 12, 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
12TH ANNUAL CASINO NIGHT AND TASTE OF THE TOWN
Location: Westwood Country Club (800 Maple Ave., East)
Wear your best luau attire and shake off the winter blues at this popular event where everyone is a winner. Area eateries provide free samples of their signature dishes. After satisfying your appetite, test your luck at the many casino games. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For tickets or more info, visit www.vtrcc.org/casino.

Wednesday, Mar. 23, 11:30 - 1:30 pm
JOINT NETWORKING LUNCHEON with Greater Merrifield Business Association
Location: Italian Café (7161 Lee Hwy., Falls Church)
Speaker: Delegate Jim Scott
Great way to meet more area business owners and GMBA members. Double your networking opportunity. Please make reservations 5 days in advance: 703-281-1333.

Thursday, Mar. 24, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
EVENING MIXER
Location: TBD
Great way to meet more area business owners and area chamber members. Bring a friend and enjoy. RSVP: 703-281-1333

Friday, Mar. 26, 11:30 - 4:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
Location: Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St., SE)
Please call 703-698-3885 for appointment.

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January Business Spotlight KURT FROGALE THE BUSINESS BANK February Business Spotlight NEIL KOSSLER, CPA, MST KOSSLER AND COMPANY, LLC Click here for more information about these members or to find out how your business can be "Member of the Month".

Message from the Chairman
By Maris Angolia, 2004-2005 Chairman of the Board

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 2005 is already here… it feels like we just celebrated the millennium! Hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season and that you have started a prosperous new year.

The VTRCC is very excited about all of the opportunities we have in this upcoming year. First, we’d like to tell you about the Frequent Flyer Program. This is an incredible deal, allowing you to prepay for all the luncheons and mixers at one time, a $600 value for only $399. Also, it is completely transferable, so if you can’t make it you can send a colleague or a client. It also allows you to come right into a luncheon or mixer without waiting in line – think of all the extra networking time you’ll get!

We have several sponsorships and promotional opportunities. Mark your calendars March 12th for the 12th Annual Taste of the Town and Casino Night at Westwood Country Club. If you’ve attended in past years, you know what an incredible evening it is! If you haven’t, I can tell you that this is a “can’t miss” event. Debbie Earman, VP of Fundraising, and Bill Daly, Chair of the Casino Night Committee, are already busy working on registering restaurant, table, and door prize sponsors. If you would like to sponsor and/or volunteer for this special event, please contact them or visit www.vtrcc.org/casino.

The annual membership drive is coming up in March/April. There is a contest for the top recruiter with great prizes, so now is the time to start thinking about new members!

As always, please check out the website, www.vtrcc.org, for additional events, educational events, sponsorship opportunities, and more.

We look forward to seeing you this year as VTRCC celebrates our 65th Anniversary!

What are you Missing? VTRCC members and friends dined at Marco Polo to the sweet sounds of the Madison H.S. Madrigals at our December 14 Holiday Luncheon. Attendees arrived with dozens of toys for the Toys for Tots Program and many left with fabulous door prizes, provided by member businesses. Our 2005 lunch meetings are an assortment of wonderful speakers and restaurants, so don’t miss a single one!

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Legislative Affairs

Come To Richmond For Chamber Day!
By Roy Baldwin, Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee

As in past years, VTRCC members will join Chamber of Commerce representatives from all parts of the Commonwealth, who will descend on the General Assembly on January 19, 2005, for the annual Chamber Day at the State Capitol.

The General Assembly will have a full docket of concerns this session. Transportation will probably top the list, followed closely by tax law changes, lawsuit limitations, and the like. The State Chamber is rapidly putting together its wish list, which includes support for the outright repeal of the "day of rest" law which caused so much consternation last summer, as well as opposition to "assignment of benefits" legislation, which would require health plans to pay benefits directly to non-network health care providers.

The Chamber would like to have as many members as possible ride down to Richmond on the 19th. If you have an interest in a piece of legislation, or would just like to see your delegates and state senators in their native habitat, join us for a day of fun and civic involvement.

We will leave early, caravan down to Richmond, and return home in the evening after a full day of activities. Call Roy Baldwin at 703-281-0134 for more information.

