July 2005
The June installation of the 2005-2006 Board of Directors has caused a shake-up in the VTRCC Committees. New and returning Committee heads are challenging themselves, committee members and each other to better serve VTRCC members. New committee members with ideas and energy are welcome!
Did you know that committees offer much more than the services they provide? Serving on a committee is an easy way to network, especially for those who don’t see results from just shaking hands at networking events. Committee members often do business with and recommend one another; working together gives you great insight into a colleague’s intelligence, ethics, and dedication to the business community.
Which committee appeals to you? Our committees are listed below. Just call the chairpersons for more information about the next meeting!
Fundraising
Committee
The focus of the Fundraising Committee is to organize VTRCC
fund raising efforts, Casino Night & Taste of Vienna and the Celebrate
Vienna Festival, to insure they run smoothly, to provide income to the
VTRCC, as well as fun for both the membership and our community. Chair:
Tana Keeffe, Long & Foster Realtors, 703-938-4200; tana@longandfoster.com
Community
Affairs Committee
The Community Affairs Committee oversees and promotes events
that involve the Chamber and community participation. Oversees the NonProfit,
Technology & Hospitality Subcommittees. Chair: William P. Daly,
Jr., Rees, Broome, Diaz, 703-790-1911; wdaly@rbdlaw.com
Membership
Services Committee
The Member Services Committee focuses on membership retention,
ambassadorial duties, and keeping new members informed of Chamber news
and events. Chair: Tom Hanton, Guernsey
Office Products, 703-788-3223; email: thanton@guernseyop.com
Government
Affairs Committee
The Government Affairs Committee is an active committee
with high visibility in the community. The Chair is the Chamber's liaison
with local and state governmental officials, advising the Board as they
develop and advocate positions to further the interests of Chamber members.
Chair: Roy J. Baldwin, The Baldwin Law Firm, 703-281-0134; baldwinroy@aol.com
Membership
Development Committee
The Membership Committee seeks to increase the Chamber
membership. Chair: Jim DiModica, APT Impact, 703-396-8205; jim.dimodica@aptimpact.com
Member Benefits
Committee
The Member Benefits Committee works to continually improve
the benefits provided by the Chamber to its members and to increase
awareness of those benefits. Members review and make recommendations
to the Board regarding additions to the Chamber's list of benefits.
Chair: Jodi Scholes, Northern VA Massage Ctr., 703-255-1500; skolz@aol.com
Business
Development Committee
The Business Development Committee develops new business
for Chamber members from businesses outside of the Chamber and increases
Chamber-to-Chamber business. Chair: Steve Salley, Legg Mason, 703-761-2737;
SJSalley@LMUS.LeggMason.com
Organizational
Services Committee
The Organizational Services Committee has the responsibility
for the monthly mixer and, with the Chairman-Elect, plans the monthly
general membership meetings. Chair: Rebecca McKeever, Courtyard
by Marriott, 703-790-0207; rebecca.mckeever@bfsaul.com
Youth &
Education Committee
The Youth & Education Committee involves building a
strong working partnership between the schools and the youth in our
community and the Chamber. Chair: Pat Hackerson, Weichert, Realtors,
703-938-6070x118; pathackerson@hotmail.com
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The Vienna-Tysons
Regional Chamber of Commerce 2005-2006 Board of Directors was
inducted at a June 9 Installation Luncheon at Flemings Prime Steakhouse
and Wine Bar. BACK ROW: Billy Thompson, Tom Hanton, Roy Baldwin,
Jodi Scholes, Bill Daly, Rebecca McKeever, Jim DiModica and Steve
Salley. FRONT ROW: Maris Angolia, Bonnie Hoopengardner, Pat Hackerson,
Joan Fletcher, and Harvey Silverman. NOT PICTURED: Tana Keeffe
and VTRCC President Ellen J. Galant. |
Message
from the Chairman
By Billy Thompson, 2005-2006 Chairman of the Board
This month marks the beginning of the 2005-2006 Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce year. As the newly inducted Chairman of the Board my thanks go to Maris Angolia (Karin's Florist) and the 2004-2005 Board for setting the standard for board accomplishments.
