InsIde ThIs Issue From the Desk of the President .......................................2Fall Symposium Recap ......................................................3Committee Reports ............................................................5Upcoming Educational Offerings .................................8Members in Motion! .......................................................9

Buy Into a Better Environment:Green Purchasing Tips ..................................................10From the Desk of the Treasurer ....................................12Holiday Apps ...................................................................12Networking .....................................................................13Guess the Virginia Landmark ...........................................14

Congratulations VAGP Fall Scholarship and Award Recipients!

During the VAGP Fall Symposium, several scholarships and awards were announced and recognized by VAGP’s President, Kelly Okken. Congratulations everyone and check out more pictures from the 2012 Fall symposium in this issue (pp. 3-4)!

SERVICE RECOGNITION

AWARD2012 VAGP PresidentKelly Okken, CBBP,

VCO, VCCOJames Madison

University

J. BRAD OAKLEY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Joe RodishFluvanna County

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

Amy Holschuh, VCOVirginia Information

Technologies Agency (VITA)

LEADING LIGHT AWARDVirginia Department of Emergency

Management

SERVICE RECOGNITION

AWARD2011-12 First At-Large Member

Greg Scearce, VCOVirginia Information

Technologies Agency (VITA)

Published for Members of the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

December 2012

& News Views

G D J o HAPPY HOLIDAYS, VAGP! q O J R

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSOfficers

PresidentKelly Okken, CPPB, VCO, VCCO

President-ElectBill Lindsey, CPPO, C.P.M.

TreasurerJan Giffin, CPPO, CPPB, VCO

SecretaryStephanie Suter, CPPB

First Past PresidentLinda Wade, CPPB

Second Past PresidentJennifer Luchard, CPPB, VCO

First At–Large MemberGreg Scearce, VCO

Second At–Large MemberGinger Gordon, CPPB

Committee Chairpersons

ConferenceAmy Holschuh, VCO

DiversityMarvis W. Marshall, CPPB

EducationCindy Davis Smith, CPPB

MembershipMichelle Glass, VCO

Professional DevelopmentChristopher Cheney, CPPB

Public RelationsLeeAnne Beatty Smith, VCA

TechnologyJimmy MacKenzie, VCO

LegislativeJ. Kevin Beardsley CPPB, CPPO

Executive DirectorEric Hecker

News & Views

EditorLeeAnne Beatty Smith, VCA

Layout, Design & AdvertisingKim Breeding

News & Views is published quarterly and was designed and created for the members of the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (VAGP), by Organization Management Group, Inc. Views and advertising expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of, or endorsed by, VAGP. Send correspondence to 638 Independence Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake VA 23320; (757) 609-3696; info@VAGP.org. Subscriptions are included in the annual dues paid by members. Advertising rates and policies may be obtained by calling (757) 609-3696.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

From the Desk of the PresidentBy Kelly Okken, CPPB, VCO, VCCO

It’s hard to believe that 2012 is coming to a close. I have had a blast being your President this year! I hope that you have seen and been

a part of the many accomplishments of VAGP and your peers, but in case you missed something, here is a recap of the year:

• Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing won the Chapter of the Year.• We had a few member entities who received the Outstanding Agency Accreditation AchievementAward:ChesterfieldCounty,CityofRichmond,andLoudounCounty.

• Two member entities were AEP recipients: Loudoun County and Old Dominion University.

• Kelly Okken, CPPB, VCO, VCCO, James Madison University won the NIGP Diversity Essay contest.

• Wehadtwomemberentitiesthatwererecognizedforbecomingfullycertifiedagencies(fullyUPPCCcertified):KingGeorgeCountyandOldDominionUniversity.

• WeawardedthreeCertificationScholarships:TangelaInnis,CPPB,CityofRichmond; Rebecca Hoffman, CPPB, Fairfax County Government; and Jacqueline Brunson, CPPB, Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control.