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR “CHAMBER DAY AT THE CAPITOL”

MORNING
Begin legislator visits/attend a committee meeting (General Assembly Bldg. or Capitol)
10:00 am – group check in, directions/briefings for the day (St. Paul’s Church)
10:45 am – briefing from Lt. Governor Tim Kaine – confirmed (St. Paul’s Church)
11:15 am – briefing from Attorney General Jerry Kilgore - confirmed (St. Paul’s Church)

MID-DAY
12:00 noon – recognition by the House/Senate from the gallery (Capitol)
12:30 pm – group lunch (St. Paul’s Church)
1:30 pm – briefing from Governor Mark Warner – invited (St. Paul’s Church)
2:00 pm – briefing from Speaker William Howell - confirmed (St. Paul’s Church)

AFTERNOON
2:30 pm – continue legislator visits/attend a committee meeting (General Assembly Bldg. or Capitol)
3:30 pm – Virginia Chamber annual meeting and legislative update (Richmond Omni Hotel)

EVENING
5:30 pm – Old Dominion Assembly – tickets required (Richmond Omni Hotel)

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Member News

Support experiential learning for George Mason University students and also bring talented minority students into your company by participating in the Multicultural Internship (MINT) program. The MINT program assists students from multicultural backgrounds in finding paid summer internships related to their fields of study. Established in 1996, the MINT Summer Internship program is a partnership between the Diversity Advisory Board, University Career Services of George Mason University, and the Office of Diversity Programs. The MINT program serves as a bridge between bright, qualified George Mason students and employers who are looking for talented interns with an eye on increasing diversity in the workplace. There is no cost to participate and we will give you free access to PatriotJobWeb, our online job-listing database. To learn more about how a MINT intern can become part of your organization, please visit the 2005 MINT web page (http://careers.gmu.edu/mint/emp/index.html), review the Employer Timeline, complete an Employer Application, including signing the statement of understanding, and submit a position description.

Join the Louise Archer Elementary School Support Team! For as little as a night out, you can make a difference with a donation to your neighborhood school. Programs funded by the PTA include: cultural arts programs, field trip transportation, science expo/reading expo/reflections, computer hardware and software, furniture, student activities like Patrol Camp and the 6th Grade Dinner, publishing center, student financial support fund, faculty support fund, and the school directory. Mail your donation to Louise Archer Elementary PTA, 324 Nutley Street, NW, Vienna, VA 22180, or call 703-938-8086. Supporters will receive a “Louise Archer Support Team” plaque.

Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino and Resort introduces their new Havana Tower! Take advantage of their introductory offer and book a room for just $99 a night (Sunday-Thursday, December 1-February 28). Room rate includes free “Passport to Paradise” retail offers with more than $5000 in discounts and specials from shops, entertainment venues and restaurants in The Quarter. Plus, receive two complimentary tickets to “Havana After Dark”. For reservations, call 800-345-8767 and give code THAV01.

Tequila Grande has entered into a contract with Pro Delivery, a Vienna-based company, to deliver their menu items for a small delivery charge. The service will be available to homes and offices in the Vienna, McLean, Oakton and Fairfax area. For more information, call Tequila Grande at 703-255-5933 or Pro Delivery at 703-938-6611. Tequila Grande has been sizzling the taste buds of Fairfax County residents with Authentic Mexican Cuisine since 1998. Stop by on Sundays from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for live music, when a strolling mariachi goes from table to table delighting diners with his guitar and his golden voice. Tequila Grande is located at 444 Maple Ave., West, Vienna, VA 22180.

The Burdette Smith Group, PC is pleased to announce that Thomas E. Burdette, CPA, Kathleen O. Eggers, CPA, and Jeffrey G. Ouellette, CPA have been named Super CPAs by Virginia Business magazine for 2004. Tom Burdette was named for his expertise in small business consulting; Kathy Eggers and Jeff Ouellette were selected for their work in individual tax, estate and trust work. This is Mrs. Eggers’ second award; she was also chosen in 2003. The selections are made annually under the auspices of the Virginia Society of CPAs and the sponsorship of Virginia Business magazine. Approximately 6,100 CPAs from across the state were mailed selection ballots and votes were tabulated by the magazine. For more on The Burdette Smith Group, PC, visit www.bsgpc.com.

