capitol connections - spring 2013 "behind the curtain"

Spring 2013

INSIDEThe Gift of Delegate Johnson—page 4

Ethical Lobbying—page 5

Photo-Id Can Increase Voter Turnout—page 10

V I R G I N I A

Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E

V I R G I N I A


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Photography courtesy of STIHL Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va.

Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, spring 20133

spring 2013 issue

The Gift of Delegate Johnson: Over Twenty Years Investing in Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Ethical Lobbying at the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Grassroots Lobbying in the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Public Safety Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

How Photo Identification can Increase Voter Turnout . . . . . . . 10

Worker Misclassification: An Epidemic Across the Country . . 11

Pay No Attention to The Men (And Women) Behind the Curtain . 12

Capitol Square Internships at David Bailey Associates . . . . . . 14

Visions of the Commonwealth: The Photography of Wanda Judd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Virginia State Park officials can now control lighting remotely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Renewing a Cause for Public Schools and Those Who Teach . 19

Increase in visitors to the General Assembly during the 2013 session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

eMediaVA: A Library That Never Closes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Girl Scouts Day at the Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Upper Mattaponi 26th Annual Pow Wow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Communities in Schools: A Worthwhile Investment for the New River Valley and Pulaski County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Career and Technical Education: Learning that works for Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

U.S. Chamber Recognizes Virginia in Top States for Innovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Design selected for the Women’s Monument in Capitol Square 25

Educational Advocacy a Focus for State Association: The Virginia School Board Association reflects on legislation, outlines future plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

In Memoriam: Tribute to Chip Woodrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

2013 General Assembly Center Aisle Presentations in House and Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Association and Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

On The Web www.vccqm.org

Internships

14

Over 20 years Investing in Education

4

Campaign Buttons

6

Photo ID

10

Behind the Curtain

12

Ethical Lobbying

5

Volume 19 Number 2

Issue Editor–Brennan Long • Editor–Kristen Bailey-Hardy Feature Writer–Lydia Freeman Publisher–David Bailey • Art Director–John Sours School Distribution–Kristen Bailey-Hardy Advertising–[email protected] • Printer– Wordsprint

Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine (ISSN 1076-4577) is published by: Virginia Capitol Connections • 1001 East Broad Street • Suite 215 Richmond, Virginia 23219 • (804) 643-5554

Copyright 2013,Virginia Capitol Connections, Inc. All rights reserved.

The views expressed in the articles of Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine, a non-partisan publication, are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.

V I R G I N I A


V I R G I N I A



“I would not have been able to go to college right after high school if it had not been for the community college system,” said Amelia, “and college is one of the most important factors in making my dreams happen.”

Delegate Johnson later became interested in government and ran for the House of Delegates in 1966. He served four years, left for nearly 20 to spend time with his family, and then returned in 1990. During his time as a delegate, Johnson was able to be highly involved in making higher education readily available to the citizens of Virginia.

Twenty-three colleges are a part of the Virginia Community College System, providing two-year vocational degrees to students throughout Virginia. According to the www.vccs.org website, 2 out of every 3 Virginia college students are attending a Virginia community college. These community colleges have agreements with over 60 four-year institutions, allowing students to easily continue their education.

Delegate Johnson is most pleased with his involvement in the following three areas: the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, the Virginia Community College System, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

“When I have had students visit in my office in Richmond, 6 out of 10 students would say that without community college, they would not have been able to go to college,” said Johnson. “When I asked if the tobacco commission scholarship fund helped students attend college, many students also raised their hands. The community college system and the Higher Education Center … these two have meant the most to me.”

Amelia Charles has many dreams: one of them being to open up a ministry in Appalachia, focusing on showing the people that they do not have to live in the cycle of poverty that has been modeled in front of them throughout their lives.

Delegate Johnson’s work in education has been foundational in the lives of many students throughout the state. This work is the highlight of his time serving in Richmond.

“I have great confidence in our young people, and I hope that our leaders step up to the plate and create opportunities for our young people,” said Johnson. “One of my goals is to create an environment of opportunities that would permit our brightest to stay in Southwest Virginia. We have a lot of capable, bright, intelligent young people and we need them to stay here and earn a decent living. Our young people should stay focused on things that are positive that create a good, wholesome, Christian environment.”

When Amelia Charles is asked what she will do with her life, she gives a sly smile: “Change the world. But I guess that’s not the answer you were looking for.”

Delegate Joe Johnson is eighty-one years old and from Southwest Virginia. Because he understands the challenges that students like Amelia are facing, he has spent much of his political career creating opportunities for every student to have access to an education through the Higher Education Center, the Virginia Community College System, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

He has helped numerous students receive an education, even when these students do not know his name. And although his time serving

Having served more than 20 consecutive years as a delegate for Virginia’s fourth district, Joe Johnson has announced that he will not be running for reelection.

Amelia Charles is 19 years old. She is from Buchannan County, an impoverished county tucked into a forgotten corner of Southwest Virginia. Opportunities are limited, jobs are hard to find, and Amelia will tell you that it’s “hard to get out.”

He grew up in Hayter’s Gap, a rural community in Southwest Virginia. His parents were tenant farmers, and that meant that they were only able to keep one-fourth of their profits. Joe Johnson grew up doing his homework by lamplight.

“We did not have electricity in our house,” said Johnson. “We did not have running water. It was during hard times just after the depression. I wanted to do something that my parents did not have the education to do. My father’s education only took him up to the fifth grade. My mother had to go to Kentucky and live with relatives to go to high school.”

Amelia Charles began her education at community college where she had received a full ride after graduating as the valedictorian of her high school. Because of the community college system, Amelia was then able to attend Bluefield College, a private, four-year, liberal arts college.

“I didn’t want to fall into the routine that most of my peers did: start working a minimum wage paying job, get married to make enough to survive, have a bunch of kids, never get out,” said Amelia.

Delegate Johnson may have grown up on a farm, but he did not want to be a farmer.

“I didn’t want to wake up at 4 a.m. milking cows,” said Johnson. “I just thought that there must be something better for me to do.”

Johnson managed to begin attending college at Emory and Henry College. Shortly after he began, he was drafted, which forced him to drop out of college for four years.

After his time in the military, Johnson was able to finish his education at Emory and Henry under the G. I. Bill of Rights. Afterwards, Johnson pursued his law degree at the University of Richmond.

Although his time in the military had interrupted his education, Johnson had no trouble returning to college.

“It was a great opportunity, and I wanted to do it,” said Johnson. “My education has meant a lot to me. I am grateful for the G. I. Bill of Rights that allowed me to attend college. My parents couldn’t have afforded it. Because of my service I was able to get the money that allowed me to finish my education.”

The Gift of Delegate Johnson: Over Twenty Years Investing in EducationBy LyDIa FrEEman

Continued on next page

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

BERNIE HENDERSONDirector for Family andCommunity Relations

[email protected]

PARHAM CHAPEL1771 Parham Road

(804) 288-3013

HUGUENOT CHAPEL1020 Huguenot Road

(804) 794-1000

ATLEE CHAPEL9271 Shady Grove Road

(804) 730-0035


In our lobbyist survey 11.86 percent of lobbyists said that they opposed a legislator’s bill in subcommittee of committee without telling the legislator before the meeting that this would occur.

17.4% percent of lobbyists said that they opposed a legislators bill in subcommittee of committee without telling the legislators before the meeting that this would occur.

36.9 percent of lobbyists thought that this was an ethical lobbying practice.

27.4 percent of lobbyists think that there should be a statutory code of ethics for lobbyists.

is coming to a close, his legacy will carry on in names like Amelia Charles as she seeks to achieve her dreams: both of ending poverty in Appalachia and changing the world.

Ethical Lobbying at the General assembly By BrEnnan LOnG

Lydia Freeman, a 2013 graduate of Bluefield College, received the following at Honors Convocation:Communication Academic Achievement Award Outstanding Academic Achievement in CommunicationEnglish Department Achievement AwardShe was also recognized as a Honors Program Scholar.

At the end of the 2013 session, David Bailey had heard rumblings around the General Assembly from legislators that said that they had been surprised when lobbyists opposed their bills in committee without previously talking to the legislators. After these incidents, we were interested to see if this was considered a normal, ethical practice from the legislator’s point of view and also from the lobbyist’s point of view. We sent out two surveys via email, one to legislators and one to lobbyists. Thirteen legislators responded to the legislator survey and 86 lobbyists responded to the lobbyist survey. We have published the data from both of the surveys here and we hope that it will help our readers gain a sense of what lobbyists and legislators consider ethical during the General Assembly.

23.1 percent of these legislators said that during the 2013 session a lobbyist opposed one of their bills in subcommittee or committee without telling them before the meeting that this would occur.

61.5 percent of these legislators said that during a prior session a lobbyist had opposed one of their bills in subcommittee or committee without telling them before the meeting that this would occur.

76.9 percent of these legislators do not think that this is an ethical practice.

100 percent of these legislators would like to be informed on the issue that is being discussed in committee before their bill is killed.

92.3 percent of these legislators think that there shouldbe an established code of ethics for lobbyists.

23.1% 76.9%

61.5% 38.5%

23.1% 76.9%

yES nOKey

100% 0%

92.3% 7.7%

11.6% 88.4%

17.4% 82.6%

36.9% 64.3%

27.4% 72.6%

Donald L. RatliffVP–Virginia Government and External Affairs

Alpha Natural ResourcesOne Alpha Place • Bristol, VA 24202P.O. Box 16429 • Bristol, VA 24209

276.619.4479 (office) • 276.623.2891 (fax) 276.275.1423 (cell) • [email protected]

www.alphanr.com

Fine Art Photographer

Seasons House on Trumpington CourtChester�eld, VA 23838-2110

[email protected]

WANDA JUDDV

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GrassrootsLobbying

in the General Assembly By mIChaEL E. BELEFSKI

Political campaigns today for the most part have abandoned the traditional celluloid button for the easy on and off temporary sticker. These ‘stick-on’ lapel stickers are the most frequently used medium of personal support in political campaigns.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, delegates, alternate delegates, guests and media attending national, state or local Democratic, Republican, or Third Party nominating conventions and general election campaigns have worn celluloid ‘pinback’ buttons of all different colors, designs and shapes to communicate their enthusiastic support for favorite political candidates and for critical issues and personal causes that they believe in attached on their clothing lapel or decorative hats.

