PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

HELP SHAPE VIRGINIA’S TRANSPORTATION FUTURE
Revised FY2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement ProgramWorking Draft Public Hearings*
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) invites your comments about essential rail, transit, transportation demand management, bicycle, pedestrian and highway projects in the Working Draft Revised Fiscal Year 2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) to be approved by the CTB in January 2009.
*(Public hearings for local/secondary/municipality-maintained roads are held in other forums.)

All projects in the SYIP that are eligible for federal funding will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, which documents how Virginia will be obligate its share of federal funds.

Lists of specific projects and changes from the current program will be available at each public hearing, on VDOT’s web site at http://www.virginiadot.org/, and at VDOT District and Residency Offices prior to the hearing.
THERE WILL BE FIVE HEARINGS STATEWIDE. EXCEPT WHERE NOTED, EACH HEARING BEGINS AT 6P.M. Please attend the hearing that is most convenient for you.

Tuesday,
January 6, 2009
VDOT Culpeper District Auditorium
1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701
Culpeper/Staunton

*If you can not attend a hearing, you may send your comments to:
Public Information Office, VA Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation, 1313 East Main St., Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23218-0590, drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov or to Programming Director, VA Dept of Transportation, 1401 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219 or Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov.

The Secretary of Transportation’s Office ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, call 1-866-835-6070 (TTY users, call 711).

Culpeper Fest

The 2009 Virginia Travel Guides arrived at the Culpeper Visitors Center yesterday. The 3/4" thick, glossy magazine is published by the Virginia Department of Tourism. The magazine has a summary of events that are going on around the state during the year. This year CulpeperFest made the list (page 233) with an additional reference to http://www.culpeperfest.com/. Many Thanks to Beth Burns of the Culpeper Department of Tourism for putting us on the map this year.

Follow the link for an Online link on the Virginia.org site

Culpeper Small Business Strategies for Surviving a Changing Economy

Date: November 24, 2008
Contact: Ruth Cope
Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center at Fauquier
Phone: 540-351-1595
E-Mail: rcope@lfsbdc.org

Small Business Strategies for Surviving a Changing Economy

Culpeper, VA (November 24, 2008) – “SOS: Strategies on Survival, Sustaining Profit and Position in a Changing Economy” a seminar for local businesses will be presented in Culpeper on Wednesday, December 10th. The Small Business Development Center, Culpeper Renaissance Inc. (Culpeper’s Main Street program) and Culpeper Chamber of Commerce are joining together to present this timely seminar to help business owners survive the tough economic conditions and to grow in spite of them.

The presenter will be Casey Willson, a 35-year veteran of retail, restaurant, and tourist industry, and an experienced business consultant with the Maryland SBDC. Willson manages the Maryland Small Business Development Center Network’s Small Town and Merchants Program (STAMP), which uses workshops and hands-on initiatives to address the needs of main street retail and restaurant businesses.

Casey Willson says the two hour program on December 10th will present strategies any business, particularly the retail or restaurant business, can implement to maximize their operation in these challenging times. Willson says even under these economic conditions there are steps a small business can take to grow and to prepare them to emerge stronger. This seminar will focus on 1.positive steps businesses can take now to attract customers even when discretionary spending is dwindling, 2. business priorities to improve cash-flow, and 3. basic "tried and true" marketing and sales techniques that ensure success.

The seminar will be presented on Wednesday, December 10th from 1:30 – 3:30 PM in downtown Culpeper. While the focus will be on retail and restaurants, the seminar is open to anyone and the discussion will be appropriate to any type of business. Registration for this very important seminar is only $25 per business (so owners, managers, and key staff can all attend for one low price). Pre-registration for the event is required. Please RSVP by contacting the Lord Fairfax SBDC at 540-351-1595 or 540-937-2919.

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce - Visitors Center - Holiday Decorations

OK I am back in the Blogsshere ..... With so many good things going on I have been focused on the priorities of the moment..... I have missed my blogging duties.....

Now for the great news.... Our Volunteers Hans, Richard, and Libby have completed decorating the tree in the Visitors Center. It is a perfect reflection of the Holidays with beautiful ornaments and gold ribbons adorning the 10' tree. It is beautifully placed in the Rotunda of the Visitors Center looking out over the Culpeper Rail Way.

Thanks to Libby, Richard, and Hans for their time and talents.

Book Signing - Pepperberries - Culpeper VA November 23rd

We are so excited to announce that local author, Susan McCorkindale, will be doing a book signing at Pepperberries during the Downtown Holiday Open House from 2:00pm -4:00pm, Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Susan is the author of the recently published, Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl. Susan was the Marketing Director of Family Circle Magazine. She gave up her six figure high stress job and headed to a 500-acre cattle farm in Upperville, va.

