ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON AT TERRACE ON THE PARK - CANCELED
The Chamber’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day luncheon has been canceled due to a power outage at Terrace on the Park on Thursday, March 15th. Despite the best efforts of Terrace, their electrical contractor and Con Edison who was there to assist and had no involvement in the cause of the outage, power could not be restored in time to have the luncheon. The Chamber will be in touch with all members who sponsored or made reservations as to credits, refunds or transfers to the Chamber’s next luncheons. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

INSTALLATION LUNCHEON AT ANTUN’S – APRIL 19TH – ADRIAN BENEPE, NYC COMMISSIONER OF PARKS, GUEST SPEAKER
Join the Chamber for its annual business luncheon to vote in the officers & board members for 2007. Help us honor outgoing President Raymond J. Irrera for his outstanding leadership during the last 3 years. Adrian Benepe, NYC Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, is our guest speaker. The slate of officers presented to the membership includes Albert F. Pennisi, Esq., President, Carol Conslato, 1st V.P., Gerard Thornton, Treasurer. Board members on the ballot include: Clare Browne, Estelle Cooper, Dolly DeThomas, Mayra DiRico, Tom Gilmartin, Howard Graf, Alfred Graser, Stanley Legan, Neil Levin, Frank Macchio, William D. Martin, Joseph Mattone, Sr., Sher Sparano, Mary Vavruska, Lou Vlahos and Henry Wan.

State Bank of Long Island is a silver sponsor.

QUEENS BUSINESS DAY EXPO & LUNCHEON – MAY 17TH - TERRACE ON THE PARK
NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn – Guest Speaker
Make your plans now to participate in the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Expo & Luncheon on May 17th at Terrace On The Park. The exhibits open at 9am to 2pm. Luncheon is 12:30pm to 2pm. In addition to the networking opportunities, the great prizes that will be awarded and the luncheon, this year the Chamber will offer (3) free business seminars: 9:30am Health Insurance; Choices, Strategies & Options; 10:30am Prospecting for New Business; 11:30am B-to-B Marketing on the Internet.

See the monthly flyer for registration information, click on the calendar on www.queenschamber.org or call the Queens Chamber at 718-898-8500.

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 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

SENATE BUDGET PLAN REJECTS PROPOSED BUSINESS TAX INCREASES
The Senate Majority's budget plan for 2007-08 rejects all of the business-tax increases Governor Spitzer proposed in his Executive Budget -- tax increases that The Business Council has criticized as potentially damaging to the state's economy. Instead, the Senate plan would cut business taxes across the board.

The Executive Budget would raise business-tax collections by more than $500 million a year. Many manufacturers and other companies with operations in multiple jurisdictions would be required to pay New York tax on revenues from outside of the state, at a total estimated cost of $215 million annually. Banks across the state would pay more as a result of several proposed changes to the Bank Tax. The state Budget Division estimates the cost of those proposals at $185 million, while the New York Bankers Association projects the cost at close to $1 billion a year.

The Senate Majority plan excludes the Governor's tax proposals. Instead, it provides a wide range of reductions in business taxes. Those include elimination of corporate income taxes on manufacturers; a reduction in the main corporate tax rate from 7.5 to 6.85 percent; and new incentives for technology companies to manufacture in the state.

The Assembly's budget plan accepts most of Governor Spitzer's tax proposals, while rejecting proposed application of the tax increases to the New York City tax code. The Assembly also rejected two recommended changes to the Bank Tax, including one proposal that would result in banks paying higher taxes when they add jobs in New York State.

The Senate and Assembly are scheduled to start conference committee discussions on the budget this week. The new state fiscal year starts April 1.

TOP 10 WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING AWARDS DINNER – MARCH 22 – TERRACE ON THE PARK
An extraordinary group of Queens women will be honored at the fifth annual Top 10 Women in Business Networking Awards Dinner, which will be hosted by The Queens Courier and Queens Business Today on Thursday, March 22 at Terrace on the Park beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Queens Chamber’s own President Raymond Irrera will be presented with the “Best Man of the Year” by Albert Pennisi, Esq.

This year’s featured guests are Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and First Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris.

