A Small World After All
Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

I was pleased to participate as an invited guest in the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum – Americas in Washington, D.C., recently. A dozen nations were represented in discussions of the challenges shared regionally as well as globally. The themes of “Governance and Service Transformations,” “Economic Development,” and “Education” were explored as not only challenges facing government but as greater opportunities for partnerships between the public and private sectors. Representatives of countries in South and Central America were a majority of the participants.

Discussions were prompted by an outstanding group of speakers that included, of course, Bill Gates, and General Colin Powell, and governors, ministers, and leaders from governments throughout the Americas. Governor Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky who has training as an engineer as well as a medical doctor told about his hopes for his E-Health bill to convert health care in his state from a sickness to a wellness model, to eliminate preventable medical errors and to convert health care from the last paper-based industry to electronic records. Governor Anibal Acevedo Vilá of Puerto Rico looked for government service transformations in his country through electronic means to improve the quality of life for all residents. The Secretary of the Ministry of Education Gabriel Chalita of the São Paolo State of Brazil seeks teachers who are challengers and leaders of their students “to help students find their own path.” He encouraged the use of students to teach their parents to use computers. Maria Isabel Majia Jaramillo, Executive Director of Computadores para Educar Program in Colombia, oversaw the reconditioning of 79,000 used computers for use in educational programs.

The challenges as well as the solutions were not unlike many I have heard from discussions about the digital divide in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Forum provided an excellent means of sharing hopes, understanding each others’ challenges, and discovering solutions from others regardless of how far away.

My schedule did not permit me to stay to hear the very last speaker, Bill Gates, but the Microsoft solution of partnering was evident throughout the Forum. I did get to hear General Colin Powell speak and to meet him. It is immediately evident why both political parties have courted him as a possible presidential candidate. While most of his remarks were about qualities of leadership applicable in all fields, he did offer a clearly strongly-held opinion that America as the wealthy nation that we are does not do enough to help the developing nations of the world. Peace he sees coming about when nations realize they have more to gain through economic rather than military power.

The first person I met at the conference is the president of an Australian company that is a Microsoft partner. Her office is in Reston. It is a small world after all.

Announcements

An advisory panel of transportation experts and policy-makers will review two detailed proposals to develop, finance, design and construct new high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes from Fairfax County into Stafford County. Both proposals would widen the existing two high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95/395 in Northern Virginia to three high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and extend the HOT lanes to Route 17 in Stafford County. Both proposals would also connect the HOT lanes to the Capital Beltway, known as Phase 8 of the Springfield Interchange. The proposals will be reviewed during the following meetings, which are open to the public. Each meeting may be televised on its county’s cable network. Public comments will be accepted at the September 14, 2005 meeting. Each meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. as follows:

• July 12 2005 – Stafford County Board of Supervisors, Stafford County Administrative Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford
• July 26, 2005 – Arlington County Board of Supervisors, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
• September 14 2005 - Prince William County Board of Supervisors, McCoart Administration Building, 1 Count Complex Court, Prince William, VA (public comments accepted at this meeting)
• October 11, 2005 – Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA

Do you know about Senior Navigator? It is a great website and resource for the general population but is particularly helpful to senior citizens. Visit www.seniornagivator.org to make it your fast, free resource for seniors and those who care for them. This month’s e-quicktip deals with protecting your skin and the dangers of direct sun on the skin. According to Senior Navigator, you can improve your chances of identifying precancerous skin conditions and skin cancer by performing simple skin self-exams regularly. The earlier you identify signs and see a dermatologist, the greater the chances for successful treatment. It is never too late to protect yourself from harmful effects of the sun. Visit Senior Navigator to find out how.

Sign up for the upcoming Volunteer Fairfax Training Workshop. There is still space available for the technology training on June 23, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, 1763 Fountain Drive, Reston. Focus is on using the Internet to your advantage to reach volunteers, exploring various ways to make your website more meaningful to volunteers, and potential issues with e-mail. Learn how technology can work best for you and how to partner with regional IT professionals willing to make a meaningful contribution. For information contact Erin Whyte at 703.246.3460 ext. 7, or ewhyte@volunteerfairfax.org.

Nominations are being accepted for Fairfax County’s Barbara Varon Volunteer Award, which recognizes a county resident whose dedication to improving the community through volunteer service honors the memory of Barbara Varon, former chair of the Fairfax County Electoral Board. Varon, a native of Germany, immigrated to America as an adult and was devoted to her adopted land. As a world traveler who could speak several languages, she worked as a translator. Joining the General Registrar’s Office, she was committed to a voter registration outreach program for high school students. Using her linguistic skills, she wrote brochures and designed pamphlets to inform the voting public. Varon and her husband, Ben, generously donated their time to many volunteer organizations and frequently made generous anonymous donations to those in need. Varon fought for the rights and privileges of all citizens to participate in the electoral process. The Board of Supervisors has memoralized her accomplishments through this award to recognize volunteer efforts enriching Fairfax County. Nominations must be received by September 16. To qualify for the award, nominees must live in Fairfax County, demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of the community’s population, exhibit patriotism, show evidence of having a positive effect on the community, and be known for encouraging others to do the same. Applications are available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/oep/bvaronapp.pdf, or by calling the Office of Equity Programs at 703.324.2207, TTY 703.222.5494. Applications must include, in 200 words or less, the nominee’s qualifications, the unique nature of the volunteerism, how and what was accomplished and the length of time served in each volunteer activity.

Virginia’s wine industry is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the state. In 1979, there were six wineries. By 1994, the number had grown to 43. Today, there are 92 wineries and 264 vineyards in Virginia, producing more than 3,700 tons of wine grapes each year. Virginia wine sales contribute more than $8 million a year in state and local tax revenue and support more than 1,000 full- and part-time jobs. Virginia has grown to 10th in the nation in terms of grape production, bringing in $50 million in sales and 500,000 winery tourists each year. That’s excellent news for the wineries, and for Virginia’s economy. For more information about Virginia’s wine industry, visit www.virginiawines.org.

Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services has joined forces with Capitol Financial Partners to bring Girls’ Financial Literacy programming to the Washington Metropolitan area. On June 29 they will hold the first-ever “Reality Store” for teenaged girls in the metro area. During this special half-day event, teenaged girls will have the opportunity to experience the financial realities of adulthood by assuming the role of a 25-year-old woman. Each girl will randomly receive an occupation and the associated monthly income for our area and a family situation such as living alone, being a single parent, or being married with three children. She will then have several hours to make financial decisions about how to live her life. Contact Annette Summers at als@giuffrida.org or 202.547.6340 for more information or register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec/gft.htm.

You will note in the calendar below that I have scheduled my State of the Commonwealth Business Breakfast for Thursday, June 30, 8:00 a.m., at the Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston. At this event I give my assessment of where we are in Virginia and where we need to be headed. It is a candid, no-holds-barred discussion! Let us know if you would like to attend. It is also a campaign fundraiser. Call 703.758.9733 for information.