Chamber Sets Priorities for 1997-98

A new ambassador program, Friendship Heights development and partnerships between business and the arts top the Chamber's agenda for 1997-98. Nearly 40 Board members and active committee members met in late July to discuss the Chamber's program of action for the coming year, which includes a greater focus on the various business districts within the greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase area, as well as a commitment to increased member participation. The "Top Ten" priorities for the coming year are:

Ambassador Program for Membership Development

"Our goal is to recruit 120 new members and retain 86% of our current members by creating an ambassador program to reach out to the membership," said Deede Blum, VP for Membership Development. The Membership Development Committee will design an ambassador program that pairs active members with new, at-risk and potential members. A key element of the program will be the recognition of distinct business districts within the Chamber's region, such as the Bethesda Central Business District, Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase Lake, River Road, Cabin John/Glen Echo, North Bethesda/ White Flint, and Montgomery Mall/ Wildwood. Other ambassador program activities may include member-to-member visits, "Chamber Days" to attract publicity, a buddy system and interviews with current and former members to determine the Chamber's strengths and areas for improvement.

The Chamber reiterated its desire to see Friendship Heights reach its potential as a vibrant place to live, work and visit. Ensuring adoption of the Consensus Plan for Friendship Heights development by the Montgomery County Council is a key to making this happen, according to VP for Economic Development & Government Relations Pete Carney. The Consensus Plan, which has been adopted by the Friendship Heights Village representatives to the Citizens Advisory Council, the Friendship Heights Village Mayor and Council, and endorsed by County Executive Doug Duncan, represents development of Friendship Heights as a vital urban center that is strategically important for the continued economic growth and well-being of Montgomery County.

Business-Arts Partnerships

Monica Jeffries, a member of the Board of Directors and immediate past chair of the Cultural Arts Committee noted that "In one year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area arts organizations bring in more than half a million people and generate two dollars of restaurant/retail spending for every dollar spent on the arts."

To strengthen the link between business and the arts, the Chamber will create a business-arts partner initiative through which at least 10 arts organizations and Chamber businesses will be paired for mutual (non-financial) benefit. Business partners may receive free tickets, performances, writing workshops, leadership training, use of arts facilities, etc. Arts partners may receive regular mention in corporate newsletters, in-kind technical support, used equipment, volunteers, etc.

Parking/Garage 36

Parking continues to be of paramount importance to downtown Bethesda. While the reopening of Garage 40 (Cordell -St. Elmo) in the late Fall will ease immediate congestion in the Woodmont Triangle, the Chamber will aggressively seek funding in the County's FY99 Capital Improvement Plan budget for an additional garage to be built on the site of Lot 36 (Del Ray-Auburn) to ensure that Bethesda businesses can accommodate the parking needs of their patrons and employees.

Restructured County Chamber Relations

As the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is restructured, the BCC Chamber will develop a mechanism for its relationship with the Council of County Chambers, to include the process for BCC's support or opposition to legislative/regulatory issues on the local, county, state and federal level.

Increased Member Participation

Michael Fitzgerald, VP of Member Services emphasized the Chamber as a place for business people to unite, saying, "We need to connect our members through social, business, educational and community activities." To make our strong Chamber even stronger, the Chamber will increase participation of members in Chamber activities by 10 percent through increased awareness, broadened corporate sponsorship and new member incentives.

Speakers Bureau

Randy Hamas, Chair of the Education Committee, announced the formation of a speakers bureau that will train and place at least 10 speakers per high school this year.

Professional Development

The Chamber will enhance its role as a provider of professional development programs by holding two executive forums/business roundtables and two additional business forums that are either occupation- or industry-specific.

Career Partnership Day

Continuing its commitment to strong business-education alliances, the Chamber will attract at least 80 businesses and 135 students to participate in Career Partnership Day, in which students "shadow" business leaders for a day for insights into how business works.

Member Visibility

As part of continuing member value, the Chamber will enhance member visibility by spotlighting new and current members.

To find out more about how you can get the most out of your Chamber membership by contributing to these goals, see the enclosed committee flyer or contact the Chamber today.

The beginning of the Chamber's year is always an exciting and hectic time. Wehave new officers and new members to welcome, and planning to do for the coming year.

In addition to the normal pace, we have the pleasure this year of introducing our new executive director, Anne Core, to the chamber membership. We are sure that Anne's experience, energy and interest in the community will produce great dividends for all of us.

In anticipation of our expected participation in the Montgomery County Chamber Coalition for economic development and legislative relations, we have combined our positions of VP of Economic Development and VP of Government Relations. Pete Carney (Bethesda Theater Café), who was VP for Government Relations, is now VP for Economic Development and Government Relations. Our newly appointed VPs are Joe Lagomarcino (AccuBank Mortgage) VP for Community Development and Education; Mike Fitzgerald (Sequoia National Bank), VP for Member Services; and Deede Blum (Unforgettable Journeys), VP for Membership Development. They, along with your elected officers - Tom Korengold (Ourisman Ford), President-elect and Phyllis Lieberman (Stage Two Communications), VP for Budget and Finance, fill out our 1997-1998 officer team.

We are also pleased to welcome this year's incoming board members: Monica Jeffries (Strathmore Hall Arts Center); Ed Asher (Chevy Chase Land Company), a past President of our Chamber; Cliff Chiet (Montgomery Business Gazette); and Barbara Reinike (Lockheed Martin).

In mid-July, we met for our annual retreat to establish our goals and priorities for the coming year. Our priorities this year include the completion of a lot of hard work by a number of individuals to produce a single voice in Montgomery County on legislative and economic development issues. This process is expected to culminate this year with our participation in the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Coalition.

To achieve these priorities, we need everyone's input and assistance. Involvement with the Chamber provides the opportunity to interact with a terrific group of dedicated individuals as well as the personal reward of knowing you are doing something for your community.

Walter C. Pennington
President

The BCC Chamber is developing its relationship with the restructured Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Chambers, which will result in a powerful government relations and economic development voice to the Montgomery County Council and in Annapolis. As part of this restructuring, the Chamber's lobbyist, Jim Goeden, will be moving his office to Annapolis. For more than 15 years, Jim has successfully represented the Chamber's interests at the local, county and state level. Jim's role as the area's pre-eminent lobbyist grew out of his efforts as the Chamber's Executive Vice President from 1969 to 1982.

Chamber President Walter Pennington says, "The Chamber has been fortunate to have Jim at the lobbying helm for nearly three decades. He has kept the Chamber at the forefront of many legislative issues. We look forward to working with Jim in the future, and we wish him the best of luck." As of September 1, Jim can be reached at 7 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, 301-652-0721.

The Chamber is hosting a reception in Jim's honor on Thursday, August 21; please contact Margery Shrinsky at the Chamber for details.

After the General Assembly had adjourned, it was discovered that the General Assembly in the 1996 session had inadvertently deleted the provision from the code that allows merchants and other businesses that accept checks in payment for goods and services to charge a fee to persons who present dishonored checks. It was not the intent of the General Assembly to delete this sub-section from the law. The error happened as part of the process of conforming Maryland's negotiable instruments law with the language supported by the Commission On Uniform Law. Your Chamber played a major role in passing the bad check-civil penalty law in 1987 that was deleted in this action by the General Assembly.

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran was requested to determine if merchants could continue charging bad check fees considering the error made in the 1996 session. Curran assured businesses that they could continue to charge the fees because the legislative action was an unintended drafting mistake that should not given effect. Curran sited the case of Kaczorowski v. City of Baltimore, 309 Md. 505, 520, 525 A. 2d 628 (1987). The Court of Appeals in that case endorsed the principle of statutory construction that refuses to permit a drafting error to frustrate the legislative goal. In an opinion dated May 1, 1997, the Attorney General advised that the 1996 legislative action did not repeal the specific legislative authorization for these fees. Your Chamber will work to pass a bill in the 1998 session to restore the original language in sections 3-512 and 3-514 of the Commercial Law Article. You may want to share this information with the lawyer who represents your business.

Looking to Fall already: The Boys and Girls' Homes of Maryland (BGHM) is holding its annual Redskin Raffle to support "back-to-school" expenses for the adolescents in its group homes and therapeutic programs. BGHM serves abused, neglected and troubled youth. All of the proceeds enable 135 of these children and teens to participate fully in school and after-school activates. Raffle tickets are $10 and can be purchased by August 28 by calling Becki Wolf at 301-587-9750. The drawing will be held at BGHM on September 5, 1997.

At the annual meeting of the Montgomery County Division of the American Heart Association, Joe Lagomarcino was elected "Chair Elect" for the 1997-1998 fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997. In this position, Joe will assist the Chair towards development of a strong division with continuity of leadership. He will serve as the lead volunteer in monitoring fund raising activities in the division.

Ellousie Schoettler paints with paper and fabric. Her works are reminiscent of stained glass windows and convey a feeling of spiritual mystery. Schoettler's passion for genealogy is evident in the Mecklenburg Women series where each work is named for a woman in her family lines and is accompanied by a brief story so that the result is an unusual family album. Creative Partners Gallery 4600 East-West Highway presents the exhibit Flesh On Old Bones, September 2-October 11, with the opening reception Sunday, September 7, from 2-5 PM. Special event: Storytelling Performance, September 12 with a fee of $7.00. For more information call 301-951-1213.

Stoy, Malone & Company, P.C., proudly announces that Ruth Bowers, firm administrator, recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with the firm. Ruth was recently elected National Vice President for the Association for Accounting Administration. The Association is comprised of over 500 administrators of CPA firms throughout the country. Its primary purpose is to educate members on effective management of their firms.

Tommy Korengold, Ourisman Ford Co., Inc., was awarded the Division's "Rookie of the Year" award at the annual meeting in recognition of his volunteer efforts on the Heart Walk for the Montgomery County Division of the American Heart Association.

The Alzheimer's Association Greater Washington Chapter has announced that Diana Barthel, General Manager of Marriott Brighton Gardens will be the Chairman of Memory Walk 1997. The goal is to raise $10 million to help fight Alzheimer's disease and to provide support and education services to families in their communities.

Montgomery County citizens interested in serving on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees should submit resumes and references to the Chairman of the Citizens Nominating Committee, Ms. Maureen E. Sullivan, by September 30, 1997. One position on the eight-member Board of trustees will be open July 1, 1997 and the incumbent has indicated he will not apply.

F&M Bank-Allegiance is proud to announce that their new web site, fmallegiance.com, has gone "live." The site allows customers and browsers alike to update themselves with the latest products and services, rate information and branch activities.

During the recent joint annual meeting of the Montgomery Hospice Society (MHS) and the Montgomery Hospice Foundation (MHF) boards of directors, new officers and directors for both boards were elected. For MHS, new officers are: Donald E. Dillon, M.D., chairman; Gerhard O. Mueller, vice-chairman; Robert E. Rossel, treasurer; and Eloise Strand, secretary. In addition, Michaela E. Gluck, Ph.D., was elected to the MHS board, while Charles G. Dalrymple, Thomas Leachman, and Lawrence T. Lewis III were elected to the MHF board.

Dembo, Jones, Healy, Pennington & Ahalt, P.C. is proud to announce that one of its Directors, Donald K. Marshall, CPA, has become a "Certified Fraud Examiner" (CFE). The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Board of Regents awards this designation only to select professionals who meet a stringent set of criteria, including strict character, experience and education requirements.

The fourth annual Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence selected Hopkins & Porter Construction, Inc. as overall winners in two categories in this year's competition. The first project, a renovation of a beauty salon, Le Salon Chez Margo, in Potomac, MD transformed a "50's style beauty parlor" into a sophisticated French country salon. This project won Best Commercial Remodel $100,000-$200,000. The second project, a charming Williamsburg-style outbuilding in the backyard of a suburban Colonial home, an outbuilding traditionally called an "Ordinary", provided storage and future guest quarters for the client. This project won Best Detached Outbuilding. Guy Semmes, President of Hopkins & Porter, and Andy Gilbert, Designer/Salesman, were present to receive the prestigious awards at the Southern Building Show & Conference in Atlanta. In addition, Tim Faller has been promoted to Vice-President of the New Homes Division at Hopkins & Porter Construction, Inc. Tim has been with Hopkins & Porter for nine years in their Remodeling Division. Three years ago he was instrumental in starting the New Homes Division of the company. Tim is now responsible for sales, project management, and client contact for all new home construction.

Sir Speedy of Bethesda placed ninth among Sir Speedy franchises in the world in terms of sales volume for 1996. This award was announced at the 20th Annual Sir Speedy International Convention in Chicago. This is the second year in a row that the Bethesda Sir Speedy has placed in the top 10, out of more than 800 franchises worldwide. Despite this high ranking, Sir Speedy of Bethesda is committed to expanding its printing capabilities, particularly in the rapidly growing area of color printing and will be taking delivery on a Kodak Image Source 110 and a Canon Model 1000.

Randy Schools, NIH Recreation & Welfare Association has been appointed Chairman of the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives

The Clark Construction Group, completed a $4.7 million project for the Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation's Hillwood Museum in the District. Clark built a 9,000 sq.ft. greenhouse to showcase the Hillwood orchid collection of over 600 varieties of flower as well as a two-story parking garage

Stuart Brodsky, General Business Services was named an AgriPlan/BizPlan provider in Bethesda. AgriPlan/BizPlan allows qualifying farmers and small business owners to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums and uninsured medical, dental and vision care expenses. Last year, AgriPlan/ BizPlan saved the average participant more than $1,800 a year in taxes.

Richard S. Carson & Associates has undertaken the task of assisting Army customers in evaluating and changing their business processes to support requirements for the information age.

Owner and President Helena T. Koenig, The Ticket Counter was a winner in the prestigious, national Travel Weekly Achievement Award, and is being saluted as a role model in the travel industry. "The Ticket Counter's success, in large part, is the result of hard work and dedication to the diverse needs of its clients," says Alan Fredericks, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, the travel industry's leading newspaper. The Ticket Counter was named Best Web Site in the $3-$10 million in sales category. The web site specializes in senior citizens' travel needs. Twenty-five percent of the agency's revenue is from escorted tours of grandparents and their grandchildren. See www.grandtrvl.com for more details.

Strategic Communications Group, Inc. (SCG) announced the addition of Katherine Beckett-Goodwin as a Senior Account Manager. Katherine brings five years of marketing and sales experience with several software companies, including Data Plus and Export Software International.

JBN Realty Investment, Inc. is pleased to announce that County Executive, Doug Duncan has appointed John Peterson to serve on the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs for a two year term. John is the President of JBN Realty Investment, Inc. a licensed Realtor with Jobin Realty, and the host of Real Estate Roundtable which airs every Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on WINX 94.3 or 1600 AM. Listen to his upcoming series on tax-deferred exchanges, or if you are interested, please call with your address and he will send you a free information package. Call John at 301-907-3370.

Suburban Hospital recently named five new members to its Board of Trustees. Roger W. Titus as Chairman of the Board, along with four new members: A. Mario Loiderman, James D. Fowler, Jr., Dr. Margaret E. Rick and Dr. Douglas R. Rosing.

Jay Davies, Architects At Work has won one of the 1997 Montgomery County Awards for Historic Preservation for an addition to a Historic Resource (Religious Use) for Salem United Methodist Church. The project involved a single story farm addition with basement to an existing frame church, a 1-story masonry addition and entry area to the adjacent three-story masonry Education Building, and a covered ramp joining these two buildings.

George Mason Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBS), announced that it has completed the merger of George Mason Bank, N.A. into George Mason Bank, headquartered in Fairfax, VA. George Mason Bank, N.A., formerly known as Palmer National Bank, was acquired by the Company on May 17, 1996. "This merger allows us to operate as one banking company throughout the entire Washington metropolitan area," said Bernard H. Clineburg, President and CEO of George Mason Bankshare, Inc. and George Mason Bank.

Ruth's Chris Steak House was selected "Best U.S. Restaurant" in the Robb Report's readers survey "Best of the Best 1997." The county's largest chain of upscale steak houses has four locations around the Washington metropolitan area including the Bethesda location located in the Air Rights Center, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue.

Christopher Jones, Bethesda Management Company has opened a new convenience center adjacent to Montgomery Mall, Westlake Crossing at 10301 Westlake Drive. Tenants include Blockbuster Video, Boston Market and Corner Bakery. Stop in and enter your name in a drawing to win six opening night tickets to Wolf Trap's West Side Story. Carey Limousine will provide limo service and Corner Bakery will provide a gourmet picnic dinner for six. Hurry, the drawing is August 22.

Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.C. is pleased to announce that Mark N. Braune has joined the firm as Director of Business Development. Mark has been active in the public accounting area for over 10 years, the last eight of which were spent in the area of business development.

The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the following new members. We encourage you to take a few minutes to become acquainted with their business profiles and remember, whenever you need a particular service-do business with a fellow Chamber member! Need a referral? Call the Chamber office.

We're movin' on up - moving up Wisconsin Avenue, that is. Starting in September, the More Networking for Less Breakfast will be held at the Bethesda Ramada Hotel at 8400 Wisconsin Avenue. Free parking will still be available across the street at O'Donnell's Restaurant, thanks to Chamber member Bill Edelblut (please move your car at 9:00 am) or you can park at the Ramada for the special Chamber rate of $3.00.

The Chamber also extends a special thank you to the Holiday Inn Bethesda for hosting the breakfast series for the past three years.

Don't miss the next breakfast on Thursday, September 18 at 7:15 am. The cost is $13 for members; you may pay in advance or at the door, but be sure to register by September 15 for a guaranteed seat. Because the breakfast is so popular, we may not be able to seat on-site registrants.

The More Networking for Less Breakfast features structured networking time, door prizes, special Chamber inside information and more. RSVP for the September 18 event to June Clark at the Chamber.

See you in September
Networking Business Breakfast

New Location!

Bethesda Ramada Hotel 8400 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda