The Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 70th anniversary at a luncheon Sept. 18.
Past presidents and board members, along with current board members and some of the chamber’s newest faces, were found among the 40 or so guests.
A complimentary lunch was served and a ribbon-cutting was also held for the host, Press 195, in the recently renovated Morton Village Shopping Center.
David Weinstein, the chamber’s current president, said he felt humbled to be part of the chamber at such a pivotal point in its history.
“What makes a chamber is the charity side of things,” he said. “Yes, you can go to meetings to network, but we also do a lot for the community. Usually, members are people who live and work in the community, so they care about how things are going there.”
“If you’re volunteering your time, it needs to be something that’s near and dear to you,” he added. “Helping out and making things happen in our town, that’s what it’s about… that’s what makes it not [feel like] work.”
Weinstein said the chamber plans to continue doing what has made it so great for 70 years: “Be a resource for local businesses, give them a platform. Continue on the same path we have been on.”
Francesca Carlow, former chamber president, has been a member for 45 years. She recalled the early days of the chamber. “My father-in-law, Bernie, a founding member, asked me to take his spot. For many years I sat around Dona Goldstein’s [of Hope Physical Therapy] kitchen table with five fellow board members.”
“I was in my 30s and they were… old… maybe even… 70,” she continued. “We volunteered our time and were dedicated to help the chamber prosper. We cared for the community and where we all lived, worked and played.”
Carlow also spoke about some of the chamber’s accomplishments during her time, sharing Trio Hardware’s devastating fire story in 1996. She emphasized how the community and the chamber galvanized to battle the shopping center’s landlord when they attempted to nullify its lease after the tragedy.
She concluded with a hopeful message about the chamber. “The Plainview Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce has evolved and grown, but like every chamber there were dips and valleys struggling to grow and stay relevant. Things don’t change overnight….but here they did,” she said.
“There was a time when I was the youngest person in the room,” Carlow continued. “There was a time when the chamber had but 10 members.”
After just celebrating her 70th birthday, Carlow said she was proud of how far the chamber has come.
Past president Elan Wurtzel shined a light on two sides of the chamber: its role in important community projects like the addition of POB’s 9/11 memorial, and how lifelong friendships and business relationships are formed when committee members work together. He cited the example of a fun bake-off event held in the chamber’s early days.
As a longtime board member and current vice president, Larry Weiss reminded members that “being a part of a chamber is about forming relationships in your community and thereby earning their trust as potential future business partners.”
Local officials were also present to celebrate the Chamber of Commerce. County legislator Arnold Drucker said, “Warmest congratulations to the Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. It was an honor to recognize this milestone yesterday and present you with a Nassau County Citation thanking you for your dedication to local businesses, economic growth, and community development over the years. Seventy years of leadership and service speaks volumes. Thank you for all you do.”
