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Week Ending April 29, 2005

Senate Resolution 129 commending the Virginia Retail Merchants Association on 100 years of service to the community.

BRIEF

    May 12, 1905 was the day the VRMA was founded to “to encourage, stimulate, extend, and promote the business of retail merchants in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

   It’s been all good since then as expansion led to the creation of VARPAC, a political action group and about 5400 individuals and businesses to date.

Sponsor: Senator George Allen (R-VA)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (April 28, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 129

   Whereas 2005 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Virginia Retail Merchants Association (referred to in this resolution as the ``Association'');

   Whereas on May 12 1905, the Association was formed to encourage, stimulate, extend, and promote the business of retail merchants in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to promote the social, moral, and financial welfare of those engaged in the business of retail merchandising;

   Whereas the Association has endeavored to curtail trade abuses in the retail industry and other injurious practices and to secure the cooperation of consumers, retail merchants, and retail suppliers in producing healthy retail trade;

   Whereas the Association has worked to secure the enactment of reasonable and proper laws to protect consumers and the retail and services trade;

   Whereas it is the goal of the Association to encourage proper and business-like methods in the conduct of business affairs and to advance, by legitimate and fair means, the interests of retail merchants and the free enterprise system;

   Whereas, in 1905, the Association chartered the Lynchburg Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in 1906, the Association chartered the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond;

   Whereas, in 1907, the Association chartered the Petersburg Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in 1913, the Association chartered the Hampton Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in 1919, the Association chartered the Danville Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in the 1950s, the Association chartered the Franklin County Retail Merchants Association and the Williamsburg Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in subsequent years, the Association chartered the South Boston Retail Merchants Association and Charlottesville Retail Merchants Association;

   Whereas, in 1978, the Association formed the Virginia Retail Political Action Committee or VARPAC;

   Whereas the Association and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

   Whereas the Association has been an active proponent of the free enterprise system for 100 years: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) congratulates the Virginia Retail Merchants Association on its 100th anniversary; and

    (2) recognizes its years of service to the retail community.

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