September 25 , 2007
By Rebekah Binger
Celebrity Dinner will feature well-known comedian and “Coffee Table” Anniversary Journal
The annual Celebrity Dinner will commemorate the RBA’s 40th anniversary. It will take place on Wednesday, November 14th, at the Pearl River Hilton. Cocktail hour is from 6p.m. to 7p.m. with the dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Seats are $200 per person and $2,000 for a ten-person table. Provident Bank will again be a Presenting Sponsor. Other sponsors (to date) are AllBright Electric, The Journal News, UnitedHealthcare and Entergy.
The Rockland Business Association is turning forty, and wants to celebrate with all its members and friends. With anniversary events beginning in September, getting over the hill is bound to be a blast.
This year’s annual Celebrity Dinner will also serve to commemorate the forty-year milestone. “It’s going to be a party,” said RBA Vice President, Administration, Joan Neumann. “It’s the place to be seen, it’s the place to be mingling.”
Adding to the excitement is this year’s guest speaker, comedian and political satirist Rob Riggle. Riggle currently serves as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he was a former cast member on Saturday Night Live, and has appeared on several television shows and in feature films.
Guests at the dinner will receive a specially made “Coffee Table” Anniversary Journal. The Journal takes a look back at the history of Rockland County through photos and biographical information.
Members can sponsor a page in the book, which will be distributed to the dinner’s anticipated 350 to 400 guests. Page sponsorship costs $400 and can include a company logo and 25 to 30 words of either congratulations to the RBA or advertising for the business.
There are also still openings to sponsor the main event. Current sponsors include AllBright Electric, Entergy, The Journal News, Provident Bank, and UnitedHealthcare.
Members can also get involved with the celebration in other ways. The RBA wants to display “Then and Now” photos of its members from their early days in business contrasted with present-day photos. Additionally, members are encouraged to send in business anecdotes for the Journal. Please send all photos and anecdotes to rba@rocklandbusiness.org.
The RBA has undergone many changes and great growth since its inception in 1967. It was first known as the Rockland County Association, and mostly catered to large companies, Neumann said.
“The RBA has grown and matured since we started,” said Neumann, who has worked with the RBA for 10 years. “We have really become a true advocate for business in our area.” A large portion of RBA membership now comes from small business.
The RBA also expects to reach another landmark this year in attaining its 1,000th member. “The RBA is going strong,” Neumann said.
Neumann said she’s most enjoyed seeing people grow in their confidence and in dong business. “I’ve seen our members using us as a business resource and taking advantage of our services to the fullest extent,” she said.
The RBA invites all its members to join in the celebration with their attendance at the Celebrity Dinner as well as at the several other anniversary events listed below:
- Bridging Borders Expo: October 18th at the Marriott Park Ridge.
- General Membership Breakfast: November 8th at the Casa Mia Manor House.
- Business After Hours Dance: November 27th at the Best Western Nyack on Hudson.
- Business After Hours Roast of Al Samuels: December 19th at the Holiday Inn Suffern. Your $100 donation will go to a member charity.
Watch for more details on upcoming events.
For more information, or to register for the 40th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner, visit us online at rocklandbusiness.org or call the RBA at (845) 735-2100. |
