The Weekly Webdate
A Weekly Publication of the
Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce
Promoting Business & Community
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Chamber Updates
They're Here!!
After many months of hard work, our much anticipated 2012 Membership Directory & Village Profile is here!
Please call (434-392-3939) and/or stop by the office to pick up your copy anytime Monday - Friday between 9am & 4 pm.
The Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is proud to announce that the 2010-2011 Annual Report is available for viewing on the Chamber website.
Please bring us your BROCHURES. Thank you to those members who have brought us brochures. They have been put to good use.
Webdate Deadline
Deadline - Wednesday at 3 pm
Broadcast - Thursday morning
Weekly Webdate Sponsorships $45/month (or $500 per year - a savings of $45) to reach over 200 potential customers each week.
Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/FarmvilleAreaCh
Chamber Contact Information:
Phone: 434-392-3939
Fax: 434-392-3818
tory@farmvilleareachamber.org
www.farmvilleareachamber.org
  
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| U.S. Cellular Events: | | |
Free Smartphone Workshop
Tuesday, Apr. 24
8 - 10 AM
227 Sunchase Blvd
U.S. Cellular is holding a free hands-on smartphone workshop to help new smartphone users or those that want to upgrade to a smartphone choose and use the best apps and devices to enhance and simplify their lives. Anyone is welcome and you do not have to be a U.S. Cellular customer to attend. The smartphone workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the U.S. Cellular store located at 227 Sunchase Blvd, in Farmville (434) 315-8722, and will cover a wide variety of topics from basic features and functions on their smartphone to how to download the latest apps to save money on gas and groceries, sync calendars, get step by step directions and more. From the look and feel to the sights and sounds, there are a variety of ways to customize an Android-powered smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. For more information contact: 434-315-8722
U.S. Cellular Blood Drive
The Farmville U.S. Cellular® retail store will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive at 227 Sunchase Blvd, Farmville VA 23901 on Monday, April 30th from 12 Noon-6 p.m. The American Red Cross's Mobile Unit will be on site for blood donations. For more information contact: 434-315-8722
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| VEC Free Workshops | | | APRIL 2012 SCHEDULE All classes are held 10-11am
4/24: Basic Resume Writing
Location:
VA Employment Commission Office
221 Sunchase Blvd., Farmville, VA
To Register:
1.Call: 434-392-8871
2.Sign-up in person: Farmville VEC, at the Front Desk
SEATS ARE LIMITED!!
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7 Habits of Highly Effective People
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Longwood University is pleased to announce that it is hosting another
"The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People
Signature Program"
at the Longwood campus. The next training will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8-9, 2012, beginning 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. each day.
The program is designed to assist individuals with enhancement of the personal leadership skills to be more effective in the workplace, and achieve greater satisfaction in personal relationships.
Contact Longwood's SNVC Institute for Leadership Values at (434) 395-2145 or barrettdt@longwood.edu for enrollment information.
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| CenturyLink Receives Frost & Sullivan 2011 U.S. Consumers' Choice Award for Best Landline Telephone Service Provider | | |
FARMVILLE, VA - CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) has received the 2011 Consumers' Choice Award for "Best Landline Telephone Service Provider for Customer Value Enhancement" from Frost & Sullivan, a business research and consulting firm. The award, based on consumers' evaluations of their landline telephone service providers, recognizes CenturyLink's focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive in the areas of service quality, price and customer service.
According to Frost & Sullivan, CenturyLink was selected over its competitors for the variety of services the company offers its customers in addition to having reasonably-priced, value-added bundled service packages. The survey also cites CenturyLink's efforts in making it easier to communicate with customer service representatives.
"CenturyLink has shown that it is moving aggressively to enhance the value of its landline voice telephone offerings," said Gina Villanueva, Frost & Sullivan research analyst.
The Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Enhancement is presented each year to the company that demonstrates excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers. This award recognizes the company's inordinate focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, leading to improved customer retention and ultimately customer base expansion.
"We are pleased that Frost & Sullivan has recognized CenturyLink for our efforts to provide customers with a strong mix of quality products and services at affordable prices," said Rondi Furgason, CenturyLink General Manager and Vice President. "We focus every day on meeting our customers' needs with a wide range of residential and business offerings and excellent customer service from dedicated and skilled employees.
