2007 MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT DRIVE UNDERWAY - Phon-a-thon set for March 21 & 22nd at LaGuardia Marriott
Led by Co-Chairs Ken Koenig & Sonia Lugo, the Membership Committee has announced plans for the Chamber’s ’07 annual membership recruitment campaign. The total goal for the campaign is 300 new members. Members who recruit successfully will receive awards & prizes. The drive which actually covers the period from May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007 will culminate with a phon-a-thon at the LaGuardia Marriott on Wednesday and Thursday – March 21 & 22 – where morning and afternoon sessions will take place. Prizes for the most successful recruiter will be given for day 1, day 2 and overall total.

The LaGuardia Marriott has once again graciously offered to host the event, provide phones, free parking, continental breakfast and refreshments.

Please call the Chamber to participate or for more information at 718-898-8500

ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON – MARCH 15TH – TERRACE ON THE PARK
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg – Guest Speaker
It is time to be Irish for a day. The Queens Chamber of Commerce will present its Annual salute to St. Patrick and the Irish on Thursday, March 15th at Terrace On The Park. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will be our guest speaker. The award winning Petri School of Irish step dancers, bag piper and a traditional Irish band will entertain. Corned beef, cabbage and beer or wine, your choice.

Diamond Sponsor - HIP
Platinum Sponsor - Con Edison
Gold Sponsor - Queens County Savings Bank, A Division of New York Community Bank
Silver Sponsor - Queens College
Flowers donated by - Booth Flower Shop

Tickets are $50 per person; tables of 10 $450. For additional information or to make reservations call 718-898-8500.

JOINT CHAMBER BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE – NY HALL OF SCIENCE – MARCH 7 – 5:30PM TO 7:30PM
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is joined by partner chambers the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Queens and the JFK International Airport Chamber of Commerce for a networking event on Wednesday, March 7th at the NY Hall of Science. It will begin promptly at 5:30pm and run to 7:30pm. Come in out of the cold and enjoy the city’s greatest scientific exhibit. Sample tempting hors d’oeuvres; sip some wine while you exchange business cards with your colleagues from the JFK and Hispanic Chambers.

$20 per member; $30 per non member. Call the Chamber to register at 718-898-8500 or register on line at the Calendar of the Chamber’s web site www.queenschamber.org.

QUEENS CHAMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN SMALL BUSINESS DAY IN ALBANY - TUESDAY, MARCH 27
The Business Council and the Chamber Alliance of NYS are sponsoring Small Business Day in Albany on Tuesday, March 27th. Leaders of small businesses and their representatives across New York State are coming. The agenda includes a presentation of the Senate’s small business tax package by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. Participants will also get an update on the growth of small business in New York State by Robert Ward, Director of Research at the Public Policy Institute, and author of New York State Government: What It Does, How It Works.

The program features an opportunity for small business leaders to connect with leaders from the new administration, including the newly appointed Regional Chairs of the Empire State Development Corporation, Daniel Gundersen (invited) and Patrick Foye (invited).

There will also be plenty of time set aside to meet with members of our Queens delegation to discuss issues of importance. The agenda details and registration information is available at the Chamber or HERE. If you are interested in participating, please call the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 718-898-8500.

FIFTH ANNUAL TOP TEN WOMEN IN BUSINESS – MARCH 22 – TERRACE ON THE PARK
The Queens Courier and Queens Business Today will be hosting their Fifth Annual Top Ten Women in Business event on March 22 at Terrace on the Park. Join Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn as we present the Top 10 Women in Business Awards to our 2007 Honorees.

This event recognizes Queens’ most influential women in business whose governmental and community involvement has resulted in many major achievements and whose participation in many community activities throughout the years has helped the Borough grow. The event attracts more than 600 of the top business leaders in Queens.

A silent auction will be one of the main attractions for the evening and all the proceeds from this auction will be donated to the Life’s WORC program.

To participate or for more information please contact Maria at 718-224-5863 Ext 226 or at mromero@queenscourier.com

RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK EXPANDS PRESENCE IN QUEENS WITH NEW BRANCH IN BAYSIDE
Ridgewood Savings Bank announced the opening of a new full-service branch in the Baybridge Commons Shopping Center. Located at 208-24 Cross Island Parkway, this new location is the bank’s 10th branch in Queens.

Occupying 3,700 square feet and with 13 employees on staff, Ridgewood’s new Bayside branch will offer an array of banking products that include checking, savings and certificate of deposit accounts, diverse mortgage and consumer loan options, retirement plans, free online banking with bill pay plus the convenience of a walk-up window, bank-by-phone service, and a 24-hour ATM.

Yvette Strong and Brian Bernstein will lead the management team at the new Bayside branch. Ms. Strong and Mr. Bernstein have 30 years combined service to Ridgewood Savings Bank. Ms. Strong has been an integral part of the bank’s management team since 1994 and previously managed the Whitestone and Laurelton branches. Mr. Bernstein has been a part of Ridgewood’s management since 2002, and previously was an assistant manager at the Breezy Point branch.

To commemorate the opening of its Bayside branch, Ridgewood Savings Bank is hosting a variety of special customer appreciation sweepstakes. The Bayside branch will have special extended hours of operation during the Grand Opening Celebration. Through Saturday March 3rd, the extended hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.—7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. For more information, please contact the Bayside branch at (718) 423-3508.

ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AWARD TO HONOR ACTIVIST, AUTHOR & URBANIST JANE JACOBS
The creation of a Jane Jacobs Medal to honor the activist, author and urbanist was announced today by the Rockefeller Foundation. Awarded annually by the Rockefeller Foundation, Jane Jacobs Medals will recognize two living individuals whose creative vision for the urban environment has significantly contributed to the vibrancy and variety of New York City.

The 2007 Jane Jacobs Medal will be accompanied by prizes totaling $200,000. The selection of the winners and allocation of the prize money will ultimately be decided by the members of a Medal Selection Jury. Queens Chamber member Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer, Executive Director, Queens Council on the Arts, has been named to the select panel. One award will recognize leadership and lifetime contribution; the other will recognize new ideas and activism that reflect the ideals of Jane Jacobs. The two Jane Jacobs medalists will together represent the creativity, innovation and dynamism of New York City. The 2007 Jane Jacobs Medal will be administered by the Municipal Art Society (MAS).

Nominations for the Jane Jacobs Medal can be submitted electronically via http://www.rockfound.org/efforts/jacobs/janejacobs.shtml until 5PM EST on March 2nd, 2007. More information on the 2007 Jane Jacobs Medal and Jury, as well as Jane Jacobs’ life, is available on the Rockefeller Foundation at this website. The recipients of the 2007 Jane Jacobs Medals will be announced in June. An award ceremony will take place in September, in conjunction with a new exhibit on Jacobs that will open at the Municipal Art Society.

CORPORATE SHOWCASE - DOUGLASTON MANOR - MARCH 28 – 6PM to 9PM
Queens Chamber of Commerce members are invited by the Douglaston Manor to a Corporate Showcase on Wednesday, March 28th from 6pm to 9pm. Complimentary Cocktail Party. RSVP to 718-224-8787.

LONG ISLAND CITY & CATALPA YMCA ANNOUNCES 2007 STRONG KIDS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF
The Long Island City and Catalpa YMCA’s 2007 Strong Kids Campaign kicked off on February 7, 2007 at the Long Island City YMCA. The YMCA’s annual Strong Kids Campaign is part of the Y’s ongoing commitment to the young people of Western Queens and allows the Y to provide free programs to youth, teens, and families.

Every dollar raised by the Y goes directly to providing scholarship funds for hundreds of youth and families who come to depend on the Long Island City and Catalpa YMCA’s for their health and social needs. At the Y, no child or family is ever turned away because of the inability to afford a program. In 2006, the Y’s provided over $215,000 in financial assistance to over 700 youth and families in need. In 2007, the Long Island City and Catalpa YMCA’s will collectively raise $117,000. Donations to the Strong Kids Campaign may be made by check, credit card, or cash.

YMCA programs build competence and confidence, provide a safe environment for kids, promote healthy lifestyles, and helps kids to focus on educational achievement and skill development. At the Y, the character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility guide all that we do.

NYC INVITES PARTICIPATION IN FOCUS GROUP ON INFLUENZA PANDEMIC
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in cooperation with the Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Small Business Services, is conducting an important research project to find out how medium–sized businesses (over 100 employees) can best prepare for a possible citywide influenza pandemic. If you are a manager or owner of a medium-sized business, you are invited to participate in a confidential discussion during which you will be provided with information about how a widespread influenza pandemic could impact your business and discuss steps your business can take in preparation. You also will get an opportunity to hear how other business managers and owners are preparing for this threat.

This is a very important topic for the City of New York. You are kindly requested to take time out of your schedule to join this 2 hour focus group for which you will receive $200 as compensation for offering your valuable time and input. Please call 212-244-3960 to participate in this important discussion.

WELCOME NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
Reach out and welcome the companies who submitted applications during the last 2 weeks

Greater Woodhaven Development Corp., Ms. Maria Thomson
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY 11421, (718)805-0202, (718)805-2929
gwdcbid@hotmail.com,
Not for Profit

RENEWING MEMBERS
Thanks to all our members who renewed during the last 2 weeks.

Confident Realty Corp.
Cook & Krupa LLC
Education & Assistance Corp.
Filling Equipment Co. Inc.
Gateway Investments, LLC
MIC Tire Pros
Mack Heiferman Company
Modesti Bros, Inc.
Phoenix Environmental Services
Prestone Press LLC
Ronald Fatoullah & Associates
Sentinel Management Group, Inc.
Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
Total Safety Consulting, LLP
United Asset Strategies, Inc.
Vincent E. D'Agnillo & Associates Inc.
Vitality Drug & Surgical
Wei, Wei & Co., LLP
Yatin Realty LLC