DUMFRIES, Va. — Two weeks of strongly-worded emails among members of the Dumfries Business Association came to a head Wednesday night.
It started when Chris Caldwell, who runs a consulting firm in Dumfries, emailed a list of members of the Dumfries Business Association. In the emails, Caldwell questioned the number of meetings the organization holds, the effectiveness of the group’s leadership, and suggested the organization be a stronger voice in local politics.
As the email exchange continued and became heated, some members of the DBA asked to be removed from the list. Others said they no longer wanted to be part of the DBA.
Wednesday night, Caldwell sat down with DBA President Rodney Cahow and organizer Danny Conser to address his concerns. They sat on the front porch of Belle Framing at talked over the roar of traffic traveling on U.S. 1.
“My mission is to have the DBA to be a political force in this town to make a difference,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell said a newly proposed quad intersection at Va. 234 and U.S. 1 that would prevent left turns — an intersection the DBA endorsed — should be a top priority for the business group. Caldwell said he doesn’t like the plans for the intersection, and added the DBA should work harder to involve more business owners in political conversations in the town, solicit member dues, as well as more closely follow bylaws written when the DBA was formed in 2008.
But for Cahow and Cosner, work is something they admit they don’t have the time for when it comes to knocking on doors and planning additional activities for the DBA. The organization currently holds monthly meetings that attract about 10 people.
“When you work with all volunteers, it’s hard to hold people’s feet to the fire and keep them participating,” said Cosner, who writes a regular email updating members on the latest business-related actions in the Dumfries Town Council, as well as other business nuggets. “I’m retired, and I’m putting in the level of effort that works for me — we’re always looking for volunteers.”
Nearly everyone who met Wednesday night encouraged Caldwell to run for president of the organization when elections are held in January. Caldwell would not say if he planned to run, and added he is already involved in several boards and civic groups where he makes his home in Aquia Harbour in Stafford County. He does attend regular meetings but does not participate on any committee.
Unlike the Dumfries Business Association, the Manassas Old Town Business Association charges $120 for a full year of membership, holds regular monthly breakfast meetings, and invites guest speakers from the city’s government to come speak. The 20-year-old organization has also partnered with others, including Historic Manassas Inc. which holds a weekly farmers market, to help increase traffic through the small shops of Old Town.
“We have a ‘show me your produce’ day where we hang a carrot in the window on the day of the farmers market, and when they come inside and show us the produce they can get discounts on merchandise in our stores,” said Old Town Business Association President Joanne Wunderley.
Much like the Dumfries Association, the OTBA has an elected, all-volunteer board that votes in initiatives. Wunderly admits it can be difficult to maintain an all-volunteer membership, but adds the association serves retail shops and restaurants and offers year-long benefits such as a printed directory that lists all of the businesses in Old Town Manassas.