As a lifelong Vienna resident and a 20 year Chamber member, I look forward to being able to give back to my community and my Chamber. I know the value of our Chamber memberships. The unique combination of being located in an area with vast economic growth and with the hometown pride of Vienna makes us the envy of all similar organizations. The Board’s goal this year is to help our members optimize this advantage.
| July
Business Spotlight August
Business Spotlight Click here for more information about these members or to find out how your business can be "Member of the Month". |
Our Board, under
the leadership of our facilitator, incoming Chairman Joan Fletcher (Winning
Ways Inc.), recently held our annual retreat. The talent and leadership
of this board was exhibited in determining the Chamber’s vision
and goals for the coming year. Our goals are many, but can be summarized
by saying that we simply want to better meet the needs of the membership.
To accomplish this we need your help. The membership will soon be receiving
a membership survey, the brainchild of Ellen Galant (VTRCC President).
This survey will help us learn "what the membership needs".
When you receive the survey, please respond!
It is now time to renew your membership. To be included in our directory
you must renew by July 15th. We have many exciting new events, as well
as old favorites, planned for this year. Take advantage and get involved.
There is no better way to build your business than to GET INVOLVED.
I encourage all of you to join a committee, become a leader. Through
a committee you are able to promote your business, meet people and build
those important relationships. Attend one or two events a month, make
an appointment to meet with Ellen, Joan or myself to talk about how
the Chamber might benefit your business, invite another business to
join the Chamber, make referrals, join a tip group. The opportunity
to get your name out there is endless!
The Board of Directors and I look forward to serving you this year.
We hope to see you soon at an event!
Legislative Affairs
By The Honorable Mark R.Warner, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Historic Trade Mission Opens the Door to New Jobs in Virginia
As the commonwealth's chief economic development officer, I’m always ready to go the extra mile to help create business opportunities and more quality jobs in Virginia.
This spring, I went 7,500 ‘extra miles,’ leading a team of Virginia business and economic development partners on an historic trade mission to India and Japan. As the first Virginia governor to visit India, I was proud to meet with the Indian Prime Minister, parliament members, and Indian companies to pitch Virginia's business friendly climate.
With more than
one billion citizens, India is the world's largest democracy, the fourth
largest economy, and a promising international trade partner for Virginia.
In 2004, Virginia exported more than $100,000,000 in goods to India
- that's up 127% from
2003.That represents a huge market for Virginia's manufacturers and
suppliers.
But what I found in India was a lot more than business opportunities. I found a breathtaking economic boom that may teach American policymakers more about us than it does about them.
I was impressed by the splendor of the Taj Mahal, and the high tech facilities of global companies that have turned to the well-educated Indian workforce. But really, it was a scene in New Delhi that struck me most. This is a city that had gone 700,000 people at the end of World War II to 15 million today. And I went to a part of Delhi that was one of the worst slums I’ve ever seen -- with corrugated tin roofs, no water, dirt floors, no schools. There we visited a project the locals call “the hole in the wall.” Now, Delhi’s “hole in the wall” is not like coming down the highway and stopping at the barbeque place. This place really was just almost a lean-to structure.
But an Indian non-profit had put in computers with Internet access - outside, with no teachers, no instruction, no structure. And what you saw there were kids, with their hands up under plastic rain guards on the keyboards, using Microsoft Windows. They were using Google. They were e-mailing people all across the world, and surfing to whatever interested them. They were self-taught for the most part. Many of these kids begged during the day on the street.
Now it said a lot
about what is going on in India. Here was this country poised between
two worlds, between the past and future, between dire poverty and cutting-edge
technology. But it also said a lot about our country here. On the one
hand, you look at
these computers, you see Windows on the screen, and you feel this surge
of pride. We think “ Hey, that was invented here, in our country,
with American ingenuity. We opened up a whole new world of possibility
for these poor children in a land half a world away.”
At the same time, you look around in a place like India, and you think: the people here are just getting started. American ideas, American technologies are empowering them-empowering them and the world, to compete. Let's face it, compete with us. That presents a huge challenge for America.And a huge opportunity.
The race is on for the future. Who’s going to own it and who's going to get there first.