• We had one Protégé complete the Mentor-Protégé program: Maureen Daniels, CPPO, CPPB, VCO, Department of General Services.

• We supported two charities this year: Disabled American Veterans (raised more than $2,100 during the Spring Conference) and Feeding America Southwest Virginia (raised more than $600 during the Fall Symposium).

• We awarded several awards and scholarships throughout 2012: Retired Lifetime Membership to Fred Marks, CPPO, VCO, and Paul Proto, CPPO, VCO; Purchasing Manager of the Year to Linda Wade, CPPB, HRSD; T. Gordon Sandridge Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul Proto, CPPO, VCO, Retired; Volunteer of the Year to Amy Holschuh, VCO, VITA; Leading Light Award to the Department of Emergency Management; Manager Level Scholarship to Ruby Spicer, CPPB, VCO, Tidewater Community College; and the J. Brad Oakley Scholarship to Joe Rodish, Fluvanna County.

• We introduced the new online ordering catalog for VAGP apparel.• We installed our 2013 Board during our Fall Symposium: President - Bill Lindsey, CPPO,C.P.M.;President-Elect–JanGiffin,CPPO,CPPB,VCO;Treasurer–Stephanie Suter, CPPB; and Secretary – Christopher Cheney, CPPB.

• We have seen many of our peers receive their CPPB and CPPO designations throughout 2012. This is a great undertaking and we are proud of each and every one.

So, as you can see, we have had many great accomplishments throughout 2012. We’ve only just touched the surface of our accomplishments, as there are so many more that we did not list. We should be proud!

In closing, I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for your support, dedication and guidance throughout the year. I have appreciated the time and effort you have put into this association and I feel truly blessed to have been your president and I am looking forward to continuing my service to VAGP and its membership. I can’t wait for the next chapter!

As always, I will leave you with a Dr. Seuss quote: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” May you all look back at 2012 and realize all your blessings and may 2013 be even better!

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

By LeeAnne Beatty Smith, VCAPublic Relations Committee Chair

VAGP Stars Shone Bright in Roanoke! The VAGP headed to Roanoke this past October for the Fall Symposium themed

Procurement Stars in the Valley.

During the opening morning of the conference, attendees heard from Captain Susan Rabern of VMI, who shared her experiences in becoming a Captain in the U.S. Navy and Assistant Director and C.F.O of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. What an interesting lady! In the afternoon, Bob Sievert and Shane Caudill from the e-Procurement Bureau presented “eVA Update: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re At, and Where We’re Going.” I am sure that everyone there was interested in learning how eVA is working to increase functionality for buyers and vendors using eVA. Ending the firstday of education was David Dise, Director of the Department of General Services for Montgomery County’sOfficeofProcurement,whosepresentationon “Procurement Negotiations” explained the importance of successful negotiations.

After a long day of great education, VAGP members headed to a delicious dinner and reception where the evening’s entertainment was fantastic! The magician, Brian Bence, pulled various VAGP members on stage to participate throughout his magic show…it was a real interactive experience! Later in the evening we heard from Rag Top, a husband and wife musical duo that performed cover songs we all love and even took requests from the audience. It was a perfect evening for members to dine, relax, and unwind from the day.

The second day’s educational offerings were just as rich! Our own VAGP President-Elect Bill Lindsey covered Hot Topics during the VAGP networking breakfast. After breakfast we heard from Dr. Jon Ackley of Virginia Commonwealth University who spoke about the procurement “Business of NASCAR.” He explained that NASCAR is the second most watched sport on television and is a $4 billion dollar enterprise. Can you imagine what it would be like to work as a buyer for NASCAR procurements and what purchasing power it has? Finally, Tom Tokarz, the Deputy County Attorney for Henrico County, presented “Legal Aspects

Fall Symposium Recap

(continued on page 4...)

Teresa Hudgins, VA State Police, successfully bid at

the charity auction.

Winnerofthe50/50raffledisplays her cash!

