Dear Chamber and Community Members,
Happy New Year to all. The Board of Directors and Board Assistants all hope you had a wonderful Holiday Season and wish you a prosperous new year ahead.
I would like to take time to mention some of the accomplishments we had in 2022 along with some disappointing results as well. During the past few years with Covid-19 and the negative effect it had on businesses, the Board of Directors reduced the cost of membership renewals, yet membership still has dropped off. There are a large number of businesses in both hamlets of Mount Sinai and Miller Place, however we only have 107 current chamber members.
Our networking meetings have been missed by many. This affects the Chambers abilities to help its members in several ways. Membership attendance, involvement and support provides the opportunity of sharing advice and gaining knowledge from others, raising funds to support two scholarships for deserving seniors with college costs, donations to assist in the beautification of our neighborhoods and communities. Being a member affords businesses the opportunity to promote their services and products to the residents that keep all our businesses in business. We’re requesting that all our members make a greater effort to attend future meetings in 2023 and let us know if you have any interest in assisting us in the future. We are making great strides for the coming year and need your support more than ever.
The Chamber has had several very successful networking meetings over the year and has made valued new relationships. We now sponsor and have partnered with the North Shore Youth Council, a wonderful community organization who helps people in today’s changing world, through education, programs and events. They are the new stewards of the Heritage Center at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai. They have offered the Chamber a home at the center to have meetings when needed. They are allowing the Chamber to have a sign in front of the center. We are able to attend their events and promote the Chamber. They have helped with beautification projects and helped to promote Chamber news to over 4,000 residents. I would like to recommend to all our members to contact Robert Woods and Stephanie Ruales from NSYC and become a sponsor. Giving to the community will have a positive effect on your business growth. Visit their website www.NSYC.com for details.
Recently, one of our Rt. 25A outdoor signs, which informs everyone of Chamber upcoming events, was destroyed by a car accident. We would like to thank our member John Bond from John Bond Construction who donated his time and skills to replace it with another sign we had. We would also like to thank our member Charlie Newby from Newby Signs who generously has designed and donated signs for us all year long.
Another member and board director, Maureen Bond, created an event to meet and educate business owners in our hamlets of Mount Sinai and Miller Place about the Chamber and for a great way to promote their business and support the community. It took a lot of time to work out the logistics, design and print the marketing materials, physically visit all the businesses, along with promotion and marketing. It took the time and dedication of the entire board and the board assistants. The event was named “Celebrate Small Business” a takeoff for Small Business Saturday in November, we celebrated the entire month. Business owners in our hamlets signed up to participate for only $25. Customers “shopped local” at those businesses to receive a FREE ENTRY for a $500 cash drawing. We had over 1000 entries.
We posted a video of the drawing, the winner and the business where the winning ticket was won. Great folks were met and new relationships made. The feedback from participating businesses was the same, they all experienced a great turnout and had more sales in November as a result. There was excitement and interest from all customers who wanted the chance to win $500 in cash before the Holidays, while getting the items they were looking for and asking if we will be doing it again next year. Success all around, we are looking forward to it again in 2023.
The Chamber applied for and received a grant from PSE&G to weed, clean up and plant around the gazebo located on Crystal Brook Hollow Road in Mt. Sinai. TOGETHER with the Mt. Sinai Civic Association, North Shore Youth Council and Old Town Landscaping have respectively helped with a beautification campaign.
Each season we participated in many events to promote the Chamber and get the word out about our members to the residents. During the summer at Heritage Park, we attended Movie Nights and Concerts. In the Fall, we participated in the Halloween Festival and Trunk A Treat. In the winter, there was the annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Menorah Lighting.
Photos of events are available on our website for you to review, please visit. www.msmpchamber.com
In closing, I want to share how proud I am of our Chamber Board of Directors & Board Assistants and the work they do to make our Chamber better and stronger every year. I value the support of all our members who consistently attend our functions, help when they can and make our Chamber achieve its mission statement goal. We are looking forward to the new year and working together.
The Mission of the Mount Sinai – Miller Place Chamber of Commerce is to be a leading organization dedicated to the economic growth of our community by building relationships that promote and meet the needs of local businesses and professionals to create the best community in which to live, work, and grow.
Our primary goal is to strengthen our local economy by connecting residents to locally owned businesses in order to unite the community through events, networking and interests of local community.
Holly Bottiglieri, President
Mount Sinai Miller Place Chamber of Commerce