“A Rollicking, Green Acres-esque memoir.” – Working Mother Magazine
“A witty take on what happens when you try to take the girl out of New Jersey” – Booklist Review

Job Posting - Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce has posted a job for:

Manager of Operations and Member Services

Click here for more information CulpeperJobs.com

Government Contracting Seminar - Culpeper VA

Need A New Customer? How about the Federal Goverrnment!!!

This is a great way to get started.


PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 20, 2008
Contact: Ruth Cope
Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center at Fauquier
Phone: 540-351-1595
E-Mail: rcope@lfsbdc.org

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED SELLING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

WARRENTON – The Federal government is the world’s largest buyer; it buys almost everything. They do buy many of their products and services from big business. But they are encouraged, and in some cases mandated, to purchase a certain percentage from small businesses, particularly those that are certified as small, veteran or disabled veteran, disadvantaged, women, or minority owned. Any business that sells a product or service, of almost any description, is a potential vendor to the Federal government. Small business can have a share of this market. It is important for business owners to consider alternate markets and look for new opportunities, especially in this economy. The Federal government could be this new market for your business!

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is presenting a procurement seminar, “Selling to the Federal Government”, on Friday, October 31st at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper, VA. The seminar will be held from 8:30 am until noon. The charge for this seminar is $35; there is a $10 discount for registering early.

Bill Sirbaugh, director of the SBDC, said, “The ‘Selling to the Federal Government’ seminar will assist small businesses to understand the rules and the basic processes of Federal contracting and the steps required to get started. It will also tell businesses about special programs and certifications. The seminar will also provide other resources available where a business can go for help.”

The major portion of the program will be conducted by Jim Regan, director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) at George Mason University, and Patricia Peacock, director of the Mason Enterprise Center in Prince William, who will speak on the basics of selling to the Federal government and Federal certifications. They will be joined by Dan Thompson of the Library of Congress – Packard campus in Culpeper, who will speak on how and what the LOC buys and tips to selling to a Federal agency. Jay Maben of EG&G Technical Services, Inc. will speak about sub-contracting opportunities. Steven Found of Competitive Innovations, LLC in Culpeper will speak on his company’s experiences in selling to the Federal government.

Do not miss this seminar if you are considering the possibility of selling to the Federal government. Contact the Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center in Culpeper at (540) 937-2919 or in Fauquier at (540) 351-1595 or Middletown at (540) 868-7093 to register.

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce YPG of the Year Award

The Young Professional of the Year Award is a new award to be given at the
Culpeper Chamber Awards Banquet on November 6th at the Daniel Technology Center.

The Award Criteria are:

21 – 40 Years Young
Chamber involvement
Results orientation
Customer focus
Leadership and constancy of purpose
People development and involvement
Continuous learning, innovation and improvement
Partnership development
Public responsibility

We are pleased to announce 4 nominations:

Michele White - Michele White Graphics and Marketing

Kelly Rozwadowski - K Art and Design

Maria Fay - Signature Real Estate

Marikay Whisenand - Mountain Run Insurance

Nominationas are being voted for by those in the Young Professionals Group by way of a Survey that has been emailed to them with the nomination applications for review.

Good Luck to all of the Nominees!!!!

See you all at the banquet - We can't wait to know.... Who is the YPG of the Year!!!!!

Go to http://www.culpeperchamber.com/ to register for the banquet.

AirFest 2008 - Culpeper Virginia Airport - October 11th

"This is what we can do when we all work together" was the comment from our Culpeper County Administrator as I commented about AirFest 2008. The day was full of color and motion. The biplanes of an era gone by in concert with the first public display of a privately owned Harrier Jet made the event vibrant and entertaining for all ages. Thanks to all who planned and contributed to the event this year. The event at Culpeper Airport produced great memories for the thousands of visitors that enjoyed a spectacular day.

Ten Ways to Reject the Recession and Build a Thriving Business

The following link was provided by Ruth Cope of the SBDC - Small Business Development Center which is located at the DTC Germanna Campus.

www.nfib.com/object/IO_38639.html

Statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on Financial Markets Update

Towards the end of the article is a brief summary of what Secretary Paulson’s forecast is for the weeks ahead.

Statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on Financial Markets Update

Washington, DC-- Good afternoon. Last Friday Congress finalized and President Bush signed into law the bipartisan Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. The EESA provides the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC with important new authorities to complement existing ones. We will continue to coordinate with other federal regulators to use these tools to implement our strategy to address the four key challenges in our financial markets today - confidence, capital, systemic risk and liquidity. Although we are facing particularly difficult circumstances, I remain confident that we will work through this challenge, as we have always successfully worked through every economic challenge in the history of the United States. We are a strong and wealthy nation, with the resources to address the needs we face. I am confident that, with the right public policy response, time and effort, we will conquer these challenges as well.
U.S. and global financial markets continue to be severely strained. A chain of events caused by the ongoing housing correction has reverberated through U.S. banks and financial institutions, and has seriously impacted the underlying economy, reaching American households and businesses. A root cause of this situation is the housing correction and a lack of confidence in mortgage assets, as well as a lack of confidence in many of the financial institutions that hold these assets. Because of this widespread uncertainty, investors are hesitant to commit capital to financial institutions. Investor confidence is critical to restore liquidity and enhance the stability of our financial system.
This financial market turmoil is now directly affecting more families and businesses. When banks can not finance at reasonable levels, and can not or are not willing to lend, everyone in our economy who depends on credit suffers. The capital markets are the pipes through which money flows to finance student loans, car loans, home loans and small businesses' payroll and inventory. And uncertainty and a lack of confidence have clogged our basic financial plumbing. While our actions have been aimed at restoring financial markets and institutions, our purpose is to prevent financial market difficulties from further impacting businesses and families across the country.
New Authorities Needed to Address Challenges
Over the last six months, the U.S. Government has addressed a number of significant problems on a case by case basis. In my judgment, these actions, a number of which were quite significant, were necessary but not sufficient. By September, uncertainty had led to a credit market freeze and it became clear that we needed to take a systemic approach on a significant scale, to get at the underlying cause of much of this turmoil.
We went to Congress and asked for broad new authorities to address the current troubles affecting our financial markets, including the root cause of the financial system freeze --- the illiquid mortgage assets weighing on bank balance sheets. And Congress met the very difficult challenge of providing these authorities by passing the EESA.
Specifically, the EESA empowers Treasury to use up to $700 billion to inject capital into financial institutions, to purchase or insure mortgage assets, and to purchase any other troubled assets that the Treasury and the Federal Reserve deem necessary to promote financial market stability. The new law also gives the Federal Reserve the authority to pay interest on reserves, and temporarily increases FDIC and NCUA deposit insurance from $100,000 up to $250,000.
Two days ago the members of the President's Working Group on Financial Markets, the PWG, made clear that we will coordinate the use of our existing and new authorities to restore market confidence by strengthening financial institutions, preventing systemic impact from bank failures, increasing liquidity to financial markets and keeping mortgage credit available and affordable.
Strengthening Financial Institutions
The Treasury Department is moving rapidly to implement the EESA to help strengthen financial institutions while also protecting taxpayer interests. As I have said before, the ultimate taxpayer protection will be a stable financial system that supports normal economic activity.
Towards that goal, the EESA adds broad, flexible authorities for Treasury to buy or insure troubled assets, provide guarantees, and inject capital. We will use all of the tools we've been given to maximum effectiveness, including strengthening the capitalization of financial institutions of every size. We will design programs that encourage healthy institutions to participate. Much attention has focused on the use of auctions to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions. We are moving as quickly as possible to organize and implement the most effective process possible. We expect it will be several weeks before our first purchase.
Consistent with EESA, I have appointed an interim Assistant Secretary to manage the program and begin its rapid implementation. I am currently working with the President to identify a leader to submit for confirmation, as called for in the legislation, to manage the program and help ensure its long-term success. I will also consult with congressional leaders and Senator McCain and Senator Obama during this process. It is our intent to have an appointee confirmed by the Senate as soon as possible, and I look forward to working with the Senate when they return in November, to ensure we maintain strong leadership and continuity for this unprecedented effort.
We have also identified and retained other very experienced interim leaders for the office, including an interim Chief Financial Officer. We have published guidelines on our procurement and conflict management processes. We have already sent out several essential Requests for Proposals that require 48 hour turnaround so we can contract with private sector experts --- some even as early as later this week --- who will bring complementary skills and expertise to the Treasury team.
We have several policy teams designing detailed programs to purchase mortgage-backed securities, whole loans, and equity-related instruments. In addition, we have begun work on compliance, executive compensation guidelines, foreclosure mitigation, and oversight. Our teams have already been working with Treasury's Inspector General and are scheduled to meet with the General Accounting Office. Yesterday, we held our first meeting of the program's Oversight Board and we are committed to transparency in all aspects of the program.
We will implement our new authorities with one simple goal – to restore capital flows to the consumers and businesses that form the core of our economy.
Prevent Systemic Impact from Bank Failures
One thing we must recognize – even with the new Treasury authorities, some financial institutions will fail. The EESA doesn't exist to save every financial institution for its own sake.
Therefore, a second prong in our strategy is designed to mitigate financial market disruption when a bank fails. In addition to insuring deposits up to the new, temporary level of $250,000, the FDIC has the ability to use its insurance fund and its substantial lines of credit with the Treasury to address systemic financial risk that may be posed by a bank failure.
It is the policy of our federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger. In light of current conditions, the FDIC, with the full support of the Fed and the Treasury, will use its authority and resources, as appropriate to mitigate systemic risk, by, as appropriate, protecting depositors, protecting unsecured claims, guaranteeing liabilities and adopting other measures to support the banking system.
Increasing Liquidity to Financial Markets
As we address issues of capital and financial strength in our banks, we must also address the liquidity of our markets. The Federal Reserve has introduced innovative facilities and policies to enhance the liquidity that is vital to market stability, and has frequently done so in coordination with the European Central Bank. Today's announcement of a coordinated rate cut, including Europe, China and other large economies, is a welcome sign that central banks around the world are prepared to take the necessary steps to support the global economy during this difficult time. The EESA granted the Fed permanent authority to pay interest on depository institutions' required and excess reserve balances held at the Federal Reserve. This will allow the Fed to expand its balance sheet to support financial stability while maintaining its monetary policy priorities.