The hospitality suite aka Starlight Lounge

Former VAGP President Nancy Davis swears in the 2013 Board: Donnie Legg,StephanieSuter,JanGiffin,ChrisCheney,andBillLindsey.

Kelly Okken with Shane Caudill and Bob Sievert of eVA

Page 4 - December 2012

Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

of Cooperative Contracts.” Tom provided real-world examples of advantages and disadvantages in using cooperative contracts and provided instructions for using them legally. The Fall Symposium truly offered something educational for everyone!

A special thank you to the Fall Symposium planning committee! There is so much work that goes into planning such a successful event and you all made it look effortless! And also a thank you to our Fall Symposium sponsors: SHI International Corp, Kaspersky Lab, Daly Computers, Lee Hartman & Sons, AST Corp, Sheraton Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center, and Virginia Business Systems. Throughout the event, the VAGP membership raised over $600 for the chosen charity organization Feeding America Southwest Virginia. Great work everyone!

Congratulations to our award and scholarship winners and a warm welcome to the upcoming VAGP Board who were sworn in at the symposium! If you weren’t able to make it to this event, please plan on joining us in March 2013 at the VAGP Spring Conference in Richmond, VA. More information to follow!

(Above) VAGP members enjoyed the reception, dinner, and entertainment.

(Below) Classes were well attended during the Symposium!

Bill Lindsey with Dr. Jon Ackley (VCU)

VAGP members enjoy networking at the hospitality lounge.

Eric Schroeder (SHI) and Amy Holschuh (VITA)

David Dise presents Procurement Negotiations

(Symposium Recap, continued from page 3...)

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

DIVERSITY COMMITTEEBy Marvis W. Marshall, CPPBDiversity Committee Chair

The commitment to valuing diversity is deeply rooted in VAGP’s culture and for years has grown and gathered strength. Over the years, numerous diversity initiatives have been launched and nurtured: some are adopted by

allmembersofVAGPwhileothersflourishinindividualentities.MembersofVAGP leverage each other’s resources and build upon each other’s ideas to maximizetheinfluenceofdiversityintheirorganization.

The Diversity Committee has provided you with a number of articles via the News and Views. We hope that these articles have provided you with valuable information or at least given you some food for thought. Some of the articles were Diversity and Inclusion, Why Supplier Diversity and Supplier Diversity Program vs. Strategy.

During the past year, the Diversity Committee partnered with the Commonwealth’s Director of Supplier Diversity, Mark Cartwright, to present at the 2012 Spring VAGP Conference. Mr. Cartwright spoke about the many challenges of supplier diversity stating that, “The supplier diversity challenge is large and complex, calling for strategic action and concerted effort among all of the players.Anyhopeforsignificantprogressrequiresvisionary,collaborative leadershipandawillingnesstomovebeyondthetraditions that were established in the 1980’s. The business world has changed a lot since then, and the need for inclusion has increased dramatically.”

As a result of Mr. Cartwright’s presentation, the Diversity Committee is committed to developing a Supplier Diversity Toolkit (SDT). The SDT will include information on what is needed in order to create any type of supplier diversity program from a basic one to an advanced. It will help organizations develop supplier diversity policy, obtain management support, create diversity goals, and provide information on how to track and report progress. The Committee plans to present the SDT at the 2013 Spring Conference.

The Diversity Committee could really use your help. If you currently have a program, we would love to hear from you.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

By Cindy Davis Smith, CPPBEducation Committee Chair

The Education Committee had another stellar year in 2012. We offered twenty-four seminars and hosted sixteen seminars in various regions of the state. The most attended seminars were the Intro to Public Procurement, Contract Administration, and CPPO and CPPB review classes. VAGP hosted seminars are very popular because of the diversity of the students (that’s you), excellent instructors, great locations and

classroom amenities.

