October 17, 2007

COMMENTARY

Just last week we celebrated Columbus Day recognizing the exploits of Christopher Columbus whose courageous voyage in 1492 is credited with proving the world is round. Two years ago in a national bestseller, Thomas L. Friedman in his history of the twenty-first century, The World is Flat, set out to prove that while the earth may be round the economies of the nations of the world operate as though the world is flat. Enhanced worldwide telecommunications, transportation systems, trade, out-sourcing and other factors have contributed to a globalization of the economies of the world to create an interdependence that puts all nations on a flat plane.

Evidence of the flat earth abounds in the Commonwealth and in our region. Several weeks ago Volkswagen announced the location of its North American headquarters to Herndon. Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg, Germany, is Europe's largest automaker and the world's fourth largest producer of passenger cars. The CEO of the new headquarters said the Northern Virginia location "is convenient to vitally important markets for all our brands." The new headquarters will also house Audi of America.

The $100 million investment creating 400 jobs by Volkswagen will help Governor Kaine meet his goal to increase foreign direct investment in the Commonwealth to 3,000 jobs and $300 million per year while increasing Virginia's exports by seven percent by 2010. Earlier in the summer the Governor launched the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), a coalition of companies coordinating their international marketing efforts (www.vitalforva.org).

Just as Virginia's ports opened the New World to trade centuries ago, its natural harbors are key to Virginia's role in a flattened world. Recently the Port of Virginia announced that it has the fastest transit time between the United States and the Arabian Gulf. The outbound transit time between Virginia and Jebel Ali is 18 days. About seven percent of the port's export container trade goes to that region. In another part of the world, the Virginia Port Authority has signed a formal agreement with port officials in Xiamen, China, to jointly promote trade, logistics, and business opportunities between the ports. More than 100 Virginia business and government leaders went on a trade mission to India earlier this year. There are numerous other examples of Virginia's strong trading connections throughout the world.

Friedman, who started all the talk about a flat earth, will be one of the headliners at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority's National Conference on the Creative Economy, October 24-25, 2007, at Tysons Corner. Also speaking will be Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, and Alvin Toffler who wrote Future Shock. For more information on the conference go to www.creativeeconomies.org. There is a registration fee.

Evidence abounds that Virginia is a major contributor to the global economy in the private business and trade sectors. Whether Virginia's governmental institutions and political leaders can appropriately adjust to the reality of a global economy remains to be seen.

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

Tuesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 24 at 10:30 p.m. – Jeremy Farber, PC Recycler, Inc. – "Recycling for our Safety, Security, and the Environment"

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

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Best of Reston Awards. Deadline is October 31, 2007. More information is at www.restoninterfaith.org.

Congratulations to Dr. Lynn DeLacy, director of Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, for being named the 2007 Psychiatric Nurse of the Year by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. The Nurse of the Year award represents the highest annual distinction given by the association.

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) invites public comments on a proposal by Dominion Virginia Power to conduct nine pilots that would test energy efficiency conservation efforts, and demand response/load management initiatives. Dominion's application and accompanying materials maybe viewed at www.scc.virginia.gov/caseinfo.htm. Interested persons desiring to submit comments electronically may do so at the SCCs website, www.scc.virginia.gov/caseinfo.htm.

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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 today.

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

Reston Environmental Action (REACT), a non-profit organization promoting environmentally sound lifestyle choices, is holding its annual meeting tonight, 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.

Participate in the Storm Drain Marking Project for the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday, October 20, 9:00 a.m. at the Reston Association's main office parking lot, 1930 Isaac Newton Square. RSVP to Ha Brock at 703.435.7986 or email habrock@reston.org.

A Community Walk to End Homelessness will be held on Sunday, October 21, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston. Register at www.restoninterfaith.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.

Enjoy Virginia Indian Heritage Day on Saturday, November 3, at the Jamestown Settlement. There will be family activities throughout the day including children's crafts and hands-on activities, Virginia Indian Heritage dancing, and an evening lecture by W. Richard West. Visit www.historyisfun.org for more information.

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 www.ChesapeakeLandscape.org for 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 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.

The Fairfax League of Women Voters' Reston evening unit will meet at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne on Wednesday, 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.

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.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

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