There will be a “teddy bear” raffle, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support a program for autistic children run by Life’s WORC.

Individual tickets for the event cost $85. For tickets or to reserve an expo table, call 718-224-5863, Ext. 226.

NEW YORK CITY PRIVATE FLEET ALTERNATIVE-FUEL/ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAM
Program Opportunity Notice (PON) No. 960 PROPOSALS DUE: April 24, 2007
by 5:00 PM*
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), announces Round V of the New York City Private Fleet Alternative-Fuel/Electric Vehicle Program. This public-private partnership is designed to encourage the use of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) by private-sector companies and non-profit entities operating vehicles in New York City.

This PON solicits proposals for projects that maximize the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of accelerating the introduction of AFVs, EVs and the corresponding infrastructure into private fleets in New York City. Priority will be given to projects that: result in the greatest emissions reduction per Program dollar; reduce the greatest amount of petroleum fuel per Program dollar; leverage private and public cost-sharing for infrastructure development and vehicle acquisition; represent a planned approach to introduce AFVs and/or EVs into the proposer's fleet; and offer unique and innovative partnerships and approaches to meet critical needs and priorities.

This announcement is not a solicitation for proposals. To receive the full solicitation, download a copy of PON 960 from NYSERDA's website at:
http://www.nyserda.org/includes/funding_content_pop.asp?i=PON%20960 or request a copy by contacting Roseanne Viscusi by fax: (518) 862-1091, e-mail: rdv@nyserda.org, or mail at:

Roseanne Vicusi, PON No. 960
NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
17 Columbia Circle
Albany, New York 12203-6399

Program questions can be directed to Patrick Bolton, at (866)NYSERDA, ext. 3322 Contractual questions may be directed to Doreen Darling at ext. 3216.

ADT INVITES CHAMBER MEMBERS TO JOINT BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE – MARCH 29TH – 5PM TO 8PM – RICCARDO’S BY THE BRIDGE
Queens Chamber of Commerce members are invited by ADT Security Services to a free business card exchange on Thursday, March 29th from 5pm to 8pm at Riccardo’s By The Bridge, 21-01 14th Ave. in Astoria. Join ADT, members of the Long Island City Business Development Corp. and other prominent Queens business people in a casual setting for a night of networking and fun. Make important contacts with the overachievers in the area. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by March 23, 2007 by Fax 718-706-3440, by email Jpalumbo@adt.com or by phone at 718-706-3216.

CITY SURVEYS INTERNET ACCESS
The City of New York, in consultation with Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, is evaluating the availability of broadband services (i.e. high-speed Internet) for businesses and non-profits across the five boroughs. If you are responsible for, or participate in, the selection and use of your organization's high-speed Internet services, please help us by taking a short survey (see link below). If not, would you please be so kind as to forward this message to the person in your organization responsible for Internet services? Your input is critical to helping the City of New York establish better telecommunications policy to help you succeed in your business. Your response will be completely anonymous and confidential.

Please help by filling out these quick questions regarding your organization's Internet survey and access.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=967493187052

It's important to complete this survey by Friday March 30th, 2007! Thank you very much for your participation.

REMIX QUEENS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS - 41ST ANNIVERSARY GALA - APRIL 12, 2007 - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING
The Queens Council on the Arts will hold its 41st Anniversary Gala on Thursday, April 12th from 6pm to 9pm at the Metropolitan Building, 44-01 11th Street, Long Island City, New York 11101. RSVP: qcagala@dildaymeyer.com, call 212-537-6843 or visit: www.queenscouncilarts.org.

Honorees include: Sesame Workshop Promoting Arts as Education, Independence Community Foundation Promoting Community Access to the Arts in Queens, The Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs Promoting the Arts in Queens.

MARCH OF DIMES WALKAMERICA® SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2007
WalkAmerica® is the oldest, largest and most successful walking event in the country. In 2006, over one million walkers and volunteers in more than 1,500 communities raised nearly $105 million for the March of Dimes. The dollars raised support programs and research which promote healthy pregnancies and healthy babies for all families.