• More than 500 works were entered in the annual Treasury of Art Show, and with space for less than 200, the selection was difficult. Preliminary reports indicate that almost 60 pieces are sold, totaling more than $14,000. Thanks to all who participated, especially the many volunteers.
• Entries for the Judged Exhibition of works by Middle and High School students will be accepted January 24-28.
• Abrakadoodle Children’s Art Classes will be held on Monday afternoons at the Art Center (115 Pleasant St.).
• Joe Phillips’ Watercolor Classes will be held on Monday nights at the Art Center.
• Abrakadoodle “Twoosy Doodlers” Children’s Art Classes will be held on Tuesday mornings at the Art Center.
• Shirley Blanchard’s Watercolor classes will be held on Tuesday evenings at the Art Center.
• Robbie Daly’s Fused Glass Jewelry Workshops will be held on Saturday Mornings at the Art Center.
• The next two general meetings will be on January 13 and February 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street).

Virginia Commerce Bank (VCB) is pleased to announce the opening of its Walney Branch, located at 4221 Walney Road in Chantilly. The new branch, which is the fifteenth overall for VCB, opened for business on November 15, 2004. The opening of this branch is part of a previously announced branching strategy that is expected to result in one to three new branches a year. Additional locations expected to open over the next twelve months will include Alexandria, Tysons Corner and two in Manassas. Established in 1988, Virginia Commerce Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc., a registered financial holding company listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “VCBI.” Consistently rated as the region’s best bank in customer satisfaction, VCB offers a full range of business and consumer banking services throughout Northern Virginia. Including the new Chantilly location, the Bank operates fifteen branches, two residential mortgage lending offices and an investment services office. For further information about VCB’s many services and a map of convenient locations, visit our web site at www.vcbonline.com.

Happy New Year from Northwest Federal Credit Union! NWFCU wants to remind you that memberships are available to Chamber members and their employees. There are savings plans for everyone - NWFCU has a variety of federally insured savings plans including Money Market or Premium Savings Accounts, Certificates, IRAs, and more. To learn about these and the many other benefits of NWFCU membership, please contact Lisa Como Paulus, NWFCU’s Business Development Manager, at lpaulus@northwestfcu.org or at 703-925-5105.

Goodman & Company is pleased to announce that their Springfield office has relocated to join their Tysons Corner office. The move provides a larger work environment as well as additional conference rooms for meetings and small group presentations. Goodman & Company now offers more than 80 professionals in one location to serve you! Please visit the Web site, www.goodmanco.com, to view their expanded resources.

James Madison High School Senior Philip Hamilton is seeking a partial sponsorship of $550 towards his tuition to the Global Business and Public Policy Program of Presidential Classroom. With a passion for politics as well as for business, Philip is active in the Future Business Leaders of America and is President of Madison’s Young Democrats. Attending the Global Business and Public Policy Program of Presidential Classroom is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet bankers, regulators, business tax advisors, business leaders, and labor leaders in seminars; to debate other Presidential Classroom students on economic policies; and to engage in seminars with the World Bank, visit Embassies, etc. If you are interested in helping Philip achieve this invaluable experience, please email him at rancidrockerxx@yahoo.com.

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Anniversaries

The VTRCC is happy to acknowledge supportive members of the Chamber. Those celebrating anniversaries during December and January are:

49 years	Connell's Valet
43 years	Air Treatment Company
42 years	Ketterman's Jewelry & Gifts
25 years	Optimist Club of Vienna
17 years	Vienna Choral Society
16 years	Pie Gourmet, Ltd.
15 years	Jiffy Lube
14 years	UBS/PaineWebber
13 years	Oakton High School Vienna Family Medicine
12 years	Hallmark Title, Inc. James Madison Shell
11 years	Access National Mortgage Jay, Bruce, DDS, PC
10 years	Thoreau Middle School
8 years	BISTRO 123
7 years	JR's Stockyards Inn Enterprise School, The M C Construction
6 years	Northern Virginia Massage Ctr.
5 years	The Baldwin Law Group, LLC Harvey A. Silverman, Attorney at Law Jammin' Java
3 years	Beers & Cutler Outsourcing, LLC The Sun Gazette
2 years	Body Elements, LLC Cold Stone Creamery Deer Park Water First Class Travel J Donegan Company James Monroe Bank Shula's Steak House Stynchula Chiropractic Wellness Center United Way - Fairfax/Falls Church Vienna Rotary Virginia House of Delegates (Shannon) Waldman Financial Advisors
1 year	Fairfax Public Access TV Four Star Printing K & H Lawn Services, Inc. Tech Painting Company Vienna Assembly of God Warmest Wishes of Washington