In recent weeks, the commercial paper market has suffered severe stress and illiquidity. Businesses ranging from financial institutions to industrial companies rely on the commercial paper market every day to fund their business activities. In particular, financial institutions sell commercial paper, and use the funds to lend to millions of consumers and businesses across the nation. In the wake of the uncertainty surrounding financial institution balance sheets, many investors are reluctant to buy commercial paper from financial institutions – in essence, unwilling to hold this unsecured debt for any significant length of time, even when the particular institution is healthy, because of the fear of not having access to liquid markets.
Yesterday, the Federal Reserve announced a new facility to provide a liquidity backstop to U.S. issuers of commercial paper. Through a special purpose vehicle the Fed will purchase three-month unsecured and asset-backed commercial paper directly from eligible issuers. I expect this initiative to significantly improve the availability of funding for financial institutions and corporations that depend on the commercial paper market. Until those that depend on commercial paper can issue it again in significant maturities, funding pressures will continue to ripple through our economy, dramatically shrinking the availability of credit to support families and businesses.
Mortgage Credit Availability and Affordability
As I have long said, the housing correction is the root cause of the current financial market turmoil. We must continue to keep mortgage credit available and support the housing market, so that we can more quickly turn the corner on the housing correction.
To provide critical additional funding to our mortgage markets, FHFA has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase their purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Supporting the availability of mortgage finance is the mission of the GSEs. There is headroom of over $150 billion between the current GSE portfolios and their regulatory limit. FHFA will supervise the growth in these portfolios, under its expanded authorities to monitor GSE risk-management. We also expect Fannie and Freddie to increase direct support to the mortgage market through their ongoing securitization activities.
To further support the availability of mortgage credit, Treasury also has established a program to purchase agency MBS directly. The program began in September. This will complement the capital provided by the GSEs and help facilitate mortgage availability and affordability.
Stabilizing Fannie and Freddie to support mortgage availability has been constructive. As the rest of our markets experienced increased turmoil the interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage has come down from its peak of 6.6 percent earlier this year to as low as 5.9 percent this week – a decrease that helps American households reduce monthly mortgage payments and increases the potential for more homeowners to refinance mortgages at lower rates. As Treasury and the GSEs increase their purchases, mortgage affordability should improve for Americans. If we were not actively engaged at the GSEs, we would have expected that rate to increase and further slow the progress of the housing correction.
International Coordination
We see evidence every day that world economies and financial markets are more connected and interdependent than at any time in history. Economic momentum has slowed substantially across the industrialized countries as a consequence of the ongoing financial turmoil, the acute stresses facing our financial institutions, continuing housing markets adjustments in the United States and other countries, and volatile – albeit moderating – commodity prices. Emerging markets are also beginning to show signs of slowing. We see evidence that the freezing of credit markets is having a tangible impact on the everyday lives of citizens all around the world.
Addressing these challenges requires the dramatic steps we are taking here in the United States and it requires strong international partnerships. Governments have and must continue to take individual and collective actions to provide much-needed liquidity, strengthen financial institutions through the provision of capital and the disposition of troubled assets, prevent markets abuse, and protect the savings of our citizens.
We must also take care to ensure that our actions are closely coordinated and communicated so that the action of one country does not come at the expense of others or the stability of the system as a whole.
Over the past twelve months President Bush and I have been in regular contact with our international counterparts, and we have collaborated in a variety of ways. This weekend I will be meeting with my G-7 colleagues to discuss the steps that each of us are taking to confront this crisis and ways to further enhance our collective efforts. In addition, in consultation with Brazil, the G-20 President, I am calling for a special meeting of the G20 that will include senior finance officials, central bankers, and regulators from key emerging economies to discuss how we might coordinate to lessen the effects of global market turmoil and the economic slowdown on all of our countries.
Although the tasks are not easy, I am regularly heartened as I work with my international colleagues who are also committed to securing stability and growth in their domestic economies, and to promoting the orderly functioning of the international financial system.
The Road Ahead
While most Americans understand that economic cycles occur, we are experiencing some extraordinary and difficult challenges at home and abroad – challenges that make it clear Congress was correct to take swift and bold action, and that we have no time to waste implementing the new law. We also know that getting it right is as important as getting it done quickly. We can and will do both. The Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets and all financial regulators are working together to achieve our necessary goal of restoring stability and orderliness to our financial markets. Every effort will require careful analysis, deliberation and transparency, and some measure of patience from the American people as we create the most effective process possible.
We have already taken a number of extraordinary bold actions on the liquidity front that I am convinced have been exactly the right policy steps, including the emergency action to provide a guarantee to our money market funds, actions to stabilize the GSEs and drive down mortgage rates, and the Fed's new program to provide 90-day liquidity to commercial paper issuers.
It is the policy of the federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger, to safeguard depositors and savers, to help ensure an adequate flow of credit, and to minimize systemic risk. The Congress has recently provided the Treasury with broad powers to acquire financial assets, to make capital available, and to strengthen the balance sheets of individual institutions. The Federal Reserve has also been given new authority to ensure that the system has sufficient liquidity. The FDIC has the authority and the access to resources necessary to protect the banking system. The Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC will use all their authorities to promote the process of repair and recovery and to contain risks to the financial system that might arise from problems at individual institutions.
But patience is also needed because the turmoil will not end quickly and significant challenges remain ahead. Neither passage of this new law nor the implementation of these initiatives will bring an immediate end to current difficulties. It will take time and bipartisan leadership, cooperation and collaboration, as well as well-conceived and executed policies to overcome the challenges our nation is facing. And we will overcome them. Despite our problems, the U.S. economy is the largest and wealthiest in the world. We will, as we have in the past, emerge stronger and better able to provide new opportunities for our workers and increased prosperity for our families. Thank you.