Join us on April 22nd in Queens (the Unisphere, Flushing Meadow Corona Park) Walk to Save Babies! For more information or to register go to www.walkamerica.org or call (800) 525-WALK.

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

Ad-Venture Advertising, Inc., Mr. Kerman Lalkaka
33 Durham Road, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, (516)352-1459, (516)616-4092
info@ad-ventureads.com, www.ad-ventureads.com
Advertising Agency

Arverne East Development, LLC, Ms. Susan Fine
156 West 56th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10019, (212)245-1851, (212)586-7302
sfine@arverne-east.com,
Real Estate Developers

Cassone Leasing , Inc., Ms. Lynn Cassone
1950 Lakeland Ave., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779,
(631)585-7800, (631)585-7895
lynn@cassone.com, www.cassone.com
Storage Trailers & Containers

Best Way Funding Corp., Mr. Fernando Tapia
95-08 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372,
(718)943-5800, (718)943-3949
fernandotapia12@yahoo.com,
Loans

Malekan Inc., Mr. David Malekan
96-41 Queens Blvd., Rego Park, NY 11374, (718)459-6880,
Clothing

Monir Food Inc., Ms. Monir Jaber
43-14- 192 Street, Flushing, NY 11358,
(718)359-1996, (718)908-3945
monirjaber@gmail.com,
Food Products

NEW CORPORATE MEMBER
Vantana Education, Mr. Aron Lenkowsky
641 Lexington Ave. Suite 1408, New York, NY 10022, (212)634-6499,
aron@vantana.net, www.vantana.net

Mr. Mariano Brun
(212)634-6498
Investments

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

A1A Cargo Express Corp.
Alfred A. Puglisi, CPA
Arash Real Estate & Mgmt. Co.
Assn. for Advancement of Blind & Retarded
Astoria Federal Savings
Astoria Sports Complex Inc.
Briarwood Organization
Bruno's On the Boulevard
C.F. Peters Corporation
Capital Cleaning Contractors Inc.
Carlin Properties Inc.
Catholic Cemeteries
Consolidated Security Inc.
Cord Meyer Development LLC
Davis & Warshow, Inc.
DCD Interactive Marketing LLC
Edmar
Farber Rosen & Kaufman P.C.
FineStar Imaging LLC
Flushing Savings Bank FSB
Fodera Foods
Foschi Construction Corp.
Grand Motor Inn
Greiner-Maltz
HANAC Employment Opportunity Center
Hankin, Handwerker & Mazel PLLC
Hon. Serphin R. Maltese, 15th S.D.
Industrial Tractor Parts Co., Inc.
Jad Corporation of America
Jamaica Mason Materials, Inc.
Jon Lawrence Postyn
Jose Rey, Esq
Kaled Management Corp.
King Apartments Company
Law Office of Vincent L. Petraro, PLLC
Leo F. Kearns, Inc.
Levine Builders
Lin + Associates Architects, P.C.
Major Automotive Group
Maple Grove Cemetery Association
Maspeth Chamber of Commerce
Mattone Group, Ltd.
Melrose Credit Union
Metro Adjustment Inc.
Michael Della Vecchia & Son Inc.
Muss Development Company
NRG Astoria Gas Turbines Operations Inc.
National Environmental Safety Co. Inc.
New York Community Bank
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Syst.
Pace Accounting & Tax Services, Inc.
Par Central Motor Inn
Pilot Products Inc.
Queens County Savings Bank/Div. of NY Comm. Bank
Queens Tribune Publications
Queensboro Toyota, Inc.
Refron, Inc.
Ridgewood Savings Bank
Romano Paving & Contracting Corp.
Ross, Legan, Rosenberg, Zelen & Flaks, LLP
Stephen J. Eagar
TCE Systems, Inc.
The Tablet Publishing Co., Inc.
Thornhill Communications, Inc.
Tourette Syndrome Assn. Inc.
Transitional Services for NY Inc.
US Powergen Astoria Generating Company
United Concordia Insurance Co. Of New York
VNS Meals-On-Wheels
Wave Publishing Co. (The Wave)
Weeks-Lerman Group, LLC
White Coffee Corp.
Woodside On The Move