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Business News

The Internal Revenue Service set the optional standard mileage rates for 2005, computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving expense purposes. Beginning January 1, 2005, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 40.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven, up from 37.5 cents a mile in 2004; 15 cents a mile when computing deductible medical or moving expenses, up from 14 cents a mile in 2004; and 14 cents a mile when giving services to a charitable organization. The three-cent increase in the business mileage rate was the largest one-year rise ever. The primary reasons were higher prices for vehicles and fuel during the year ending in September. For more information, visit www.irs.gov/newsroom.

See Metro Behind the Scenes at a seminar designed for key mid and upper-level executives sponsored by Metro's Office of Project Communications. It's an opportunity to partner with Metro staff and learn the inner workings of the region's largest transportation provider. Topics to be discussed include: plans for Metrorail and Metrobus during significant snowstorms; rail and bus capacity and how they are affected during service disruptions; and communications outlets for the most up-to-date information on Metro service. If you attended last year, you'll want to attend again this year to learn about Metro's new plans for protecting equipment during snowstorms. The seminar will be held on Friday, January 7 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at WMATA Headquarters (600 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC - Lobby Level Meeting Room). Please RSVP to Karina Van Veen at 202-962-1862 or kvanveen@wmata.com.

National Women’s Business Center (the Center) introduces IT Entrepreneurs to GSA’s New Enterprise Development Center. The Center, a non-profit organization serving entrepreneurs at all stages of business development, will give Washington-area technology companies an inside look at the new Enterprise Development Center (EDC) from the General Services Administration (GSA). GSA representatives will explain the services offered at the EDC for small IT firms during the workshop on Getting Started Accessing the Federal IT Marketplace: GSA’s New Enterprise Development Center. The GSA session will introduce Washington, D.C.-area technology companies to the advantages of a new and free agency resource committed to providing a level playing field for area firms. The Enterprise Development Center provides business owners with hands-on support in finding federal contracting opportunities including GSA contract vehicles and teaming relationships. GSA’s Enterprise Development Center specialists, Ruth Starr and Tom Barroso, will explain how to take advantage of the new Center’s services and outline the requirements for selling IT solutions to the government. For future dates and to register, call the National Women’s Business Center at 202-464-1400 or send an email to info@wbiznet.biz.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking comments from the general public on key issues relating to its small business size standards, the rules used by the SBA and other federal agencies to determine whether a business is small. Last March, SBA proposed to restructure its size standards by reducing the number of different size categories from 37 to 10, and by expressing all size standards in terms of the number of a company's employees. The public expressed concern about several aspects of SBA's approach, prompting the SBA to withdraw that proposal for further study on July 1. The agency is now seeking public comment and suggestions on: approaches by which to simplify size standards, calculating business employment size, use of receipts to measure business size, designating size standards on federal procurements, establishing a separate set of size standards for federal procurement, establishing tiered size standards for small business sub-categories, simplification of the affiliation and joint venture provisions, grandfathering existing small businesses from revised size standards, identifying the use of size standards on non-SBA federal programs and regulations, and the impact of size standards changes. For more information, please read the advanced notice at SBA’s Size Standards’ website: http://www.sba.gov/size/anprm.html, or visit Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Comments, due by February 1, can be e-mailed to restructure.sizestandards@sba.gov, faxed to 202-205-6930, or delivered to Gary M. Jackson, Assistant Administrator for Size Standards, 409 Third Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416. All comments should be identified by the code RIN 3245-ZA02. For further information, contact the SBA’s Office of Size Standards at 202-205-6618 or at sizestandards@sba.gov.

