The Manhasset Chamber of Commerce held its annual Man/Woman of the Year Cocktail Party on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club. This year's honorees were the members of Manhasset's two major service clubs, The Rotary Club of Manhasset and the Manhasset Kiwanis Club. Chamber Co-Presidents Diane Harragan and Rochelle Dowling made presentations to Kiwanis President Joe LaBella and Rotary President Don Zerbarini.

Before the presentations, each club gave a brief sketch of its history and its contributions to society. Speaking for Kiwanis, John Lalena told of the founding of the club and of its many activities. These days Kiwanians' major charity is the KPTC, the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center. This is an organization that supports the pediatric trauma units at North Shore University Hospital. In addition to helping fund the helicopters that transport children in traumatic situations to the hospital, the club provides pediatric trauma kits because children's needs are different from those of adult members of the community. Mr. Lalena stressed the fact that the wives of Kiwanis members are involved in making these kits. The Kiwanis Club's major fundraiser is its annual Pancake Breakfast, the most recent one held, very successfully, a few weeks ago.

Speaking for the Manhasset Rotary Club, longtime member Bob Mitchell told of the club's founding 50 years ago. Although the club has been involved in many philanthropic and charitable activities, it is best known as the founding club of the Gift of Life program, which has grown to international proportions and has brought more than 5000 children to this country for life-saving surgery. Among the Rotarians present at the party was Robbie Donno who was one of the founders of the Gift of Life program. Currently, the Manhasset Rotary Club's major local event is its Children's Circus, which was held on Oct. 8 this year at Manhasset High School.

A special honoree at this year's cocktail party was Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger, who will end her term of office at the end of this year. Both clubs presented citations to Ms. Newburger.