Compliments of the US Chamber of Commerce - Our Chamber at Work

American Chamber of Commerce Executive Message

A Great Message for Today..... from Mick Flemming, ACCE President

Onward.

With varying degrees of success, I have attempted to make a one-word slogan the driving force in my professional life and - I like to think - in the life of this organization.

The last ten days, I admit to more than a few moments of self-doubt and anxiety. How could anyone not have such feelings in the face of nearly unimaginable changes in the economic life of the nation and the world? Wouldn't it be nice if you and I had the luxury of succumbing to despair? Wouldn't a full-blown abdication and escape to a bar, a beach, or the fetal position feel good about now?

Well, that's not an option. Never before has my one-word mantra been more relevant for me personally and, I suspect for some of you. Of course we will need to adapt and avoid going blindly forward as if changes aren't going to affect us. But we must continue the critical work, carry the messages of hope, and fight for the principles and goals we know to be right with whatever resources we have available. It's what we do.

Think of it this way: Everything you have ever learned . . . every skill you've developed, every network you've nurtured and every experience you've stored in your personal and organizational arsenals must now be put to use in the most important challenge of our time. The chamber of commerce movement (regardless of what monikers we attach to our entities) has obligation to push, pull, steer and drive the economic recovery of this country. Others will weigh in too, of course, but can they succeed without your regional and street-level leadership? Impossible.

You'll need help in this struggle from the broad and deep network of peers and staff who compose the ACCE family.

Unless you have another direction you can recommend, I would suggest that we continue . . .

Onward.

Mick Fleming, President, ACCE

Posted with Permission - Our membership with ACCE at work.

The Pepper Open Golf Tournament

One More Thanks to Yount, Hyde & Barbour, PC our Double Eagle Sponsor, The Country Club of Culpeper, all of our Volunteers, Sponsors, Committee members, and Players (I use the term loosely - see picture...).

The weather was a perfect 70's - Low humidity - partly cloudy..... Chamber of Commerce day!!!!! We had a few exceptional highlights - On the Hole in One contest for the new Car - Sponsored by Battlefield Auto Group - We had a shot that roled towards the pin stopping just 6" from the pin..... Nice... Another of the many highlights was the Shoot out on hole 15 (sponsored by Golf Etc. of Culpeper) where Mark from the KTA Group.... Having already stowed his golf shoes after the tournament - approached the shoot out bare footed and won..... the real highlight, however, was that he would not accept $750 grand prize and the Chamber is very appreciative.

Now to the true highlight or Not..... can you find the ball in the picture.... I wonder if he used a mulligan? Trust me it is in there....

