What can we do to help you and your business succeed in 2012?

Your membership in the Melville Chamber of Commerce comes with a veritable treasure chest filled with tools designed to add to your bottom line, increase sales and eliminate troublesome roadblocks standing in the way of your progress. These tools have been and are continually being created especially for you based on what you tell us about your needs.

With the active participation of hundreds of Long Island businesses of all categories and sizes the Chamber has become fully energized presenting standing room only events and programs that provide quite a bit more than traditional networking opportunities. We have tackled tough problems such as traffic congestion, public transportation and government red tape. In the coming months we plan to do even more in these areas as we stand up for the need for complete transparency from the agencies and officials who regulate our lives and businesses.

From what we hear from our members we feel we do keep a decent pulse on what ails our community. Our ongoing efforts to improve communication among our members and those we have elected to serve locally, regionally and nationally will continue to make life on Long Island better for all of us.

It is now time to do even more. In the coming months with your input and help we can take up the slack that we naively expected some of the other leaders and organizations on Long Island to handle. This past year, right under the eyes of our elected officials and business development organizations, a number of important companies from our community left Long Island with their business, jobs and community support. We wonder if those in charge of promoting business on Long Island are more often interested in promoting themselves or making sure their own high salaries are covered than in doing what is best for the entire community.

As a group of non-profit volunteers your Chamber is solely focused on your needs. In the future we plan to accept more responsibility on behalf of our members. We will hold those we expect to support us to the fire. When we feel a leader lets us down we will share our thoughts with you and work diligently to hold those in charge accountable.

To do our job well we need your help. Please share your own thoughts and take action with us. We are listening. Tell us about your concerns. You may need assistance finding your way through the world of town or county permits. Maybe you are looking for a reliable local vendor or college intern. Or it could be a much broader area that concerns you, something like the debilitating burdens health care insurance has placed on doing business. Just tell us what stands in the way of your success and we will take up the charge and help in any way we can.

The Melville Chamber of Commerce may not be Long Island's largest business organization but we do get things done. Over the past several years we have grown in numbers, effectiveness and respect. We have big plans for the future and you are included.

So call on us today. Dial 631-777-6260 or feel free to email me directly at mdeluise@aol.com.