CenturyLink was honored during Frost & Sullivan's Excellence in Best Practices Awards Banquet March 13 in Coronado, Calif.
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice, wireless and managed services to consumers and businesses across the country. It also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLinkTM PrismTM TV and DIRECTV brands. In addition, the company provides data, voice and managed services to enterprise, government and wholesale customers in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers. CenturyLink is recognized as a leader in the network services market by key technology industry analyst firms, and is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises through Savvis, a CenturyLink company. CenturyLink's customers range from Fortune 500 companies in some of the country's largest cities to families living in rural America. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com
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| Robert Russa Moton Museum News | | |
Robert Russa Moton Museum Now Open for Breakfast and Lunch!
The Robert Russa Moton Museum invites you to two incredible on-going programs.
Community Prayer Breakfasts
First Tuesday of Each Month, 7:30-8:30am
Start the day off right with community, friends, breakfast and prayer. Join us for a gathering of shared faiths, hope and optimism for a healthier community through prayer, reflection and community service.
Our next Prayer Breakfast is Tuesday, May 1st and will be co-hosted by the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity. This event is free and open to the public, with free breakfast provided for all guests.
Brown Bag Lunch Series
Every Friday, Noon-1pm
Try something new during your Friday lunch break. Throughout the months of April and May, the Moton Museum will be playing 30 minute audio interviews that were recorded by StoryCorps, Inc.
Bring your lunch to the museum and hear the dynamic stories and firsthand accounts of former Prince Edward County students who were denied a public education from 1959-1964. Discussion to follow. This event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lunch.
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| Member News |
April 19, 2012
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Outdoor Events at Twin Lakes State Park
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Friday, April 20th
4 pm - Crafty Campers
Get crafty at the Nature Nook where we'll discover a few great facts about nature and make a neat craft you can take home. What will it be today? Bird Feeders? Your very own compass? How about some sunshine magic? Stop in and find out. We've got the glitter and the glue, all we're missing is YOU!! Fee for the program is $2 per person, $6 per family.
7 pm - Make New Friends Campfire
What's a park ranger's favorite snack? You guessed it, S'MORES!!!! Come make some new friends at the park, sing some songs, hear a few great stories and enjoy some yummy s'mores.
Saturday, April 21st
2 pm - Canoeing 101
Lets start with the basics. Learn the in's and out's of canoeing and enjoy a splashing good time on the lake. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned paddler, you will love this fun packed family program. Fee for the program is $5 per person, $4 per person for groups of 4+.
4 pm - Guided Hike
Come on out for a guided hike around one of the trails here at Twin Lakes State Park, you never know what you will see.
Sunday, April 22nd
11 am - Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity
Twin Lakes would love for your group or family to join us in celebrating Earth Day 2012 with a park wide beautification project. Come leave your green thumb print on our park. To register your group or family to help call our Main Office.
For more information on park events, call (434) 392-3435
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| Patriot Day - Cumberland County | | |
This year's 9th Annual Patriot Day Festival will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 10a-4p. The opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. on the courthouse lawn. Following the opening ceremonies, we will have a parade that will bring everyone from the Courthouse lawn to the new Middle/High School Complex (less than a mile west of the Courthouse), where the rest of the festivities will be held. We will have a dunk tank, a mechanical bull, Orbitron, art and craft, food and informational vendors, and last but definitely not least, we will have Steve Bassett performing on the main stage on the front lawn. We are offering the option of having an indoor or outdoor booth to our vendors, and will have live performances by the Longwood Belly Dancers, Cumberland Step Team and Allen's Mill Band on the inside stage, just to name a few. Please visit our website for more information, or call Cumberland County directly at 804-492-3251.
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| Join Us For Breakfast! | | 
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Farmville Wine Festival Spotlights 13 VA Wineries
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3rd Annual Farmville Wine Festival
Saturday, April 21
11am-5pm
Riverside Park
Rain Location: Fuqua School Gee Price Center
Tickets
Tasters: $15 advance; $20/gate
includes a complimentary "Farmville Wine Festival" wine glass for tasting
Non-Tasters: $10/each
Ticket Outlets: Caryn's Bridals, Formals & Tuxedos, 202 Bar & Grill, Real Living Cornerstone, Sleeping Bee, Charley's Waterfront Café and The Bakery. Also, check out our website, www.farmvillewinefestival.com.