But year after year, from January to March, political celluloid buttons remain alive and well on many citizen volunteers and lobbyists who wear their buttons when the Virginia General Assembly, the oldest continuous legislative body, is in session.

Each session, various citizen groups come from different areas of the Commonwealth with enthusiastic volunteers to lobby on the nine floors of the General Assembly Building. These volunteers frequently sport their unique buttons of choice to show their grassroots support.

David L. Bailey, publisher of the Virginia Capitol Connections Magazine notices a resurgence of the use of buttons with a variety of groups at the General Assembly. “The ability of using attractive colors and the durability of the attachment, so much better than a ‘stick-on’ enhances the delivery of the messages,” Bailey said.

“Doctors come down to lobby wearing their white coats, credit union members wear their scarves, while our car dealers, in order to distinguish them from other groups, wear their large yellow buttons saying—‘Support your hometown new car and truck dealers!’ because in almost all communities, there is a dealer that represents generations of a family business,” says Don Hull, president and CEO of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, said.

Matt Bruning, Vice President of Government Relations at the Virginia Bankers Association notes that the VBA holds an Annual Banker Day in Richmond the second day of the General Assembly session which brings in almost 400 bankers from across Virginia.

“We encourage our bankers to wear buttons that proclaim they are ‘Proud to Be a Virginia Banker’. As a show of industry unity, these buttons send the message to elected officials that bankers are proud of how they serve the same customers and communities those legislators represent. Banking has unfairly been attacked as an industry recently, so the buttons serve as a reminder that your local banker provides important services to help homeowners, businesses and families achieve their financial dreams for which bankers should rightfully be proud. It also highlights the tremendous impact banks make through their commitment to and financial support of community organizations, local charities and efforts to improve financial literacy in our schools. We’ve found it is an effective message that sparks an engaging dialogue between legislators and bankers about our industry,” Bruning said.

Political cause buttons remain mostly celluloid partially because they are produced in small quantities and used for special meetings such as one day rallies and fund raising events for profit and non-profit groups.

Depending upon critical issues every year, cause groups advocate their concerns based on national, state and local issues in their communities that effect their organizational goals.

Cause buttons are hard to acquire from volunteer civic activists visiting legislators and staff members to inform and educate their groups or organization favorable or unfavorable opinion on potential legislation.

Supporters just won’t give buttons up that easily to collectors. Volunteers are more likely to keep their buttons as a reminder of their efforts for their grassroots organization that they represent to influence legislation.

For many years, Wawa and The Retail Alliance have provided breakfast and lunch for legislators and staff for a day from their well-known tent outside the General Assembly Building. Wawa even celebrated this tradition with a 45th anniversary button!

Former Delegate Vincent F. Callahan, Jr. noted, “Buttons are a traditional American magnification of support of the cause of your choice.” Callahan, who represented the McLean area for 40 years as a member of the House of Delegates, also remarked, “You can drink from their group’s logo coffee cup but everybody sees you with their group’s cause button on.”

It is certain that many volunteer supporters and lobbyists will be back again next year promoting their cause at the General Assembly session wearing political buttons and continuing this traditional old-fashioned way of grassroots campaigning.Michael E. Belefski is President of CPC CORPORATION, a Communications and Marketing Firm specializing in Performance Management Analysis in Business, Law and Political Systems. He can be contacted at [email protected].

BELEFSKI

Groups wearing political buttons while lobbying General Assembly legislators during recent sessionsLincoln was here…againNo place like homeVADA - Support your hometown new car and truck dealers!Museums make it happen—I Love VA MuseumsProud to be a Virginia BankerMSV—White Coats on CallMuseums are the heart of VirginiaWawa—We Do It Just A Little Better!Virginia 10th Amendment Freedom BillsVirginia’s 10th Amendment Revolution— Richmond Tea PartyEqual Rights AmendmentI am the face of Public TransportationGreener. Smarter. Transit RiderBe energy Independent! Ride transitStop payday loans—36% equals 21 votesLooking out for the little guy—Virginia’s Credit UnionsVirginia Wilderness Institute—Save VWI Kids FirstHealth Care Jobs Save LivesLooking out for the Little Guy—Virginia’s Credit UnionsSpearhead Trails SWVA—Spearheading Job CreationBoys and Girls Clubs—Be GreatI’m Kissable. I don’t smoke—AHAVirginia Hemophilia FoundationClean Natural Gas VehiclesClean Energy = Virginia JobsI Love Trail Riding with AQHAWho elected the EPA?Support Tourism $2.5 = $12.5Vote Realtor PartyCertified Registered Nurse—How do you say quality anesthesia care?Shhh! Virginia Best Kept Secret … Tazewell CountyLove by the Glass—Virginia Wine & DineNational Multiple Sclerosis Society - I’m an MS ActivistNational Federation of the Blind - Braille Readers are Leaders American Dental Hygienists Association Registered Dental Hygienist—Who is cleaning your teeth? Virginia Retail Federation - Retail Survival is measured in Pennies Virginia Centers for Independent Living Virginia Nurses Association—The Power of a Nurse’s VoiceThe Arts Build Communities - Virginians for the Arts Thanks for TAGSoutheast Virginia Training Center - Save SEVTCAutism Votes in VirginiaFarm Credit Bureau I Love VCU - Alumni Association Hampton Roads REALTORS Association -IAM1 Children’s Hospital of RichmondSoutheastern Virginia Arts AssociationPatrick Henry National Memorial—Liberty or DeathAARP - American Association of Retired People I’m the NRA and I Vote! March of Dimes—March for Babies4-H Clubs of Virginia Virginia Production Alliance - Lights Action Camera!Massey Cancer Research Saves Lives! Jamestown 400th Celebration Cancer is Non-PartisanThe Sunshine CoalitionTell Dominion NO Power Towers Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers AssociationGuns Saves Lives - VCDL Build the Underground Tysons Corner TunnelVote Yes—Virginia Bonds Elect School Boards

7Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, spring 2013

V


Public Safety memorialBy SECrETary marLa DECKEr

Preparations are underway for construction of Virginia’s Public Safety Memorial, the official state monument to law enforcement, first responders and other public safety personnel. The memorial is scheduled to be built at Darden Garden between the General Assembly Building and the gates to Capitol Square in Richmond. The memorial will honor volunteer and paid public safety professionals who have died in the line of duty. It will also serve as a constant reminder of the service and sacrifice of those who make up our public safety community.

As of March 2013, 791 public safety heroes have died in the line of duty in Virginia, according to the Virginia Public Safety Foundation (VPSF), the non-profit organization coordinating memorial fundraising and construction. The names of these men and women will be engraved on the wall that will serve as the centerpiece of the memorial.

Public safety is the primary responsibility of government. Virginia is blessed with a long history of citizens willing to volunteer or make public safety a career. Our public safety professionals dedicate their lives to keep us safe and protect our property and liberties. They provide life saving care, protect us, and ensure the preservation of the rule of law. These public servants deserve our respect, admiration and thanks. When one of these true heroes makes the ultimate sacrifice and is lost in the line of duty, as a Commonwealth we must recognize that sacrifice, pay tribute, and forever honor their memory.

The site of the memorial, which is currently identified by a raised planter with grass and shrubs, was selected because of its prominence and because it will provide a daily reminder of the sacrifice of these public safety professional to all of those who visit our Capitol and General Assembly Building. In addition to the wall of names, the memorial will include a water fountain and garden, providing a serene space for visitors to the wall to reflect and pay their respects.

In May of 2012, Governor McDonnell joined the VPSF, families of the fallen and representatives from state public safety organizations to unveil the memorial design and launch the fundraising campaign to support its construction. Since that time, VPSF has raised just over half of the $1.6 million construction cost. The entire project budget, which includes funds to provide for maintenance of the memorial upon its completion, is $2 million.

“We’ve been pleased with the response from donors over the past year, and we look forward to finishing the memorial and dedicating it to these Virginia heroes,” said Memorial Fund Co-Chair and VPSF Director Jerry Kilgore, a former Virginia Attorney General. “I think all Virginians should support this effort. These men and women provide for the safe communities in which we live, work, and raise our families.”

Major donors to the Memorial Fund include Motorola Solutions Foundation, Altria Client Services, Employees of the Virginia Department of Corrections, Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, Dominion, Stafford County Board of Supervisors, Stafford Sheriff Charlie Jett, The Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia State Police Association, Harrisonburg Fire Department, National Shooting Sports Foundation, NRA Foundation, Virginia Sheriff’s Institute and Governor Bob McDonnell. Additionally, more than $300,000 has been raised from public safety agencies including 28 Virginia sheriffs and the Virginia State Police Association. Donors have an opportunity to be acknowledged with an engraved brick at the memorial sight.For more information on the memorial including a complete roster of men and women being honored there, visit www.vpsf.org. To speak with someone about supporting the Memorial Fund, contact VPSF at 804-648-6299x1004.V

Video Production at the Capitol Studio is Easy and Convenient

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Video productions are available any weekday, schedules permitting.

Choose from one of our set backgrounds.

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For more information about our video production service,please contact Craig Keeton at 804.786.8923 or [email protected]

“In a study of the top 10 brands on Facebook, users liked photos twice as o�en as text updates

and shared videos 12 times more than photo and text posts combined.” *

*Sources: Simply Measured, Tech Crunch, Mashable, YouTube, Sharaholic, ComScore, foursquareProvided by: Blog writer Stephanie Buck, August 24, 2012

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correlated with voter registration, so it is safe to assume that many of the Virginians who searched for information on how to register to vote would have registered and voted if the deadline hadn’t blocked them. If the ratio of searches to registrations from September 2010 had been able to continue through the post-deadline election season, nearly 40,000 post-deadline registrations would have occurred. Same day registration would have given these would-be voters an opportunity to vote.

But one could go even further, fully merging id-creation and voter registration. Photo-id laws arguably make separate voter registration unnecessary. Fully integrating voter registration with photo identification could save millions of dollars now spent maintaining separate registration databases. And because state photo-id cards can be scanned electronically, they could digitize and dissolve the voter identification delays that contributed to long lines in November 2012.

