Annual Legislative Breakfast

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

November 24, 2014

Debbie Stohlman, President/CEO

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Legislative Breakfast on December 3rd, at Germanna Daniel Technology Center. We begin the program with breakfast at 7:30am and presentations promptly start at 8:00am.  This event gives you, as a representative of an organization, agency or business, the opportunity to present positions to our elected state officials. Culpeper’s senators and delegates welcome this format and use the information presented to plan for the upcoming General Assembly.

Culpeper County benefits from the representation of 3 senators and 2 delegates; Senator Jill Vogel, 27th District, Senator Bryce Reeves, 17th District, Senator Emmett Hanger, 24th District, Delegate Michael Webert, 18th District, and  Delegate Ed Scott, 30th District.  We are pleased to announce each will be present to listen to your comments and requests.  

It is not often that the public has access to the eyes and ears of our state leadership in the same place, at the same time, all listening to the same messages and pleas.  This unique opportunity is open to chamber membership and the public. The fee to attend, which includes breakfast, is $30 while members of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce are offered the benefit of a discounted rate of $20.

If you have an interest in making a presentation to our distinguished panel, please advise us when you make your reservation. You will be asked to submit a copy of your presentation to  the Chamber office by Noon, Monday, December 1, 2014.  We simply ask that comments are directed to issues appropriate for the General Assembly.

Advance registration is a requirement.  You may let us know you will be attending by registering at www.culpeperchamber.com or call Linda Dodrill at 540-825-8628 x16.

This is your chance to be heard by our state representation and to hear what your neighbors and colleagues deem to be relevant issues.  Consider this your invitation to join us.  Help fill the meeting room as a show of interest and concern for what will take place at the 2015 General Assembly.

Small Business Saturday, #ShopSmall

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

November 17, 2014

Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

For the past few weeks, my daughter and I have been planning our Thanksgiving menu.  Our nightly phone conversations have been dominated by discussions of recipes, grocery shopping strategies and duty assignments.  Our husbands simply roll their eyes because they know the story all too well - our menu never changes.  Year after year, we go through the process of seeking new recipes, selecting old family favorites and vowing to trim down the quantity of food we prepare for our small family of 6.  We can point to any menu item and tell you the tale of why it continually graces our Thanksgiving table.  Its all about tradition!

Our holiday traditions don’t stop at the dinner table.  We make sure we have a Thanksgiving edition of the Culpeper Star Exponent and other local newspapers, so we can study the sales, events and holiday happenings in Culpeper.    Then we make our lists and check them twice to make sure all is right and nice!   On Black Friday morning, we set our alarms for o’dark thirty to begin our day of shopping sales with the masses.  Our husbands continue their eye rolling but are very glad to stay home with the kids.  Its our tradition!

This year, my daughter and I are starting a new tradition!  Saturday, November 29th is “Small Business Saturday” and we plan to #ShopSmall all around the neighborhood!  In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday with the goal of helping businesses get more customers.   Many small businesses in Culpeper are planning to participate with sales, promotions and giveaways.  Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. and the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce have teamed-up to promote this initiative through a special ad section in the Thanksgiving edition of the Culpeper Star Exponent.     

You will be able to shop ‘til you drop, eat ‘til you pop and get a new ‘do (hairdo that is!) while supporting our local small businesses that have contributed so much to the local economy and our quality of life.  This is our opportunity to be there for them - they have been there for us all year by supporting numerous community events and activities.  It’s the fourth quarter, 6 weeks to go, let’s push our businesses into the ‘black’ with this #ShopSmall celebration.   Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 29th, #ShopSmall Culpeper - make it your tradition!

One Hundred Years In The Making...

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

Publication date:  November 10 , 2014

By:  Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

It has been a century in the making!  The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce came together for its 100th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet.  The grand celebration was held last Thursday at Germanna Daniel Technology Center.   In anticipation of this special occasion, the dining room was filled with a capacity crowd eager to honor the organization’s rich heritage.  

The event planning committee began preparation more than a year ago.  They were united in their vision of presenting the Chamber’s story.   A story spanning 100 years can be difficult to capture.  With the focused determination and tenacity of Tom Boyd, Jonathan Krawchuk, Win Carithers and David Durr a short documentary film highlighting the organization’s  accomplishments, collaborations and partnerships was produced and presented that evening.  The film showcased the parallels of the Chamber’s history and that of our community.  The seeds of this business institution were planted shortly after the Civil War.  By 1914, a group of community business leaders formally chartered the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce.

