[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20662]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOP OF VIRGINIA REGIONAL 
                                CHAMBER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 29, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Top of 
Virginia Regional Chamber on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary and 
to highlight the extraordinary impact that it has had on the people of 
the northern Shenandoah Valley. Although it has undergone at least five 
name changes in the last century--starting out as the Winchester Board 
of Trade and, since 2006, as the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber--it 
has always remained true to its stated purpose of promoting the general 
welfare and prosperity of the northern Shenandoah Valley.
  During the past century, the chamber his improved the quality of life 
of the people of Winchester, Frederick County and Clarke County in many 
important ways. In the late 1930s, it advocated for the construction of 
the Winchester Municipal Airport and for the completion of Route 50 
from Winchester to the Shenandoah River. During 1950s, it was deeply 
involved in the establishment of Shenandoah University in Winchester, 
and in 1993, the chamber advocated for the construction of Route 37 
around Winchester and even initiated a grassroots movement in 2004, to 
gain support for completing the road. In addition, the encouragement 
and support of its members has always been a priority of the Top of 
Virginia Regional Chamber and among the services and programs offered 
to its 835 current corporate members are quarterly educational seminars 
through Lord Fairfax Community College's Small Business Development 
Center, frequent Business and Breakfast and Business After Hours 
opportunities, various educational lunches and the activities of the 
Young Professionals Group.
  Recently, several innovative chamber initiatives have added 
significantly to strengthening the social fabric of the northern 
valley. The Community Leadership Program is a rigorous, nine-month 
program that develops leaders by teaching important leadership skills 
and an understanding of complex community problems and their potential 
solutions. The Valley Business Women program helps women achieve their 
own personal and professional transformation. The chamber's Workforce 
Development Committee has partnered with local businesses and public 
schools to help develop the region's workforce of the future. And since 
2010, with the creation of its Public Policy Committee, the chamber has 
become an important venue for discussions about public policy matters, 
including education, transportation, workforce development, regional 
economic development, health care, and legislation at the local, state 
and federal levels. Its yearly breakfast meetings with state 
legislators, prior to and after each General Assembly session, as well 
as periodic reports from the member of Congress representing the 
northern Valley, have been excellent opportunities for an exchange of 
ideas.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't know of a single organization in the northern 
Shenandoah Valley that has done more to unify the community than does 
the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, by highlighting extraordinary 
work that is being done by valley residents. Each year, the Greater 
Good Awards dinner recognizes some of these amazingly generous 
individuals and the Valor Awards dinner allows the community to 
recognize and thank our Valley heroes for their special acts of valor 
and selflessness. Because the Commonwealth of Virginia has a general 
election each November, the chamber's Hob Nob event is often the only 
opportunity for chamber members and the public to hear directly from a 
wide variety of candidates running for office.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me 
in congratulating the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber for 100 years of 
successfully promoting the general welfare and prosperity of the people 
of the Northern Shenandoah Valley and to express gratitude to President 
and CEO Richard Kennedy, the chamber's board of directors and its great 
staff, as well as all those chamber CEOs, board members and staff who 
preceded them, for their hard work in serving the chamber's membership 
and in being such a powerful source of unity and enlightenment for the 
larger valley community.

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