The proposals I have put forward in this essay aim at opportunities to use Virginia’s new voter-id requirements to simultaneously increase participation and prevent fraud, the goals of activists on each side of the issue. These ideas could assure citizens that valid photo-id guarantees ballot access, while ensuring that only eligible voters can participate. Jesse Richman is an associate professor of Political Science at Old Dominion University.

Virginia’s new voter photo identification requirements create new opportunities. By building upon these laws, state leaders can merge high levels of election security with expanded ballot access through same day registration and full integration of id-creation and voter-registration.

Voter photo identification requirements have generated great controversy. Opponents fear that some eligible voters will not be able to obtain appropriate identification (especially the elderly and the poor). Supporters fear that voter fraud is facilitated when voters do not need to present photo identification. It is all too easy to get locked into a political tug-of-war in which each side sees itself as protecting fundamental democratic values – the security of the ballot box, and access to the ballot box.

Unfortunately such political tussles have obscured opportunities to use photo-identification to leverage secure ballot access for vastly more Virginians while saving money, and streamlining election administration.

At minimum, passage of photo-id eliminates nearly all justifications for not allowing same day voter registration at the polls. My valid photo identification with my address on it establishes conclusively that I am an eligible voter in my polling precinct. If I am not already registered, I should be able to register on-the-spot and cast a ballot.

Shifting to same-day-registration would allow thousands of additional Virginians access to the ballot. Many studies show that voter registration requirements and pre-election registration deadlines reduce voter turnout. It is increasingly possible to observe these excluded would-be voters trying to gain ballot access after the deadline has doomed them to not vote, as I do in a paper recently presented at the Midwest Political Science Association conference.

The figure shows the relative frequency (on a scale from 0 to 100) with which Virginians searched for “register to vote” in weeks leading up to the 2010 election. The bars marked in red are for searches made after Virginia’s registration deadline. The frequency of voter registration searches is highly

how Photo Identification can Increase Voter TurnoutBy Dr. JESSE rIChman

Frequency of Google Searches for“Register to Vote” During 2010

Virginia ElectionCompiled by Dr. Jesse Richman at Old Dominion University

from Google Insights Data

08/29–09/0

409/0

5–09/11

09/12–09/1

809/1

9–09/25

09/26–10/0

210/0

3–10/09

10/10–10/1

610/1

7–10/23

10/24–10/3

010/3

1–11/06

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

After Deadline

Before DeadlineRela

tive

Freq

uenc

y

V


As the 2013 legislative session has ended, we share with you an ugly little story that broke as our efforts to have the Commonwealth take a stand against worker misclassification died before the House General Laws Subcommittee, on February 12, 2013.

Woodbridge, Virginia, construction company to pay $101,000 in back wages following US Labor Department investigation a&m Drywall misclassified employees as independent contractors WOODBRIDGE, Va.—A&M Drywall Construction Inc. has agreed to pay $101,007 in back wages to 120 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that the company misclassified employees as independent contractors and failed to pay them proper overtime compensation in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. The Woodbridge company provides commercial and residential con-struction services in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

“Too often, employers are categorizing their employees as independent contractors to avoid paying them in compliance with the FLSA, as well as other federal, state and local laws,” said Mark Lara, director of the Wage and Hour Division’s Baltimore District Office. “Misclassification costs employees and taxpayers millions of dollars each year and gives unscrupulous employers an unfair competitive advantage.”

The division’s investigators determined that the company failed to pay employees an overtime premium for hours worked in excess of 40 in a week. The company also failed to keep time records for employees who were misclassified as subcontractors, in violation of the FLSA. Employees were paid on a piece-rate basis, without regard to how many hours had been worked.

These illegal practices continued during work performed by the company on a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to design and build a new headquarters facility and mess hall in Quantico, Va. Failure to pay overtime at time and one-half employees’ basic rates of pay on a government-funded construction contract is a violation of the CWHSSA.

The misclassification of employees as independent contractors is an alarming trend, particularly in industries, such as construction, that often employ low-wage, vulnerable workers and in which the Wage and Hour Division historically has found significant wage violations. The practice is a serious threat both to employees entitled to good and safe jobs, as well as to employers who obey the law. Misclassified employees often are deprived of overtime and minimum wages, and are forced to pay taxes that their employers are legally obligated to pay. Misclassification also creates a competitive disadvantage for employers who comply with the law.

Under the FLSA, employers must distinguish employees from bona fide independent contractors. An employee – as distinguished from a person who is engaged in a business of his or her own – is one who, as a matter of economic reality, follows the usual path of an employee and is dependent on the business that he or she serves. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs13.htm.

The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their hourly rates for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Additionally, accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment must be maintained.

The CWHSSA applies to federal service contracts and to federal and federally assisted construction contracts exceeding $100,000. It requires contractors and subcontractors on covered contracts to pay laborers and mechanics employed in the performance of the contracts one and one-half times their basic rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a week. The act also prohibits unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous working conditions on federal and federally financed and assisted construction projects. For more information about the FLSA and other federal wage laws, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or its Southern New Jersey office at 609-538-8310. Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd.

Worker misclassification:an Epidemic across the CountryBy anDrEW a. POrTEr

This story about a Virginia-based contractor is all too typical these days in the construction industry. By classifying people who work for the companies as contractors, the companies cheat the State and Federal governments out of payroll taxes, pay no workers compensation insurance, pay no unemployment insurance, and gain a huge competitive advantage over contractors who adhere to the various laws that apply. You will note that the Federal government took action; Virginia was not involved.

Worker misclassification is epidemic across the Country. The 1200 employers that we represent are forced to compete on an uneven playing field. Most states have addressed the problem legislatively in recent years and Virginia needs to do the same. ACE’s efforts to prompt similar legislative relief in Virginia during the 2010 session resulted in SB 377 being referred to study. The report subsequently issued by JLARC virtually screamed for action to be taken. Creation of a Task Force to further study the matter (for subsequent legislative action) took the form of SB 879—which failed before your Subcommittee.

The Governor and General Assembly should put an end to this criminal behavior. Doing nothing and maintaining the status quo only perpetrates the fraud and aids the unscrupulous business owner. Andrew A. Porter is Chairman of the Alliance for Construction Excellence, [email protected], 703-658-4383

more information from nPr Online

Construction Booming In Texas, But Many Workers Pay Dearlyhttp://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176677299/construction-booming-in-texas-but-many-workers-pay-dearly

Texas Contractors Say Playing By The Rules Doesn’t Pay http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176777498/texas-contractors-say-playing-by-the-rules-doesnt-payV

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs13.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176677299/constructionbooming-in-texas-but-many-workers-paydearly

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176777498/texascontractors-say-playing-by-the-rulesdoesnt-pay


In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends travel to the Emerald City, the capital of Oz, to see the Wizard because they believe he is the only person capable of solving their problems. When the Great and Powerful Wizard bellows the famous phrase, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”, he does so out of fear that the illusion of magic in what he does will be lost if others become aware of what goes on behind the scenes.

When the Virginia General Assembly is in session here in the capital city of Richmond, the public’s attention is focused primarily on the 140 legislators who have been elected to work on their behalf and make decisions on matters that impact their lives. But while the Senators and Delegates are the faces of Virginia government that are the most familiar to the public, there are many others working tirelessly behind the scenes in order to make the magic of the whole legislative process happen. From the Clerks to the Legislative Staff to the Capitol Police and beyond, these men and women not only make the legislators’ jobs easier, but often make the seemingly impossible possible.

When it comes to giving Virginians a sneak peak into a little of the magic that happens at their Capitol, there’s another handful of men and women behind the curtain—operating controls that are actually somewhat similar to the Wizard’s—in order to bring the images of the proceedings to the big screen. That’s because here in Virginia, we believe that transparency is the essence of good government.

Otto von Bismarck once said, “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.” He has also been quoted as

saying “Politics is not an exact science.” and “Politics is the art of the possible.” Whether it’s a science or an art, politics is ultimately an integral part of lawmaking. And the system of making laws should be open and transparent to the public at large, even if the process can become ugly or too political. Transparency in government creates a more involved citizenry which, in turn, makes the legislative process more effective for everyone.

Most people are used to—or at least aware of—the many technologies that now connect us to the rest of the world with just a touch of a screen, and it’s easy to take that access for granted. We often don’t even realize that there’s still a human component behind it all. In the case of the technologies that allow the Senate and House sessions to be seen throughout the Capitol, broadcasted on local television, and streamed live on the internet, there is still a human connection to it all. A small group of men and women operate the controls to help broadcast to the masses each day.

Those of us who work in the Senate and House control rooms are part of the crew at the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation’s Capitol Studio in the General Assembly Building, which is home to This Week in Richmond as well as other shows that air throughout each session. The studio also provides a connection for legislators and government officials to various news outlets across the country throughout the year.

But perhaps one of the most important services the studio provides is the gavel to gavel coverage of the regular sessions of both the House and Senate. The proceedings are recorded, broadcasted and streamed live to help provide true transparency in Virginia’s government. We also generate a clean feed of footage for news organizations throughout the state. And when the General Assembly makes news, that footage is often seen on various national shows.

The Capitol Studio got its start in the mid-1970s to help fulfill the mission of Virginia Public Television, specifically WNVT/WNVC

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ttention to The men (and Women) Behind the Curtain By Sarah aLDErSOn

In the Control room (left to right)

Bryant Dameron, mark helfer,

and Sarah alderson.


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shot of the gavel, we try to anticipate the Lieutenant Governor’s moves beforehand. Still, no matter how prepared we were, he could end up faking us out—reaching for it and then changing his mind.

When talking about trying to cover a session live, we often resort to analogies like Whac-A-Mole. That’s because when the action gets going during a session, our efforts to quickly capture the person who is speaking on camera, insert their correct name and title graphic, and include the corresponding bill number graphic before they sit back down can feel very much like that age old game.

It is live television, and mistakes happen—that just comes with the territory. But we take pride in directing and producing the best show we can each day, and we feel privileged to be able to take part in the legislative process by presenting it to the public.

As Craig Keeton, Director of Central Virginia Studios, has said, “WCVE has always been dedicated to informing and educating our audience. So this service fits our mission well.” Those of us who help to fulfill that mission are happy to present a little of the magic from behind the curtain.