Featuring: Annefield Vineyards (Saxe), Attimo Winery (Christiansburg), Bright Meadows Farm (Nathalie), DeVault Family Vineyards (Concord), Foggy Ridge Cider (Christiansburg), Greenwood Vineyards (Vernon Hill), Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery (Nellysford), Peaks of Otter Winery (Bedford), Rebec Vineyards (Amherst), Rosemont of Virginia (LaCrosse), Sans Soucy Vineyards (Brookneal), The Homeplace Vineyard (Chatham), and Thistle Gate Vineyard (Scottsville).
The Performance Stage, sponsored by CENTRA Southside Community Hospital, features Longwood University jazz combos from 11:00am until 5:00pm.
A special "thanks" goes to all our Sponsors: CENTRA Southside Community Hospital, State Farm Agent Mark Webb, Fourth Street Motor Company, NSI Partners, Caryn's Bridal, Formals, & Tuxedos, VWG Online, The Gantt Agency, Benchmark Community Bank, Carrington's Music LLC, Citizens Bank & Trust, Davenport & Company LLC, Days Inn, Sherry & Jack Honeycutt, W.A. Watson & Sons, WFLO, The Woodland, Yardscapes & Gifts.
Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing and delivering balanced, nutritional meals to elderly, disabled and home-bound adults of Prince Edward County. CENTRA Southside Community Hospital prepares the meals, and dedicated volunteers provide meal delivery service Monday through Friday. A 16-member Board of Directors serves as the governing body. Visit our website for more information.
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Spring Salad Identification Walk
on High Bridge Trail | | |
High Bridge Trail State Park will celebrate Earth Day with a Spring salad edible plant identification walk on Sunday, April 22, at 5:30 p.m. Trail volunteer and Chesterfield County science teacher, Michael Stange, will lead a 2-mile walk from the River Road access point towards Farmville, pointing out some of the many edible native and naturalized plants found along the length of the trail and preparation and cooking methods.
Throughout the walk, you will have the opportunity to learn about many of the edible species along the trail and along the way, see some spectacular native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees along the trail, learn how to identify them, and perhaps sample some tender Spring greens including the tasty wild asparagus! Mike will also teach about how each of us can have a positive impact on our environment for all species right in your backyard! Remember to keep your eyes open for some rare plants, butterflies and birds that depend on each other all along the trail!
For more information, or directions call the Park office at 434-315-0457.
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FREE LSBDC Workshop
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Prepare for a Conference, Trade Show, or Expo
Presented by Dick Ephgrave, Director
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
10 AM-12 PM
Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library
1303 West Third Street, Farmville, VA 23901
Do you know how to prepare for a conference, trade show, or expo? Dick Ephgrave, of the Longwood University Small Business Development Center, will be discussing everything that you need to know about preparing for an event. Dick has an extensive amount of experience with trade shows and he will be sharing his knowledge on April 25th at the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library. There is no charge to attend but pre-registration is required.
Topics covered will include:
- Learn the differences between a conference, trade show, and an expo.
- Choosing the right event to attend
- Setting a budget
- Choosing a theme for the booth or display
- Setting goals and objectives for the event
- Building the display
- Managing the display
- Marketing the event
- Evaluating the event
This is a FREE seminar, registration is required!
Call (434) 395-2086 or email baldwinjr2@longwood.edu to register
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Southside Workforce Network
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The next meeting will feature:
Cathy Wheeler, Human Resources Coordinator
Crossroads Community Services Board
Supported Employment
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
9:30 am
Location:
25750 E. Prince Edward Hwy. (Rt. 460 E.), Rice, VA 23966
Call 434-392-1403 for detailed directions.
Southside Workforce Network
Uniting the surrounding counties of Prince Edward, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Amelia for the purpose of strengthening community, developing a vision, and empowering the workforce of Southside Virginia. Our goal is to bring together, agencies, organizations, and employers to share insight into the needs of our local business community.