SBA’s Small Business Loan Programs Receive Significant Boost: President George W. Bush signed legislation making more than $21 billion available to small businesses through the SBA’s two main loan programs. The legislation also reauthorizes the agency’s programs and provides a $580 million budget for fiscal year 2005. The SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan guarantee program was boosted to a $16 billion level, $3.5 billion above what the program provided last fiscal year, when a record $12.55 billion in financing was made to small business. Additionally, the government loan guarantee increased from $1 million to $1.5 million and the program will now operate without a congressional appropriation or at zero subsidy, meaning that the program will be self-supported through modest fees paid by lenders and borrowers. An additional enhancement to the 7(a) program was Congress’ action to make the popular SBAExpress program permanent, raising the maximum loan size to $350,000 with a 50 percent government guarantee. In the area of entrepreneurial development, the Small Business Development, SCORE and Women’s Business Centers were reauthorized and funded at the same levels as last year. The bill also provides funding for the veterans and Native Americans programs.

Volunteer Leadership: Part II , “10 Secrets of a Volunteer Leader” featuring Cathi Hight will be held on January 12 at 12:00 p.m. Do you have great volunteers that will be assuming leadership roles in the near future? Do you want to provide tips for leaders who manage other volunteers? Do you want to enhance your own leadership skills as a volunteer leader? Being a leader and managing others requires an effective set of skills and experience. When neither the leader nor the team members are paid, it can present some unique challenges that require a different understanding. Explore secrets and the lessons learned from a seasoned volunteer leader to help you develop effective leaders who manage other volunteers. In this teleconference, you’ll learn: how effective leaders build successful teams; the challenges of being a volunteer leader; the 10 secrets of a successful volunteer leader; and what makes volunteer leaders successful. Sessions are priced individually at $65 (regular members) and $45 (enhanced members). If you missed Part I, “How to Recruit and Keep the Best Volunteers”, purchase the CD and register for Part II today!

From ACCE News: “Got Skills? People complain that they can't find jobs, and employers complain that they cannot find workers. How can this be? The skills gap. About half of the young people who enter high school enter adulthood with skills that do not qualify them for jobs over $10 or $12 per hour. At the same time, older workers are losing good jobs, but their skills don't qualify for new jobs at a similar pay. So, there are shortages of many occupations that require some post secondary education: pharmacists, nurses, teachers, medical techs, flight traffic controllers, skilled trades, even long haul truckers. It's a problem which may only worsen as more of the Baby Boomers retire. Read more here: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/11252004/biz_nati/50573.htm” [NewzSnap and ACCE comb the nation's newspapers for up-to-the-minute stories about chambers and their timely issues. Live links to the cream of the crop get posted on ACCE's homepage each day. For access to hot-off-the press chamber world news, click on: http://www.acce.org

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Community News

Get Ready for Winter Weather: The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management’s “Storm Ready Program” is gearing up for the upcoming winter weather. This year’s winter season could produce storms that cause power outages. Should this happen, many county residents will turn to a generator or non-electric heat source such as a fireplace, wood stove, or a kerosene or propane heater in order to stay warm indoors. However, residents should be aware of the potential hazards in using these alternative heat sources and follow manufacturer’s instructions, ventilate properly and guard against fire. In the event of a power outage, persons who plan to use a generator or alternative heat source should follow these recommendations:

From the Fairfax County Convention & Visitors Corporation - Do you know where to go for afternoon tea? Where to watch an equestrian show? Or the best spots to go kayaking and canoeing? This information and more, is available in the FCCVC's new brochure, highlighting Fairfax County's key attractions, hotels, performing arts, lodging and more! The brochure features a handy fold out map that pinpoints the County's prime attractions. If you would like to order copies of this brochure, please call 703-550-2450. Questions? Suggestions? Ideas? We want to hear them all. Please contact us via email at visitfairfax@visitfairfax.org or by calling 703-752-7503. "You'll Love Being In The Middle Of Things."