Farm Tour 2008

The Farm Tour 2008 was a great success this year. This was evidence of great team effort from many groups in our community The Culpeper Department of Tourism, Culpeper County Economic Development Office, The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, Culpeper Renaissance, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. There were so many volunteers that worked this weekend to ensure that the event was successful. In the back ground were so many that met months and weeks in advance to prepare for the weekend. From the Chamber - Many Many Thanks to all who helped to make this a remarkable success.

The Visitors Center at the Depot was busy all day. Thanks to Martha and Judy for the great hospitality shown to our guests. I personally volunteered at the Equestrian Center at Kelly's Ford where as in every other Farm Location on the tour - The hospitality continued. We had visitors from Baltimore, Fredericksburg, and many other areas around the region.

Below are a few Pictures from Kelly's Ford Equestrian Center and The Inn at Kelly's Ford.

The Main Entrance, The River "Ruva" in southern speak....., The Loft Suite Bedroom - a true get away treat...

Culpeper Star Exponent - The Charlottesville Connection

You may have noticed that the Culpeper Star-Exponent featured video from this week’s events at Montpelier from NBC 29 in Charlottesville. The two media outlets are partnering to help each other get consumers a full package of news no matter where it happens. The partnership between Channel 29 and Media General has been ongoing for years, with the television station having a bureau at the company’s The New Virginian in Waynesboro. Last year, Star-Exponent Publisher Mitch Sneed and Editor Rob Humphreys met with station officials and agreed to work together when possible as well. “We are really working to expand the way we can deliver news,” Sneed said. “We can now do video via our Web site and let’s face it, the television folks are much better at it than we are right now. There have been times and there will be times when big news breaks here and Channel 29 can’t get here in time to get images from the scene. We have helped them with images and video from a few events and they have been a big help to us. It’s good for both of us, but the news consumers are the big winners here.”
Blog Entry Compliments of Mitch Snead - Culpeper Star Exponent

Montpelier Restoration Celebration

James Madison's Montpelier re-opened today. 2500 Local School students participated in the ceremony by creating a "Seen by Helicopter" size American Flag. Culpeper was represented by 7 Culpeper County Elementary Schools. Most notably Chief Justice John Roberts addressed the crowd describing the contributions that James Madison made to the establishment of our country.

Eric Cantor - Our 7th District Congressman in the US House of Representatives was noted as being in the same Congressional Seat as was James Madison when he served in Congress. Virginia's Governor Tim Kaine spoke of the importance of the Montpelier Restoration and it's contribution to Virginia.

Culpeper Open House - Mulberry Court Condominiums

Yates Properties - a Member of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce hosted an Open House yesterday to introduce their newest project Mulberry Court Condominiums. This Upscale Condominium Project is well underway. With 10 unique floor layouts to choose from and a sophisticated range of amenities, the newest addition to our community is attracting a great deal of attention. The proximity of the Mulberry Court Condominiums to the Country Club of Culpeper adds to the value of this great location. Thank you to Yates Properties for brining such Quality of Life options to our community . The Open House was a great event and very informative.

Culpeper Businesses - Emergency Preparedness Training

September is designated as Emergency Preparedness Month. The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce - working with the RRMRC, Town Police, County Sheriff, County Director of Emergency Services, and the American Red Cross joined together yesterday to provide an educational seminar for the Small Businesses of Culpeper. The topics covered ranged from Natural Disaster Preparedness to Local Crisis Preparedness.

Practical preparation takes time and effort and is time well invested. In addition, practical work place practices were discussed with regard to reducing the spread of germs. One of the best ways to stay current with the preparedness practices is to become involved with the local organizations such as the RRMRC - Rappahannock Rapidan Medical Reserve Corps and the American Red Cross to name a few.

The Director of Emergency Services for Culpeper County offered to review Emergency Preparedness Plans for Culpeper Businesses. "Easy Button" Anyone.....


This was the first of a monthly Lunch n Learn format organized by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee. In October we plan the have a panel discussion about Health Care Issues for Small Business. In November, We plan to have a presentation about Web Basics for Small Business.

Go to the Calendar of Events at the Chamber website for times, dates, and details.

Culpeper Library of Congress

The Library of Congress - Packard Campus for Audio - Visual Conservation opened to the public this week. This is one of the few places in the world where being a Negative Expert is a good thing. Touring the facility is like being able to walk through time. It is fascinating to see how the films that frame the legacy of our recent American History are preserved. The Theater is said to have the best projectors / projected images available. Movies are shown to the public in a retro state of the art theatre on a regular basis - follow the link for more information http://www.loc.gov/avconservation/mtponytheater/index.html . We are proud to have this addition to our community. Thank you to the Packard Foundation, The Library of Congress, and to all who worked to bring this treasure to Culpeper, Virginia.

