SFCC NEWSLETTER/January 2020
2019 was a year of change and growth for the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. I'm happy to report our membership has steadily grown throughout the year with new members joining every month. We are the only membership organization focused exclusively on developing South Fairfax business and community. It is nice to see the local business community recognize this.
I've often said, "You only get out of the SFCC what you put into it!" Those who took the time to attend and participate in any of our events over the last year know the benefits firsthand and are on their way to realizing the full potential of the SFCC membership.
We took our Thirsty Thursday networking events to new heights and new venues in 2019! Ax throwing anyone? I urge you to consider joining us at one of these monthly social opportunities in the coming year. Help your business by engaging with other local business owners.
The SFCC was honored to participate, witness and sometimes facilitate opportunities for our members last year. Last summer, the first-ever Disability Inclusion Conference was held here in Fairfax. Designed to help build a bridge between the disability community and society, the intent of this first-time event was to recognize, promote and foster inclusivity in the workplace and community at large.
This past fall, the SFCC was there as ground was broken on the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, which will be the first national memorial honoring millions of suffragists who fought more
than seventy years to win the right to vote for American women. We look forward to the official opening and dedication of the memorial this summer.
2020 promises to be a break out year for the SFCC and we are hard at work for you, planning new opportunities to improve your Chamber ROI! I urge you to get involved and actively explore new ways to do business with your fellow SFCC members. On behalf of your Chamber leadership, I wish all of you and your extended families a happy and prosperous 2020!
Thomas W. Repczynski
SFCC Chairman
trepczynski@offitkurman.com
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SFCC Board members and friends celebrate the holidays.
SFCC Celebrates the Holidays at the Last T3 of 2019
Members of the SFCC celebrated the holidays and another successful year for the Chamber at the last T3 of 2019 held at the Harbour Grille on the water in Woodbridge.
The SFCC Board took the monthly Board meeting "on the road" and recessed the meeting to celebrate the season along with Chamber members and some family members who came out to enjoy Harbour Grille offerings.
The SFCC will kick off the monthly Thirsty Third Thursdays with a gathering on Thursday, February 20, 6-8pm, at The Electric Palm Restaurant, located on the river at 12745 Sea Ray Lane, in Woodbridge. A big thank you to our Kevin Tracy for all that he does for the Chamber, including not only recruiting new members but also making our T3 arrangements for us. Thank you, sir!
Don't miss this easy opportunity to support a local business owner and network with fellow SFCC members while enjoying the warm ambiance of The Electric Palm on a cold winter's day! Coming together in this way with fellow professionals with a shared expectation of finding mutually beneficial business opportunities is the foundation upon which Ben Franklin and his compatriots built the very first chamber. Channel your inner-Franklin and join us at The Electric Palm in February. Calendar all of these events by reserving all of your "Third Thursday" evenings and watch for details on all of our upcoming 2020 T3 events.
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Great Networking Opportunity!
Thanks to those who came out to network with members of the South Fairfax, Mount Vernon Lee and Greater Springfield chambers of commerce and invited Rotary Club guests at the Business Associates Social Hour - "Big BASH!" - a couple months back. Our overdue thanks, as well, to our member host, Embassy Suites by Hilton in Springfield and especially to Greater Springfield's Chamber Staff President Kim Clarke , who is to be credited with handling most of the logistics and helped make us all look so good that night.
Members enjoyed complimentary appetizers, door prizes and the great turnout! We are heeding the overwhelmingly positive feedback from this event and will continue working with our counterparts at the other chambers to identify additional opportunities to do joint events including an anticipated reprisal of the BASH in 2020. Stay tuned for details on 2020 get togethers.
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Member Profile
Heather Cooper
Congratulations to SFCC member Heather Cooper, a 2019 recipient of the American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award. Heather is honored to be a part of the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, a one-of-a-kind venture that improves access to pro bono civil legal assistance for active-duty military personnel. She is being recognized for providing 50 or more pro bono hours on a completed case.