Fairfax County Government Cable Channel 16 focused on the safety of local citizens in their last edition of “County Magazine.” The Financial Crimes division of the Fairfax County Police Department warned that money is on everyone’s minds, including criminals, and provided advice on not becoming a victim. The program also offered road safety tips during this season when deer are very active. Viewers learned how to take a ride on the REX Express, the new bus line that’s saving time for commuters traveling between Fort Belvoir and the Huntington or King Street Metro stations. Plus, watch “County Magazine” to discover recent conservation efforts to protect the county’s rich history. “County Magazine,” with host Gail Eskew, can be viewed on cable Channel 16 each Monday at 7 p.m.; Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The program may also be viewed on the Internet anytime during the month through Channel 16’s video-on-demand service at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dtcs/channel16/vstream.htm. For more information about “County Magazine” or any of the other award-winning Channel 16 programs, call 703-324-5930, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dtcs/channel16/default.htm. The winner of 13 CableACE Awards and over 100 other national awards for video excellence, Channel 16 celebrates 20 years of connecting Fairfax County and its residents. Gail Eskew was recently appointed as Director of the Fairfax County Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection. Eskew has been the agency’s acting director since May 15, and has led Channel 16 to a national reputation of excellence. Since its creation, Channel 16 has won over 150 awards for government programming, including 13 prestigious Cable Ace Awards – the “Oscar” of the cable television industry – and is a two-time winner of the Best Government Access Cable Station in the U.S. award from the Alliance for Community Media.

Two members of the Fairfax County Citizen Corps were recognized with “Distinguished Service Awards” for their work with the county’s Citizen Corps program. Merrily Pierce, Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council chairman, and Bob Mizer, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department community liaison and CERT program coordinator, both received the recognition at the Virginia Public Safety Outreach Conference held recently in Richmond. Fairfax County’s Citizen Corps program is an initiative that uses a network of volunteer organizations to tap the skills and abilities of citizens to help the community adequately prepare for and to respond quickly to emergencies. The county’s program is a partner in the national and state Citizen Corps Program and includes the county’s Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community Emergency Response Team, Medical Reserve Corps and affiliate organizations. Through the county’s Citizen Corps, residents can play an active part in making their communities safer, stronger and better prepared for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime and disasters of all kinds. For more information on the Fairfax County Citizen Corps program, call the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management at 703-324-2362, TTY 711.

The Department of Transportation has begun the process of updating the Fairfax County Transportation Plan, an element of the Comprehensive Plan’s Policy Plan. Through this plan update, the county will undertake a comprehensive review of the Transportation Plan and will update forecasts and policies to guide long-term system improvements. Please visit the county’s Transportation Plan Update Web pages at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot for an overview of the update process and for other useful resources related to the Transportation Plan. “Transplan,” the official county newsletter about the Transportation Plan Update will be available soon at public libraries, supervisor’s district offices, the Planning Commission Office and the Department of Transportation. A copy of this newsletter in PDF format is available on the county’s Transportation Plan Update Web pages for downloading and printing. For more information on the Transportation Plan Update, please contact the Fairfax County Department of Transportation at 703-324-1100, TTY 703-324-1102. The Department of Transportation is located at Suite 1034, Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Office hours are 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., weekdays.

Fairfax County Park Authority: The fourth annual Cross County Trail Caucus will be held on Monday, January 24, 7:30 p.m. at Woodson High School. This is an especially important gathering since substantial completion of this trail system is anticipated in 2005. This is an opportunity for trail enthusiasts and supporters to see the premier of “The Cross County Trail – the Ten Minute Tour” Powerpoint presentation, as well as the State of the Trail status report. The evening’s agenda includes recognition of volunteer trail maintenance efforts and individuals, and discussion regarding existing and future accomplishments and partnerships. The Cross County Trail is the primary north/south connector in the County, passing through woodlands and open space along much of its length. Users experience a variety of landscapes, from remote wooded terrain to ball fields and developed parks, from wide stream valleys to rolling hills. The trail crosses through all nine supervisory districts and the City of Fairfax . The trail is expected to be completed by the end of 2005 and is approximately 38 miles long, connecting from the Occoquan River in the south to the Potomac River in the north. For more information about this event or about the Cross County Trail call 703-324-8726 or visit our website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cctinfo.htm.

