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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia
e-News
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Del. Ken Plum spoke at a Rally on Capitol Square on Monday sponsored by the Coalition for People with Disabilities. |
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Commentary
Busy Life in Richmond
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
For at least five days a week through the end of February I will be in Richmond for the annual General Assembly session. The normally quiet Capitol Square starts to buzz with activity as the 100 members of the House of Delegates and the 40 members of the State Senate, their staff of one or two persons per members, and the more than 800 lobbyists who work the session come to town. Add to that number the citizens, advocacy group members, and constituents who come to the session, and the elevators in the General Assembly Building get packed and create jams in all the hallways of persons waiting for them. As quickly as all this assemblage occurs, it will fold up and disband just as quickly in late February when the session adjourns. The citizen-legislators return to their homes and professions where they have to live for the rest of the year knowing the consequences of the laws they have passed.
My temporary residence in Richmond has changed as the apartment I rented in the past on Church Hill near historic St. John's Church was not available this session. Instead I am living in an apartment three blocks from the Capitol on Broad Street in the Miller and Rhoads residences. For almost a century the premier downtown department store in Richmond was Miller and Rhoads. The store closed more than a decade ago when it could no longer compete with suburban shopping center stores. The façade of the building has been left intact including its large sign, but the interior has been converted to a Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and Miller and Rhoads Residences of condominiums and rentals. Its easy access to the Capitol means that I may not move my car during the week. Next door is a temporary ice skating rink that brings more people downtown. Carpenter Center with its grand theatre is also next door.
Communication during the session has been enhanced with all the electronic advances. I was in the pilot program nearly a decade ago that grew into total use of laptops in the legislature. This session I am among those field-testing the iPad for use in the legislature. Almost all communications from constituents comes by e-mail (kenplum@aol.com). Since the legislative process moves so quickly, snail mail is not a practical way to communicate during the legislative session.
The historic Capitol building in Richmond is an interesting place to visit any time of the year. Please call my office if you need help in planning a trip. My local office number, 703.758.9733, is forwarded to my Richmond office without additional cost to you. Hope to see you in Richmond soon.
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From Capitol Square - Session 2011
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Ken met with old friends and fellow advocates at the Rally for People with Disabilities this week in Richmond. |
Stop by my office in the General Assembly Building if you are in Richmond between now and February 26. If you know you will be in town in advance, call 703.758.9733 and speak to my legislative assistant, Barbara Shearer, about the best time to drop by or to make an appointment. I look forward to seeing you and your family in Richmond!
It is my honor and privilege to represent you in the Virginia House of Delegates.
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Announcements
Traveling to work by bike is becoming an increasingly popular option. A free Bike Commuting Seminar is now available to Tysons area businesses. The hour-long class is designed for employees who want to know more about using bicycles for transportation. The class is ideal for a lunchtime brown bag session and covers the following topics: 1. Why commute by bike; 2. Bikes and equipment; 3. Clothing strategies; 4. Finding the best route to work; and 5. Safe riding techniques. Bike maps and commuting guides are handed out in the class, and online resources will be discussed. To schedule a Bike Commuting Seminar at your workplace or for more information on bike commuting to Tysons, contact Bruce Wright, chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) at chairman@fabb-bikes.org, 703.328.9619.
Consumers can improve their "financial health" with a Financial Fitne$$ 2011 Calendar provided by the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Each page of this calendar, month by month, gives advice on topics such as better management of your personal finances, when high school seniors should finish their college scholarship applications, when to file tax returns, when to make sales tax-free purchases in Virginia, and more. Visit www.financialfitness.org or email financialfitness@vscpa.com to request a Financial Fitne$$ 2011 Calendar.
The Fairfax County Human Rights Commission is accepting nominations for its 33rd Annual Human Rights Awards. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 28, 2011. The awards recognize individuals, nonprofits, and businesses that advanced human rights in Fairfax County last year. To get a nomination form, call 703.324.2953, TTY 703.324.2900. Nominations can be submitted by email to wyvetta.hill@fairfaxcounty.gov, by fax to 703.324.3570, or by mail to the Human Rights Commission, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 318, Fairfax, VA 22035-0093. Nominees should demonstrate accomplishments to eliminate illegal discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, private education, and credit. These accomplishments can be a single significant action, long-term activities, or corporate equality programs of an extensive and outstanding nature.
Parking spaces at Reston East Park and Ride will be impacted by Dulles Rail related construction this spring. Reston East is the location of the future parking garage for the Wiehle Avenue Metrorail station. The construction project will require an eventual close of Reston East Park and Ride. Stay informed by checking the website, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/dullesrail/restoneast.htm. Call the Reston East Park and Ride Hotline at 703.877.5700, TTY 711. You can also go to the Fairfax Connector Facebook page or Fairfax Connector Twitter page.
To control the number of catalogs you receive in the mail, go to www.catalogchoice.org. For a small fee, you can stop marketers from sharing your name.
The State Corporation Commission's eFile is a website designed for business entities to submit the most common business filings electronically. The creation and implementation of SCC eFile is inclusive of the State Corporation Commission's (SCC) ongoing eCommerce project, which incorporates online functionality in several phases. A recent addition to SCC eFile allows customers to file Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statement and Financing Statement Amendment forms and pay related fees online. current services offered via SCC eFile:
* File Corporate Annual Reports
* Pay Corporate Annual Registration Fees
* Perform Registered Agent changes/resignations
* Perform Registered Office updates.
For more information, go to http://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov.
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Calendar of Events
The next Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling will be held on Sunday, January 23, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax. For updates, cancellations, and notifications of events, call 703.324.5052, TTY 711.
The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce invites regional small business federal contractors to its first Government Contracting event, "Fort Belvoir Procurement Forum," on Tuesday, January 25, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Fort Belvoir Officers Club, Building 20, 5500 Schultz Circle, Ft. Belvoir. Focus will be on DoD growth opportunities for small businesses, workshops on hot areas in DoD procurement, and access to ARMY and DoD agencies located at Fort Belvoir. Visit www.fairfaxchamber.org for registration, schedule, and fees.
Let's Help Kids! will celebrate its first annual "Dual" Gala (adults in one room, kids in another!) on Saturday, January 29, 2011, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., at the Springfield Golf & Country Club. Black tie optional. The Kids Gala was conceived in the spirit of a child's vision of "kids helping kids." The room adjacent to the adult party will be chaperoned and will include kid-friendly food, games, and a movie. This is a great way to help kids who are experiencing financial hardship simply by dusting off your party shoes and joining Let's Help Kids! for a night of great music, dancing, fabulous food, cash bar, silent auction, and lots of inspiration. Visit www.letshelpkidsgala.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. GRACE (Greater Reston Arts) will open its doors after hours on Friday, February 4, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., for an evening of family art-making, storytelling, and exploration in the gallery. This is an entertaining program for all ages that strengthens literacy and looking skills, and it's free. Visit www.restonarts.org or call 703.471.9242 for more information. Get ready for the Virginia Polar Dip on February 5, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Village Center. Registration for the Polar Dip starts at 1:00 p.m. that day with the Plunge taking place at 2:00 p.m. Camp Sunshine is pleased to announce the 2011 Virginia Polar Dip and believes together they can send many more children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to its one-of-a-kind retreat in Maine. This year, the goal is to raise $75,000, which will allow 37 families from the VA/MD/DC area to attend Camp Sunshine. For more information about the Polar Dip and Camp Sunshine, visit www.freezinforareason.com and www.campsunshine.org. |
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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