Virginia E-News October 4, 2005

As fall approaches, more invitations arrive daily in the mail from advocacy groups who want to meet with state legislators to present the needs of the individuals they represent. These meetings are important. They provide vital information needed by legislators in making decisions. They provide an understanding of the interests of various segments of the population. The challenge to legislators comes in determining wherein is the public interest and how limited resources should be applied to meet needs that have merit to their advocates.

Last week the Northern Virginia Aging Network had legislators to breakfast at Greenspring Village Retirement Community, the beautiful home to more than 2100 retirees in Springfield. The Network is made up of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare (NCPSSM), and TLC 4 Long Term Care (TLC4LTC). The Network’s constituents are members of these various organizations as well as the professionals who work in the field.

We are living longer as reflected in census data. The 2000 census showed a 14 percent growth in the age 60+ population since 1990. The projected growth by 2010 is expected to be 32 percent. Nearly one in five persons in the state will be over age 60 in 2025. A strong impact on the system will be felt in 2011 when the baby boomers hit retirement age.

The mission for the various aging organizations including the Virginia Area Agencies on Aging that provide programs is to help older persons live with dignity and choices in their lives and communities for as long as possible and to enhance elder rights (www.TheV4A.org). The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging is at www.Fairfaxcounty.gov/services/aaa or call 703.324.5411.

Not unexpectedly the Aging Network has identified the need for additional resources. Programs were cut during the recession by over $2 million, and only about half that amount has been restored. Independent studies have shown that the need for home-delivered meals rose by nine percent last year to 1,815,036. It would take an additional $7.3 million to meet the need. Similar funding needs exist for senior transportation and mental health services. Volunteers and faith-based organizations play important roles in helping seniors, but they cannot come close to meeting the needs alone.

The need is not simply for money. TLC 4 Long Term Care (www.tlc4ltc.org) founded by my friend Jan Clemente advocates for minimum safe staffing standards for direct care workers in nursing homes. Virginia is one of only 13 states without such standards. Press disclosures of conditions in long term care facilities in Virginia have dramatically shown the need for standards.

Legislators left the breakfast better informed with a set of challenges to be met. Certainly we want for others the same thing we want for ourselves in being able to age gracefully.

Delegate Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum has been endorsed for re-election by the Virginia Education Association Political Action Committee (VEA-PAC).

In endorsing Plum, VEA-PAC Chair and VEA President Princess Moore told Plum, “We thank you for being a public education advocate.” Plum has consistently had one of the highest pro-public education records in the state legislature.

Plum taught in Fairfax County Public Schools before becoming director of adult education. He retired after nearly 30 years of service. Plum’s wife, Jane, was a public school teacher before becoming director of a pre-school. Two of his children are teachers.

“There is no more important function of government than education” Plum said.

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum was presented the Mental Health Community Contributor Award by the Fairfax-Falls Church Mental Health Advocacy Community at the Mental Health Awareness Week Conference recently.

Renée Alberts, Chair of the Mental Health Services Committee of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, presented Plum a plaque that was inscribed, “For his leadership and contributions to enhancing the lives of individuals with mental health needs.”

Make sure your voice is heard on November 8. Be sure you are registered to vote. Tuesday, October 11 is the deadline for voter registration. Register at the Fairfax County Government Center, Suite 323, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax 22035. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for more information.

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the initial team from five Northern Virginia jurisdictions deployed to New Orleans September 13-15 that returned home last week. The team, responding to a request from the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, is part of the Northern Virginia region’s continued coordinated response to the area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Drawing from all levels of government, the team has been assisting city officials in New Orleans in staffing their emergency operations center and assisted with a variety of emergency management functions including command and control, planning, logistics, finance, and operations. A 19-member team representing Northern Virginia jurisdictions was deployed on September 26 to replace the initial team.

Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the preeminent monitor of hate groups and extremist activity in the United States, will be at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg, VA on Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. His appearance at Heritage High School is part of the “One Book, One Community” program. Tickets are free and are available on a first come, first served basis. The SPLC’s projects include the Intelligence Project, which tracks the activities of over 700 racist, neo-Nazi, and other hate groups. Twenty-nine of those groups are based in Virginia. Teaching Tolerance, a curriculum that promotes respect for differences and appreciation of diversity among young people, is another SPLC project. Teaching Tolerance reaches 600,000 educators and provides pragmatic ideas and materials for empowering students and combating intolerant behavior that can be implemented in the classroom. Tickets to hear Morris Dees can be reserved by calling 703.737.8879.

The Hispanic Committee of Virginia’s Annual Gala is this Friday, October 7 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington. The Cultural Auction and Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m., with dinner and an awards program at 7:30 p.m. Dancing featuring Orquesta Latin Soul is 9:30 until midnight. Cost is $120 per person; cash bar; black tie optional. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.hcva.org or call 703.671.5666 x 138.

The Equity Office presents “Kids in Music,” a classical piano benefit concert, on Saturday, October 8, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Donations will be collected for the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. Kids in Music is a nonprofit organization that presents concerts free of charge around the Washington Metropolitan area. The young pianists, ages 6-15, have presented concerts and solo recitals at shopping malls, retirement centers, schools, and many other venues. The pianists will be playing a Kennedy Center caliber repertoire. These young artists complete on regional and national levels, so the quality of music will be exceptional. The performers refer to themselves as “Warriors” and therefore the concert name, “Warriors to the Rescue.” Piano Craft has joined Kids in Music by providing a magnificent concert grand for the October 8 concert. Bright Moves, a traveling billboard, is donating promotion. Ben and Jerry’s, coming soon to Reston Town Center, will be on site selling ice cream and donating the proceeds to the cause. Clyde’s of Reston and Paolo’s Ristorante will also be participating. For additional information visit www.restontowncenter.com.

