Warwick Chamber hosts annual membership dinner

Warwick — The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce held its annual membership dinner Nov. 9 at the Warwick Valley Country Club with guest speaker Duane Albro, president and CEO of WVT Communications, formerly known as the Warwick Valley Telephone Co. Immediately after the cocktail hour, Robert Krahulik, president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, introduced special guests by repeating his time-saving and popular “one clap” rule. After his introduction, Michael Johndrow, who was appointed this year as executive director of the Chamber, described his background as a school system administrator and stated his list of goals for the future of the Warwick’s business community. Immediately after dinner, Johndrow introduced the guest speaker. Duane Albro, appointed this year as president and CEO of WVT Communications, has had 35 years of telecommunications experience, ranging from service technician to group vice president for NYNEX and Bell Atlantic. He had also served as operations vice president for Cablevision Systems Corporation among other high level executive positions in the communications industry. Albro’s entertaining and dynamic presentation received a warm round of applause after he described the extraordinary and rapid technological advances in communications. “Yes, it’s going to be a long night,” quipped Albro as he began his presentation by explaining that the communications technology timeline begins with the first recorded example of handwriting in 4000 BC. However, Albro soon demonstrated that the time between major advances such as the printing press, typewriter, telephone and Internet grows exponentially shorter and shorter to the point that some of the most advanced technologies of the 1990s are now obsolete. The rapid pace of this technology, he explained, is now at a point where all company employees will be able to carry every communication tool, including interoffice systems, in a single device that they can take home or even carry to different parts of the world. People sitting in a European hotel and others at an island resort could continue to work together as though they were still in the office. Everything will be at their fingertips. As an example of a more practical application, Albro said, “The boss can ask everyone to work at home the next day because a snow storm has been forecast.” Later that evening, Johndrow presented two awards for “Outstanding Building Renovations” to Jean-Claude’s Artisan Bakery & Dessert Café for renovations to its second location in Greenwood Lake and Robert Knebel, general contractor, for the total renovation of the firm’s new building in the Village of Florida. Jean-Claude and Annette Sanchez, owners of Jean-Claude’s Artisan Bakery & Dessert Café and General Contractor Robert Knebel accepted their respective awards. Members of this year’s dinner committee were Diane Massey, Dina Vaccaro, Jacqueline Johndrow and Paul Rafanello. Sponsors were Bonacic, Krahulik & Associates, LLP, Coldwell Banker Currier & Lazier, Country Chevrolet, Inc. Nina Kannon Design, Seely & Durland Insurance, Inc., Sussex Bank and Warwick Press. General’s Garden donated the centerpieces. “OLAJ,” from Village Music provided musical entertainment. Immediately before the dinner and presentation by the guest speaker, Krahulik and Lisa Montanaro named this year’s nominees to the 2007 Board of Directors. The nominees for a second three-year term were Pam Arace, Robert Krahulik, Lisa Montanaro and Cheryl Rogowski. New nominees to the Board were Duane Albro, Thomas Brunelle, Gary Gauthier, Frank Greenhall, Erik Johansen, Paul Rafanello and Amy Sliter. Those continuing their respective terms were Rosemary Cooper, Frank DeBerry, Garrett Durland, Cedric Glasper, Joanne Graney, Jason Grizzanti, Mark Kurtz, Diane Massey, Mary McClurg, Barbara Moore, Amy Noteboom, Mary Beth Schlichting, Doug Stage and Dina Vaccaro.