CSE

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, July 26, 2010:

CSI - Culpeper took place on Tuesday, July 20th 2010. A little known group of Crime Scene Investigators were in action in Culpeper on this day. The stage was set and the crime scene investigators of Culpeper were assisted by 12 specialists who may shape the future of investigations in significant ways. Who were these 12 specialists? Why were they recruited? How will they shape the future?

The 12 specialists were recruited from the youth of Culpeper for the Annual Culpeper County Sheriff’s Youth Academy. Many at the Sheriff’s Department invested last week in the career development possibilities for participant’s of the academy ranging in age from 13 – 17 years old. The students arrived every day at 8 AM and spent the day until 3 PM learning the coolest things on these hot summer days….

The students were exposed to basic crime scene investigation. They were exposed to firearms safety while gaining experience with firearms at a live firing range (thank you Cedar Mountain Range). They were shown the effects of alcohol and drugs using special simulated vision goggles while trying to drive golf carts (accompanied by an adult). They learned crime scene processing and fingerprinting skills. They were shown law enforcement patrol procedures, basic First Aid, and a variety of crime prevention concepts. The students also attended several demonstrations by specialized units such as the K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Officers, and S.W.A.T. Finally, the students took fields trips to the Culpeper County Jail and the Culpeper Joint Communications Center. Wow, what a week!!!

The students graduated from the C.C.S.O Youth Academy on Friday with a ceremony that demonstrated the military etiquette drill and ceremony skills that they had learned and obviously practiced. All of the students were proficient in their maneuvers and focused on the required discipline, a very impressive display after only one week of instruction.

According to the literature, the program is rooted in the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy that began in England in 1977. The first program of its kind was introduced in the United States in Orlando Florida in 1985. The original intent of the program was designed to provide better understanding between police and citizens thru education and exposure to the Department. Adding the youth component provides an important opportunity for our local youth to see first-hand what they see on television and in the movies.

There are few things more important than educating our youth. We have opportunities to facilitate excellence in youth programs. The Sheriff’s Department has taken the lead in offering this type of program. Career Development can start early, strengthen our community, and offer creative pathways for our young minds.

There are many programs in Culpeper with similar ongoing benefits such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Verdun Adventure Bound, and The Civil Air Patrol Youth Program (meeting at Culpeper Airport), to name a few.

Thank you, Sheriff Branch, for your commitment to the youth of Culpeper. The Youth Academy is an example of excellence in community development. We can only imagine what the future will bear from the seeds planted in the hearts and minds at the Youth Academy.





Best Regards


Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce in the Lead

Published in the Star Exponent Monday, July 18, 2010:

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce leads the country in “Hot Deals” according to Jill Schmoyer an Internet Marketing Consultant for ChamberMaster. Ms. Schmoyer reported this at a recent meeting of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Hot Deals section of the Chamber Website is just one of the many cutting edge opportunities for our community to take advantage of. Our businesses offer these as a way to encourage both businesses and everyone in Culpeper to buy locally. Any Chamber member can post Hot Deals with printable coupons free as part of their membership on CulpeperChamber.com.

In addition, the Culpeper Chamber has offered “Chamber Cash” for anyone to buy as gifts. We offer them in $10 increments. The Chamber Cash is redeemable locally at many Chamber Member locations – encouraging local spending. A commonly published statistic suggests that $68 of every $100 stays in the local economy. We are offering a special promotion this month at ChamberCash.com.

To further encourage local awareness of business, the Culpeper Chamber was one of the first in the Country to have a Smart Phone App referencing our Chamber members. Try downloading MyChamberApp to your IPhone or Blackberry free. You will find a directory of “Local” Culpeper Chamber of Commerce members. MyChamberApp allows the business location to be pinpointed on an easy to navigate map. The App allows one touch dialing to call each member business. I have used this and it works…. When I need to find a Chamber member to do business with, now, I just touch the MyChamberApp icon on my IPhone, find the business, and press the phone number… “Hello, this is Jim with the Chamber, I need to schedule an Oil Change…. how many miles were on my vehicle at the last change….” So easy and no need to have the numbers in my phone directory…. Now, in addition to the Chamber Member Directory on our website, we have an easy to use mobile app.

One of the new Chamber acronyms is RAVE – meaning Resources, Access, Visibility, and Energy. We have taken strides to bring visibility to the Chamber members both physically and virtually. Physically… we have begun a new Wednesday Evening Leadshare group for members to meet at a new time – after work - to share leads and network – spaces are limited and first come first served – contact the Chamber office for details.

Virtually, we are in the process of upgrading our SEO… Search Engine Optimization. Our members are currently connected to one of the largest business networks virtually thru our ChamberMaster affiliation. The new SEO partnership with ChamberMaster will bring more search visibility for online searches. When it comes to online visibility, large networks matter. Our members can further improve their results thru their personal login and access to tweak their key words.

Our Virtual Visibility continues with our Facebook, Twitter, and Blog posts. Look us up as Culpeper Chamber and “like” our page to have access to our up to date local business 411…..

Growing local business since 1915 …. Join us….

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce