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The Retail Advocate
Member News
& Events

January 2010

State Issues

Retailers will be facing many of the same issue in 2010 they faced during the 2009 General Assembly session.  The 2009 session was all about the money or the lack thereof and as the 2010 session approaches it's still “all about the lack of money”.  Governor Elect McDonnell is facing a $1.9 billion dollar budget shortfall; the 64 million dollar question is—where will the dollars come from to fill the deficit?

Last year the VRF (Virginia Retail Federation) helped preserve the Dealer Discount for all retailers.  The solution wasn’t perfect but it did preserve the amount of dollars the retailers retains for collecting and remitting the sales tax for the Commonwealth.  Well, we won the battle but the war was lost when Governor Kaine eliminated the Dealer Discount in his budget. The VRF will work with the new administration to protect the Dealer Discount. Asking retailers to act as unpaid tax collectors for the Commonwealth is simply wrong.

Other issues that the VRF will watch closely will be: ABC Privatization, Ban on Plastic Bags, BPOL Tax (Business Professional Occupational License Tax) and Weight and Measure program funding.

  • ABC Privatization: The VRF only supports privatization if it provides for open competition throughout the Commonwealth, is a result of a formal study, is open to the public for input and is approved through the legislative process and has proper regulator controls.
  • Ban on Plastic Bags: The VRF opposed any ban on plastic bags.  We do support voluntary pilot programs such as those supported by the VRF in Isle of Wight County and the City of Alexandria. Both programs were kicked off in late summer and have been extremely successful in promoting recycling.
  • BPOL (Business Professional Occupational License Tax): The VRF commissioned a study by CHMURA ECONOMICS & ANALYTICS on the Evaluation of Virginia’s BPOL Tax and Industry Profitability. The finding of the study will be presented to the House Finance Committee during the 2010 Session. 

There will be over 3000 pieces of legislation introduced this session.  The VRF will send out weekly a update on those bills being followed.  Click here to view bills that have been introduced.

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Federal Issue—Healthcare

As you have heard in the news the Senate and the House of Representatives have each passed a HealthCare bill. Neil Trautwein, Vice President, Employee Benefits Policy Counsel, National Retail Federation, has been the NRF’s lead lobbyist on Health Care since the issue began and below is his latest update on the issue.

Contents (Click on each for information)

  1. Conference or Not
  2. Finding the Sweet Spot—Where?
  3. Conference and Full Employer Mandate
  4. NRF Side-by-Side Comparison
  5. NPR Morning Edition
  6. Transparently Opaque
  7. Where I’ve Been
  8. Where I’m Going
  9. Health Care Blogs
  10. Table of Links
  11. Recent Emails
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Member News & Events

Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund

Donations to can be mailed to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 655, Richmond, Virginia 23218, made on line at www.greaterrichmond.redcross.org or by calling 804-780-2250.  Thank you.

Powhatan Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Social 2010: Looking Back and Moving Forward

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 6–8 p.m.

Introduction and swearing in of new Board of Directors

  • What we have accomplished this year
  • What we look forward to in 2010
  • Presentation of Heritage Photo project by the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Economic Development

Variety of appetizers will be served, cash bar available. The Mill at Fine Creek 2424 Robert E. Lee Road (Just off RT 711 in Powhatan) $25 per person. RSVP by  January 15 804-598-2636

Be Invigorated As Never Before!

Saturday, February 6th

Mike Baum, Weather Crafters Heating & Air, is taking the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Virginia in Virginia Beach.  This is probably the last time he will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” and wants some more folks to have FUN in Va Beach.  Mike says, “Tighten up, put on a costume and plan to take the plunge into the Atlantic as part of the Weather Crafters team or create your own.  Go to www.polarplunge.com for more details on your mini winter vacation!  It only takes a few minutes to set up your own fund-raising page at firstgiving.com/sova. “   Check out his page at http://www.firstgiving.com/mikebaum2010 as an example. You can join him as a fellow plunger, a spectator, and/or by making a donation. 

Mac Events Home and Garden Show

Thursday, Feb, 18, 1–9 p.m. ; Friday/Saturday, Feb. 19–20, 11a.m.–9 pm; Sunday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The MAC Events Home Show - Richmond, featuring the Maymont Flower & Garden Show, Virginia’s long-standing harbinger of spring, will offer you the latest in horticulture, gardens, seminars and a marketplace filled with goodies that will have you dreaming of spring. Admission: Adults $10, Kids (12-17) $6, Children (11 & under) Free, Seniors $8. For more information visit www.macevents.com.

Virginia Wine Expo

Friday Feb. 26 thru Sunday Feb. 28, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Enjoy over 300 wines from 50+ of Virginia's top wineries. Showcasing Virginia's best wineries, restaurants, chefs and specialty foods. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.virginiawineexpo.com.

The Power to Save a Life Could Be at Your Fingertips With Training & Technology from the American Red Cross

Imagine two jumbo jets crashing and killing all on board. Nationwide about that many people die every day from sudden cardiac arrest. Now, imagine a safe, simple device about the size of a lunchbox and price of a laptop that could have saved many of those lives. That’s the power of the Automated External Defibrillator or AED.

The Greater Richmond Chapter of the American Red Cross offers the HeartStart OnSite AED made by Philips Medical Systems, one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturers. The HeartStart OnSite AED is designed for the ordinary person in the extraordinary moment. In fact, it is so easy and safe to use, it is the only AED approved by the FDA for home and for use without a medical director’s approval or prescription. Users are also protected under Virginia’s Good Samaritan Law.

Using clear, natural voice instructions, the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator guides the first caregiver on the scene, through each step of defibrillation and CPR. It’s affordable lifesaving technology no business can afford to be without.

The Greater Richmond Chapter will facilitate your purchase of HeartStart Defibrillators, and Philips AED accessories such as AED batteries, AED replacement pads and AED cabinets. They also provide CPR and AED training at places of place of work, worship and recreation. Learn more about the training and technology that could save your life or the life of a co-worker, family member or a friend. Contact Bob Swain, at (804)780-2286 or email him at swainb@usa.redcross.org.

Virginia Historical Society Selling Display Cases & Exhibition Furniture

Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22

VHS is hosting a two-day sale of museum display cases and exhibition furniture.  More than seventy-five items used to showcase objects in past VHS exhibitions will be for sale at up to 90% off retail prices.  Exhibition furniture for sale includes floor cases with and without vitrines (plexi covers), wall cases with vitrines, framed text panels, free standing text rails, sculpture pedestals, glass shelves, object and book mounts, audio visual kiosks, and object and portrait shipping crates. The sale—which is free and open to the public—will take place at the Virginia Historical Society, located at 428 North Boulevard in Richmond.  Items will be on display from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days.  Anyone purchasing an object must provide their own labor and transportation.  Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.  For more information, please call (804) 358-4901 or visit www.vahistorical.org.

Do You Have an Upcoming Event or Program?

Send it to patricia@retailmerchants.com
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