One could not help but be proud of this chamber’s legacy. It is with renewed vigor and commitment, that our 2015 Board of Directors looks forward to opening the door on the next century of service.  The organization is poised to remain a synergistic force in the facilitation of a platform for positive growth, economic vitality, and a vanguard educational system.

Congratulations to the recipients of the chamber’s prestigious annual awards;  Kelsey Carlson, Young Professional of the Year; Al Esh, Entrepreneur of the Year; Cintas, Large Business of the Year; The Free Clinic of Culpeper, Non-profit of the Year; The Ole Country Store and Bakery, Small Business of the Year; Sophie Hudson, 2014 Chairman’s Award; Gary Lee, L.B. Henretty Memorial Outstanding Citizen of the Year.   Thank you for your dedication and service to Culpeper.    

A debt of gratitude is due the event planning committee:  Laura Grigsby, Joann Durr, and Tom Boyd along with staff members Martha Sanford and Linda Dodrill.  Thank you for making this celebration a memorable one.  A special shout out to Culpeper’s own Jonny K, Station Manager, Culpeper Media Network, for the countless hours he spent on the production of the documentary film.    

And the Nominees Are.....

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

November 3, 2014

Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

Oh, what a party it’s going to be!  The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is holding its 100th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet this Thursday, November 6th at Germanna Daniel Technology Center. This centennial gala is shaping up to be a grand celebration of the organization’s accomplishments and contributions to Culpeper.  Following our delicious meal and the telling of the Chamber’s story, the evening will culminate with presentations of business and individual awards - always a high point of the evening.

Historically, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce recognizes businesses and individuals for their leadership, integrity, contributions to our community and Culpeper’s economic vitality.   We have received an unprecedented number of nominees in all categories.  Certainly a positive indicator of the vibrancy of Culpeper.  Thank you to everyone that submitted a nomination.  The Selection Committee was given an arduous task of narrowing down the lists of deserving nominees to one recipient for each category.  It was a responsibility they did not take lightly.  

We are pleased to announce the following nominations for the business categories -

Nominated for Large Business of the Year (50 or more employees) are Cintas, Epiphany Catholic School and Home Instead Senior Care.  Nominees for Small Business of the Year are Shear Artistry, Harriet’s General, Culpeper Salvage, Association of Social Work Boards, Ole Country Store and Bakery, RE/MAX Crossroads, Atheneans, The Pharmacy of Culpeper, Counseling Interventions, Top Shelf Cleaning Services, Integrity Automotive, MedExpress Urgent Care, Appleton Campbell, White Dove Studios, Clevenger’s Corner Veterinary Care, Culpeper Petroleum Cooperative - Southern States and Healthy Steps.   Nominees for Non-profit of the Year are Options, Epiphany Catholic School, Culpeper  Renaissance, Inc., Friends of the Culpeper County Library, Culpeper Regional Hospital, Omega Partnership, Cornucopia Volunteer Farm, Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, The Free Clinic of Culpeper, Praise Communications, Inc. WPRZ 88.1 - FM, Culpeper Food Closet, Soap Box Derby of Culpeper and Hospice of the Rapidan.

Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Professional of the Year and the L.B. Henretty Memorial Outstanding Citizen of the Year will each recognize one person for their specific contributions.  These categories received a record number of nominees as well.  Another daunting task for the Selection Committee.

Congratulations to all nominees!  We trust you are honored to have been acknowledged as a business or organization that exemplifies the outstanding qualities worthy of recognition.  

Small Business Saturday

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

October 27, 2014

Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

‘The only certainty in life is death and taxes’, was a constant statement made to me by my father during my teen years. I am certain my dear old dad was trying to teach me a life lesson of independence but all I heard was the death part which totally freaked me out.  Taxes meant nothing to me at the time.  Oh, how blissfully ignorant I was!

This article is not an attempt to extol the virtues or non-virtues of taxation but rather a supportive argument for spending your hard earned dollars locally.   It goes without saying, tax revenue is necessary for the support of roads, infrastructure, libraries, law enforcement,  schools and parks.  Without these amenities the quality of life in our community would suffer.  Tax revenue in Culpeper County and the Town of Culpeper come from many sources.  Let’s focus on sales tax revenue because we all have reasonable control on where we spend our dollars.  

In Virginia, the general sales tax rate is 5.3%.  For every dollar spent in Culpeper on taxable goods or services, 5.3 cents is collected from the consumer and paid by the business to the Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth in turn sends 1 cent back to Culpeper.  According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, Culpeper’s sales from August 2014 generated $611,710.56 in tax revenue for our community.  That is a lot of pennies!  You as a consumer and resident can easily have a positive effect on this figure - simply choose to spend more of your dollars in Culpeper.  As long as you are in Virginia, you will be paying the 5.3% sales tax - why not spend it locally?  It just makes good ‘cents’!

With the holiday season fast approaching, consider this concept.  Direct more of  your holiday dollars to Culpeper businesses.  Not only will your tax dollars come back to our community, but you will be supporting the many businesses that create our unique quality of life.  From the corner gas station and grocery store, to Culpeper’s  retailers and restaurants, both small and large - the dollars you spend in Culpeper are directly related to the tax revenue that comes back to our community.

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce and Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. will be promoting and supporting Small Business Saturday on November 29th - a program founded by American Express to help small business owners get more customers and to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses.  The program had its start in 2010 and is now  a holiday shopping tradition. Many local businesses will be participating. It will be the perfect time for you to start directing your dollars to our local businesses.     

      

Ribbon Cutting at Open House

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

October 20 , 2014

Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce is always excited to host a ribbon cutting celebration for any  of our members.  It is a symbolic gesture signaling a new beginning - an opening of a new business, a milestone anniversary or a new location.  

This past Thursday, the tables were turned as the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce, hosted its own ribbon cutting.  Our new location on Sperryville Pike gave us a reason to celebrate.  The Chamber’s doors were open all day to allow members and the community to get a peek at the results of this year long project.  

(photo credit: Vincent Vala/Star-Exponent)

We would be remiss if we did not recognize the many members that generously donated to our festive occasion.   Thank you to Randy’s Flowers and Endless Creations Flowers & Gifts for the beautiful floral arrangements throughout our offices.  Thank you to the following members for the delicious food served throughout the day; Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Atheneans Restaurant, The Ole Country Store, Radishes and Roses Cafe & Catering, Moving Meadows Farm, Luigi’s Restaurant, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Shawn’s Smokehouse BBQ, Pancho Villa Restaurant and the Culpeper County Public Schools Culinary Arts Program.     

The Chamber staff and Board of Directors wish to thank all the members, family and friends that joined us for our day of celebration.  We are proud of this accomplishment and appreciate your support and enthusiasm.

With our symbolic cutting of the ribbon, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce renews it commitment to be ‘the voice of the business community, working to promote, build, and support the most effective climate for economic development’.  We look forward to continuing this mission as we enter our next century of service.  

Another Jewel in Culpeper’s Crown

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

October 13, 2014

By:  Debbie Stohlman, Acting President/CEO

Throughout this year’s Lead Culpeper program our participants have been introduced to many facets of Culpeper.  The sessions are designed to offer a unique perspective on our community with an emphasis on economic development and quality of life.   This column has served as a diary of the group’s journey, highlighting the many ‘wow’ moments along the way.

Our most recent gathering was hosted by our healthcare community - the newly named UVA Culpeper Hospital.  While the day’s activities centered around the plethora of services offered and the recent merger with the University of Virginia Health System, the one big takeaway of the day was passion.

The session’s agenda was full - each minute carefully allocated so our participants would not miss out on any aspect of this wellness-centric organization.  Each person that stood before us spoke with passion and dedication regarding their role in serving the health needs of Culpeper.  We could not help but find comfort in knowing that Culpeper is in good hands.  

This enthusiasm and zeal was expressed from the top down.   Greg Napps, CEO, UVA Culpeper Hospital, opened our session with a presentation of facts and figures - certainly important in laying the day’s ground work.  Adding to that, he wrapped up with a leadership lesson on setting your personal moral compass and using it to guide you through difficult decisions.  

And so began our day...person after person passionately sharing the mission of their department’s role.  From volunteers to department heads, to physicians and administrators and board members - the message was clear - they are here to serve Culpeper’s health needs and they love doing it.

Rest easy, Culpeper.  UVA Culpeper Hospital is here to stay.  They are committed to our community; they are committed to serving your family; they are committed to serving you.  And their commitment is personal and passionate - what more can we, as a community, ask for?    

UVA Culpeper Hospital - another jewel in Culpeper’s crown.