By Carrie James
This year's chamber President James Skinner, 35, is very much like that Town Square project. He, in so many ways, is a man for the East Meadow community.
He's a very unselfish, giving person who is always thinking of ways to help others, said his wife of 13 years, Mary Anne Skinner. What he does, that's what he believes in. He's following his dreams. It's important to him, to us, and it's important to the people in the community.
For all of his many efforts to improve East Meadow, James Skinner is named the East Meadow Herald's Person of the Year for 2001.
Born and raised in East Meadow, James has always had a fondness for the community and helping those in it. As he grew up, attending the East Meadow School District, he watched and learned from his parents how to be a responsible citizen.
His parents, Walter and Patricia Skinner, raised James, his three brothers and two sisters in a home that was always open to helping those in need. As James made his way into the world, he, too, learned to help others and bolster the community he loves so much.
At an early age, James took an active role in his community. He joined the Knights of Columbus at 18, and by 27, he became the youngest Grand Knight in the chapter's history. He's a member of the Kiwanis and joined the chamber in the mid-1990s, after he took over his father's company, A&C Exterminating, in 1994.
One of my downfalls is that I can't just sit on the sidelines. I have to get involved and be active, said James, who within a year joined the Chamber's Board of Directors. He slowly worked his way up to president in 2001. I think this year has been a good year, only because of all the great people I had helping me.
Richard Bivone, personal friend and fellow chamber member, said, He did a great job. He's a great community leader, and that's what we really need for our community. Jim did a great job as president getting the Town Square project from the drawing board to reality and getting the project to where it is today.
The Town Square project is a prime example of James' ability to get things done. As he took over the presidency at the beginning of 2001, he had already been heavily involved in the project, which past president Patrick Curry initiated two years before.
From Jan. 1, 2001 on, James said it was one of his goals to take that project off the table and bring it to fruition.
By early March, the Town of Hempstead had already started a companion project, the renovation of part of East Meadow Avenue. Architectural plans were quickly completed for the Town Square, and by the end of October, James and the East Meadow Chamber were ready to break ground for the square, which was ready, except for a gazebo, in time for the holiday lighting Dec. 6.
James put his own touch to the project in the form of personalized bricks that would line the walkways of the Town Square in Veterans Memorial Park.
Not only would selling bricks to East Meadow residents and businesses offset the cost of the Town Square project, but it would make the square even more of a community focal point.
The biggest thing about this park is that it is your park, James said. This is a place where you can come back 30, 40 years from now and see your name [in a personalized brick]. It's been here since 1963, and it still looks as nice as it did back then. The whole community can come here. It's going to be for everybody. In my eyes, that's what it's all about.
Other highlights during James' tenure as president include raising about $25,000 for East Meadow victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy, showing national pride by purchasing and hanging American flags along East Meadow Avenue and hosting the first-ever networking session between East Meadow and Levittown. James also tackled another personal goal of his updating the chamber Web site to make it more interactive.
It wasn't really kept up to date, so what we did this year is that we made it more interactive, James said. Visitors can access member lists. We're able to e-mail board members notices, meeting minutes, and we're hoping to be able to e-mail every member in the future.
As the father of three boys James, 10; Collin, 6; and Kevin, 4 James Sr. often takes part in school and after-school activities. Many of these take place at McVey Elementary School, where he went to school as a child and which his children attend now.
The biggest event of McVey's year, its 50th anniversary, became a big part of James' life, as he helped out on the planning committee and, through the chamber, donated goods to help make the Oct. 4 event a success.
As his children have grown, James has been there for them in any way he can, said Mary Anne Skinner. He's coached lacrosse, flag football, baseball, and James has vowed to continue to actively participate in his children's lives.
His wife said James loves to go bike riding with his three sons. He has a bad leg, she said, but he makes that pain sacrifice for his kids because they love to do it, and he loves to spend time with his kids.
The kids look up to him, she continued. They are very good to him, they want to be with him, and they miss him when he's not home.
Another event that James brought to McVey Elementary for a second year was the Town Hall meeting, which the chamber sponsored.
We have a youth committee, and one of the things is that we get a youth grant each year, which we use for various programs, said Ted Rosenthal, youth committee chairman and past president. The youth of our community are our future, but how are they going to be a part of it if they don't know who we [the chamber] are? They are at the perfect age to know who we are and what we do.
Earlier in the year, Ted Rosenthal and James visited the fifth-grade students at McVey Elementary School to give them a brief introduction to the East Meadow Chamber and prepare them for the Second Annual Town Hall Meeting, which took place Nov. 30.
Skinner fielded questions and opinions from the crowd on how to spend chamber funds and how the chamber operates, and he gave the students a firsthand look at how the chamber and the government make decisions.
What's next in James' life, even he doesn't know for sure yet, but once he hands over the reins to incoming President Warren Kalmenson Jan. 1, a new door will open.
For now, James said he plans to return full force to building his business, which his father started in 1969.
Whatever I do, I do at 110 percent, James said. My next goal is to build the business, to continue to make it a successful business.
While he is a little sad his year is over as chamber president, James said he is sure to stay active in the community and help out in the chamber. He also wanted to thank all his friends, family and community members for their support during the last year.
I knew it was coming. I had a lot of things I wanted to get done, and I was fortunate to get everything done, he said. I thank everyone in the community for helping me, and especially my wife. My wife's the best in the world. She's so supportive. I just want to thank you for supporting me.
James Skinner, congratulations upon being named the East Meadow Herald's Person of the Year. You are indeed a man for this community and a role model to so many.