For me, that makes
it an exciting time to be an American. Our capacity for hard work in
this country... our creativity...our determination to set the pace...these
are all qualities that have led the world for two centuries. They are
qualities that must define
us again in this new century.
In today’s
global marketplace, Virginians are competing for the best jobs with
anyone at the end of a high-speed computer connection. New York Times
columnist Thomas Friedman says it’s the greatest transformation
in thinking about our world since we
learned the world wasn’t flat – and you couldn’t sail
off the map. He argues that the trade, political, and technological
barriers that have been lowered in the last decade once again make the
world flat, because a company can employ an educated worker in Bangalore
as easily as in Bedford.
My goal for our
trade mission was to strengthen relationships with overseas business
partners and bring more investment and jobs to Virginia. The immediate
benefit was solidifying four deals that will bring $53 million in investment
and 150 new jobs to
Virginia. Already, state economic development staff have been back to
follow up on leads.
But beyond the business opportunities, I saw our competition. I saw how important our investments in education, from pre-school to grad school, have been here in Virginia. I saw that fixing our state’s finances, preserving our AAA bond rating, and having a nonpartisan national think tank name Virginia “best managed state in the nation” all help make us a more competitive business location. But it is our people, and our investment in their future, that will determine our success.
New Member Benefit: FARS
FARS, one of the VTRCC’s newest members, welcomes all Chamber members into their Electronic Check Recovery program. Through this program, members will be able to recover funds for dishonored checks written to them.
According to FARS, there were 731 million dishonored checks written in the United States last year—totaling $54 billion in at risk funds. While some of these payments are fraudulent, many are bad checks written by good people. Collecting the fees without anger or embarrassment is crucial to keeping the customer.
Merchants also want to collect the monies owed with a minimum of effort and additional fees. FARS collects 75% of the merchants’ dishonored checks within 5-7 business days and another 10% within the next 20 business days. Any bank fees charged to the merchant as a result of the dishonored check are also recovered.
Chamber members can participate in the FARS program for a one-time set-up fee of $99. Plus, for all checks collected on behalf of Chamber members, FARS will give VTRCC a $2.00 residual. For more information, contact Karen Greenfield at 703-550-2561.
Business Success Story
By Chip Marshall, VTRCC Business Development Committee
“When non-profits participate in the Chamber, everyone wins.” So says Diane Poldy of The Women’s Center in Vienna. Winner of the 2004 Non-Profit of the Year award, The Women’s Center has made the most of its Chamber membership and eagerly encourages other non-profits to do the same.
“A non-profit needs resources from the community to work,” says Poldy. What better way to establish and maintain relationships than in the nourishing environment of the Chamber?
The Women’s Center, located on Park Street, is constantly buzzing with the activity of volunteers hovered over their laptops, providing vital information to people calling for assistance. But it is easy to see that this is only a fraction of the benefits this group provides to the community.
The walls are virtually covered with promotional materials for any number of workshops, meetings and training sessions designed to help in areas as diverse as handling finances, raising independent children and “clutter busting” your home or office.
Colandria Coleman, Director of Development at the Women’s Center, says a non-profit should join the Chamber in order to become acquainted with the business community. “After all, we exist to serve the community and businesses are an integral part of that community. The business owners, employees, their families, these are the people we serve.”
The Women’s Center has made many valuable friends through the Chamber. “I was looking for a mutually beneficial relationship to foster,” says Joanna Bragg of Whole Foods, “events at the Chamber forged and helped to solidify our bond.”
John West of Office Depot says of The Women’s Center, “I feel we have more than a business relationship. Everyone there has been wonderful.”
“You just have to show up,” says Poldy of her involvement with the Chamber, “show up and participate. It opens so many doors.”