Culpeper Chamber Lead Share

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Leadshare Groups joined together to hear a guest speaker from Brian Tracy Programs World Wide. Edward Prichard III, a National Sales Trainer, addressed the group with 30 minutes packed with tips to tune up your $ales. Many Thanks to Mr. Prichard for enriching the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Businesses in such a positive way. Mr. Prichard's presentation is the tip of the proverbial iceburg. There are several larger seminars in the area in the next few weeks and months in Springfield, VA and Greenbelt, MD. Check the Brian Tracy Website for details.

One of the great points made this morning was that it may only take a slight difference between you and the competition for you to be awarded the sale - much like Michael Phelps winning the Olympic Gold Metal in Swimming by 1/100 of a second. Applying good sales training may give you the edge that wins the sale... and often....

Thanks to Theresa Dalman of the Friday Morning Leadshare Group for bringing such a great speaker to the Leadshare Groups this morning.

Culpeper Chamber YPG Lunch

Thyme Market in Old Town Culpeper - What a great place for the Young Professional Group of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce to host their monthly luncheon!!! The Terrace at the Thyme Market resembles a classic European market. The 24 who attended enjoyed a delightful selection of lunch choices while listening to a presentation by Russell James - Director of the Daniel Technology Center. We had lunch served, presentation, and network introductions within 45 minutes. A great network opportunity to fit into a 1 hour lunch.

The YPG is accepting nominations for the Culpeper Young Professional of the Year

Culpeper ReEntry Programs

I had the privilege of attending a Culpeper ReEntry Committee meeting at lunch today. Our community continues to amaze me. The devoted professionals who attended today’s meeting are a group of men and women who have a sincere interest in helping those who have been incarcerated to re-enter society productively. Their dedication and personal sacrifice to help others is remarkable and commendable.

My invitation was to add the view from a business perspective regarding how the programs and incentives might be seen by the business community. Far from an expert in this area, I can only say that awareness is the best tool. If businesses have a need for trained employees and through awareness of the programs they find those employees – the community wins….

If you are interested in the programs and incentives available to businesses in the Culpeper area for those reentering from prison - there are many excellent resources here in Culpeper.

Pepper Open - Culpeper Chamber Of Commerce

Get into the swing of things this Fall at the Pepper Open !!!!! Right here in Culpeper. The event will be held at the Prestigious Country Club of Culpeper. Register now. Registration is filling up fast. Go to www.PepperOpen.com to download the registration forms.

Game day is September 29th

Special Thanks to our Early Sponsors....

2008 SPONSORS TO DATE:

DOUBLE EAGLE
Yount, Hyde & Barbour, PC

EAGLE
Braggs Corner Industrial Centre, LLC
HITT Contracting, Inc.
KTA Group, Inc.
StellarOne
Terremark
Truland Systems Corporation
Your Community Phonebook

BIRDIE

Appleton Campbell, Inc.
Battle Park Farms
BB&T
Black Forest Sign, Inc.
CFC Farm & Home Center
Channel 21
Culpeper Regional Health System
Golf Etc. of Culpeper
Mulberry Court Condominiums
Rochester
Virginia Community Bank
W. W. Burton & Co.

HOLE
Best Western - Culpeper Inn
Dewberry
Edward Jones Investments
Environmental Systems Service LTD
Found & Sons Funeral Chapels
JK Enterprise Landscape Supply, LLC
Powell Wellness Center
Senator Edd Houck
Wachovia

HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSOR

Battlefield Auto Group

Culpeper Small Business Person of the Year

The Culpeper Small Business Person of the Year Award Nominations are being accepted by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce - Small Business Committee. Contact the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Office for nomination details. The Small Business Person of the Year will be Recognized at the Prestigious - Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet - November 6th, 2008 at the Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper.

Small Business Development Center

I was contacted by one of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce members today regarding the Small Business Development Center here in Culpeper. He was referred to the SBDC to help develop a business plan and to understand the resources available to him as a small business in the Culpeper Region. Here is what he had to say about his first meeting:

"Thanks again for recommending that I contact the SBDC representative. She was an amazingly helpful resource. I talked with her for an hour and a half, and I only left because I had a client appointment up in Catharpin. I truly felt like if I had more time, I could've learned even more about the resources available to me. I would hope that the Chamber really publicizes the assistance available through the SBDC. "

I hope that other small business owners take the time to fine tune their business and business opportunities thru the SBDC located at:

SBDC @ Culpeper
Daniel Technology Center
18121 Technology Drive
Culpeper, VA 22701
540-937-2919

Culpeper Chamber Lunch n Learn

September - National Emergency Preparedness Month

Set aside Lunch time on September 9th - Bring your Lunch to the Depot - Learn from experts about what it takes to be prepared for EMERGENCIES!!!!!!!

