Letters to the Editor for Tuesday, September 29, 2009

RMA appeals to local businesses
I would like to respond to your article in your Sept. 11 edition of The News & Advance, “Retail advocacy group sets sights on Lynchburg.” As executive director of the local Retail Merchants Association (RMA), I have serious concerns about this organization coming into our area when there is already an active Retail Merchants Association. To avoid confusion among local merchants, I would like to share some background and thoughts.

Retail Alliance approached our association in April 2009 about becoming a partner with them. After much consideration, the local RMA board felt that the relationship established in 1906 with our state association was a better fit for our area. When we did not agree to partner with them, they were not pleased. It would appear that they are now in the planning stages of organizing a competing organization, and they will be providing a duplication of services at a much high membership fee. There is little they have to offer that we do not already offer, and those services not offered by Retail Merchants Association are, in most cases, provided by the chamber of commerce.

Legislatively, we are represented by Virginia Retail Merchants Association, which has lobbied the General Assembly since 1905. Strategically located near Capital Square in order to provide continuous contact with legislators, we take an active role in legislation that has an impact on the business community, not only in Lynchburg but also in the entire state of Virginia, and are very proud of our achievements within this arena.

Furthermore, it is important for local citizens to know that the Retail Merchants board of directors all have an investment in the local community; most were born and raised in the Lynchburg area; they own businesses here; their children go to school here. We have always been a local organization seeking to promote local businesses and have been very involved in the needs of the community with resources from the association as well as our private foundation.

In conclusion, I believe that the area is unable to support two local retail associations that provide the same services. Each business owner has to make the decision as to whom to support, but I am trusting in the sense of loyalty established among our citizens and business leaders alike. We are asking each business person to embrace the vision of keeping our economy strong in Lynchburg by protecting our local assets — join local, shop local. I am always available to discuss the merits of the local Retail Merchants Association and welcome your call. Thank you for your continued support for over 100 years.
DEBBIE M. MONTGOMERY
Retail Merchants Association Inc.

A total loser
Carey Martin’s Sept. 28 letter to the editor about former Sen. John Edwards contained a very interesting hypothesis; I could not wait to get to the last sentence and eye-opening revelation.

I also read Susan Estrich’s Sept. 26 column and found it well-written and to the point; I consider myself to be neither left- nor right-wing.

The reason we all are, and well should be, appalled at John Edwards’ behavior is that he had a “lust child” (to call this a love-child would be making a mockery of the word “love”) while his incredibly strong and patient wife was fighting inoperable cancer and then, to top it off, promising the mother of this “lust-child” the he will marry her once he is “free.”

I do completely agree with Martin on one thing, John Edwards is a total loser.
LYA HALE
Lynchburg