Like any adult [organization] the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce [at age 75] is taking responsibility for itself. With no executive director and no office - the board itself is in charge and focused on what they are planning. The money that paid for their executive director and office is "going back into the community," said board member W. Adam Mandelbaum, Esq.

At the chamber's Jan. 31 meeting at Harbor House, the board sat facing a room full of business people eager to see what the "new" organization is planning. Several of those attending work out of their homes using the computer to interface with clients and employees - they are the new breed of entrepreneurs.

President Bryan Morrison of Trading Places and Morrison's Antiques and Consignment introduced the board; Bob Martin, vice president; John Specce of the John Specce Agency, secretary; Steve Gourlay of Evolution Fitness; Joe Mimmo of Cove Point Realty; Alex Gallegos of Ryan Beck; W. Adam Mandelbaum, Esq.; and William DiConza, Esq. Treasurer Diane Grochocki of State Bank of Long Island wasn't able to attend the meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was for the chamber to listen to what people would like to see the chamber do. They were open to suggestions and answering questions. (Please see the article on page 3 about what the calendar for 2006 includes and for information about the chamber's new member-to-member discount plan.)

Paige Dawson of Century 21 Laffey asked when the chamber website would be up and running. Mr. Mandelbaum said, "Mike Strauss is working on it and it should be ready in two weeks." You can find it at oysterbaychamber.org.

John McEvoy of Scicom Computer Services of East Norwich asked if the chamber had an email list of members. Mr. Morrision said the chamber is collecting email and fax numbers for the members so that they can do instant messaging of information and meeting dates. Bob Martin was collecting business cards at the meeting for that purpose.

Several members of the Oyster Bay Civic Association attended the meeting and their secretary, Judith-Ann Barnett, asked if they could link their site to the civic's. They agreed it could be done. OBCA President Marie Knight commented that there were only a few retail members present. Attending were Tony Verrelli of Verrelli's Market; Pat Spafford of Periwinkles; George Mellilo of the Clam Bar; Bryan Morrison of Morrison's Antiques and Collectibles and Larry Nathan of Appliance World [he is currently expanding into the former Look Who's Cooking where Patrizia "Pat" Spafford, executive chef and proprietor of Oyster Bay's new Periwinkles Catering Corp. worked before branching out on her own at Periwinkles].

Ms. Knight said she asked someone why he left the chamber and was told, "Two people made fun of his accent." Another merchant she questioned asked why nothing had been done about the parking. She said, "There is a draft parking plan, that we will bring before the town. I'll send you the parking initiative to sign on with it."

She said, "I've been here all my life and we had two family businesses here. The OBCA wants to work with the chamber in all aspects so we can support each other. I'll send you the parking initiative we have been working on so you can sign on. I'm very upset by what I've been told about the chamber. I don't want to see it dead. I feel we need a strong chamber and a strong civic association and without them the hamlet is lost."

Ms. Knight suggested that Joe Mimmo, a board member of both groups act as a liaison for them. She said to the board, "Find out why people aren't joining. They say the chamber doesn't work for them."

Board member Alex Gallegos said he agreed with Ms. Knight. He said, "I was a board member and I left. I didn't feel that things were being done. I want to reach out to find out what you the residents want. We want to make it the chamber of commerce that you want it to be."

As for the business people, he said, "We should have 100 percent membership. There are lots of organizations moving in their own way to help the area but there is no one-consensus. How do we get it? The Main Street Association is doing beautification but how can we help? How can we help the civic? The parking is our biggest problem.

"This is a new fresh board. We want to change things. I will do a cold canvass among the merchants and find out what is the matter and take notes and listen to what people want. Nothing happens overnight, but we can go one step at a time. I'm committing myself to the chamber. I'll be listening and bringing back information to the chamber. I live here. I have a vested interest here. I want to see businesses growing," concluded Mr. Gallegos.