Visit our website (www.vagp.org/education/seminars.html) to review the 2013 seminar schedule. Our committee members stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. If you are interested in hosting a class, please contact one of the following members:

Member Contact City Ronald L. King, CPPB, CPPO, VCO Ronald.king@vdacs.virginia.gov Richmond Duane Sheppard, VCO Duane.Sheppard@vdem.virginia.gov Richmond

COMMITTEE REPORTS

(continued on page 6...)

Commonwealth’s Director of Supplier Diversity, Mark Cartwright, with VAGP Diversity Chair

Marvis Marshall at the 2012 Spring Conference.

Page 6 - December 2012

Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

Member Contact City Heather M. Hall, C.P.M., CPPB, VCO Hallhm@montgomerycountyva.gov ChristiansburgLorieW.Newton,CPPB Newtonl@chesterfield.gov ChesterfieldTerri Smith, CPPB Tsmith@vbgov.com Virginia Beach Cindy Davis Smith , CPPB Cindy.Smith3@fcps.edu Falls Church

If you are interested in joining this dynamic committee, please contact me. Thank you for your continued support.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

By J. Kevin Beardsley, CPPB, CPPOLegislative Committee Chair

The Legislative Committee monitored all new bills being put forth that would have an impact on procurement and decided if, and how to address each. We worked diligently with our lobbyist, Andrew Sinclair, to work against many preference-based bills that were put forth in the latest legislative session. We are very pleased to report that all of these bills failed.

HB 1193, which would have eliminated the legal requirement to advertise and RFP in a newspaper passed through the House but was killed in committee in the Senate on a 10-4 vote. A lot of time and effort was expended supporting this bill and we will regroup and decide our direction going forward.

We had eleven VAGP members participate in the “Day on the Hill” and we met with various legislators to thank some for their support and to express the VAGP position to others and elicit their support. We also met with the leadership of DGS and DPS, theSecretaryofAdministration,andvariousotherofficialsandstaff.WealsoviewedalegislativesessionwheretheVAGPwasacknowledgedandintroducedfromtheflooroftheHouse.

If you are interested in joining the VAGP Legislative Committee, please contact me at kevin.beardsley@vbschools.com.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

By Michelle Glass,VCOMembership Committee Chair

I hope this News & Views article finds everyone doing well andgearing up for a busy holiday season! The Membership Committee has been very active this year and is looking forward to continuing its efforts in 2013. The Membership Committee worked very hard during

the beginning of 2012 to reach out to members who did not renew their membership and again in July during the Mid-Year Membership Drive.

As the new Membership Committee Chairperson, I was introduced to the responsibility of hosting the First Timer’s Reception during the Spring Conference in Williamsburg. Nervous about what to plan, I pondered what social activity could be completed within 30 minutes. I found out there was no need for an activity because there were actually 24 First-Timers registered for the conference!! What an awesome experience to watch people take advantage of this networking opportunity and many thanks to the members that continue to attend this reception each conference.

(Committee Reports, continued from page 5...)

(continued on page 7...)

First Timer Lonnie Wood, Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, with

VAGP President Kelly Okken at the 2012 Spring Conference.

Page 7 - December 2012

Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

(Committee Reports, continued from page 6...)

The Membership Committee also had the opportunity to attend James Madison University’s Career Fair on October 1, 2012. VAGP received twenty-four Student Membership Applications! It was amazing to see so many students curious about the procurement profession and wanting to learn more about internship opportunities within it. The Membership Committee is excited to continue its efforts towards Student Memberships in 2013, and we look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have regarding student membership outreach.

As always, thank you for your membership and continued support of VAGP. The economy is still recovering and the need to continue justifying membership remains constant. Know there is a return on investment with your membership and be sure to visit our website at www.vagp.org to receive up-to-date information regarding our activities.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (ProD) COMMITTEEBy Christopher Cheney, CPPBProD Committee Vice Chair

Thank you to all who helped to support Professional Development Committee seminars. Without your support, this year could not have been a success. We were able to hold eleven seminars, including three Virginia Public Procurement Act seminars. Accordingly, next year will require more volunteer committee members, hosts, and instructors to continue our momentum. Volunteering with the committee is an

enriching experience for you, your organization, and all VAGP members! Please email me, any of the committee members listed below, or Greg Scearce at gregory.scearce@vita.virginia.gov if you are able to lend the committee your space, time, and/or efforts next year.