What are You Missing? Diane Poldy of the Women's Center (center) is welcomed as the new Ex-Officio Board Member of the Vienna-Tysons Chamber of Commerce by President Ellen Galant and Chairman Billy Thompson. |
NRG will hold its Summer Summit & Tradeshow on Friday, July 22 from 8:30 am-NOON. The NRG Summits are phenomenal networking opportunities for NRG members and guests. Held quarterly, the VA NRG Summit is a chance to meet and network with NRG members and guests throughout several states. The Summits also feature tradeshows that allow exhibitors to highlight their products and services to a very large and receptive audience. Come prepared to enjoy a continental breakfast and expand your prospect list. Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber members will receive admittance at the NRG member rate (simply check the "member" box on the registrations form). The event will be held at the Bechtel Conference Center (American Society of Civil Engineers, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191). NRG Members & VTRCC Members are $30, Non-NRG Members are $40, and tradeshow tables are $350. For more details, contact Roxann Gardner at 443-280-2110 or email at rox@networkreferralgroup.com. To register go to http://www.acteva.com//booking.cfm?bevaID=82806.
The Women’s Center is launching its new online job listing service, the Center’s latest addition to its roster of career services. The site will be accessible by logging onto The Women’s Center website, www.thewomenscenter.org and going to the JobsOnline link. User-friendly, JobsOnline will feature a full range of jobs from local businesses, including part time positions. Employers can list a full or part-time position for only $40 for two weeks or $65 for one calendar month and $50 for each month thereafter. Listings can be seen by over 200 visitors per day who view the Women’s Center website. For information about JobsOnline or other career services at The Women’s Center, contact Carla Walsh, Coordinator of Career Services, at 703-281-2657, extension 271 or by e-mail cwalsh@thewomenscenter.org. For information about other Women’s Center programs, contact the Women’s Center at 703-281-2657. The Women's Center provides resources to meet life's challenges. Supported through donations, the Center offers counseling and educational services addressing psychological, career, financial and legal needs to women and families regardless of their ability to pay. The Women's Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
InnerSell, Inc. has implemented an online lead exchange for The Networking Community (TNC), a resource center for helping individuals and organizations maximize the value of their business networks and networking. At the heart of The Networking Community is a unique combination of rich online resources, weekly radio (podcasting) shows and monthly power networker events. The InnerSell powered lead exchange provides an additional resource for The Networking Community. Extending the capabilities that TNC provides to manage personal networks, the InnerSell powered lead exchange will help TNC members achieve their business goals. InnerSell helps people develop stronger relationships and become a customer's emotional favorite so that people sell more, sell sooner, and sell at a higher price. The InnerSell lead exchange for The Networking Community enables individuals and organizations to take advantage of a phenomenon that frequently occurs in business. Individuals often learn of needs for products and services that they cannot provide. Most of the time, that information is discarded or forgotten. By entering the lead into InnerSell, vendors who do provide the requested products and services can obtain more qualified sales leads. People who enter the information earn a finder's fee and build stronger relationships. Buyers benefit from dealing with trusted vendors that have built a history of successfully meeting customer needs as tracked by the InnerSell vendor rating system. For more information on The Networking Community, visit www.thenetworkingcommunity.com.
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Members and friends of the VTRCC sampled superb Indian delicacies on June 13 at a Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Infusion Indian Cuisine at Tysons Corner Center. Pictured are VTRCC Chairman Billy Thompson, VTRCC President Ellen Galant, and Infusion co-owners Daulat S. Bandhari and Ashwani Ahuja. For more information on dining and catering services, call Infusion Indian Cuisine at 703-748-9800. |
The VTRCC is happy to acknowledge members who have belonged to the Chamber for many years. Those celebrating anniversaries during June and July are:
| 28 years | Weichert Realtors (Adamson) |
| 20 years | Anita's "New Mexico Style" Food, Inc. |
| 18 years | Crystalake Engravers |
| 17 years | Curtis, Edward
Lee Freeman & Sherburne, Inc. |
| 15 years | The Business Bank |
| 13 years | Goodman
& Company, LLP |
| 12 years | Provident Bank State Farm Insurance (Marrion) |
| 11 years | Long &
Foster Realtors (Earman) United States Postal Service |
| 10 years | Metropolitan
Life/METLIFE Securities Outback Steakhouse |
| 8 years | Legends Flooring
Resources Vienna Presbyterian Church |
| 7 years | Tequila Grande |
| 6 years | Buhl Electric
Co., Inc. Dominion Ekas Consulting, Linda N. Ekas, CPA |
| 5 years | Best Western
Fairfax The Burdette Smith Group, P.C. |
| 4 years | Endless Future,
LLC Wayne E. Comer |
| 3 years | 1st Nebelus
Group Clean Cuts "The Don" of Elite Auto Grooming Seydel, Edgar Weichert, Realtors (Hackerson) |
| 2 years | Acupuncture
Etc., Inc. ADT Security Services, Inc. - Residential Courtyard by Marriott - Tysons Corner Don's Johns Geeks on Call - Vienna East Hometown Magazines Synaptic Source, LLC Vienna Volunteer Fire Department |
| 1 year | Access
National Bank |
Business News
New online business classes will be available for small businesses throughout the nation through a cosponsorship between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Thomson Corp. (Ed2Go). Ed2Go is a national provider of online instructor-taught training classes, offering courses through more than 1,000 community colleges and other partners around the country. Small businesses and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to enroll in three of Ed2Go's most popular online educational courses at no cost. The courses being offered are:
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Creating a Successful Business Plan - Work through all of the major components of a business plan and turn your business ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. Committing your idea to paper in the form of a business plan increases your chances of obtaining financing and keeps your business strategically focused.
