October 24, 2007

COMMENTARY

My Mom and Dad were young adults during the Great Depression. They learned out of necessity to be very conserving and resourceful. Their experiences on the homefront during World War II amplified these lessons as materials needed to be saved for the war effort.  Census takers may have classified my family as poor, but we really got along okay because we were able to make do with what we had. I learned a lot of practical lessons growing up in such a household.

I guess that is why I feel so at home with the current shift in attitude as part of the "green" movement. Reduce your use of energy whenever possible, reuse items rather than throwing them away, and recycle any product that can be recycled are part of a lifestyle I learned early in life.

In a recent column I wrote about the Virginia Energy Plan (www.governor.virginia.gov/TempContent/2007_VA_Energy_Plan-Full_Document) with its emphasis on energy saving in state government. I was able to get an energy conservation requirement in the electricity restructuring bill passed this last session and being implemented by the State Corporation Commission (www.scc.virginia.gov). With all that is happening in government I may be even more enthused with what is happening in the private sector.

Authors Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston and their book, Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage (Yale University Press, 2006) inspired the Greater Washington Board of Trade to devote its 2007 Potomac Conference to the business advantages of going green. The Conference "Green as a Competitive Advantage: Advancing a Regional Leadership Agenda for the Environment" will be held October 29-30 in Washington, D.C. (www.bot.org). The keynote speaker will be Andrew Winston. As written in his book, "no company can afford to ignore green issues. Those who manage them with skill will build stronger, more profitable, longer-lasting businesses – and a healthier, more livable planet." And the authors point out that cutting-edge companies are establishing an "eco-advantage" in the marketplace as "traditional elements of competitive differentiation fade in importance."

Recently Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger announced formation of the Energy Efficiency Partnership of Greater Washington (www.eep.ncr.vt.edu) with the goal "to turn the metropolitan D.C. area into one of the nation's leading green cities." More than $500 million will be invested over five years to make energy saving upgrades in various properties. The private-sector investment will be recovered from the savings on electricity and other energy costs. Reston International Center will be one of the first buildings to be made more energy efficient.

Companies in the United States are having to hustle to catch up with businesses in other countries especially in Europe on being environmentally friendly. Another conference on November 11-14 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, "EE Global Forum and Exposition," sponsored by the Alliance to Save Energy, will reflect the international aspects of the green movement (www.eeglobalforum.org).

For those of us who have been involved in the environmental movement from our youth when we were being expedient in conserving and saving to today when we drive a hybrid car and recycle with a passion, the ultimate motivator to really move this effort forward may have been discovered. We need to show how green can be turned into gold.

Constituent Survey – 2008 General Assembly Session

Please take a moment to complete my annual Constituent Survey. Your responses to questions about current issues will help me as I prepare for the 2008 General Assembly Session. Take the survey by clicking on the following link. Thank you in advance for sharing your views.

Click here to start.

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

Tuesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 31 at 10:30 p.m. – Krysta Jones, Founder and Chair of Virginia Leadership Institute – "Expanding Our Political Opportunities"

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

Track political campaign contributions and expenditures at www.vpap.org.

For information on working regionally to promote economic and social justice through the Washington Regional Equity Network (WREN), visit www.washingtonregionalequity.net or call 202.870.2046.

Dulles Rail Now!, a coalition of business, organizations, and individuals who support the expeditious federal approval of the Dulles Metrorail Project and the beginning of construction in 2008, is being organized by the Dulles Corridor Rail Association and its chairman, Delegate Kenneth R. Plum.  To view members of the coalition or to sign on as a member, go to www.dullescorridorrail.com/dullesrailnow.htm.

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

Comments on proposed regulations and design standards that would be used to manage where vehicles turn on to or off of state highways will be accepted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) until 5:00 p.m. on October 29, 2007.  Comments may be submitted via email to access comments@VDOT.Virginia.gov, through VDOT's web site at www.virginiadot.org/projects/accessmgt/default.asp or by mail to Paul Grasewicz, VDOT Asset Management Division, 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA  23219.

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia is accepting applications for its political leaders and its candidate training programs.  For more information, visit www.sorenseninstitute.org.

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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

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.

The Fairfax Connector Accessibility Day is scheduled for October 27, 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. This event will give people with disabilities practical information about how to access the many transportation options, programs and services that are available in Fairfax County. To find out more, contact Denis Paddeu, Fairfax County Department of Transportation, at 703.324.1439 or TTY 703.324.1102 or email Denis.Paddeu@FairfaxCounty.gov. Information is also available on the Web at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dsb.

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.

Delegate Ken Plum, Senator Janet Howell, and Supervisor Cathy Hudgins have scheduled a public meeting for representatives of the Reston Citizens Association to present their proposal for incorporation of Reston as a town on Tuesday, October 30, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, 1763 Fountain Drive, Reston.

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.

The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) will hold an advocacy training workshop on November 17, 2007, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to provide tips on how to advocate for conservation. The workshop will be held at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale (just inside the Beltway at the Annandale/Little River Turnpike east exit). There is no charge. Reply to Virginia at info@asnv.org or call 703.256.6895 by October 26.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

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