Remember what the guard said when Dorothy and her friends first arrived at the palace in Emerald City—“Nobody gets in to see the Wizard. Not nobody. Not no how!” Aren’t you glad that’s not the case here in Virginia’s Capitol?Sarah Alderson is an award-winning freelance writer who also works in the Senate broadcast control room during sessions and the Capitol Studio throughout the year. She can be reached at [email protected] and her new blog launches in March at thesarahfiles.wordpress.com.

we work with them every day. So our first instinct is often to respond with a familiar wave and enthusiastic “hi”, which can result in a somewhat puzzled look in return. They may see us in the sea of faces around the Capitol, watch our work every day on the big screens in the chambers, and even depend on our footage to inform their constituents or promote the work they do…but most of them have no idea who we are.

The legislator who is probably the most aware of us and what we do is Delegate Jennifer McClellan. She has even mentioned our work while speaking on the floor. And during one session when House control room regulars Billy Lamberta and Josh Kennedy were working on what was their mutual birthday, she surprised them with Happy Birthday wishes in a point of personal privilege.

The thing is, those of us who work behind the cameras see the legislators on television every day of each session. And in watching them every day, we can’t help but become more than a little familiar with their idiosyncracies, mannerisms, expressions, and habits…much like the characters on any given television show. For instance, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling always inadvertently gave us cues as to when each day‘s session was about to start. His habits and mannerisms had settled into a rhythm from doing the job for eight years, and we had become trained to notice the cues from doing our jobs for several sessions as well. As Mark Helfer would say, “He moved the magic box (the gift for each day’s minister), and now he’s pouring his drink (usually a Diet Pepsi into a cup of ice).” We noticed these things in particular because they were the last things he usually did before gavelling in. And since we start each show with a

in Northern Virginia. Its main purpose was to show the Virginia Legislature at work, and it began by covering the proceedings of the House of Delegates. The studio then moved its focus to the Senate in the early 1980s.

In the beginning, each session was simply recorded. But in 2005, WCVE began to broadcast the Senate sessions on its sister station, WCVW. In 2007, the Capitol Studio once again took over the job of recording the House proceedings. And in 2011, the services expanded to provide gavel to gavel coverage of both the House and Senate sessions online, as well as through closed circuit television throughout the State Capitol grounds.

When I began to work in the Senate, Tim Kaine was Lieutenant Governor, and the sessions were recorded with a system that I affectionately called the one man band. The equipment was set up in a far corner of the Senate gallery and included one static camera, one robotic camera, and one manual camera mounted beside the controls along with a switcher, a character generator, and a tape machine in a small rack. Today, the set up is much more sophisticated. The system includes five robotic cameras mounted in the gallery, and it takes two of us to operate the equipment for each broadcast from a small control room outside the gallery.

Mark Helfer and I have been the primary operators in the Senate control room for the last three sessions. The House has a similar set up in which Peter Faucher and Ashby Paca operated the controls this past session. And Bryant Dameron, Mike Rogers and Dale Williams are often helping out in various capacities along the way. Those of us who work in the Senate and House control rooms go about the Capitol largely unnoticed. We are known by some of the regulars we work with day to day, such as the clerks, police officers, security guards and other staff members who work behind the scenes.

But mostly we are hidden away in our control rooms, essentially on call from gavel to gavel each day. As long as the legislators are in the chambers, we are there capturing the process on camera. This means we are producing and directing a live television show each day. And while we use the Senate and House calendars as guidelines, it is true reality television with no actual script to speak of. Most of us have worked here long enough to feel like we’re part of the process, and we look forward to seeing old friends and familiar faces at the beginning of each year. But those who have become the most familiar to us, the Senators and Delegates themselves, would probably not be able to pick us out in a crowd.

In fact, when we see any of the legislators around the Capitol it can be a little disconcerting—sort of like seeing a TV star in person. At the same time, we tend to feel like we actually know them—because

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http://www.thesarahfiles.wordpress.com

Virginia State University’s mass Communications Department In a world of lean budgets and doing more with less, the real world experience that internships provide is arguably one of the most important times in a student’s educational career. The goal of the internship experience is to assist graduates in advancing their skills through competitive hands on learning experiences to ultimately secure gainful employment. In Virginia State University’s Mass Communications Department we recognize the power of networking by taking an interdisciplinary approach and developing partnerships for our internship program. In acknowledgment of the synergetic and networking opportunities between disciplines, an interdisciplinary approach and partnerships provide more networking and competitive opportunities for our students.

Bridgett RobertsonVirginia State UniversityMass Communications Internship Coordinator

demonstrating dependable work ethics.”This is Trundle’s second experience as an intern. In 2012 she

interned with Congressman Frank Wolf. She ran errands throughout Capitol Hill and the greater D.C. area; attended meetings for legislative correspondents; and worked closely with the scheduler and chief-of-staff.

“Congressman Wolf’s Chief of Staff is Daniel Scandling ’86, and the two of us often talked about R-MC,” she said. “It was great to be able to connect with a fellow Yellow Jacket!”

As for her post-R-MC plans, Trundle is considering a couple of options.

“I will be applying to law school in the fall,” she says. “I will also apply for a position as a legislative assistant to a state-level Delegate or Senator.” Whatever the future brings, Trundle feels ready.

“R-MC taught me that you have to follow your passion and strive for the best,” she says. “If you want to succeed, only you can make it happen.”

Internships are just one of the opportunities offered by The Randolph-Macon EDGE. Within the Center for Personal and Career Development, The EDGE is a four-year program designed to help students identify their career passions, compete for meaningful employment and apply to graduate schools.

For 30 years, R-MC’s Bassett Internship Program has been successfully placing students in internships both in the U.S. and around the globe. Coordinated with the Center for Personal and Career Development, the Bassett Internship Program works closely with students to help identify their interests and match them with an appropriate internship opportunity. Randolph-Macon’s alumni provide a strong network of support for students throughout their time at the college or in assisting them after graduation with career direction and opportunities.

Students may choose to pursue academic, paid, or volunteer internships in a wide variety of settings; recent internships have seen R-MC students gaining valuable knowledge and experience in fields including health care, finance, non-profit, communications and media, education, politics and law, and the arts.Reprinted with permission from Randolph Macon College.

“I like to think that R-MC chose me,” said Kelsey Trundle, a senior at Randolph Macon University. “My mom and I were touring the campus when a car pulled up and the passenger—dressed in R-MC clothing—yelled out the window, ‘Come to R-MC!’ It was like a breath of

fresh air to see that kind of enthusiasm.” The Annapolis, Maryland native, who is majoring in political science and minoring in religious studies, is just as enthusiastic about her 2013 January Term (J-term) internship.

Trundle interned at David Bailey Associates, a public relations, government affairs, and lobbying firm in Richmond, Virginia. Under the guidance of founder, David Bailey, Trundle tracked House and Senate bills presented in the 2013 session; delivered vital bills and resolutions to Delegates and Senators throughout the Virginia Capitol; and attended caucus meetings.

The internship was coordinated through Trundle’s advisor, Political Science Professor Richard Meagher, and Cathy Rollman, the director of professional development in R-MC’s Center for Personal and Career Development.

“It sounded like a wonderful opportunity,” says Trundle. “Aside from being a great networking tool, internships allow students to narrow down what careers they want to pursue. For the longest time I thought that I wanted to be a lawyer, but now I am really interesting in lobbying.”

Bailey says that serving an internship in and around state government provides a unique opportunity.

“Students experience firsthand the significant differences in state and federal government,” said Bailey, who has worked with numerous R-MC interns. “The internship serves as a gateway to the world after college. It’s not casual volunteering; it’s stepping up and

a randolph macon studentgains first hand government experience

Capitol Square Internships at David Bailey Associates


Capitol Square Internships at David Bailey Associates


Experiencing my 1st…By aLFrED L. JOhnSOn III

My goals for the internship at David Bailey Associates (DBA) are to be properly introduced to the conduct of business meetings, while understanding the proper procedures and standards of lobbying, office administration, and media/public relations. In addition, to assist with the editing, revision, and conception of DBA clientele and respective event press releases, promotion, and publicity. Attend significant DBA client meeting regularly. In regards to the client meetings, “ I would like to see how DBA orally, visually, and creatively accommodates and brings aboard clientele to increase its retention initiatives on their behalf, to see what corporate customer service and relations are all about. To see how DBA carries out its great motto: “Its all about Integrity…Experience…Relationships.” Furthermore, I would like to assist with the editing, revision, and conception of Virginia Capital Connection Quarterly Magazine, in regard to overall layout, content, and distribution. I would like to meet and confer with distinguished personnel/officials associated or affiliated with DBA. To make an indelible impression and Mr. David Bailey and his daughter, Mrs. Kristen Bailey-Hardy, in respect to that, “By the conclusion of this internship, I would’ve liked to consider myself more than an eager, hard-working intern, but an actual associate, an valued member of DBA.” During my tenure as a first time intern, become fully accustomed and familiarized with Virginian public policy, legislature, and governance as it pertains to Internal/External/Media Public Relations. Moreover, assist DBA with efforts relative to state elections, such as promotions, PR, publicity, candidate image consulting, etc. To operate the coffee machine, “It may seem like a facetious goal to have, but I am fully aware of how important coffee can be in the workplace. It is considered by some a magic potion, crafty enough to secure energy and enthusiasm to facilitate productivity.” Last, but certainly not least, consult and assist with This Week in Richmond television program in form of arranging/retaining guests, setting up sets, providing beverages etc. In summation, to absorb all this opportunity has to offer, being this is my very first internship. I could not be more grateful to Mr. David Bailey for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to building a positively indelible relationship with Mr. David Bailey, Mrs. Kristen Bailey-Hardy and the entire David Bailey Associates team.Alfred Johnson has just completed his second semester at Virginia State University, as a Mass Communications major with a concentration on Public Relations.

Fran Jackson (VUU), Tiffany Vasquez (VSU),DeForest ross (VUU)

The Virginia Union University Sydney Lewis School of Business The Virginia Union University Sydney Lewis School of Business (VUU SLSB) has had a banner year with its Internship Program under the direction of Dr. Delta R. Bowers along with Dr. Juritsa Ford, Mrs. Tonya Scott-Hickman, and the distinguished Dean, Dr. Adelaja Odutola. The VUU SLSB partnered with Dr. David Bailey, CEO of David Bailey Associates, to place interns in David Bailey Associates as well as with other members of the General Assembly and business community. Dr. Bailey has been one of our biggest champions and the students have been rewarded via his belief and support in providing them the opportunity to interface with Virginia legislators as well as other people in the business community. The goal of the VUU SLSB Internship Program is to provide our students with opportunities that will assist them in gaining experience and exposure that will allow them upon graduation to have somewhat of a competitive advantage while seeking fulltime employment. We are grateful to Dr. Bailey and his team. We look forward to a continued relationship with Dr. Bailey and his team as we continue to strive to be one of the best business schools in the country.

Regards,Delta R. Bowers, DMVUU SLSB Professor of Management & Marketing,VUU SLSB Director of Internship Program

Dr. Bailey:I am writing these few lines to express my deep appreciation to you and your staff for providing our students with wonderful opportunities to gain practical experience as they interact with legislators as well as other contacts in the community. I have received very positive feedback from our student participants as well as complimentary remarks from Dr. Bowers who coordinates and directs the internship program for the Sydney Lewis School of Business and the Center for Small Business Development. Our team continues to work hard to explore opportunities to place our students in internship programs such as yours.We are delighted for the opportunity to include a write up about our program in the next publication of your esteemed magazine. Thank you so much for your support and we look forward to a continued relationship with you and your team.

Warm regards,Adelaja Odutola, Ph.D.Dean, the Sydney Lewis School of BusinessThe Center for Small Business Development

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Visions of the CommonwealthThe phoTography of Wanda Judd

Virginia governor’s Mansion

Melchers Belmont estate—falmouth, Virginia Virginia Veterans Cemetery

Capitol Square pink dogwood (The only pink dogwood on the grounds)


Capitol Square pink dogwood (The only pink dogwood on the grounds)

www.wandajudd.com

Capitol Square dogwood

Capitol rotunda

Virginia State Capitol—Spring


Maymont park—Spring


Intelligent Illuminations will supply a lighting monitor and control system (iLums) for all Virginia State Parks. Current outdoor state park lights are controlled by photocells. The only option with photocells is on at dusk and off at dawn, or completely shutting down all power until it is manually turned back on. Now with—iLums—park managers can turn the lights on or off with just a click from their computer or mobile device. They will also know when a light is malfunctioning allowing them to be proactive in repairs. iLums is a customized solution allowing the state to better monitor and control individual lights, comply with lighting regulations and standards, and generate operating savings. With the future in mind, iLums also helps the parks protect infrastructure and supports existing and future infrastructure and technology upgrades.

Kiptopeke State Park is the first park to receive iLums. Some lights have been powered off at the park due to budget constraints. All parks will now have the choice to turn on lights for shorter periods of time thus allowing for well-lit areas during high traffic times.

“We are glad to have this opportunity to save money which allows for more lights to be on when we need them and off when we don’t,” said Joe Elton, Director of Virginia State Parks. “This public-private collaboration will benefit all participants and provide valuable data to demonstrate the savings this technology can provide.”

Installation at all other parks in the state will continue throughout the spring with completion targeted by summer.

“For nearly two decades, Intelligent Illuminations has been the industry leader of smart, cost-effective, lighting product solutions,” said company CEO Larry Williams. “We have revolutionized roadway and area lighting and have the only secure, point-to-point wireless technology. We are honored Virginia State Parks will use iLums as their unique solution.”

Intelligent Illuminations’ secure wireless solutions create more efficient lighting systems. Their patented products provide the most efficient, effective monitor & control systems to their customers.

They’ve perfected their technology and revolutionized the retrofit roadway and area lighting market based on customer needs and feedback. As a result, unlike any other product on the market, their customers are better able to comply with regulations, save taxpayer money and create greener cities.

Virginia State Park officials can now control lighting remotely

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www.dbava.com

www.vccqm.org

1001 East Broad StreetSuite 215

Richmond, VA 23219804.643.5554

David L. [email protected] 804.405.8108

David L. [email protected] 804.405.8108


In recent memory, academic testing and holding educators accountable for students meeting academic achievement standards has been the cardinal impulse of public schools. Teachers and administrators continue to face increasing pressure to respond to a high-stakes accountability movement that often forsakes much of what else is worthwhile in the curriculum. Accountability policies so narrowly conceived and implemented with a “blame and punish” mentality, reduce the education enterprise to a process that, in many instances, has become mechanical and cold. Such a pressure-driven enterprise fails to appreciate the inequitable impact of schooling and society itself on increasingly diverse child and youth populations.

While it is necessary for schools to improve the academic achievement of students, necessity quickly becomes vanity when it threatens to deprive students of the ecstasy of the arts, the wonder of scientific inquiry, and the grace of civilized discourse; when the academic agenda is advanced in a climate in which there is little time or regard for matters of character, conscience, and interpersonal consequence.

In a perfect world, there may be little need for schools to address anything other than academic standards. Sadly however, incidences of violence, poverty, family dysfunction, and social injustice serve as constant reminders that it’s not a perfect world.

Over 700,000 Virginians live in poverty, over 39 million youth nationwide; almost a million American school children are homeless. Among western nations, America has the highest teen pregnancy, birth, and legal abortion rates. Three million American children are victims of abuse or neglect. Because it is such a dominating theme of so much of popular youth culture, violence has become a primary language of the current generation of young Americans. Bullying and

gang activity has reached epidemic proportions, and nearly 20 million youth report having experimented with illegal drugs. The majority of adolescents who suffer serious emotional or behavioral problems receive no treatment—over a million of them enter the juvenile justice system yearly.

Simply put, not all students arrive at school every day well-rested, well-nourished, fit, emotionally secure, in good health, and ready to learn. With countless young people struggling to manage deprivation and stress in their lives, professional educators step forward to provide support and guidance, not because it’s on some performance test—caring isn’t tested—but because it’s the right thing to do.

Striving to connect in meaningful ways with every student, teachers perform small miracles every day. Surrogate parents to 15, 20, 25 or more students, teachers coach, counsel, and console—whatever it takes to help instill in students the ability and will to think through what they care about most, to deepen their understanding of themselves as human beings, and to develop their capacity for moral deliberation and action.

Teaching students representing richly diverse backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances is uniquely rewarding and challenging. The three R’s don’t make a life, and teachers should be recognized for helping to strengthen children’s resiliency as much as they are for raising children’s test scores. Just as we expect teachers to help students improve academically, we should encourage them to help students learn to think critically and creatively about events and circumstances that imperil our relationships with others and with the earth that sustains us.

Teachers make easy targets when one is looking for where to place blame for why every student isn’t meeting or exceeding academic standards. Teaching has become increasingly stressful as teachers bend to the weight of fresh concern about slashed budgets, limited resources, reductions in compensation, school safety, threats to contract status, and erosion in the level of respect they once received.

True, no teacher is perfect and some underperform. However, the small percentage of ineffective teachers should not indict the majority of educators, any more than the small percentage of ineffective employees in other professions, trades, or businesses should cast doubt on the vast majority of their peers. Persistently struggling teachers should be offered support with professional improvement. If adequate improvement is not demonstrated, a career transition plan should be implemented.

For one inclined to offer teachers a piece of one’s mind they’re easy enough to locate. When not in their classrooms or homes planning lessons or grading projects teachers can be spotted at the discount store spending personal funds on materials to supplement classroom resources. Look for them after school at the park and ball field supporting their students’ teams, or at the car wash helping with school fund-raisers. Locate them in the audience supporting students’ performances, or volunteering with afterschool clubs. In the evenings, on weekends, and in the summer they can be found attending workshops and classes polishing and renewing their professional skills.

Schools should undertake a more heightened and consequential role in heeding Eudora Welty’s lifelong plea to humanity: helping to lift “the veil of indifference to each other’s presence, each other’s wonder, and each other’s human plight.” Renewed devotion to such a cause enriches human experience, and is as good for business and the workplace as is command of any academic subject. Along with all that we demand of teachers, we should urge them to remain dedicated to helping prepare our students for a civic life in which they will engage with fellow citizens with differing views to develop policies and institutions that can advance shared aspirations. For their efforts, extending teachers a little gratitude on occasion would be nice, but unfortunately of late, doing so is something that is not altogether expected.

renewing a Cause for Public Schools and Those Who TeachBy Dr. DIanE SImOn (VIrGInIa aSSOCIaTIOn OF COLLEGES OF TEaChEr EDUCaTIOn) anD Dr. JanE hUFFman (aSSOCIaTIOn OF TEaChEr EDUCaTOrS In VIrGInIa).

During the 2013 General assembly session 36,000 people came through security at the General assembly building (GaB), compared to 24,000 in 2012. most visitors to the GaB were greeted by Jane Sparks (pictured above), fondly known as Sparky, a dedicated member of the Capitol Police Force. more visitors came to the GaB on January 31 than on Lobby Day. On January 31 the Senate Committee on agriculture and natural resources planned to vote on lifting the uranium ban and fox penning, two of the most controversial issues from this past session. The Capitol’s visitor entrance on Bank Street documented 25,528 visitors during the session.

Increase in visitors to the General assembly during the 2013 session

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than 91,000 teacher accounts have been issued to date, with more being added every week. The goal is to ensure that every teacher in the Commonwealth who wants an account gets one. Schools are also free to create as many student accounts as they would like. Virginia’s colleges and universities have begun to take note of eMediaVA, particularly the teacher preparation institutions, and are requesting accounts for their undergraduate students so that they are prepared to use it in their classrooms immediately upon graduation.

Developed in close consultation with classroom teachers, eMediaVA features—such as keyword and standard of learning searches—help teachers find exactly the right content in seconds. Playlists let teachers organize content by subject, class, grade level, etc., the quiz creator provides a vehicle for teachers to gauge student understanding, and the local content upload feature allows teachers to add digital content they or their students have created to their personal playlists. New features that are already in development will allow teachers to share their content and playlists with others in their school, division or even statewide, depending on local policies.

Two other innovations make eMediaVA an easy-to-use, cost-effective option for schools: single sign-on and a local host appliance. Single sign-on allows teachers to access eMediaVA directly from their school networks without having to resubmit usernames and passwords: they can simply click and go. The local host appliance is a server that contains the content found in eMediaVA that can be installed on the school’s network to minimize the amount of Internet bandwidth necessary to stream audio and video content. New content is added each night when rates are the lowest. Both of these options save schools time and money.

When coupled with online courses such as those offered by the Virginia Department of Education’s Virtual Virginia program and WHRO Education, eMediaVA offers a powerful 21st century learning tool, which teachers can use to create customized curriculum units quickly and easily, and which students experience as learning that is relevant and timely.For more information on eMediaVA, please contact Angie Callahan at [email protected], or call 757.889.9407.

eMediaVA, a service of the Virginia Public Media Association, is quickly becoming the one-stop-shop for high quality digital content for Virginia’s K-12 teachers and students. Featuring the best purpose-built content from leading educational, cultural and scientific organizations—such as PBS, Colonial Williamsburg, NASA, the Smithsonian Museums, the National Archives, the University of Colorado, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities’ Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia’s public media stations, the Norfolk Public Library, SAS Curriculum Pathways, NPR and others—eMediaVA currently offers more than 21,000 educational learning objects, and is adding 4,000 to 5,000 new assets each quarter. Content includes audio and video files, images, lesson plans, games, simulations, mobile device apps, etc. Virginia’s public media stations are partnering with respected institutions statewide to digitize their educational content for distribution to schools via eMediaVA.

Thanks to a combination of public and private funding, eMediaVA is available free of charge to all Virginia educators—public, private and homeschool—for at least the next five years. More

emediaVaA Library That Never ClosesBy BErT SChmIDT

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mailto:[email protected]


Leaders of Tomorrow Experiencing Virginia’s Capitol

UPPER MATTAPONI26TH ANNUAL POW WOW • MAY 25-26, 2013

Drum Competition & Dance Specials • Food • Jewelry • Demonstrations • CraftsDrum Prize Money: 1st $800, 2nd $500, 3rd $200 • Adult Dance Specials • Hand Drum Contest

Men’s Northern, Southern, Fancy & Grass • Women’s Northern, Southern, Fancy & Jingle$100 Winner Takes All!

Drummers and Dancers must register with Reggie Tupponce Jr. Email: [email protected] • Phone: 804-360-7410

No ENtry FEE to compete • Drums must have a minimum of drummers to compete.

Grounds open 10am–5pm • Grand Entry: Saturday–Noon; Sunday–1pmAdmission: Adults $5.00; Children (6-12) $3.00 • All Proceeds support the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe

Tribal Grounds – 13476 King William Road, Route 30, King William County, VA.

Bring your own lawn chair & blankets • NO ALCOHOL! NO PETS! NO COOLERS!

Girl Scouts Day at the Capitol


process. Since then, I have been a strong advocate for bringing CIS to the New River Valley as a regional program.

A high dropout rate is one of the most persistent social ills with which our society must deal. According to a June report by the Alliance for Excellent Education, if Virginia were to reduce the dropouts from 2010 by half (16,200), they would likely add $207 million in increased earnings, $19 million in tax revenue and $150 million in home sales. Failure to tackle this issue effectively means our public education system will be mired in a cycle of underperformance for the indefinite future. These statistics speak only to the cumulative impact of dropping out; the costs to individuals are staggering as well.

As Superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools, I am excited about the possibility of bringing Communities In Schools of Virginia to our region for many reasons—one of which is pure economics. According to that same June report by the Alliance for Excellent Education on the effects of reducing the class of 2008 dropouts by 50%, after earning a high school diploma, fifty-two (52) percent of these new graduates would likely continue on to pursue some type of postsecondary education. An educated population is a large driver of economic development.

Scientific research showed that the Communities In Schools’ model works. It both reduces dropout rates and increases on-time graduation rates. Through the CIS data based approach, they can guarantee accountability in every aspect of this program. CIS will track and report on their effectiveness with a set of metrics for measuring success. Thus, CIS is not offering an experiment, or “a wing and a prayer,” but rather a proven, nationally tested and replicable program. Communities In Schools is a cost-effective and accountable program with a 40-year track record addressing a problem that is a drain on our economy.

CIS can provide support that will aid in full and complete employment of our young work force. Furthermore, accreditation ratings for 2011-2012 are the first to include a Graduation and Completion Index (GCI) for high schools. This new accountability measure was approved by the Board of Education in 2009. Pulaski County Public Schools could benefit from a research-based program with the longevity and success achieved by CIS to provide the tools needed to increase graduation rates. Therefore, I enthusiastically support the Governor’s continued funding

of Communities in Schools, and the CIS approach to dropout prevention. Furthermore, the Pulaski County School Board has authorized me to form a task force to study the feasibility of bringing Communities in Schools to the New River Valley and Pulaski County Public Schools.

For additional information about Communities in Schools, please visit http://www.communitiesinschools.org/.Thomas Brewster is the superintendent of Pulaski County schools.

The Governor’s Biennial Budget for 2012-14 funds Communities In Schools (CIS) for $525,000 for each year of the budget. These funds are currently being used to expand CIS programming throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Communities In Schools is a 40-year-old, nationwide organization dedicated to two things—preventing children from dropping out of school and helping them graduate. A statewide public-private 501(c)(3) organization, CIS identifies at-risk students in low performing schools. These at-risk students are then surrounded with coordinated community support services so that they stay in school, graduate and obtain meaningful post-secondary training, education, or work. Throughout CIS’s forty-year journey, they have learned that students who do not get these services tend to drop out; those who do get them tend to stay in school. So, to use a business term, Communities In Schools is a “leverage point” to enable access to resources by those who need them most, and at a delivery point where we know they can be accessed effectively—in school.

Having served 15,025 students in nearly 40 schools last year at a cost of $154 per student, CIS has been asked to replicate their successful program in other areas of Virginia. Currently sites are being established in several new areas of the Commonwealth.

The requested funding dollars have been used to develop Communities In Schools model programs in the target areas; provide technical assistance to assure adherence to national total quality standards; develop a community base of support; and, develop a board of directors and other local leadership.

Several years ago, I toured a Communities In School (CIS) site in Richmond, Virginia. Throughout my tour, I was amazed at the amount of support given to students, and the unique partnerships that were developed to assist students with reaching the goal of graduating from high school. Most of all, I was impressed that decisions within the program were data driven, and the approach used to educate these students was a proven research-based

FutureLaw, L.L.C.John G. “Chip” Dicks

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Communities in Schools:A Worthwhile Investment for the New River Valley and Pulaski County By ThOmaS BrEWSTEr

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The Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (VACTE) provides leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable and competitive workforce. Its membership consists of educators, business partners, parents, and others committed to expanding opportunities for Career and Technical Education (CTE).

CTE: Learning that Works for Virginia prepares students to be college and career ready. CTE equips students with core academic skills and the ability to apply those skills to concrete situations in order to function competitively in the workplace and in routine daily activities. CTE is at the forefront of preparing students with employability skills (such as critical thinking and responsibility) that are essential in any career area, and job-specific, technical skills to a specific career pathway.

CTE prepares students for many of the jobs in Virginia which are forecast to experience the fastest growth in the coming years. According to the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education Services, the large percentage of jobs require some type of postsecondary education or training, currently estimated at 63 percent of all jobs in the United States. Given this information, it is critical that high school graduates leave with the knowledge and skills needed to continue their education or other career options and have a choice in their future.

VACTE is an advocate of Virginia’s credentialing assessment, which is a nationally recognized third party assessment taken by students enrolled in high school CTE classes. These Virginia Board of Education approved external examinations test essential employability and technical skills. Students who earn these credentials are eligible to earn verified credit towards graduation requirements. CTE is learning that works for Virginia!

During the 2011-2012 school year, 51,192 credentials were earned by high school students. Armed with these credentials, CTE students are a “step ahead” with their skill level and knowledge regardless of their postsecondary career choices, as they are both college ready and career ready. Students show their knowledge, technical and job-readiness skills and stand out in today’s competitive workforce. CTE is learning that works for Virginia!

Also, in 2011-2012, the number of CTE completers increased to 41,677. A CTE completer is a student who met the requirements for a CTE concentration (sequence) of classes and all requirements for high school graduation or approved alternative education programs.

CTE is not the same program today that many parents and grandparents were enrolled in during high school. Implementing rigor and relevancy in CTE is an area in which Virginia CTE programs lead the nation. The Governor’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) academy at the secondary level is designed to expand options for students to acquire STEM literacy, and other critical skills, knowledge, and credentials with a CTE component. This will prepare them for postsecondary education and high-demand, high-skill, and high-wage career in a competitive global economy. There are 18 Governor’s STEM Academies and anticipated 3 additional Academies by June 30, 2013. Another initiative is the new Governor’s Health Science Academy also aligned with CTE programs at the secondary level. Two applications are in the second review process before the Board of Education and by this reading anticipated approval. This is CTE Today!

Over 30,000 Virginia secondary students (including CTE completers) earned dual enrollment credit during 2011-2012 school year and 679 secondary students (including CTE completers) earned community college certificates for degrees at or before high school graduation. And as of December 2012, 352 high schools including CTE technical centers are implementing Virginia’s Microsoft Information Technology (IT) Academy program and 9,009 Microsoft IT Academy certifications have been earned by students.

CTE is learning that works for Virginia!There is available data on CTE and the integral role the programs

have in middle and high school education. But beyond the data, is CTE’s role in helping students succeed. High school students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and are more likely to graduate.

VACTE will continue to advocate and support expanding CTE in Virginia. CTE provides students with core academic and technical skills and it is an education for a strong economy!

Visit the CTE programs at your local schools and see for yourself the rigor and relevance of CTE for ALL students. Check out the new CTE Today!Brenda Long, Vice-President for Public Policy, VA Association for Career and Technical Education, has a 30 year career in Career and Technical Education including classroom teacher, school assistant principal, and district director.

Career and Technical Education: Learning that works for VirginiaBy BrEnDa LOnG

A report released by the United States Chamber of Commerce recognized Virginia among the top three states in the country for innovation and entrepreneurship. Virginia ranked sixth in the Chamber’s report last year. The report recognized Governor Bob McDonnell’s “Year of the Entrepreneur” campaign in the report and the role of Virginia’s Business One Stop to help “entrepreneurs obtain the information and complete the steps required to register their businesses and find resources to help them grow and expand.”

Speaking about the report, Governor McDonnell said, “Creating the best environment for private-sector job creation and innovation has been the top focus of our administration. Since we took office, our unemployment rate has fallen from 7.3 percent to 5.3 percent, the lowest rate in the Southeast and the second lowest east of the Mississippi. This report confirms that when it comes to supporting startups and new jobs, Virginia is a national leader and continuing to make substantive progress. But there is more to do. We have continued last year’s “Year of the Entrepreneur” campaign in Virginia with the ongoing “innoVAte” initiative, including an undergraduate business plan competition that

brought some of the most promising startup ideas from 21 of Virginia’s colleges and universities to Richmond yesterday. Innovators like the young people who pitched their business plans to investors yesterday will form the backbone of a culture of entrepreneurship in Virginia that will continue to make the Commonwealth one of the best places to live, raise a family, and find a good job.”

Among the findings of the report were that, “Virginia may be the best state in the nation for STEM jobs. The state is 1st in STEM job concentration and 2nd in STEM job growth only to North Dakota, where the concentration is much lower. Virginia also has the highest share of business establishments in high-tech industries.”

The report also found that, “Virginia takes 1st place in our measure of general standard of living: median family income adjusted for cost of living… Virginia is a national leader in professional, scientific, and technical services. Virginia grew that sector 37% over the past decade—impressive growth for an already large sector.”The full report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is available at http://www.freeenterprise.com/enterprisingstates/#map/3/VA/

U.S. Chamber recognizes Virginia in Top States for InnovationVirginia ranks first in the nation in STEM job concentration, high-tech share of all businesses and standard of living

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Capitol Square. The Monument is integrated into the landscape and will serve as an anchor within the Capitol—and the Commonwealth of Virginia—for those whose purpose may be nothing more than a spot to appreciate the architecture and beautiful landscape of the Capitol. But the Monument also will be a stopping place for those people who study women’s history and those people who ponder the future disposition of women’s roles in American society. It will be a place where one can honor the past and reflect on their future path.

John Crank of The 1717 Design Group elaborated. “The Monument’s design is intended to be a thought-provoking and interactive experience that complements the more traditional heroic monuments that already grace Capitol Square. We see this Monument as a metaphor for the many invisible and often unrecognized voices that have been responsible for shaping our culture, country and Commonwealth for over 400 years.

“It is our hope that this Monument will stand as a lasting reminder of the vital roles that women have played in Virginia history, and will serve to help educate and inspire future generations of Virginians,” said Mary Margaret Whipple, a former member of the Senate of Virginia and a member of the Commission.

“Women have played an integral part in Virginia from its beginnings and this Monument will be a welcome addition to Capitol Square and a worthy tribute to the many contributions of Virginia’s women,” said William J. Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and a member of the Commission.

Virginia’s historic Capitol Square is one of the oldest enclosed public parks in the entire United States. It continues to be an architectural and artistic setting for events shaping America’s individual liberties, political institutions, judicial traditions, and social progress. Capitol Square not only is home to the State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, which has been in use since 1788, but also the Virginia Governor’s Mansion, which recently celebrated two centuries as the oldest, continuously occupied governor’s residence in America, as well as a host of other government buildings and public monuments serving as reminders of the power, leadership, and enduring principles upon which this nation was founded. Visitors from across the world come to Capitol Square each year to enjoy the beautiful grounds and walk in the footsteps of history.

The Commission, in keeping with its charge to secure non-taxpayer, private funding sources for the Monument, is working with the Virginia Capitol Foundation to coordinate its fundraising efforts opportunities. Alice Lynch, Executive Director of the Virginia Capitol Foundation, said that the Foundation is “pleased to partner with the Women’s Commission to engage communities throughout the entire Commonwealth in support for this historic monument’s installation. We welcome contributions from any individual, family, or organization interested in celebrating the achievements of Virginia women.” To contact Ms. Lynch, please call 804-786-1012 or email [email protected] more information on the Women of Virginia, Commemorative Commission and the Monument, please visit http://womensmonumentcom.virginia.gov.

The Women of Virginia Commemorative Commission an-nounced the selection of the winning design for the Women’s Monument to be placed on the grounds of Virginia’s Capitol Square in Richmond. Thought to be the first of its kind in the nation, the Monument will commemorate the collective contributions of the women of Virginia throughout the past 400 years of its storied history. Prominently placed and respectfully integrated into the historic Capitol landscape, the Monument’s oval-garden design includes elements of sculpture and landscaping that will provide visitors an interactive and educational experience. Out of 34 designs submitted from around the world, the Commission unanimously selected the winning design by StudioEIS of Brooklyn, New York and The 1717 Design Group, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia. The decision was announced in conjunction with the Library of Virginia’s annual Virginia Women in History awards celebration.

“This monument will provide a lasting reminder to those walking through our Capitol Square of the vital role women played in shaping Virginia’s history,” said Governor Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Commission. “There are so many incredible stories of women who have led and inspired in the public and private sector in Virginia. This monument will honor the contributions of those great women.”

The Virginia General Assem-bly established the Women’s Commission in 2010 (Senate Joint Resolution 11) to determine and recommend…an appropriate monument in Capitol Square to commemorate the contributions of the women of Virginia. The Commission’s duties include securing from private sources the $2 million necessary for the creation of the Monument. The Virginia Capitol Foundation will coordinate fundraising for the project.

The Commission is chaired by Governor Bob McDonnell and has been led by the Secretary of Administration, Lisa Hicks-Thomas. Other members are: Em Bowles Locker Alsop, a driving catalyst for the monument’s creation; Lissy S. Bryan; Kitty Claiborne; Mary Blanton Easterly; Jacqueline Cook Hedblom; Rita D. McClenny; Mary Margaret Whipple; Mary Abel-Smith; Senator Ryan T. McDougle; Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel; William J. Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates; Delegate James P. Massie, III; Susan Clarke Schaar, Clerk of the Senate; G. Paul Nardo, Clerk of the House of Delegates; Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia; and Alice Lynch, Executive Director, Virginia Capitol Foundation.

The Commission invited and welcomed the ideas and comments of Virginians from all corners of the Commonwealth through a series of nine Community Conversations in fall 2012, the results of which were collected into themes that Virginians wished to see represented in the monument. A total of 34 artists from around the world answered the Commission’s request for proposals by the October 1, 2012 deadline. After carefully reviewing them for several months, the Commission narrowed the submissions to three finalists. At its March 21, 2013 meeting, the Commission unanimously selected the winning collaborative team of StudioEIS and The 1717 Design Group.

Ivan Schwartz of StudioEIS, who last year installed his highly-regarded sculpture of Thomas Jefferson in the State Capitol, spoke of the transformation and new meaning the Monument will add to

Design selected for the Women’s monument in Capitol Square

rendering courtesy of StudioEIS and The 1717 Design Group.

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State funding of public education has consistently decreased over the last several years, putting increased pressure on localities. “It is one thing to fairly and realistically address budget shortfalls. It is quite another to balance the state’s budget by ignoring any realistic relationship between state funding and the actual local costs of providing an education,” Lacy said.

Another issue to be addressed is the “King’s Dominion Law.” Haney said that the VSBA will seek a repeal of the law, which mandates that each local school board must start school after Labor Day unless it has obtained a waiver from the Board of Education. A key argument behind pursuing the repeal is that students from divisions without waivers are at a disadvantage in International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Standards of Learning testing, because they are receiving less pre-test instruction time than students in Virginia and the nation who start school prior to Labor Day.

Leaders, advocates, and SupportersVSBA leadership is optimistic about the future and looks forward

to continued dialogue about ways to improve and enhance public education. Citizen involvement is the key to Virginia’s success, Coyle said. “We must all work together as leaders, advocates, and supporters of public education. Our educational system is what will define the future of our communities, our state, and our nation,” she said.

For the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), advocacy is a year-round process that doesn’t end when the General Assembly adjourns. The VSBA recently held a press conference addressing the impact new legislation will have on the future of public education in Virginia, and to outline future legislative priorities.

“Education was a major focus of this year’s General Assembly session, and we plan to keep education a priority going into this fall’s elections,” said Barbara Coyle, executive director of the VSBA.

Two of the most widely discussed topics during the 2013 General Assembly session were the A-F School Report Card rating system and the Opportunity Education Institution (OEI). Members of the VSBA said that there have been concerns with both.

a-F School report CardsEach school in Virginia will now receive a single A to F letter

grade, with a goal of making school performance more clear and easy to communicate. “An A through F system will convert robust and detailed information into a simplistic grade that will not provide a full picture of school status and progress,” said Juandiego Wade, VSBA board of directors member and federal relations chair.

The VSBA points out that detailed school and division report cards are already available on the Virginia Department of Education web site, which include data on school performance, teacher experience and education, school enrollment and composition, and more.

Opportunity Education Institution (OEI)The OEI is a state-run school board that will take over under-

performing schools. The VSBA believes that the OEI disregards and duplicates turnaround efforts underway in struggling schools. It also creates another layer of bureaucracy, and local citizens, who have funded the community’s schools through their local taxes, have no direct representation or role on the appointed takeover board.

Perhaps the greatest concern is the question of constitutionality. Roy Boyles, VSBA president, said that the state constitution assigns the responsibility of supervising schools to local school boards, not a state-run board. The VSBA is investigating to determine if establishment of the OEI is a violation of the Virginia Constitution.

Despite concerns about A-F School Report Cards and the OEI, VSBA leadership is optimistic about other legislation that is having a positive impact on public education. In particular, Standards of Quality Staffing Provisions legislation granted flexibility to school boards to assign librarians, guidance counselors, and school based clerical personnel to schools in the division with the greatest need.

Another positive outcome was the Teacher Fairness Act, which streamlines the grievance process for teachers who are not succeeding and provides divisions with flexibility to give provisional teachers more time to progress. Boyles was particularly pleased because the passing of this legislation was an example of collaborative effort between political leaders and education stakeholders.

already Looking to the FutureVSBA Lobbyists Pat Lacy and Stacy Haney outlined the

VSBA’s future legislative plans and priorities. “The Virginia School Boards Association intends to ask the General Assembly to direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the funding of the Standards of Quality,” Lacy said. “It has been over a decade since the funding of the SOQ’s has been studied. It is time to conduct such a study and to rectify the funding imbalance that currently exists in the funding of public education in Virginia.”

