By: Angela Marshall
The members of Rockville Centre's Chamber of Commerce had much to celebrate last Thursday when they gathered at the Holiday Inn for the annual installation dinner. The chamber finished the year with 175 members, up 65 percent from a year ago.
"Your chamber is alive and very healthy," said Dr. Michael Rechter, who was installed as president for a second term. The dentist, who has practiced in Rockville Centre for 17 years, proudly listed the many new projects the chamber has taken on over the past year, including creating a Web site, printing a parking brochure and starting a Health and Wellness committee, the first of many sub-groups to come.
Rechter has B.I.G. plans for the future. B.I.G. stands for Business Interest Groups. He said these sub-groups will help similar businesses network productively. One of the highest priorities for the coming year is to set up a viable Merchants Association for the village's many thriving retail establishments.
The chamber is already working with several merchants to create a "bigger and better" street fair for this year, he said.
Karen Resnick, sales associate for the Rockville Centre Herald and PrimeTime, received the chamber's 2003 Service Award. The award is voted on by members of the chamber and was presented at the dinner by Vice President Barbara Klein.
"Karen gives every job 120 percent of herself," said Klein, currently of Snelling Personnel and formerly head of advertising at the Herald. "She is truly the goodwill ambassador of the Rockville Centre chamber."
Rechter said that Resnick is responsible for bringing in more new members than anyone else.
Many local dignitaries attended the celebration, including state Sen. Dean Skelos, Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell, Mayor Eugene Murray and members of the village Board of Trustees. Skelos praised the chamber for the health of the downtown and pledged to work with the organization on future beautification projects.
In addition to Rechter and Klein, the chamber's 2004 executive board comprises Ellen Alberti, of Maple Avenue Dance, executive vice president; Resnick, secretary; and Gary Marks, Gary Marks & Associates, treasurer.
The chamber's 2004 directors were also sworn in. They are Kevin Akner, Chuck Chardell, Bruce Feldman, Ann Goulding, Jennifer Guttenberg, Judith Hart, Pat Huber, Sam Jaghab, Michael Johnson, Keith Linsalata, Bruce Mirkin, Jeff Novack, Ed Oppenheimer, Sherry Rivera, Steve Ruchman, Michael Shenker and Douglas Sinetar.