PRO D COMMITTEE MEMBERS Christopher Cheney, CPPB (Chair) - 703-324-3279 - christopher.cheney@fairfaxcounty.govVernice Grooms, VCO (Vice Chair) - 434-970-3860 - groomsv@charlottesville.orgIvy Crawford, VCA - 757-514-4015 - icrawford@city.suffolk.va.usMaureen Daniels, CPPO CPPB VCO - 804-786-0266 - maureen.daniels@dgs.virginia.govLynn Enders, VCO - 804-367-0268 - lynn.enders@dmv.virginia.gov

LeeAnne Beatty Smith VAGP PR Committee Chair (left) and Michelle

Glass VAGP Membership Committee Chair (right) with a JMU Student at

the Career Fair.

INTERESTED INJOINING A COMMITTEE?

Your efforts are essential to moving VAGP into the future. Have a voice in your association!

VAGP is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers with fresh ideas to help on the various association committees.

Learn more at www.vagp.org/about/committees.html

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

Upcoming 2013 Educational Offerings

NIGP SEMINARS

NIGP seminars are taught by NIGP approved instructors and can assist those aspiring to achieve their CPPB and/or CPPO certifications.Thesearethestandardtrainingcoursesforentry-leveltoexperiencedpurchasingprofessionals.Pleasevisitwww.VAGP.org for a list of all 2012 courses offered.

SEMINAR TITLE DATES LOCATION

Developing & Managing RFP’s in the Public Sector January 7-9 Richmond

Legal Aspects of Public Procurement January 28-30 Chesapeake

Introduction to Public Procurement February 6-8 Richmond

Sourcing in Public Procurement February 19-21 Falls Church

Fundamentals of Leadership & Management February 28- March 1 Chesapeake

Developing & Managing RFP’s in the Public Sector March 6-8 Christiansburg

CPPBPrepClass March11-12 Chesterfield

CPPOPrepClass March13-14 Chesterfield

Contracting for Construction Services April 2-3 Chesapeake

Legal Aspects of Public Procurement April 17-19 Richmond

Risk Management April 24-25 Fairfax

Warehousing and Inventory Control May 8-9 Virginia Beach

Effective Mgmt of Construction Contracts May 15 Christiansburg

LOW-FEE SEMINARS

Low-fee seminars are designed to offer VAGP members continuing education through courses designed to meet their particular needs. These courses are taught by instructors familiar with both the subject and Virginia Procurement Law. These coursescanprovideCPPO,CPPBandVCOrecertificationpoints(earnonepointforafullday—eighthoursofinstructiontime). Please visit www.VAGP.org for a list of all 2012 courses offered.

SEMINAR TITLE DATES LOCATION

VirginiaPublicProcurementAct February12 Chesterfield

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

By Jeff Moyer, CPPBPublic Relations Committee Member

Bryan Keagy joined the City of Harrisonburg, Central Stores in February of 2009 where he is currently responsible for ordering the bulk of their inventory, performing most of the outside pick-up and delivery, and researching new inventoryitems.HeearnedhisVCAcertificateinAugustof2010.Hiscoworkers

agree that his can-do attitude, willingness to roll up his sleeves, and friendly personality have proven to be an invaluable asset in inventory organization and distribution.

HejoinedVAGPin2012andattendedhisfirsteventatthe2012FallSymposiumheldinRoanokeearlier this year. Bryan shared that he did not know what to expect but found the symposium to be enjoyable, informative, and worth the time invested. Those of us who met Bryan at the event think he is a super guy too!