Providence Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Grant for Low Impact Development and Innovative Urban BMP projects. The project, entitled “Demonstrating Innovation: A Stormwater Retrofit at the Providence Supervisor’s Office,” will serve as a demonstration project for three low-impact development/best management practices techniques: a green roof, a retention rain garden and permeable pavers. Consistent with the Board of Supervisors’ “Environmental Excellence for Fairfax County: A 20-Year Vision” document adopted earlier this year, the project will be the first major retrofitting at a county facility. Construction will begin in mid-spring 2005 and is expected to be completed in September. For more information, visit the county Web site at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/pd/dcr_grant.htm or by contacting Michael Aho at 703-560-6946, TTY 711.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Recognizes Citizens and Staff for Their Accomplishments (for more information, call 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935):

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New Members You’ll Like Doing Business With
The following businesses were approved for membeship during the November and December Board of Directors meetings. Please welcome them.

Mark Kadonoff 302 Glyndon Street, SE Vienna, VA 22180 Phone: 703-319-1653 Fax: 301-595-2995 E-mail: mkadonoff@rpg.com Citizen Member	David Stevenson Omnino Networks 2776 S. Arlington Mills Drive, Suite 222 Arlington, VA 22206 Phone: 703-842-7577 Web site: www.omnino.net Computer and Network Consulting and Support.
Neil Kossler, CPA, MST Kossler and Company, LLC 3915 Old Lee Highway, #23C Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-598-4553 E-mail: nkossler@kosslerco.com Public Accountants, Tax, Business and Accounting Preparation and Advisory Services. Familiar with multiple accounting systems including Deltek, Quickbooks, Peachtree and others.	Bishnu Poudel Virginia International University 3957 Pender Drive Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-591-7042 Fax: 703-591-7046 VIU offers programs at the certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and graduate levels in the fields of business and computer science as well as Int'l Communication programs. Small student body (38 countries rep); high-quality education-very affordable.
Peter Treibley Masters Touch Florist and Gifts 512 Maple Avenue, West, Suite A Vienna, VA 22180 Phone: 703-281-1113 Fax: 703-281-5965

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Committee News

The Lead Share Groups (three of 'em) which meet for lunch every week at Shula's Steakhouse in Tysons Corner Marriott, (Tues, Thrurs. and Fri.) will kickoff 2005 with a recruiting effort. Our goal is to bring at least ten new businesses into the VTRCC and the lead share groups. The member who recruits the most new members in each group will receive a $100 gift certificate to Shula's Steakhouse with the possibility of other great rewards. The lead share groups have generated over $100,000 in new business for their members in 2004. We are actively looking to expand. Contact our Lead Share Czar, Harvey A. Silverman, Esq. at 703-319-8806 for more details.

The Casino Night Committee, chaired by Bill Daly, is seeking prize donations, sponsorships, restaurant participants, volunteers, etc. – most of you know the score! Casino Night & Taste of the Town will take place on Saturday evening March 12 at the Westwood Country Club and we again expect more than 300 people. For signup sheets, visit www.vtrcc.org/casino or email cliston@vtrcc.org. To discuss how a prize donation can help promote your business, contact Kendra McDougal at 703-971-7880 or KMIMAGE@aol.com. To talk about how you can promote your restaurant, contact Jodi Scholes at 703-255-1500 or jodi@novamassage.com. Bill Daly has volunteered to organize the volunteers to assist in advance planning, as well as assisting during the weekend of the event; he can be reached at wdaly@rbdlaw.com or 703-790-1911.

The Community Affairs Committee is looking for volunteers:

The Business Development Committee is working on several projects to grow Chamber members’ businesses. One project the committee is exploring is a retail guide for the Tysons Corner area, to accompany the Vienna retail guide, publicize Chamber member businesses in the area, and make it easier for Chamber members and the public to do business with Chamber members. In another project, the Committee is working to create a business incubator for start-up businesses. Discussions of a possible site are underway, and the Committee hopes to get the incubator started in 2005. Business Success Stories are written for the Enterprise every other month, showcasing a business that has grown through its involvement with the Chamber. If your business has benefited from your membership, this is a great way to get exposure for it. We want to hear from you! The Business Development Committee is a dynamic group of people working to advance businesses in our area. If you would like to be part of this group and work on these or any other of our projects, please join us for our next meeting on January 27 at 8:30 a.m. Call the Chamber office for location.

The Government Affairs Committee submitted the following notes on the November 8 Town of Vienna Council Meeting: