October 10, 2007

COMMENTARY

One of the surprises I had after my first election to the House of Delegates in 1977 was the limited amount of information available to me and to the public on the programs and services of state government. There was no handbook or guide or directory of state agencies and their functions. The best reference book available at the time was a paperback published by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce that described in textbook style the major departments and functions of state government.

Over the next decade I and the persons who worked with me started gathering information that was helpful to us as we responded to constituent inquiries and to me as I prepared legislative proposals. Our shoebox of index cards may have been at the time the best available source of information on state government and its functions. While the index cards were invaluable to my office and our constituent services, it became obvious that it would be valuable to others as well. That is where the idea for a printed Citizens Handbook came from. The ninth edition of my Citizens Handbook is being mailed to all voter households in my district this week.

For the first edition I found a printer in Seattle, Washington, that specialized in printing handbooks. The first two editions were printed in Seattle and mailed to voters in my district. Since that time, local print shops have developed the capacity to print small booklets economically. This edition is printed next door in Sterling. The first editions were one color – black ink. Later editions added a second spot color, and the two most recent editions sport a full-color cover.

The nature of the contents has changed as well. The first editions put emphasis on the postal address and phone numbers because that is the way business was conducted. Later, fax numbers were added as the new machines became available as a way to speed up communication. The most utilized information in the most recent additions is probably the web site. Virginia government and its agencies have some highly acclaimed web sites based on their design, ease of use, and the extent of business that can be conducted on the Internet.

Contributions by individuals and businesses make it possible for me to print and mail about 20,000 copies of the Handbook. Persons who have not received a copy by the end of this week should send an e-mail to kenplum@aol.com or call 703.758.9733 in the mornings to request a copy. Additional copies are available for households and businesses upon your request.

State government is a lot more open and accessible today than it was in the 1970's. I like to think that my work and my Citizens Handbook had something to do with opening up Virginia government.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

View Delegate Plum’s Virginia Report online at http://www.rctv28.com/videosVR.htm.

Tonight – Wednesday, October 10 at 10:30 p.m. – Russ Monllos and Tom Pecoraro of Students, Adults, Faculty, Educating Drivers (S.A.F.E-D.) – "Preventing Teen Driving Tragedies"

Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 17 at 10:30 p.m. – Bruce Wright, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) – "Biking and Enjoying a More Livable Community"

Re-Election Campaign

Ken is a candidate for re-election to the House of Delegates on November 6, 2007. To ask Ken a question about the issues, e-mail kenplum@aol.com. To contribute electronically to his campaign, go to www.kenplum.com.

Announcements

The Reston Citizens Association has provided a response to my column, "Local Governance Sought." Go to www.restoncitizensassociation.org/press/corrigan10507.htm.

Want to recycle an old computer, television, or other electronics? Visit www.pcrecycler.net to learn how.

The Virginia Performs website (www.VAperforms.virginia.gov) is an easy-to-use portal to informaton about the quality of life in our Commonwealth and the performance of its state government. Discover how Virginia is doing on the economy; education; health and family; public safety; natural, historic, and cultural resources; government and citizens; and transportation.

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ABSENTEE VOTING:

In Person Absentee Voting is available NOW at the Office of Elections, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax. In Person Absentee Voting will also be available at Fairfax County's seven satellite locations including the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, beginning Wednesday, October 17.

You can also vote absentee by mail, but you must submit an application for an absentee ballot by October 30 at 6:00 p.m. It is recommended that you send in your application well ahead of the October 30 deadline to guarantee that you will receive your absentee ballot in time to vote and return it before the November 6 election. All mailed absentee ballots must be received in the Electoral Board office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for information about Absentee Voting and to download an application to vote absentee.

Calendar of Events

The Fairfax League of Women Voters will address the topic of immigration at its meetings in October and November at 12 locations throughout Fairfax County. The League's study materials and discussions which are part of the organization's nationwide look at the topic this fall, will help establish the League's position on legislative proposals affecting immigration and immigrants at all governmental levels. The Reston evening unit will meet at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne on Wednesday nights, October 10 and November 14, at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome. Study materials for the meetings can be found at www.LWV-fairfax.org. Call 703.319.4114 for more information.

The James River Green Building Council will present "Re-Nature by Design: Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder in Our Communities" on Friday, October 12, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. More information about the symposium can be found at www.jrgbc.org.

THE RESTON HOME TOUR – Showcasing Reston's Savory Style on October 13, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Enjoy a self-guided tour of five extraordinary private homes in Reston's unique neighborhoods. Ticket Prices: Until October 5, $20; October 6-13, $30; Groups of 10 or more, $20 each. Tickets are now on sale at Reston Museum and more Reston venues posted on www.restonmuseum.org.

