Sayville Chamber Holds Installation Meeting

Local politicians and Sayville business owners made their way to the Courtyard Marriott in Ronkonkoma on Jan. 18 for the Greater installation cocktail party. The evening provided the perfect opportunity to meet and network with the new officers, directors and chamber members.

The 2011 Board of Directors and the board members were sworn in by Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and Legislator Bill Lindsay.  The 2011 Board of Directors includes: Rich Trpicovsky, president; Bill Etts, first vice president; Stephanie Behan, second vice president; Dave Smith, secretary; Eileen Woolley, treasurer; and immediate past president Dan Lent.

“2010 was a great year for Sayville businesses,” said Chamber president Rich Trpicovsky. “Some may look at it as a difficult year but the events held in town raised a significant amount of money. Summerfest brought in $78,000 and the first golf outing raised $5,000. Both Margaritaville and Miracle on Main have increased attendance year over year. The Summer Concert series was an overwhelming success. The Town of Islip has been very supportive of our efforts."

Trpicovsky added that Islip Town officials were very quick to react to in Sayville. “They resolved the parking issues with both long and short term plans almost immediately,” he said. “Sayville as a town will continue to react to the changes of the future. Together we will make Sayville thrive.”

After swearing in the Board of Directors, Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan said, “I’m looking forward to working with the Chamber in the year ahead. Sayville is at the top of the chambers in Islip. They do a great job promoting their businesses and events in town. It makes you want to keep coming back.”

Trpicovsky said that Sayville is an up and coming town and he wants to keep that community, family-oriented feeling as the driving force. “We want to keep our town cohesive,” he said. “We want new businesses to come in and prosper. Most of us have managed to maintain prosperity here and there is a minimal amount of vacant space in town. I plan to stay heavily involved in the town in my role as president and I want to make sure everyone is involved.”

Directors beginning their first year of a two-year term include: Jackie Amato, Sharon Boyle, Kay Cameron, John Cox, Don Frislid, Cliff Korade and Caroline Sweezey. Directors completing their second year of a two-year term are: Janet Berger, Richard DeClemente, Christine Gizoni, Jennifer Gross, Jacquee Gustafson, William Hoover, Jay Miller, Pam Raymond, Barbara Whitebread and Pat Zink.

Don Frislid, owner of Academy Tent Rentals and also a longtime Sayville resident, is one of the newer Chamber members. “It’s nice to a part of the Sayville community,” he said. “The Chamber members really look out for one another. Last year, about two months after I joined, it ended up raining for the Easter Bunny event. I was the first person they called for a tent. My work lets me travel all over Long Island but I prefer to stay local and work in the Sayville area whenever I can.”