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Spring Training for YOUR Business
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Longwood Small Business Development Center will offer these courses in APRIL:
Prepare for a Conference, Trade Show, or Expo Presented by Dick Ephgrave, Director Wednesday, April 25, 2012 10 AM - 12 Noon Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library 1303 West Third Street, Farmville, VA 23901 Do you know how to prepare for a conference, trade show, or expo? Dick Ephgrave, of the Longwood University Small Business Development Center, will be discussing everything that you need to know about preparing for an event. Dick has an extensive amount of experience with trade shows and he will be sharing his knowledge on April 25th at the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library. There is no charge to attend but pre-registration is required. Topics covered will include: - Learn the differences between a conference, trade show, and an expo.
- Choosing the right event to attend
- Setting a budget
- Choosing a theme for the booth or display
- Setting goals and objectives for the event
- Building the display
- Managing the display
- Marketing the event
- Evaluating the event
This is a FREE seminar, registration is required! |
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General Assembly Update from 60th District Delegate James E. Edmunds II
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HALIFAX: The sweet smell of Southside Virginia's spring grass is a wonderful thing after two months of wrangling over legislative issues, both large and small, while attempting to meet the needs of the Commonwealth.
BUDGET: As some of you may recall, we left Richmond without finalizing a budget. We just went back last week to address that issue. During session, the House of Delegates passed the House version of the budget, but the Senate did not pass their version. This week the Senate finally approved their version. Crafting the final budget lies in the hands of twelve House and Senate budget conferees, who negotiate remaining differences between the House budget and the Senate amendments to the House budget. Earlier this month, Speaker Bill Howell appointed Delegate Lacey E. Putney (I-Bedford), Delegate M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights), Delegate S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), Delegate R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta), Delegate Beverly J. Sherwood (R-Winchester) and Delegate Johnny S. Joannou (D-Portsmouth) to serve as the House budget conferees. These six members are meeting with their Senate counterparts, Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Henrico, Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, Sen. Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-Williamsburg), Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R-Mount Solon), Sen. John C. Watkins, (R-Midlothian), to prepare a final version of the budget .
A budget agreement was reached this week, however it still must be approved by both the House and the Senate and go to the Governor for his signature before it becomes final. I will keep you advised as specific details become available but here are a couple of highlights:
- $44.7 million has been added for health and human resources;
- $214.7 million has been added for K-12 public education;
- Contingent on revenue, a 3% bonus for state employees in 2012 and a 2% salary increase in 2013
We will return on April 17th to vote on the final budget and I will have more specific details at that time.
LEGISLATION: Each year the Division of Legislative Services publishes a summary of legislation that was introduced during session. You can long onto the following link and get information on some of the major bills that passed or were defeated: http://dls.virginia.gov/pubs/summary/welcome.htm
URANIUM: The proposed Coles Hill uranium site in Pittsylvania County is located about a mile from the Banister River which flows on through Halifax County, eventually into Buggs Island Lake. The Banister is part of the Roanoke River Basin and this river has been named as one of the 2011 10 most endangered rivers in the United States because of its proximity to the proposed mine. http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/.
I had the privilege of speaking to an ecology class at Halifax County High School concerning some of the dangers of uranium mining. I hope that I was able to alert them to be vigilant on this issue. OF LOCAL INTEREST: Congratulations to Libby Jordan of Prospect in Prince Edward County on turning 100 years old on March 31st! I attended a meeting in Brookneal where VDOT outlined proposed improvements to highway 501 in Halifax and Campbell Counties. Congratulations to the Wylliesburg and Hunting Creek Woodmen of the World Lodges for turning 100 years old this spring! At the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting last week, two local businesses were recognized as being the best of the best: Charles Anderson Lawn Care as Business of the Year and Chris Lumsden, CEO of Halifax Regional Health Systems as Businessperson of the Year. Kudos to both! CONTACT: I am back in my district office at 60 South Main Street, Halifax, next door to the Courthouse. Drop by anytime or give me a call at 434/476-0077. You can continue to contact me through email by using james@friendsofjamesedmunds.com or through my website, www.friendsofjamesedmunds.com . I look forward to hearing from you. |
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