Our Town
• Our Town is the Official Newsletter of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce • January 2012
A look back at 2011
We kicked off 2011 with our installation dinner in January where we honored the Man and Woman of the Year Lenny Heide and our own board member, Erin Donohue. We installed our slate of officers and I officially began my term as President - its been a great year; as I look forward to this year’s event it is with great pleasure knowing we will be honoring community volunteer MeMe Wanderman and tireless Chamber friend and supporter Al Lage. As I look into the future (see my photo at right) I see that 2012 brings back most of our slate of officers along with some new ones who will bring new ideas as we try to top our success of the previous year. We sponsor and run many big events during the year, from multiple networking events, two festivals that grow bigger each year, a Halloween parade and the biggest scholarship program offered by a Chamber of Commerce in New York State. Before
there was the Best of Long Island honors, we have been cosponsoring the Merchant and Professional of the Year contest - spotlighting the best that the Merricks have to offer. Yes, I am tooting our collective Chamber horn, because we do some very remarkable things all year round. Did you know we pay for the snowflake lights that adorn Randy Shotland the town during the holidays? The money we raise from the fall festival pays for the electric, maintenance and installation - as well as keeping the lights on at the town gazebo 365 days a year. We continue continued on page 2
Merrick Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 53 Merrick, NY 11566
WHERE WERE YOU IN 2011? A look at some of our accomplishments.
A look back at 2011 continued from page 1 to look at ways to beautify our zip code and hope to unveil some new items this year. To those reading our chamber newsletter for the first time (it has been over a year since we last published), consider joining us on Thursday, January 26 at the Chateau Briand (details inside) the night promises to be a great time to network with other chamber and community members. If you aren’t a chamber member why not join or renew your dues? The $125 membership fee covers your booth at the kids fest (April 28 and 29) AND the fall festival (September 7,8,9) that alone more than pays for itself. If your business is not in Merrick you can still join, if you reside here. For the first time we are offering a non- business membership to residents, that will entitle you to discounts at select merchant members for a small fee. The residential membership ($10 a year) does not cover space at the fairs or voting privileges. We are also offering a special membership price to non-profit groups, service organizations and sport leagues. For more information or if you’d like to talk to a member of the membership committee call Lorraine at 771-1171 or drop her an e-mail at merrickchamber@aol.com and she’ll set something up for you. You may also reach out in the same manner if you’d like to talk with me about how you can get involved with the chamber, I look forward to hearing from you. A special thanks, before I sign off, to the Chamber Executive Board and the Board of Directors for your dedication and support of our events and making 2011 a great year.
Wishing you a prosperous 2012, sincerely,
Randy Shotland, President Merrick Chamber of Commerce
Some of the 2012 events subject to change - check our website for more
Some of our 2011 events, clockwise from top left. In brief our networking lunch at The Outback, a ribbon cutting at The Diet Center, the debut of our new chamber tent at the Fall Festival, Chamber BoD members pose with Robbie Rosen at the Kids Fest and the event held in his honor, and Santa came to visit the kids in town and got some help from local girl scout troops.
Get your dues in!!! Annual dues ($125) and forms are due into Chamber of Commerce administration by January 31, 2012. If you miss this deadline your business will not be listed in our Merrick Directory. Any questions call Lorraine at 771-1171
Our Town Newsletter is printed by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce. Submissions for future issues may be sent to the editor at erin@erindonohue.com. Items are printed as space allows. For more information about this publication, please call the chamber hotline at 771-1171. Newsletter Staff: Design & Editing: Erin Donohue, Hucreative Services, Inc. Contributors, etc. Marian Fraker-Gutin, Mary Elmore Real Estate Photos: Merrick Chamber files Printer: Doug Mills, Printing Emporium
JANUARY 2012
1/26: Man and Woman of the Year
FEBRUARY 2012
TBA: General meeting
MARCH 2012
3/7: Networking
APRIL 2012
4/27, 28, 29: Kid’s Fest
MAY 2012
TBA: Networking TBA: Scholarship Night
JUNE 2012
TBA: Merchant & Professional of the Year Awards
JULY 2012
TBA: General Meeting
SEPTEMBER 2012
9/7, 8, 9: Fall Festival TBA: Networking
OCTOBER 2012
TBA: General Meeting 10/28: Halloween Parade
DECEMBER 2012
12/1: Santa’s Visit 12/2: Holiday Lighting
The first Tuesday of every month is a board meeting, 8 a.m. at the Merrick Library. Reminders for events are sent in the mail and in the email.