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 Mark your Calendar for the SFCC June Mixer
South Fairfax Chamber Membership
Social Mixer and Networking Meeting
Thursday June 24, 2010
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Waters Edge on the Occoquan
13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge, VA
See SouthFarifaxChamber.org for details
2010 South Fairfax Chamber Challenge
10K Race, Family Fitness Fair, and Fun Run
 South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our second annual 10K event! The South Fairfax Chamber Challenge 10K Race, Family Fitness Fair, and Fun Run will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2010, beginning 8:00 AM at South County Secondary School in Lorton. SFCC is pleased to bring this event to the South Fairfax community, in partnership with Vulcan Materials Company.
There's something for everyone at this day-long event. Serious runners can register for the 10K Race on a USATF-certified course with electronic chip timing. There's a 1 Mile Fun Run for all age groups on the SCSS stadium track taking place while the 10K runners are out on the course. The Family Fitness Fair is free and open to the public, and will feature informative exhibits and entertainment with music, games, a moon bounce, health screenings, and nutrition counseling.
Benefiting Academic and Athletic Programs at South County Secondary School
 The South County Secondary School Athletic Boosters Club (SCSABC) and Parent, Teacher, Student Organization (PTSO) will receive all profits from the South Fairfax Chamber Challenge 10K Race, Family Fitness Fair, and Fun Run. Many school programs have been eliminated or downsized due to the current County and State budget crisis. The SCSABC and PTSO are working hard to fill the gap left by reduced funding, and enrich the educational experience for students at South Country Secondary School.
10K Race
Click here for complete race details, including course map, entry fees, awards, and registration.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the South Fairfax Chamber Challenge 10K Race, Family Fitness Fair and Fun Run. All monetary donations are tax deductible. Learn more about becoming a sponsor here.
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers are needed to assist with event set up, race packet pick-up, manning runner water stations, and other tasks. If you would like to volunteer, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for more information.
What Time is it?
 Like many Lorton residents, I-95 commuters, and VRE passengers, members of the SFCC Board of Directors passed by the new Lorton Station Clock Tower and wondered if it would ever read anything other than 9:05. Last Spring the Board initiated an effort to learn who was responsible for the clock and what was needed to make it operational. Board Members Shep Crow and David Kyle took the lead on the project.
Shep Crow contacted Bill Fennell from Kettler, the property management company for Lorton Station. Mr. Fennell explained that there were no funds available to allocate for making the clock operational. Meanwhile, David Kyle of Trademasters Corporation sent one of his engineers over to assess the situation and determine what was needed to repair the clock. It seems that the main problem was that the power supply to the Clock Tower had accidentally been cut during construction. Shep relayed this information to Kettler, and Bill Fennell told him that he had a company available to repair the electrical connection.
Things looked promising, yet weeks passed and still the clock was only telling the correct time twice a day. This is when Shep called in the big guns and contacted Christine Morin in Fairfax County Supervisor Gerry Hyland's office. Supervisor Hyland has been a great supporter of SFCC since the Chamber was first founded. Ms. Morin contacted Kettler, and when this failed to produce results, she made some calls to several County agencies. Then the BIG SNOW in February made for further delays in completing the project.
Finally one day in March, just short of a year from the time that the Chamber Board of Directors initiated the campaign, the clock began to work. Shep Crow is still following up with some issues on accuracy, but at least it is no longer perpetually 9:05 in Lorton.
Dominion Virginia Power's Energy Share Plan
An Opportunity to Help Area Families
EnergyShare is Dominion Virginia Power's heating and cooling assistance program. EnergyShare pays for any type of heating bill - oil, wood, kerosene, natural gas or electricity. The program provides a one-time payment of last resort for anyone who faces financial hardships from unemployment or family crisis and who have exhausted other forms of assistance or who do not qualify for such help.
- EnergyShare provides heating assistance in winter (for any heating source -- oil, gas kerosene, wood and electricity) and cooling assistance in summer.
- Payments go directly to energy vendors and every cent donated goes to benefit those in need because Dominion pays for the program's administrative expenses.
- Funds come from tax-deductible donations from customers, stockholders, employees, EnergyShare Partners and Dominion. Funds are distributed through a network of nonprofit health and human service agencies.
How to Apply for EnergyShare Assistance
Customers, excluding seniors age 60 and older, must have a disconnection notice or be in danger of losing their primary energy source. If you need help with your energy expenses, call Dominion's customer service center number at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) or download a list of EnergyShare agencies near you.
How To Contribute
You can help — as an individual or as a company. Last year, EnergyShare received more than $1 million.
- Dominion electric customers — Simply add $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $25, or $35 to the amount due on your bill. Overpayments in these exact amounts are automatically recognized as a contribution and it will be documented on your next bill. Or, mail a check for any amount (made payable to "EnergyShare") to EnergyShare, P.O. Box 11186, Richmond, VA 23230-1186.
- Business customers — You can be an EnergyShare Partner by contributing, by distributing information to customers and employees, and by providing other support. Contact us for information on becoming an EnergyShare Partner.
SFCC Lends Support to South County Secondary School 2010 Laptop Scholarship
The South County Secondary School Parent Teacher Student Association (SCSS / PTSA) sponsors an annual Laptop Scholarship Program. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide laptop computers to qualifying SCSS seniors. Three to four laptops are given out each year. South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce is lending its support in fundraising efforts for the 2010 Laptop Scholarship.
Each laptop costs approximately $500, and the greater the funds raised, the more laptops will be available to deserving SCSS seniors. Selections will be made by the scholarship committee in June, although donations may be made at any time, with the hope of providing additional laptops in the future.
To apply for the Scholarship, students must:
- be a graduating senior of SCSS Class of 2010;
- demonstrate academic success;
- have need of financial assistance for pursuing post-secondary education;
- and provide a paragraph explaining the reason for seeking a laptop.
Students should contact Gayle Ostrom, Career Specialist at SCSS for more information on submitting their applications. The deadline to submit applications is May 21, 2010. Laptop recipients will be chosen by the Scholarship Committee in June, and announced at SCSS Senior Awards on June 2, 2010.
Support the 2010 Laptop Scholarship Program
SFCC is calling on Chamber Members and South Fairfax citizens to help provide more laptops for the 2010 Laptop Scholarship program by making a monetary contribution. Contributions of any size will be appreciated.
To contribute, make your check payable to South County Secondary School. Write 'SCSS Laptop Scholarship' on the memo line and mail to:
South County Secondary School
ATTN: Gayle Ostrom, Career Specialist
2010 Laptop Scholarship
8501 Silverbrook Road
Lorton, VA 22079
On behalf of the students at SCSS, we thank you for your willingness to contribute to such a beneficial and important scholarship program.
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News and Events 
It's that time again! The Lorton Farmers Market is now open, offering fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, eggs, dairy products, cut flowers, garden and landscaping plants, and other items for sale each Sunday from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, in the VRE parking lot located at 8990 Lorton Station Boulevard.
Your SFCC member webpage now has everything you need to set up your own e-commerce site or online advertising campaign. The Chamber's new Buy Local Program allows you to quickly and easily add up to 1,000 products or display ads complete with photos, text, and document attachments. Integrate your paypal account and allow shoppers to pay online, or use your store to entice customers to contact you for more information.