Bryan enjoys riding his four wheeler and motorcycle and working with his hands. He and his wife, Marissa, and their daughter, Jadyn, live in Linville, Virginia in a home that was recently built mostly by Bryan and his family. They are expecting their second child in April of 2013. The VAGP congratulates Bryan and his family on their upcoming addition!

Bryan Keagy can be reached at Bryan.Keagy@harrisonburgva.gov. You can recommend a VAGP member to appear in the next News & Views! Contact smith2lb@jmu.edu.

Members in Motion

BRYAN WITH HIS FAMILY

BRYAN AS AN ONSTAGE VOLUNTEER WITH BRIAN BENCE, PERFORMING

MAGICIAN, AT VAGP’S FALL SYMPOSIUM

BRYAN AT THE VAGP FIRST TIMERS EVENT HELD AT FALL SYMPOSIUM

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/VAGPofNIGPStay connected with your VAGP friends!

Twitter - http://twitter.com/VAGPofNIGPGet updates delivered in 140 characters or less!

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/ (search groups for Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing)Name VAGP as an important part of your professional online presence!

Let’s all be Social

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

The following article was issued as a press release, written by James Limbach, on August 28, 2012 by Fairfax County, Virginia. Contact Patti Innocenti, Deputy Director of Fairfax County DPSM Patricia.Innocenti@fairfaxcounty.gov with any questions or comments. Please let VAGP know what your entity is doing to support green purchasing by contacting smith2lb@jmu.edu.

Residents and businesses in Fairfax County can buy into a better environment by thinking green when purchasing products that are commonly used, including back-to-school supplies. In most cases you also will save money. Fairfax County’s Department of Purchasing and Supply Management’s green purchasing program has reduced costs and the county’s environmental impact since it was implemented in 2009. The agency offers these green purchasing tips for home, school and work. LOOK FOR RECYCLED CONTENT IN THE PRODUCTS YOU BUY.Using paper that has recycled content is an easy choice. Fairfax County Government’s copy paper contains at least 30 percent recycled content. This simple switch is estimated to save about 2,700 trees each year.

TRY A NEW TAKE ON ExISTING TECHNOLOGY. For example staple-less staplers cut out a tiny strip of paper andusesittostitchuptofivepagestogether.

LOOK FOR WAYS TO ExTEND THE USEFUL LIFE OF A PRODUCT. Refillable pens eliminate the need to recycle the productsaftertheirshortlife.Refillthepens;usethemoverandoverandsavesomespaceinthelandfill. BUY REMANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (FOR ExAMPLE, PRINTER CARTRIDGES.)Fairfax County Government recently made the switch to remanufactured printer cartridges. Reusing parts of old cartridges reduces waste and the county is projected to save approximately $200,000 annually.

RESEARCH PRODUCTS AND THE COMPANIES THAT YOU BUY FROM THE MOST. Lookforgreencertificationonproducts,suchasEnergyStar.Call or look online to see if companies have environmentally friendly goals and practices in place. Do they have green purchasing programs?

CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO THINGS INCREMENTALLY FOR A BIG IMPACT AND BIG SAVINGS. For example, use a water bottle with a filter rather than

disposablewaterbottles.Afiltercanbeused forup to300bottles of water before it needs to be replaced. At an average cost of $10, it is much cheaper than buying bottled water.

BUY USED (AND KEEP YOUR UNWANTED STUFF OUT OF THE LANDFILL). For many items you buy, the thrift store can be a gold mine and save you a lot of money. You can also check the county’s public auction site for great deals on everything from exercise bikes to tables and chairs. Getting rid of something? Instead of throwing it away, think about what you can donate to a thrift store or post on a website that advertises items that people can pick up for free.

ELIMINATE WASTE IN YOUR PURCHASING PROCESS. You can reduce wasteful printing by asking companies to stop sending you catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, phone books and circulars. Sign up with Catalog Choice and other free services to help junk the junk mail. Through similar efforts, many Fairfax County Government agencies have reduced junk mail by 90 percent.

IF POSSIBLE, RETURN THE PACKAGING FROM A PRODUCT TO BE REUSED. Some companies will take back their boxes for reuse, which saves you the trouble of recycling them and reduces the energy needed to create a new box. If you get a lot of boxes from a company, call or email them to ask. Fairfax County’s currentofficesuppliescontractoroffersaboxreuseprogramfor customers.

For more information on environmental efforts in Fairfax County, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/ or friend us on Facebook.

Buy Into a Better Environment:Green Purchasing Tips

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

Page 12 - December 2012

Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

By Greg Scearce, VCOVAGP First At-Large Member

The holidays are upon us and everyone is busyfinishingtheyearup.Iwantedtotakethis time to thank everyone for allowing

me the opportunity to serve on the board as your At-Large Member for the past two years. It has been an honor and I have enjoyed the experiences it has provided me. I will still be part of the board this upcoming year as the committee chairperson for the Professional Development Committee.

During the past year, I have worked to solicit sponsorships from suppliers in order to ensure that our events and conferences areprofitable.IhavealsobeenabletoassistourConferenceChairperson (Amy Holschuh) with the VAGP Reverse Trade Show, Spring Conference and Fall Symposium. Each of these events takes a considerable amount of time to put together and it is my hope that more members will donate a portion of their time to keep making these events successful!

Since my background is IT, I thought it might be helpful for me to suggest some holiday apps for those of you with smartphones. Perhaps they will help to make the holiday season a little easier!

1. ThefirstoneisPackingList.Thisappisfreeandithelpseven the most disorganized traveler make sure they don’t forget that important item.

2. Next is Country Living Holiday Cookies. The app contains 50 of the best cookie recipes from the magazine’s collection of favorites.

3. And for those kids at heart, there are several apps that can help you track Santa. The apps let you watch Santa on the map, send letters and even receive a response from the big guy, and much more.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season and I look forward to another exciting year with the VAGP.

G D J o Holiday Apps q O J R

By Jan Giffin, CPPO, CPPB, VCOVAGP Treasurer

AsoneofmyfinaldutiesasyourTreasurer,I want to share with the membership where VAGP stands financially. As weapproach the end of 2012, I am pleased

toreport thatVAGPanticipatesfinishingintheblackwithasurplus at the end of the year, which shows that VAGP is agreat stewardof their finances. If youwould likespecificdetails, all of the meeting minutes, reports, and financialsfrom the Board and Business Meetings are posted on the VAGP website.

I encourage the membership to take advantage of scholarship and award recognition in the coming year. Each one of you makes a difference, so look for those opportunities to volunteer and serve the membership. It has been my pleasure to be your 2012 Treasurer. I look forward to continuing to serve the membership as President-Elect for 2013.

From the Desk of the Treasurer

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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

It’s surely comforting

to be able to say,

‘Hey, I’ve got a

friend at that agency

who can help me

with this challenge.’

By Bill Lindsey, CPPO, C.P.M.VAGP President-Elect

How many words do we presently have in our lexicon which we continually encounter that we probably don’t really understand? I can think of a lot that I run

into in both my personal and professional life and generally they either have a positive or negative effect on me. For example, how about these: best business practices; reaching out to you; transparent functionality; shifting paradigms; or a personal favorite, strategic anomaly mitigation.

Unfortunately, most of the ones that I can easily recall for this article get a negative reaction from me when I hear them. As seasoned procurement professionals, I think our profession probably has the market cornered on the adage that we have heard it all. Therefore, as we wearingly listen, it may become ‘comfortable’ to shut down when we hear such words or phrases.

So, please don’t shut down after reading that my subject this quarter is the topic of ‘Networking’ and how it is such a positive force in our Association.

