Warwick chamber celebrates is members
SUGAR LOAF — The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce held its 73rd annual membership dinner on Friday evening, Nov. 9, at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center.
The well-attended event began with a cocktail hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a catered dinner buffet, Board of Directors nominations, presentation of awards and a comedy show.
The theme of the 2012 annual membership dinner was “A Night at the Theatre,” and following the dinner and dessert, guests were treated to a performance, based on audience participation and suggestions, by actors from “Mission Improv-able,” a popular improv comedy touring company.
Earlier in the evening Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber, welcomed the guests, thanked sponsors and other contributors, introduced dignitaries and gave a brief report on the “State of the Chamber.”
He described the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce as “The biggest little chamber in Orange County” and reported that membership has nearly tripled in the past five years from 200 to 570.
Johndrow also admitted he was fearful, that in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, attendance at this annual membership dinner might have been so low as to warrant cancellation. He had called an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors and thanks to the last minute efforts of people like Vice President Sherry Bukovcan, ticket sales rose from 40 to 120.
Johndrow mentioned the numerous events sponsored by the chamber and the benefits of membership including Website and Facebook exposure. “Let us know what you need,” he asked.
Chamber president and keynote speaker Cedric Glasper introduced new nominations and second term nominations to the Board of Directors.
Glasper, the owner of Mechanical Rubber Products Co. on Forester Avenue, discussed his practice of reading a motivational business book every month and of holding quarterly meetings with his staff, where, emulating former New York Mayor Edward Koch, he asks: “How am I doing?”
Awards
The chamber gave two awards for “Best Building Renovation” and several awards for Volunteers of the Year.
Co-owner Thomas Torres accepted the “Best Building Renovation” award for Caffé a la Mode and owner and Station Manager Frank Truatt accepted this same award for Warwick Radio WTBQ.
Joanna Greenwald accepted a volunteer award for her husband Chris Masters who has been funding a part-time office assistant for the Chamber once each week for the past four months.
ShopRite Store Director Bob Courtenay and Shopper Advocate Michelle Laurice accepted another volunteer award for the supermarket’s continued support of numerous Chamber events.
And Merchant Guild event co-chairs Mary Beth Schlichting and Debbie Iurato received a volunteer award for their years of work planning and arranging many of the popular events, such as Home for the Holidays, that benefit all the businesses in Warwick.
Schlichting and Iurato received a standing ovation and an impromptu tribute from Mayor Michael Newhard. “Without them,” he said, “there would be tumbleweeds rolling down Main Street.”
- Roger Gavan