The time to prepare is BEFORE something happens. (Heaven Forbid...)

Businesses need to be prepared. Their employees and the employees’ families need to be prepared so that the employees can come to work.

Claudia Vento - Rapidan Rappahanock Medical Reserve Corps with other invited specialists will guide us thru preparation and planning in the event of a major emergency.

The Lunch n Learn agenda is as follows:
11:45-12 Businesses and Guests Settle in w/ Brown Bag Lunch (Bring Your Own - see below)
12 - 12:10 Attendees - 1 minute or less networking introduction of themselves
12:10 - 12:50 Program Presentations
12:50 - 1 Q & A
1 - 1:15 Networking
Try our Chamber Member Restaurants to pick up a quick lunch to bring with you:
Raven's Nest Coffee House
254 East Davis Street Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-418

Radishes & Roses Café & Catering
106 W. Cameron Street Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-3740

MMTCK, Inc.
Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 672-0073

Popeye's
563 James Madison Highway Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-1844

Bella Mia's Deli
128 North Main Street Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 727-7632

Glory Days Grill
15295 Montanus Drive Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 829-7144

Chick-Fil-A of Culpeper Colonnade
15275 Creativity Drive Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-4447

It's About Thyme
128 East Davis Street Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 825-4264

Honey Baked Ham & Café
765 Nalles Mill Road Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 827-1120

Foti's, LLC
219 East Davis Street · Suite 110 Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 829-8400

Taster's Delight
14115 Lovers Lane · Suite 10 Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 829-1007

Culpeper Chamber YPG Calendar

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Group

Culpeper YPG is now lunching and mixing on THURSDAYS!!
Calendar of Upcoming Events:

September 4, 2008—Lunch at The Thyme Market -Alley (rain location will be the Depot, if available) 11:30—12:30 Special Guest - To Be Announced !!!

September 18, 2008—Membership Mixer at Country Club of Culpeper
5:30—7:30

October 12, 2008—Taste of Culpeper at the Depot. Mix and Mingle while tasting local wines and fare. $10 advance tickets/$15 at the gate/$5 for designated drivers

October lunch to be determined
Call The Culpeper Chamber office to rsvp or for more information at (540) 825-8628

Powell Wellness Center Culpeper Virginia

Breakfast Anyone!!!! The Powell Wellness Center hosted the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Mixer this month from 7 AM - 9 AM on Thursday August 14th. Steve served up omelettes "Made to Order" for all. The turnout was WELL worth it for the networking..... The event was especially interesting if you were able to take a tour of the NEW state of the art facility which includes a"Turtle Pool" - you have to see it to believe it. Plus there is one of the finest Cycling Studios with classes begining as early as 5:45 AM!!!!! Other classes include a Yoga, Zumba, and Body Pump. The Cardio Area is equipped with plenty of space.... There is a broad variety of weight lifting equipment as well. If you were there long enough you may have enjoyed one of the chair massages by Holly. Thanks to Powell Wellness Center for the hospitality, door prizes, and a healthy networking environment......

Culpeper County Public Schools

The new school year in Culpeper Virginia is virtually under way. We have 2 new schools opening and the Culpeper Spirit is alive and well. Reports from the school administration are that there is a great deal of excitment and anticipation for a great school year. We wish the Faculty, Administration, and Students a productive and successful year.

NEW - Member Web Tools

We are underway with our New - Member Powered web tools. The additional benefits that this brings to our members are multi-dimensional. The new member web tools are provided in coordination with Chamber Master. Contact the Culpeper Chamber office for details about how this WILL benefit your business.

First Post

I am finally getting the time to post my first blog entry. Our Chamber has been very active for the past few month's. Beginning with a successful CulpeperFest. We had a great time with all of the credit going to the Volunteers, Sponsors, Businesses, and those who attended that made it possible. Special thanks to Germanna's Daniel Technology Center for Hosting the event and to the Culpeper Star Exponent for being the Grand Champion Sponsor of Culpeperfest. Next years CulpeperFest planning is underway and may be found at CulpeperFest.com.

We moved on to the celebration of an era of successful leadership and growth of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Norma Dunwody was recognized for her 15 years of service during the NormaFest event where she was officially honored as she prepared to retire from the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Many Thanks to Norma for her remarkable service. A special thanks to Old House Vinyards for hosting such a great event.

This past week we partnered with Culpeper County Schools and 49 local businesses to welcome the 80+ new teachers that will be working in our school system at a special breakfast in their honor. The event is called BIE Day (Business / Industry / & Education Day). The 49 businesses set up a booth with many welcome gifts to introduce the new teachers to the business community. Our Chairman Elect - David Jones of Young, Nicholas, Branner & Phillips spoke about the importance of educators and our local economy. Welcome again to the teachers and educators from the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. Best wishes and success in 2008-09.