Steve Gourlay of Evolution Fitness said, "I'm one of the recent members. I've been here three years. My father runs the BMW dealership. One of the reasons I never joined was that I was told I had to put a line in the sand if I joined. [He would be taking sides.] I never do that. We have to work together as a team. It will benefit all. I made a commitment to the board and I will reach out to the community. This is a fresh board and this is a serious commitment for everybody. There is going to be a big difference, a big change. I know I want it to happen."

"We are saying the same thing," said Ms. Knight. "We have a new board - three new board members - and we are willing to work with you."

Mr. Mandelbaum, who has experience working with nonprofit groups such as the Legal Aid Society and the Oyster Bay Italian American Club said, "Now we are legally and fiscally on the mark." He said the chamber has changed since October 2005.

"That includes applying for a $15,000 grant through Senator Marcellino's office; the member discounts; speakers for meetings; and information for entrepreneurs that is available on the Internet on how to maximize your square footage for profit. This is a whole different chamber," said Mr. Mandelbaum.

Ms. Knight wanted the chamber to see that their members keep the hamlet clean. With only two pickups a week, there is a problem with garbage. She said the chamber should get information on the town's laws on sidewalk cleanup to the owners and tenants in the hamlet to help clean up the garbage problems. Mr. Mandelbaum said the information is on the town's website.

Ms. Knight retorted, "The storekeepers are not going to go on the Internet to find the information. You tell them what has to be done." She also suggested that they attend town board meetings and meet the councilpersons, that that is the way to get things done. Ms. Knight said, "People say I'm abrasive but they say I get things done. It's because of dealing with the town board on a personal level."

Mr. Morrison said he is working with the town to improve garbage pickup.

Currently Ms. Knight is working to get the sidewalks repaired in the downtown area. She said that Councilman Angelo Delligatti remembers when the sidewalks were put in as a town project and believes it is the town's responsibility to repair them. The town attorney disagrees and therefore nothing was done, she said.

Chiropractor Scott Cavagnuolo, another board member said, "The chamber hit rock bottom. Marie has a good point. We need to bridge ourselves together [working with the civic]."

Mr. Morrison said, "We are looking into daily pick up of trash from the tenants." He said he sees the garbage build up around the trash baskets in town, day by day. Two pickups a week is not enough for the area where the apartment tenants have no place to leave their garbage on a daily basis.

Ms. Barnett suggested the chamber give out Health Fair fliers at the civic meetings. "We can put your information on our website." She suggested, "Do a survey of merchants and find out why they haven't joined. Get some feedback."

Les Schachter of Memecrafter Group, Inc. who does targeted marketing and graphics said, the chamber of commerce concept started in 1783. "A chamber without a focus is nothing more than a club that benefits members. You need to do works that prove you are focused." He suggested they set on one or two things that they can get done. He also asked if the chamber has a mission statement. [It does have a mission statement.]

Jerry Marx, father of Jeanine Marx of Oyster Babies said the chamber reminded him of the play by Luigi Pirendello, Six Characters in Search of an Author. "A lot can happen but who's the author to get people together so people understand their contributions and can work. Then the stage is set for success."

Bryan Morrison followed his literary lead and said, "We have an author and poet on our board and we're working on it anyway." [The author is W. Adam Mandelbaum.]

As the meeting ended Mr. Gourlay said, "It was a great meeting." He said the Health Fair was going to be bigger and better than before adding, "Everybody's psyched. It's going to be the new Oyster Festival."

Bryan Morrison said it was great that on Tuesday, Jan. 31, as President George Bush prepared to give his State of the Union talk, "People came to hear about the state of the chamber."

Larry Nathan of Appliance World said, "The chamber has changed a lot over the last two months. I was gone [not a member] for a couple of years. You'll see a change."

Mr. Mandelbaum said, "We are working better without a director. Now everyone is taking responsibility and the money saved is substantial. We're going to put that back into the community."