This year's Commonwealth of Virginia Energy & Sustainability (COVES) Conference will be held on October 16-18 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Visit www.covesva.org for registration and conference details.

Reston Environmental Action (REACT), a non-profit organization promoting environmentally sound lifestyle choices, is holding its annual meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. For more information, visit www.restonenvironmentalaction.org or call 703.620.0151.

National Constitutional Convention: A Call to Reform, a national conversation on the U.S. Constitution and needed changes, is sponsored by the University of Virginia Center for Politics and will be held on October 19 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Register at www.centerforpolitics.org.

The "2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy – Successful Companies, Engaged Communities" will be held October 24-25 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Speakers include Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class; Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat; and Alvin Toffler, author of Future Shock. Register at www.creativeeconomies.org.

Join friends, family, and colleagues for a community-wide day of service on Saturday, October 27, for the annual VolunteerFest 2007 sponsored by Volunteer Fairfax. Help make your community a better place and join more than 600 individuals who will volunteer at schools, nonprofits, libraries, and parks in Fairfax County. For more information and to sign up, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.

The Virginia Climate Action Conference will be held on Saturday, October 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Clark Hall at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Go to www.VaClimateAction.org to register or for more information.

The Greater Washington Board of Trade's 2007 Potomac Conference will be "Green as a Competitive Advantage" held on Monday, October 29, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, and on Tuesday, October 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC. This conference will gather regional business, government, and civic leaders to develop a regional leadership agenda that positions our region at the forefront of sustainability, environmental protection, and "green" business. Call 202.857.5970 or visit www.bot.org.

Attend the Family Day Care Provider Professional Development Conference on Tuesday, October 30, at the Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. For more information visit www.infanttoddler.com.

The Center for Multicultural Human Services presents "We Are America Now: A Celebration of Immigrant Contributions to our Community" on Friday, November 2, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the McLean Hilton. Visit www.cmhs.org for information about nominations for leadership awards to be presented at this event and to register.

Teen Driving SafeD Day – "One Day to Save the Rest of the Days of Your Life" – will take place Saturday, November 3, at the Fairfax County Government Center. Federal, state, local, and private agencies and organizations will be setting up displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and be presenting seminars to teens and their parents on the issues relating to teen driving safety. Visit www.TeenDrivingSafeD.org for more information.

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council will host a one-day regional conference, "Turning a New Leaf," on Friday, November 9, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College's Annandale campus. The conference will feature tracks on conservation landscapes, green development, and creative stormwater management. Topics include eco-friendly lawns, native alternatives to traditional plantings, backyard forests, rain gardens, stream restoration techniques, and public-private partnerships for green development.  Registration has begun. Visit chesapeakelandscape.org for more details.

The Virginia Recycling Association will hold its Annual Meeting of the Members on Friday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. To join the VRA and/or register for the Annual Meeting, visit www.varecycles.org or call the VRA at 804.302.4231.

Citizens may review and comment on potential ("candidate") transportation projects and programs to be included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board's Six-Year Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2014. The meeting will be held on November 13, 6:00 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Contact Laura Southard at Laura.Southard@VDOT.Virginia.gov or call 804.370.8109 for more information.

Attend the "Development and Urban Forest: Discovering Common Ground" conference on Friday, November 16, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Algonkian Conference Center at Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Driver, Sterling, VA. For registration information, contact Becky Woodson at becky.woodson@dot.virginia.gov.

A Race for the Kids with American mile record holder Alan Webb, former Reston resident, will be held on Friday, November 23 at 7:30 a.m. prior to the Reston Holiday Parade with proceeds benefiting Neediest Kids. Visit www.neediestkids.org for sponsorship and registration information. There is no entry fee.

Enjoy the 17th Annual Reston Holiday Parade on Friday, November 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Reston Town Center. This year's parade theme is "Virginia's 400th Anniversary, Tales of Adventure!" The parade will make its way around the Town Center amid huge balloons, musical groups, dancers, antique cars, entertainment, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. The history and adventure of this year's theme offers a variety of fun and creative ways to involve everyone.

Visits with Santa follow the Parade activities on November 23 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Watch as Santa and Mrs. Claus magically light up Reston Town Center and the holiday tree, then sing along with the Reston Chorale and brass quintet, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Horse Drawn Carriage Rides will be available from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at $5 per person with riders 5 and under free. All proceeds benefit Volunteer Fairfax.

Attend the 7th Annual "New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities" event on February 7-9, 2008, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registration has begun this month at www.NewPartners.org.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191