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Customer Service Fundamental - Develop new skills in identifying and satisfying customer needs, and become an indispensable asset to any organization. This online course will help you discover and master the essentials of customer service. You'll learn the best ways to measure customer service, apply the principles of consumer behavior to your business, and differentiate between industrial and consumer marketing.
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Creating Web Pages - Create and post your very own Web site on the Internet in this extensive, hands-on workshop. Learn about the capabilities of the World Wide Web and the fundamentals of Web design. You'll also learn critical and timely information on securing the best possible location in search engine listings, and powerful no-cost or low-cost Web marketing strategies.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
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The SBA concluded its review of a recently issued report on a study it received from the independent National Academy of Sciences and will begin the necessary steps to implement the Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Program in a manner consistent with the recommendations contained within the study. The first step in implementation is to prepare proposed regulations that would define the eligibility requirements for being considered a woman-owned small business, including requirements relating to ownership, control and economic disadvantage. The SBA will also request proposals for undertaking the industry-by-industry study, as recommended by the NAS, needed to determine those industries where women-owned small businesses are underrepresented and substantially underrepresented. The study is required by law. The next step is to review the resulting study and implement the program in accordance with its findings.
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An office created by the SBA will help service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses navigate the federal contracting marketplace and gain better access to federal contracting opportunities. The Office of Federal Contract Assistance for Veteran Business Owners, established in accordance with a Presidential Executive Order, will provide service-disabled veteran business owners with a single point of contact to address their questions and concerns and receive clarification on procurement opportunities designated for them. It will also: offer guidance on sole-source and set-aside procurement opportunities, and protest and appeal procedures; help federal agencies meet their 3 percent prime and subcontracting goals; and provide guidance to federal contracting officers on the criteria used to verify service-disabled-veteran status, and determine business ownership and control requirements. The new office will be headed by Teresa Lewis, a 20-year veteran of the Air Force with more than 14 years of government contracting experience. To view the Executive Order in its entirety, visit www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/print/20041021-5.html. For more information about SBA's Office of Federal Contract Assistance for Veteran Business Owners, visit www.sba.gov/gc/indexprograms-vets.html.
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Details of the best practices in state initiatives spurring entrepreneurship and demonstrating market-based results are now available in the conference proceedings from Putting It Together: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development. The conference held in March featured nineteen state entrepreneurship and economic development finalists whose presentations focused on how to create environments where entrepreneurship and economic development can flourish. The Office of Advocacy, the “small business watchdog” of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues.
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For information about all of the SBA's programs and services, visit www.sba.gov.