A founding partner of Cooper Ginsberg Gray PLLC,. her practice has been devoted to helping clients navigate through family law matters. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2012 - 2018 and recognized multiple times in Northern Virginia Magazine and Washingtonian Magazine as one of the DC Metro Area's top family law attorneys.
Heather gives back to the legal community by conducting Continuing Legal Education seminars for other attorneys and paralegals. Click here to read more about Heather and the firm's eight attorneys.
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Congrats to South County High School Football
Virginia Class 6 State Champions!
It's being called the "Perfect Season" and it might just feel like that to the South County High School Football Team and their fans. The Stallions won the Virginia class 6 State Championship last month in a defensive match that ended in a 14-13 victory over Oscar Smith High School. South County averaged 34 points a game during the 2019 regular season. It was only the second time in program history the team went undefeated.
Coach Gerry Pannoni, in his 40th season coaching high school football in Northern Virginia, says the 2019 team is a special group. "I told them that the only team that could beat them was themselves," says Pannoni. "We are a fast, athletic, strong team. This was the most dynamic team we had ever had."
As the game clock ticked down to zero, Pannoni says his only thought was "finding my wife and family and giving them all hugs, letting them know how much I loved them."
SFCC member, the South County Football Alumni Association (SCFAA) is seeking support from fellow chamber members to sponsor Championship T-shirts for the team. They are ordering 150 t-shirts for the players and coaches for $2,400. Any amount you can give is appreciated. To show appreciation for those who sponsor, there are various ways to be recognized: the team's and SCFAA's social media, your logo on the virtual scoreboard next season, and an ad in the spring sports program. For questions please email southcountyfootball.alumni@gmail.com. You can also contact President of SCFAA, Marlon Dubuisson, through text: 571-331-1872.
Congrats to Coach Pannoni, his coaching staff, all the players, the families, and the SoCo student body.
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Special Thanks
to the Laurel Hill Golf Club and the Holiday Inn Express Lorton
Our continuing thanks to Laurel Hill Golf Club, General Manager Ryan Carmen and the Holiday Inn Express of Lorton, Director of Sales Heidi Ward for offering meeting facilities free of charge to the Chamber for our monthly Board of Directors meetings and other events throughout the year.
Members considering venue options for upcoming events are encouraged to contact Ryan or Heidi to make arrangements.
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Get More Exposure for your Business and Events
Spring Musical Ad Opportunity
The SFCC will be purchasing two full-page ads (4.5 x 7.5) in the spring SCHS Theatre Arts program. If you would like your business logo to appear in this two-page spread, send your camera-ready logo to Carla at colivo@southfairfaxchamber.org no later than February 15. The cost of having your logo on the Chamber's 2-page spread is only $25. Reserve your spot NOW before we run out of space!
Submit Items to SFCC Calendar
Get more exposure for upcoming events sponsored by your business or organization by submitting them to the calendar on the SFCC website. It's easy. Click on NEWS & EVENTS in the navigation bar, click CALENDAR and then EVENT SUBMISSION. Here is the direct link to the calendar on the SFCC website.
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Upcoming Events
- Jan 31/Feb 1 -- Student-Directed One Act Plays, South County High School 7p
- Feb 1 -- 33rd Mount Vernon Town Meeting 7:45am-12pm
- Feb 20 -- SFCC Thirsty Thursday - Electric Palm 6p-8p
- Feb 21-23 -- Capital Remodel and Garden Show Dulles Expo Center
- Feb 22 -- Collect! 2020, Peace, Love & Art, Workhouse Arts Center 6:30pm-10:30pm
- Mar 7 -- Teen Job Fair - South County High School 2p-4p
- April 16 -- Annual Meeting - Save the Date, Details TBA
- April 18 -- LCAC Spring Gala 6:30p-11p
Check out the calendar of events on our website www.southfairfaxchamber.org for more details.
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South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce | PO Box 68 | Lorton, VA 22199