When I spoke to the membership at our recent Fall Symposium in Roanoke, I discussed the various purposes of our professional Association and also recited the benefits. Asgoodpurchasingpractitionersthat routinely listen to the various claims presented by vendors, I think you may agree that our listening generally searches for the benefits that our clientsmay gain ifwe select a particular provider’s goods or services. Inasmuch, I guess you could liken our interest, or some may say, our ‘active listening’, to a ‘cause and effect’ method.

At the Fall Symposium I described the purposes of VAGP to be:

• To promote professionalism in public purchasing through continued education and networking.

• To study, discuss, and recommend legislative improvements in governmental purchasing.

• To exchange ideas, experiences, and share expert advice on purchasing problems and procedures.

• To promote uniform purchasing laws.• Todevelopandpromotesimplifiedstandardsand

specificationsforgovernmentalbuying.

ThenIrecitedtheresultingbenefitsasfollows:Networking,Education, Certification, Conferences, Scholarships andAwards.

If you accept my ‘cause and effect’ hypothesis, I would consider Networkingasa‘cause’andlikelythegreatestbenefitofourorganization.Clearly, thisbenefit isaliveandwell inVAGP

and can be seen daily, and almost hourly, on our active website where purchasers are routinely asking each other the what, when, how, and why questions associated with various procurement needs. Undoubtedly thisnetworkingbenefitenhanceseachofusby sharing knowledge and information that clearly increases our effectiveness and the efficiencyofthepublicprocurementsystem.However, as I said at the conference, I believe this networking advantage also creates lasting friendships built on integrity, trust and respect. Admittedly, it’s surely comforting to be able to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a friend at that agency who can help me with this challenge.’

I trust that members will quickly recognize thenetworkingbenefitsofVAGPandrealizethat membership in this organization is truly a ‘win-win’ for everyone involved. Whoops, their goes one of those sayings again, but if you share my ‘cause and effect’ theory, networking in VAGP will always offer you a resounding WIN.

I encourage you to be active in VAGP. Brag about our organization and encourage membership with anyone that is associated with public purchasing that may not be a member. Share your views, share your challenges and take advantage of our membership’s incredible knowledge and expertise. As a member, you are in VAGP’s NETWORK!

Networking

Page 14 - December 2012

Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

We want your news...and views!ThisisyourAssociationandyourpublication—makeyourvoiceheard!AllVAGPmembers are encouraged to send articles, press releases and photos. Published articlesonpurchasing-relatedtopicsmayhelpmembersearnrecertificationpoints.For eligibility requirements, please verify directly with the certifying agency.

Get a head start on 2013! MaterialsaredueonFebruary6forourfirstquarterpublication on March 1. Submit your contributions to LeeAnne Beatty Smith at smith2lb@jmu.edu.

9 Industry News 9 Best Practices 9 Photos 9 Book Reviews 9 Education Opportunities 9 Event Recaps 9 NewCertifications 9 Tips and tricks

Guess the Virginia Landmark

WIN A PRIzE!

MAKE A GUESS...By LeeAnne Beatty Smith, VCAPublic Relations Committee Chair

CAN YOU NAME THIS VIRGINIA LANDMARK?

A VAGP member, Charlie Newman (JMU), and his wife show off this issue’s Virginia landmark!

This landmark is one of the best known covered bridges in the nation and is the longest covered bridge in Virginia at 204 feet. The bridge was originally built in 1892-93 from materials cut and quarried from nearby locations and constructed in the Burr Arch Truss design.

Although the bridge suffered being burned down by vandals in 1976, it was restored and rebuilt by the Virginia Department of Transportation in a way so that it maintained its historical value. It has been recorded with the Virginia Historical Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.

Got a guess? Think you know Virginia? Visit us on Facebook and bethefirstpersontotellusthenameandlocationofthishistoricbridgeinVirginia!ThefirstpersontocorrectlycommentonVAGP’s Facebook page underneath this article’s thumbnail wins a VAGP goody! Send a suggestion and picture of another Virginia landmark to feature in the News & Views to LeeAnne Beatty Smith at smith2lb@jmu.edu.