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Virginia State Delegate Steve Shannon looks on as the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce 2005-2006 Board of Directors takes the oath of office at the June 9 Installation Luncheon. Pictured, from left to right, are Maris Angolia, Billy Thompson, Pat Hackerson, Tom Hanton, Roy Baldwin, Jodi Scholes, Bill Daly and Joan Fletcher. Not pictured are: Jim DiModica, Bonnie Hoopengardner, Tana Keeffe, Rebecca McKeever, Steve Salley and Harvey Silverman. | |
| VTRCC President Ellen Galant looks on as VTRCC Past Chair Robert Stemetzki presents Maris Angolia with a gavel plaque, a gift on her retirement as 2004-2005 Chairman of the Board. |  photo by Cooks Photo-Art Studio |
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Maris Angolia, 2004-2005 Chair of the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce passes the gavel to Billy Thompson who assumes the Chairmanship for the 2005-2006 membership year. | |
On Friday, June 3, students, educators, parents, law enforcement representatives, traffic safety experts and county officials will converge on the Fairfax County Government Center to discuss ways to decrease the number of deaths for drivers under the age of 21. The participants of the Young Drivers Summit, sponsored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, will brainstorm how to create safer drivers and safer roads. In 2004, young drivers accounted for 24 percent of the county's vehicle crash deaths. Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly has listed 10 areas where swift action may make a difference, including transforming the school driver education programs, encouraging parental agreements before teens get their learner's permits and licenses, revoking school parking privileges for traffic violations in the community and increasing DWI checkpoints. After hearing from keynote speakers and crash survivors, participants of the summit will join one of five groups to expand on these issues and develop new ideas. The groups are: Legislation; Student Involvement and Perceptions; Schools and Prevention: Driving Education; Parents and Community: Roles, Responsibilities and Involvement; and Enforcement and Suppression: Courts and Police. The summit, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, is open to members of the public and the media. However, because of space limitations, those interested in participating or covering the event are requested to register online by Friday, May 27. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/opa/summitreg.htm to register. For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.
Free Summer Meals for Kids for Aged 5-18 - Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services sponsors programs that provide USDA well-balanced meals to children who qualify for free and reduced meals during the school year. The summer meals program provides free meals to children to ensure that continued nutrition is received during the summer months so children return to school ready to learn. Sites may serve one or two meals a day (breakfast and/or lunch). Currently, there are 33 locations in Fairfax County that provide free meals. Meal sites are located in either low-income areas or serve a group of children, most of whom are low-income. The Summer Meals for Kids program is operated under the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over 33,000 children in Fairfax County receive free or reduced-priced meals during the school year, but many of these children do not get enough to eat when school is out. Last year, Fairfax County provided more than 36,090 meals to children during the summer. For a list of dates, sites and times where children who qualify under the USDA guidelines can receive free meals, call CRS at 703-324-5555 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec.
The week of June
19 -25 was recognized as "National Lightning Safety Awareness
Week," and the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management
encourages residents to become familiar with the following lightning
safety tips. Before the storm:
• Check weather forecasts before going outdoors.
• Watch for signs of an approaching storm - distant lightning
and darkening, towering clouds and strong winds that may signal a severe
thunderstorm. When you hear a warning, take appropriate action.
• Make sure you have a NOAA weather radio at your golf course,
athletic field complex or any other outdoor venue, and one for your
home.
When you hear thunder:
• Immediately move inside a sturdy building or an automobile for
greater protection. Avoid picnic or rain shelters.
• Once inside a building, close all windows and outside doors.
Stay off the telephone and away from electrical outlets and metal pipes.
• If you cannot get to a building, seek shelter in a vehicle with
a metal roof. Close all windows and doors and avoid touching any inside
metal.
If you are caught outdoors and cannot get to a building:
• Find a low spot away from trees, fences and poles.
• If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees
or low brush.
• If you are on the water, move to land immediately and find a
low spot.
• If you feel your skin tingle or hair stand on end, squat low
to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees
with your head between them. You want to make yourself the smallest
possible target while minimizing your contact with the ground.
When to resume outdoor activities:
• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder to
return to your activities.
According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, lightning
kills more people in the United States annually than any other weather
event - except for flash floods - including tornadoes and hurricanes.
Nationally, 31 people died from lightning strikes in 2004, and 280 were
injured. Summer is the peak season for lightning. Lightning tends to
strike the tallest objects, and solitary trees aren't the only things
to watch out for. Metal bleachers, fences, light poles or goal posts
can carry the charge and shock anyone in its path. Lightning can also
"splash" or "ricochet" off these objects and strike
nearby people. For additional information on lightning safety, contact
the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management at 703-324-2362, TTY
711, or visit the emergency information page on the county's Web site
at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency
or the National Weather Service lightening safety Web page at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/wcm/lightning/index.htm.
Residents may also want to register for free severe weather alerts from
the county's Community Emergency Alert Network, or CEAN, which sends
National Weather Service alerts to any registered pager, cell phone
or e-mail account. You can register for the CEAN online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cean.
County to
Host Emergency Preparedness Training Sessions for Area Faith Communities
- Area faith community leaders are taking the lead to encourage their
members to prepare home emergency supply kits this September as part
of a countywide, multi-faith campaign. In preparation for the "Ready
... Pack ... Go" effort, 10 training sessions are scheduled for
individual faith community leaders from June 28 to Aug. 25. The American
Red Cross will provide a hands-on demonstration of home emergency supply
kits, while representatives from Fairfax County's Community Interfaith
Liaison Office, Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council and area faith
communities will discuss effective ways to promote emergency preparedness
to faith communities. Trainings are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Faith
community leaders may attend any session listed below by calling 703-324-3453,
TTY 703-324-7914 or by sending an e-mail to ciluser@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Interested participants also should contact their faith community to
check if a trainer already has been identified for their individual
house of worship.
June 28 - McLean Governmental Center
Aug. 4 - Mason District Governmental Center
July 7 - Braddock Hall
Aug. 8 - North County Governmental Center
July 14 - Franconia Governmental Center
Aug. 11 - Kilmer Middle School
July 21 - Government Center
Aug. 18 - Mount Vernon Governmental Center
July 28 - Sully District Governmental Center
Aug. 25 - West Springfield Governmental Center
The "Ready ... Pack ... Go" campaign will encourage residents
to prepare an emergency supply kit that can be taken to a basement,
interior room, public shelter, friend's house or other safe area during
an incident. According to an American Red Cross survey released last
summer, only 40 percent of Americans assembled the basic supplies needed
to take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors during
an emergency. This lack of preparedness poses a challenge not only to
individuals, but also to first responders, governments and businesses.
Houses of worship in Fairfax County are taking a lead to help their
members, and ultimately the county, become well prepared. "Ready
... Pack ... Go" is a collaborative effort among Fairfax County's
Community Interfaith Liaison Office in the Department of Systems Management
for Human Services, Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council, and the county's
Office of Public Affairs, Department of Family Services and Office of
Emergency Management, in addition to the American Red Cross and participating
faith communities. For more information about the campaign, contact
the Fairfax County Community Interfaith Liaison Office at 703-324-8272,
TTY 703-324-7914, or visit www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org.
Nominations are being accepted for Fairfax County's Barbara Varon Volunteer Award, which recognizes a county resident whose dedication to improving the community through volunteer service honors the memory of Barbara Varon, former chair of the Fairfax County Electoral Board. Nominations must be received by Sept. 16. To qualify for the award, nominees must: Live in Fairfax County; Demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of the community's Population; Exhibit patriotism; Show evidence of having a positive effect on the community; and Be known for encouraging others to do the same. Applications must include, in 200 words or less, the nominee's qualifications, the unique nature of the volunteerism, how and what was accomplished and the length of time served in each volunteer activity. Nominations should also include the resident's name, address and phone number. The award will be presented in October. Applications are available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/oep/bvaronapp.pdf, or by calling the Office of Equity Programs at 703-324-2207, TTY 703-222-5494. Send completed applications to: The Barbara Varon Volunteer Award, Office of Equity Programs, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 339, Fairfax, VA 22035-0041. For more information regarding this award, please contact William A. Spencer, director, Office of Equity Programs at 703-324-2207, TTY 703-222-5494, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/oep/bvaronbrochure.pdf.