Educational advocacy a Focus for State associationThe Virginia School Board Association reflects on legislation, outlines future plans By PETEr J. SEnGEnBErGEr

For more information scan this Quick response Code to visit the Virginia School Boardsassociation website.

VSBa Executive Director Barbara J. Coyle.

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Tribute to Chip Woodrum By SEnaTOr JOhn S. EDWarDS

Former Delegate Clifton A. Woodrum, III, was a class act, the epitome of the Virginia citizen-legislator. He insisted on being called simply “Chip”; he was a regular guy and a friend to everyone he met.

With his sharp mind and encyclopedic knowledge, he could quote Chaucer, Shakespeare, the Bible and tell funny stories at the drop of a hat. With his quick wit, he had a knack for coming up with colorful quips, quotes and jokes for any occasion or to support a floor debate. His witty remarks were not only fitting, funny and incisive, but spot on in making his point. He had the innate ability to make a point with humor like no other person. His one-liners made him beloved by everyone who knew him and particularly quotable by the press.

Chip was a loyal friend and a mentor to many. He left his mark in much legislation, including authoring the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation program and establishing the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. He chaired the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, where he played a leading role in pushing for open government.

He loved the General Assembly and taught us that the legislative process was more important than winning any particular battle. When he served as chair of the Electric Deregulation Commission, he made clear his opposition to deregulation, but he did not use his position to skew the outcome, and he commanded respect from all sides by fairly presiding over the deregulation process.

During his term, Chip—along with his Roanoke colleagues Delegates Vic Thomas and Dick Cranwell—were widely known as the most effective local delegation in Virginia.

Chip was heir to a prominent Roanoke family which shaped the history of Virginia. His great grandfather was Roanoke City’s first elected Commonwealth’s Attorney and his grandfather was a judge and later served 23 years in the U.S. Congress, including as Chair of its Appropriations Committee. Chip grew up in politics, and he was a leader in the Democratic Party well before he ran for elected office.

Chip leaves behind his wife Emily, a lovely lady who was always by his side, three children and one granddaughter. His legacy will be long remembered for the legislation he accomplished and for the caring person he was.

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2013 General assembly Center aisle Presentations in house and SenateEditors note: After the 2013 General Assembly session we requested the names of everyone that was honored in the center aisle presentations in both the house and the senate. The Susan Clark Schaar and Paul Nardo were both extremely helpful and promptly sent us the lists of people that were featured in joint resolutions and presented on the floors of the house and senate.

SR 21–Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Inductees (1/14/13)Franklin Allen, Cornell Brown, Lawrence Burton, Dean Ehlers, Robert Pratt, Jr., Bill Roth and Dick Tarrant

2013 Outstanding Faculty Award Recipients (2/12/13)• Mr. Robert Bausch, Northern Virginia Community College• Dr. Rita Chung, George Mason University• Dr. Jasmin Darznik,Washington and Lee University• Dr. J. Emmett Duffy, College of William and Mary • Dr. Stephen Edwards, Virginia Polytechnic Institute

& State University• Dr. Paul Hanstedt, Roanoke College• Dr. Erik Hewlett, University of Virginia• Dr. Shiv Khanna, Virginia Commonwealth University• Dr. Olga Pierrakos, James Madison University• Dr. Laura Taalman, James Madison University• Dr. Eve Torrence, Randolph-Macon College• Dr. Frances Williams, Norfolk State University

SJR 360–2012 Olympic Gold Medalist (2/12/13)Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas

SJR 417–2012 Outstanding Virginian of the Year (2/14/13)

William B. Holtzman SJR 320–Congressional Gold Medalist (2/19/13)

Samuel W. Hopkins, Sr. SJR 304–2012 Olympic Gold Medalist (2/20/13)

Francena McCorory

HR 122–Chris Nalley (1/29/13)

HR 133–The Paul Harris Family [Cindy and Chuck Harris] (1/29/13)

HR 152–Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2012-2013– Stephanie Copeland (2/13/13)

HJR 111–Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (1/14/13). The following guests were present:

• Eddie Webb• Franklin Allen• Bill Roth• Dick Tarrant• Dean Ehlers• Cornell Brown• Lawrence Burton• Robert Pratt

HJR 614–Virginia’s 2013 Teacher of the Year– Kathryn B. Galford (2/7/13)

HJR 623–Virginia Education Association (1/28/13). The following guests were present on the floor:

• Meg Gruber, President, Virginia Education Association• Dom Melito, Vice President, Virginia Education Association• Philip Forgit, Executive Director, Virginia Education Association• Robley Jones, Director of Government Relations and Research,

Virginia Education Association

HJR 695–Miss Virginia 2012–Rosemary Willis (2/18/13)

HJR 769–Outstanding Virginian of the Year for 2012– William B. Holtzman (2/14/13)

HJR 776–Francena McCorory–Gold Medal winner at 2012 Summer Olympics in London (2/20/13)

HJR 844–Commending the State of Israel (2/13/13). The following guests were present on the floor:

• Oren Marmorstein, Embassy of Israel, Diplomatic Head of Regional Affairs

• Joshua Sztorc, Embassy of Israel, Regional Director of Government and Public Affairs

• Ron Halber, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, Executive Director

• Chuck Lessin, Vice Chair, Virginia Israel Advisory Board

Although not presented with a commending resolution during a center aisle presentation, the following were recognized on the House floor as Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists for 2013 on February 18, by Delegate John O’Bannon:

• Dr. Patricia Dove• Dr. Harold Burkhardt

Brennan Long and Tiffany Vasquez of David Bailey associates had the chance to meet Gabby Douglas, Olympic Gold medalist and Virginia native, outside Old City hall after she was honored with a Senate Joint resolution at the Capitol. Gabby, who grew up in Virginia Beach, won the gold medal in the individual gymnastics competition at the 2012 Olympics in London.

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outdoor adVErtisiNg assoCiatioN oF VirgiNia Stephen W. Hughes–(804) 784-0501plumBiNg aNd mECHaNiCal proFEssioNals oF VirgiNia Laurie Crigler, Lobbyist–(540) 948-6230 qualiFiEd gas CoNtraCtors–pENiNsula–www.qgC-Va.org Richard Hibbard, President–(757) 229-8806 qualiFiEd gas CoNtraCtors–soutHsidE–www.qgC-Va.org George Fordyce, VP & Secretary–(757) 436-5490 qualiFiEd gas CoNtraCtors–suFFolk–www.qgC-Va.org Ray Cobb, Chair–(757) 539-7484 spEECH-laNguagE-HEariNg assoCiatioN oF VirgiNia (sHaV) Carrie L. Cilento, President • www.shav.org Scott Rankins, Vice President of Government Affairs

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VirgiNia assoCiatioN For marriagE aNd Family tHErapy www.vamft.orgVirgiNia assoCiatioN oF mortgagE BrokErs Steve Baugher–(804) 285-7557VirgiNia CoalitioN oF poliCE aNd dEputy sHEriFFs Chip Condon, President–(800) 913-2727VirgiNia EduCatioN assoCiatioN Meg Grober, President • Rob Jones, Government Relations–(804) 648-5801VirgiNia FirE CHiEFs assoCiatioN Steve Cover, President—(757) 385-0693VirgiNia FirE prEVENtioN assoCiatioN Robby Dawson, President–(804) 717-6838 • (888) 668-8372 VirgiNia FirE sErViCE CouNCil Stephen P. Kopczynski, Chairman–(757) 890-3612VirgiNia iNdEpENdENt automoBilE dEalErs assoCiatioN Lois Keenan, Executive Director • (800) 394-1960VirgiNia lEaguE oF CoNsErVatioN VotErs Jeffrey L. Painter, Executive Director–(804) 225-1902 • www.valcv.orgVirgiNia motorCoaCH assoCiatioN, iNC. Doug Douglas, Government Affairs–(434) 376-1150VirgiNia pEtrolEum CouNCil Michael D. Ward–(804) 225-8248VirgiNia poliCE BENEVolENt assoCiatioN, iNC. Sean McGowan, Executive Director—(800) 233-3506 ext. 352 Joseph Woloszyn, President VirgiNia proFEssioNal FirE FigHtErs assoCiatioN Mike Mohler, President–(703) 591-9271VirgiNia puBliC mEdia assoCiatioN Curtis Monk, Chairman–(804) 560-8114 VirgiNia rEtail FEdEratioN Margaret Ballard–(757) 406-9431, George Peyton–(804) 334-2932 VirgiNia sHEriFFs’ assoCiatioN John W. Jones–(804) 225-7152VirgiNia statE FirEFigHtErs assoCiatioN Gary Allred, President–(757) 592-3240

sErViCEsCoNNiE’s sHoE rEpair 110 N. 8th Street • 804-648-8896

Settle and Associates LLC

Richard L. SettleSettle and Associates LLC288 Clubhouse DriveAbingdon, Virginia 24211–3839

Phone: 276-676-4444Mobile: [email protected]

BENNETTFUNERAL HOME

Charles D. Morehead, Sr.Funeral Director & General Manager

3215 Cutshaw AvenueRichmond, Virginia 23221 (804) 359-4481

W W W. B L U E F I E L D . E D U / O N L I N E

With a national spotlight on education, there is a demand for teachers who possess both teaching experience and the skills to effectively shape and impact the future of the field. Our program brings working professionals together into a dynamic online format that focuses on our “engage, apply, reflect” framework.

MASTER’S DEGREE IN EDUCATION

DEGREE PROGRAMSBluefield College offers four online degree programs designed for adult learners who want to advance their education and their career while maintaining professional, familial and social commitments.

ONLINE FORMATOur Bachelor degree programs are offered 100% online and are structured to provide students with all necessary knowledge and skills for the job they want to pursue or the promotion they want to obtain.

ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMSONLINE CLASSROOM - LEARN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE!

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W W W. B L U E F I E L D . E D U / E D U

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The online, eight-week course format allows you to complete your advanced degree quickly, while getting a quality education.

Online programs allow students the opportunity to complete their degree without sacrificing professional and personal commitments.

Bluefield is ranked among the Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges in the South in U.S. News & World Report.

The Financial Aid staff at Bluefield College is available to guide you through the process of paying for your education.

• E-Business and Entrepreneurship• Human Services• Management & Leadership• RN-BSN Nursing

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statewide for marketing initiatives,

fundraising appeals, and political campaigns.

1-800-359-6608 • www.wordsprint.com

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