Brooklyn's Progress
January 2005

By Maggie Beaute-Lucien

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking events are great ways to meet other Members, make new business contacts and have a great time along the way.

The Brooklyn Chamber held its first Business After Hours for 2005, at Long Island University in Downtown Brooklyn on Jan. 12.  Some 85 Chamber Members and friends attended the event to re-connect, reminisce with old friends and associates while meeting and connecting with new Members. 

Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams welcomed new Members and encouraged veteran Members to introduce themselves and welcome them to the Brooklyn Chamber family. 

Mr. Adams thanked and welcomed John Suarez, Director of Athletics at Long Island University, who expressed his delight in having the Chamber as its guest.  He encouraged everyone to attend the LIU Blackbirds’ final basketball game in the Arnold & Marie Schwartz Athletic Center (formerly the old Paramount Theater). 

Mr. Suarez announced the opening of Long Island University’s Wellness Center, a $40 million, 100,000 square-foot complex that will provide state-of-the-art athletic facilities for students and other members of the campus’ community.  Scheduled to open in October 2005, the facility will feature tennis courts, a running track, a 25-yard swimming pool and a 3,000-seat arena, where the school’s NCAA Division I teams will compete. 

Mr. Suarez stated the new facility will provide an important venue for civic events during LIU’s off-season and encouraged Chamber Members to consider LIU’s Wellness Center as an alternative venue for hosting future events. 

Mr. Adams announced the success of the Chamber’s 2004 membership drive, which was due in large part to the incredible efforts of Darryl Hollon, Director of Membership, and Chamber Member volunteers (415 new Members in 2004).  Mr. Hollon expressed his enthusiasm in surpassing that number in 2005 and encouraged Chamber Members to take advantage of Member services, including the new Member-to-Member discount program that was launched recently at ibrooklyn.com.

Carmen Lee Shue, Lee Shue Realty, drew the name for the evening’s door prize.  Joseph F. Schick, CPA, Eisner & Lubin LLP, was the lucky winner.  He received a beautiful basket that was graciously donated by Bob Stimell, US Coffee. 

The evening was capped off with an exciting game between LIU Blackbirds vs. St. Francis Terriers in a Northeast Conference, in which LIU won a 74 – 69 victory…go LIU Blackbirds!

About Our Host
Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus – in the heart of downtown Brooklyn just minutes from Manhattan – is a continually evolving learning environment, pulsing with vitality. The core of its success has been its ability to change with the times and to serve new constituencies.  LIU has been providing outstanding educational opportunities to students from all walks of life for three-quarters of a century. It is the original unit of the University, the eighth largest private university in America, with six campuses and seven international sites.

Many thanks to the evening’s hosts Gale Haynes, Provost, John Suarez, Director of Athletics and Greg Fox, Associate Director of Athletics and Long Island University for making the Brooklyn Chamber's first  Business After Hours event for 2005 a fabulous success!

Don’t forget to join the Brooklyn Chamber at the next Business After Hours in Clinton Hill at Embora Wellness and Movement Studio on Tues., Feb. 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

To find out how your business can host a Business After Hours event or sponsor the door prize, please contact Special Events Manager Maggie Beaute-Lucien at 718 875-1000 ext. 105, or at mlucien@brooklynchamber.com.