Fairfax County school and community leaders met on Thursday, May 26 at the South County Government Center to identify challenges and develop new strategies for reaching uninsured children in Fairfax County. Participants identified communicating the availability of resources for uninsured children, especially in the Latino community, as one of the primary challenges. One resource families can take advantage of is the Medical Care for Children Partnerships, which is a public-private effort designed to provide health care to children of low-income working parents in Fairfax County. Since its inception in 1986, the partnership has grown from serving 35 children to providing comprehensive health and dental care for more than 85,000 children countywide. In 2004, nearly 6,000 children were enrolled in the program across the county, a decrease from more than 7,000 in 2002. For more information, contact the Office of Partnerships at 703-324-5171, TTY 703-324-5022.
Fairfax County public safety agencies will lead a command post emergency exercise entitled "Patriot Challenge '05" on Thursday, June 2. The exercise will simulate an emergency response incident at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University and will involve numerous county agencies as well as regional, state and federal agencies throughout the National Capital Region. The purpose of the "Patriot Challenge '05" exercise is to assess and evaluate the county and its neighboring jurisdictions' ability to manage a mass casualty event within the county. The event will focus on exercising plans, policies, procedures and staff involved in the management, direction, command and control functions.
Fairfax
County won two technology awards at the FOSE trade show in
May in Washington, D.C. for its advancements in electronic mapping and
emergency response. The county garnered the honors for displays at two
of the show's government pavilions; E-Town and Homeland Security. More
than 20 governmental agencies displayed their applications and services
in these two areas.
• The county earned the E-Town Award in recognition of its Enterprise
GIS Integration. The success of that approach was demonstrated at FOSE
with the beta version of the "My Neighborhood" Web application.
Tom Conry, Fairfax's GIS manager, noted the tool is designed to provide
the "where" for content of the county's Web site. For any
address in the county, users can find information on the nearest schools,
parks, emergency medical facilities, and police and fire stations. Coming
soon, the application will provide crime information, demographics,
and more detailed park searching. For information on GIS Integration,
contact Cindy Crisler, GIS customer service supervisor, at 703-324-4366,
TTY 711.
• The Homeland Security Center Award was given to the Fairfax-Falls
Church Community Services Board (CSB) for its "Notifier" application,
a GIS-enabled emergency response system that allows the CSB to integrate
service sites and critical information for emergency and disaster planning
and response. This notification system, built with assistance from the
county's Department of Systems Management for Human Services, follows
the county's Emergency Operations Plan for response, evacuation and
recovery of all county facilities and sites occupied by the CSB's special
needs population. Federal and state mandates provide directives to the
CSB to take protective measures at its service sites in the event of
a natural or man-made disaster. The CSB is the public agency responsible
for planning, organizing and providing mental health, mental retardation,
alcohol and drug and infant and toddler intervention services to residents
of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. For more
information on the CSB Notifier, contact Ruth Gerbec, CSB public information
officer, at 703-324-7000, TTY 703-802-3015.
New Members You’ll Like Doing Business With
The following businesses were approved for membeship during the May and June Board of Directors meetings. Please welcome them.
| Janet
Meiburger, Partner |
Ashwani Ahuja,
Co-Owner Infusion Restaurant 1961 Chain Bridge Road Mc Lean, VA 22102 Phone: 703-748-9800 E-mail: aahuja@cox.net Innovative Indian Cuisine with infusion of flavors from around the world. |
| Hari Ramamurthy,
Owner Intelligent Office 1934 Old Gallows Road, Suite 350 Vienna, VA 22182 Phone: 703-752-6200 Fax: 703-752-6201 E-mail: tysons-ofc@intelligentoffice.com Website: www.intelligentoffice.com The office resides at the heart of Tysons Corner. Intelligent Office offers dedicated space, remote receptionist and virtual office space. |
Brett Shankle,
Realtor Keller Williams Realty 8521 Leesburg Pike #100 Vienna, VA 22182 Phone: 703-564-4000 Fax: 703-564-4001 E-mail: brett@shanklesellshomes.com Website: www.kw.com Residential and Commercial Real Estate |
| Bettina Lawton,
Principal Law Office of Bettina M. Lawton 2203 Riviera Drive Vienna, VA 22181 Phone: 571-215-1563 Fax: 703-242-9378 E-mail: bettinalawton@cox.net I do estate planning: Wills, Trusts, Advance Medical Directives, Healthcare Proxies, Powers of Attorney. |
Lillian
Marzetta, Founder |