Mark your calendars for the 4^th Annual Reston House Tour, “Reston at Home” on Saturday, Ocober 15, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. This year’s “Reston at Home” will showcase seven distinctive private homes – the largest tour yet. Jane and I are so very pleased that our home on Cobblestone Lane will be one of the seven homes. Tickets, $20 in advance, are available now at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Village Center. Tickets will also be sold at Small Change and at the Reston Regional Library on October 1^st and 8^th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Telephone ticket orders will be accepted on the “Reston at Home” hotline, open from August 15 until October 14, at 703.860.1000. On tour day, tickets are $25. Price includes the “Reston at Home” booklet with map, history, and illustrations by Pat MacIntyre, plus refreshments during the tour. All proceeds from “Reston at Home” benefit the Reston Museum. You can also volunteer to help host the homes during the tour. Two shifts allow time for volunteers to enjoy the tour with their free tour ticket. To register, please visit the Reston Museum at 1639 Washington Plaza at Lake Anne Village Center or call 703.709.7700 for more information. Volunteer registration forms are also available by contacting kmckee22@comcast.net.

Attend the first-ever Virginia Financial Literacy Summit on Monday, October 17, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond. The event is free and includes a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. Recent research shows the United States, including Virginia, is suffering from a decline in the level of financial literacy among its citizens. Last year, 1.6 million Americans filed for bankruptcy, indicating just how financially illiterate the country is quickly becoming. The staggering statistics don’t end there. The average family spends $1.22 for every dollar it makes, credit card debt now averages $8,000 per household, compared with $2,600 in 1989, only 32% of parents talk to their children regularly about personal finance, and only 7% of parents say their child understands financial matters well. Virginia Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (www.vajumpstart.org) cordially invites you to attend the Virginia Financial Literacy Summit on October 17. The goal of the high-profile Summit is to bring together Virginia’s key decision makers and leading proponents of financial literacy to learn about this growing epidemic and hear about possible solutions. Special speakers include Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Richmond), U.S. Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education Dan Iannicola, Jr., Virginia Treasurer Jody Wagner, Executive Director of the national Jump$tart Coalition Laura Levine, and Muriel Siebert, founder and president of the brokerage firm Siebert & Co., Inc. Visit www.vscpa.com/summit.aspx to register for the event and to review an agenda with session and speaker details.

Don’t miss the Eight Congressional District Democratic Committee’s Annual Kennedy-King Dinner on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at the Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington. Guest speaker will be The Honorable Patrick F. Kennedy. A reception will be at 6:00, followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. Individual tickets are $75; sponsorships are available from $250 for 2 tickets up to table purchases at $2500. Seating is limited, as tickets will go fast. Contact Scott Surovell at ssurovell@smillaw.com for ticket and sponsorship information.

The Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Expo is the signature event of the Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia. This year’s Expo will be held October 20-21 at George Mason University’s Johnson Center and will feature a terrific line-up of informative and educational workshops and a trade fair. Syndicated columnist and author Michelle Singletary (“The Color of Money”) will be the keynote luncheon speaker on October 21. Visit www.wbcnova.org for information about registration and exhibitor/ sponsorship opportunities

The 54^th Virginia Transportation Conference will be held October 26-28 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, Roanoke, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Port Authority, Virginia Department of Aviation, and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute will host the conference. This year’s them is “Virginia Transportation at the Crossroads – Investing in Mobility and Accessibility.” The multi-modal theme will offer opportunities to explore a number of solutions to the difficult transportation issues we face in Virginia. Visit www.vatransconf.org for details about speakers, sessions, and registration information.

Virginia’s first trees and utilities conference, “Look Up Virginia” will be held on Wednesday, October 26, at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gadens in Richmond. The conference is seeking to reduce tree/utility conflict by educating, influencing and encouraging people to recognize the conflict, remove problematic tree and utility situations and plant appropriately. Citizens interested in more attractive communities are encouraged to attend. General registration by October 7 is $25 and includes lunch and take-home materials. Seating is limited. For more information, call 434.220.9024.

The Comprehensive Virtual Center on Alzheimer’s Disease is a center without walls that will establish a much-needed organizational structure for coordinating purposeful activities and initiatives on Alzheimer’s and other dementing illnesses within the Commonwealth. Whenever possible, the objective is to form partnerships among groups or organizations within the Commonwealth, to take advantage of their respective talents and resources, and to advance the public health goals of Virginia. Visit www.alzpossible.org to find out more about what is being discovered to accelerate the process of finding effective interventions and new methods of care aimed at reducing disability and extending independent living for people with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Wednesday, October 5 at 10:30 p.m.– tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report’ on Comcast Channel 28 – Frank Blechman, Northern Virginia Representative of the Virginia Organizing Project – “Strategies for Social Justice.”

Tuesday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 12 at 10:30 p.m.– tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Bob Jolley, Regional Archaeologist, Virginia Department of Historic Resources – “October is Archaeology Month: Dig It!”

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