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| HICKSVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS PROUD OF THEIR PAST PRESIDENTS AND THEY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THIS FACT |
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| This article was taken from the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce Newsletter — The Compendium — Patricia Conway was our editor and kept us wonderfully informed of chamber functions plus so much more. |
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On a cold blustery winter morning I sat in my office with no visitors. It was just to darn cold for anyone to go out. Ella (current President), Patricia Conway (Immediate Past Pres.) and myself sat and bounced ideas off of each other. The gavel ceremony was never brought into our Installation. This is where the outgoing president passed on the gavel that he/she used during their tenure immediately after the incoming president was sworn in. Being as our organization had so many presidents (13 to be exact) that were hale and hearty and still living an active lifestyle, it was decided to hold a “Past Presidents” Brunch for all. The ceremony was tweaked just a bit. The incoming president received the used and scared gavel that had been through so many meetings and the outgoing president was presented with a new gavel with their name and term engraved on the band.
On Sunday, April 9, 2000, during a spring snowfall, a brunch honoring past presidents was held at Delaney’s Restaurant in Hicksville.
Town Supervisor John Venditto joined Ella Marie Columbo in honoring the seven past presidents in attendance with a gavel engraved with their name and term of office. Past presidents in attendance were: Beth Dalton Costello, Marc Ramirez, Patricia Conway, Effie Krogmann Urschel, Henry Brengel Jr., Connie Clarke and Chamber Secretary Pat Crowe accepted on behalf of Vernon Wagner who was in North Carolina. Six other presidents did not attend due to being away for the winter or permanently living out of state.
Each president spoke about memories of their term and what being president meant to them. All were touched by the words of Effie Krogmann Urschel who will be relocating upstate later this year.
Guests enjoyed a buffet style breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, french toast, bagels, fruit, coffee and tea. Ella announced that Luz Rosenthal of Bank of New York had recently been named “Woman of the Year” by Legislator Ed Mangano. Guests included Nick Brigandi and Gil Cusack from the Water District; Cathy Black, President of the Hicksville Community Council; many chamber members and their guests and families.
The following letter was received at the office from one of our past presidents and we want to share it with you;
Dear Ones,
I simply must put to writing my gratitude for last Sunday’s Brunch in honor of Past Presidents of the Hicksville Chamber. It was beautifully arranged and most memorable. For all I know I might be the oldest living member of the Hicksville Chamber. “Looking back” is something I am good at. Looking ahead is only something that God is good at, so I’ll defer to Him.Meanwhile you are all in my prayers and thoughts, and many grateful memories are mine. A very kind of special love to you all,
Effie Krogmann Urschel |
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| The above story mentioned some presidents who are still with us. Almost half a dozen live out of state but are here in heart with us. Having not been involved with the Chamber until 1980 there are many past presidents that I have never met. I would like to reserve this spot for my memories of some presidents that I did have the pleasure of knowing and/or working with. |
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