Samuels Gives Annual State of the RBA Address, Emphasizes Positive Civic Role of Rockland Businesses
January 30, 2006
by Dylan Skriloff
Businesses in Rockland County provide millions of dollars for non-profits and perform many vital community functions and RBA CEO and President Al Samuels wants people to know, he announced at his annual state of the RBA address.
Samuels said that in 2006 the RBA would construct a marketing campaign designed to let people know how much the business community contributes to the community as a whole. He noted that the business community received a very rude reception from some legislators during the recent Living Wage hearings, which he called the most contentious issue in his 40 years in Rockland and 12 years with the RBA.
"We were received with disdain and rudeness from certain members of the legislature. We were castigated for saying ‘this doesn't work,’" he said. Samuels thanked County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef for being the County official who did the most to advance the interests of business in Rockland, in 2005.
RBA membership has doubled and total assets more than quadrupled since Samuels took over the association four years ago, reported Board Chair Howard Hellman as he introduced Samuels to the crowd of over 150 members gathered for his annual address at the Holiday Inn in Suffern.
Samuels said he loved his job, "I've been a cop, a cowboy, all sorts of things that you want to do when you are a boy growing up, but there is nothing else I’d rather be doing at this point in my life, than this," Samuels said. He credited the excellent people he worked with, both on the RBA staff and board, and in the business community, as making his position so rewarding.
Samuels had recently visited Albany where he spoke with members of Chambers of Commerce from other counties, and they all reported problems that are not occurring in Rockland, such as declining membership and income.
"Maybe it’s our size, being one of the smallest counties in the state, or maybe we are as incestuous as people say we are," Samuels quipped, bringing a round of laughter from the crowd. "It’s true, there is access here. Anyone in Rockland is truly only a phone call away."
Samuels also cited the association’s integrity as being part of its appeal. He recalled that two major corporations from outside of Rockland, the New Jersey Nets and CBS News Radio, asked to gain membership without having to pay regular member dues. Samuels said this was unfair to the general membership and rejected their applications.
He emphasized that all positions taken by the RBA are done so only after careful consideration, discussion and on occasion, debate. "We don’t leave social conscience at the door," he said, noting that some members approached him with contrary words about the association’s stance on open space.
"We don’t have an open space policy. We have a policy of balanced growth," he said. "What we don’t want are the few parcels of commercially zoned property sacrificed," he said. He thanked Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner for his efforts to include commercial development in the revitalization plans of the Rockland Psychiatric Center and for the prospects for the Mercedes property.
Another issue Samuels mentioned was the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge. He said he was thankful that the RBA’s voice could be represented in the debate and said he expected there would be a commuter rail line connecting Rockland to Manhattan when the project was complete.
"This project could determine the economic future of the County for the next 100 years," he said.
Samuels thanked Vice Presidents Joan Neumann and Roger Scheiber for their continued efforts. He credited Scheiber with not only doubling the association’s membership but helping advance the cause of small business development by chairing the Hospitality and Tourism Alliance and the Home Improvement Alliance.
Thanks to the efforts of the Hospitality and Tourism Alliance there will be a very exciting weekend coming up this year with a pro-am golf tournament, a hockey tournament and a cultural arts festival, with all the proceeds going to area non-profits, Samuels announced. Linda Fitzpatrick, Chair of the RBA’s Woman’s Forum earned Samuel’s praise for her efforts in building what Samuels called, "the best forum of its kind in the tri-state area."
