RMA e-News January 2008

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Village Bank

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Richmond Times-Dispatch

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Visual Aids Electronics

February 1, 2008
"Employment Law in 2008"
with Attorney David E. Nagle, Jackson Lewis LLP

David Nagle will return to give us a rundown on some of the hot issues in labor and employment law as we begin 2008.  We will discuss anticipated legislative actions, including revision of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and efforts to radically amend laws regarding union organizing, as well as new rulings from administrative agencies on such diverse topics as coordination of retiree medical plans with Medicare, Social Security "no-match" letters, the new I-9 forms, and the EEOC's new guidance on employee tests and selection procedures.  Litigation trends include ever-increasing numbers of wage and hour claims, as well as retaliation and harassment suits.  What's an employer to do to protect the business?  The session may raise more questions for you than answers, but  that will help you focus on the steps you must take to reduce the risk of litigation.  

About the Speaker:
David E. Nagle is a partner in the Richmond office of Jackson Lewis LLP. He is frequently called upon to represent employers in all manner of litigation arising from the employment relationship. Mr. Nagle has considerable experience in trial and appellate courts enforcing agreements to arbitrate workplace claims and represents employers before administrative agencies including the federal EEOC and the Department of Labor. Much of Mr. Nagle’s time is devoted to counseling employers with respect to personnel policies and practices, in an effort to ensure awareness of and compliance with applicable employment laws. He is retained by the Retail Merchants Association to provide employment law information to its retail members.

7:45–9:15 a.m.

Location:
Holiday Inn, Central
3207 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23230
Directions >>

Cost: Members, $20; Non-members, $25*
*Prospective RMA members may attend at no charge

Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Connect@ Hondos

5:30—7:00 p.m.

Location: Hondos
4024-C Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
(804) 968-4323
Directions >>

Cost: TBA

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RMA News

Bring a Prospective Member to the Feb. 1 Forum As Our Guest

Help your association grow in 2008. Invite a retailer who could benefit from RMA membership to the Feb. 1 First Friday Forum for free. Just e-mail Adrian@retailmerchants.com or call 662-5500 and give us your guest’s name. You will be entered in a contest for a $100 gift certificate to the RMA member of your choice.

NEW—RMA Membership Guide Will Be Mailed Next Month

RMA’s first-ever membership guide will be mailed to all members in February. Additional copies will also be distributed at networking events and other Association functions held during the year.

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Member News

People’s Income Tax a Semi-finalist for State-wide Award

People’s Income Tax is a semi-finalist for the Virginia Business’ 2008 Small Business Success Story of the year. The winner will be announced at a luncheon on Jan. 29 at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.

Help Select a Mascot for Circuit City’s New Firedog Computer Service and Help the Southside SPCA

Circuit City will select a dog to be the mascot for its new Firedog computer services. The contest began earlier this month and 20 finalists have been selected. Hidden Jewel, an Australian Shepherd, owned by Jill Chilson of Chesterfield County, is among the finalists. Circuit City will donate $51,000 to the Southside SPCA if Hidden Jewel wins the top place. She will also appear in TV commercials. Runner-ups receive $1,000. You can help Hidden Jewel and the Southside SPCA by voting at www.firedog.com/kodak. The deadline to vote is Jan. 26.

Bank of Virginia Opens New Branch

Bank of Virginia has opened its newest full-service branch at 10501 Patterson Avenue. Staff includes Raleigh Hobson, Branch Manager; Cathy Graf, Assistant Branch Manager; Aurelia Barton, Teller; Scott Rowe, Commercial Lender; and Margaret Stanley Vault Teller.

Zap! Surgery Beyond the Cutting Edge at the Science Museum

Climb aboard a ZapCam motion simulator and prepare to miniaturize. Your mission is to travel through a human body and send back pictures of high-tech surgical procedures from the inside. Back in the real-size world you have work to do. Destroy a tumor. Remove a tattoo. Take an object out of a lung. Break up a kidney stone. Repair leaking blood vessels in a giant eye. Play an oversized version of Hasbro’s Operation® game. You are the surgeon in the visiting exhibition Zap! Surgery Beyond the Cutting Edge at the Science Museum of Virginia now through Sunday, May 4.

GM Named for New Westin Hotel

Feliks Schwartz has been hired as General Manager of the new Westin Hotel in the west end at Reynolds Crossings. Mr. Schwartz was most recently General Manager at the Williamsburg Marriott and at the Richmond Marriott West. The Westin plans to open in the fall of '08 with 250 luxury guest rooms and approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of functional meeting space. You can reach Mr. Schwartz at the pre-opening number, 564-6333 or by email ric@musselmanhotels.com.

New Photography Exhibit Resurrects Richmond Slave Trade Sites

The Richmond History Center will hold an Opening Reception for its new photography exhibit on Fri., Feb. 1st, 6:00-9:00 p.m., (free shuttle to February First Fridays Artwalk ) ; Exhibit Talk—Sunday, February 10th; 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Check it out—http://www.richmondhistorycenter.com/

4th Annual “Hokies vs. Hoos Food Fight”

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is conducting its 4th Annual “Hokies vs. Hoos Food Fight”, using the rivalry between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the University of Virginia Hoos to stimulate food and monetary donations to the Central Virginia Food Bank during the week leading up to the Hokies vs. Hoos basketball game on Saturday, February 2nd. The Hokies won the Food Fight the first two years, and the Hoos won last year.

All central Virginia Ukrop’s stores are supporting this unique food drive, with boxes in each store for the Hokies and the Hoos (and anyone else) to make their respective food donations. Each day from January 28th thru February 2nd, donations will be tallied to determine whether the Hokies or the Hoos have donated the most. Monetary donations to the Food Bank can also be made at www.HokiesVsHoos.com and the score between the Hokies and Hoos will be updated daily on the website and also published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and promoted on WRIC TV8 to stimulate increased donations.

As an added attraction this year, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? will also be auctioning two autographed lunchboxes on eBay starting January 21st, one with autographs from well-known coaches at Virginia Tech and the other from UVA. The winning bids will count towards the Food Fight score, and 100% of the auction proceeds will go the Food Bank.

For more information, contact Wayne Nystrom of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? at 921-7137 or wayne.nystrom@1800gotjunk.com.

Library of Virginia Literary Awards

The Library of Virginia Literary Awards honor outstanding Virginia authors and books about Virginia in the areas of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Past winners include Donald McCaig, Eric Pankey, Suzanne Lebsock, Carrie Brown, Charles Wright, Richard Bausch, Ruth Stone, Melvin Patrick Ely, and Edward P. Jones. A lifetime achievement award is also given each year. Vote for your favorite book. The deadline for nomination for the Library of Virginia Literary Awards is Feb. 8, 2008. Books must be published in 2007 to be considered. For more details visit http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/awards/.

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FYI

The International Equine Business Alliance Presents its 2008 Spring Expo

The IEBA Expo will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center Jan. 25 – 27. It’s the largest equestrian market outside of Denver and the leading English market in America. In addition to equestrian gear, unique apparel, jewelry, gifts, accessories, and artwork, all of an equestrian theme, are represented. There are seminars of interest to retailers all three days. For more information and to attend the expo at no cost go to www.iebaexpo.com. The Buyers Registration button will take you to a form that you can print, fill in, and fax.

RMCVB Generates Media Coverage in In-flight Magazine

GO! Magazine, AirTran Airways' in-flight publication, has found the Richmond Region Easy to Love, as evidenced by two articles in its past two issues. RMCVB hosted writer Diane Bair in September 2007. From that memorable visit Blair crafted two articles featuring the Region. December's article highlighted the Region's spa scene , and January's article features "10 Fun Things to do in Richmond Virginia."

Black & White Ball Will Benefit the Kidney Foundation

The Kidney Foundation's inaugural Black & White Ball will take place at Bolling Haxall House in Downtown Richmond, starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16.  The evening includes distinctive and elegant wines from around the world, sensational heavy hors d’oeurves, music is by Doors Wide Open. There is a live and silent auction. Call 288-8342 or go to www.kidneyva.org for more information. Tickets are $125 per person and all proceeds benefit the fight against kidney disease in Virginia and West Virginia.

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Welcome New Members!

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