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Save every 3rd Wednesday of the month to come share a laugh, tell a great story, shake a new hand and connect with Leadership!
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| Thank You |
The Leadership Huntington Foundation wishes to thank the League of Leaders for their Generous Support!             Lambrides, Lamos, Taylor CPA, LLPLeadership Huntington Class of 2008
The Arthur & Olive Christensen Memorial Fund
Community StewardsArthur Goldstein, Esq. Sara Bluestone Carol Rubin Covanta George dos Santos Libby Hubbard Prospect Financial Svcs LLC Matthew Spirn & the Northport Tasting Room |
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| The Leading Edge November 2011 |
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"What chance gathers she easily scatters. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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A Brief Appeal: Please Support Leadership
If you value Leadership Huntington and this Leading Edge newsletter; if you want to help connect, support and inform this network of good people about how its members are working to address our community's challenges; if you want to be a primary force in continuing to provide conscientious citizens a great start in understanding and engaging with the interconnected elements of our community; if you want to see this network achieve its potential -- Please. Renew your membership or make a donation today. Whatever you can give is a greatly appreciated investment in our community. Thanks! |
Profile in Leadership: Virginia Russell, Class of '05
Virginia Russell's full bio is available on her VIP Basket Store Website. A mother of five, she is deeply active locally and in the world community. Professionally, she is an entrepreneur making "The Best Gift Baskets in the World" for prominent businesses, not for profits and individuals throughout the tri-state area.
Virginia serves as President of Enterprising and Professional Women - Long Island, a local chapter of The International Federation of Business & Professional Women and as Secretary on the NYS Board of Directors. She represents North America and the non spanish speaking Caribbean on the International Task Force for The Women's Empowerment Principals. Along with five other women from such places as China, Australia and the Netherlands the task force reports directly to The United Nations and The UN Global Compact. Ms. Russell has also served as chair of The BPW International 80th Anniversary Gala Committee. This event brought together women from our ninety four member countries at a grand gala culminating with The Conference on the Status of Women held at the United Nations.
Locally, Ms. Russell is Vice Chair of The Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and chairs The Women in Business Committee.In 2008 Virginia became Chair of The Suffolk County Minority Business Development Council under the Office of Minority Affairs for Suffolk County. She is Past Chair of The Suffolk County Women's Business Enterprise Coalition. She has also held membership in The National Coalition of 100 Black Women- Suffolk County Chapter and The Long Island Works Coalition. Virginia was selected by Long Island Business News in both 2007 and 2009 as one of its Top 50 Most Influential Women and has also been honored by The National Association of Women Business Owners Long Island Chapter as A Businesswoman of Distinction for 2011 .
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Just in Time for the Holidays: VIP Basket Store Offers Great Gifts to Benefit Leadership!!
Need a quick, tasteful gift that reflects your values? Virginia Russell, Class of 2005 is the dynamic and conscientious entrepreneur of VIP Basket Store. Her company takes pride in making "The Best Gift Baskets in the World." We are delighted to announce that she has crafted beautiful baskets specifically to benefit Leadership Huntington. The selection includes:
Tea Lovers, $35: Features Ajiri Tea (Swahili for "to employ") whose mission is to create employment and educational opportunities for the people of western Kenya. By supporting farmers, employing women and paying school fees for orphans, they look to make a difference in Kenya. The basket also contains Savannah Bee Company Peace Honey, made in partnership with Heifer International. Softly sweet with earthy notes, this lush Honduran rain forest honey is a delicious dip or unexpected accent in an exotic fruit salad. KSA Kosher Certified. Contents: Ajiri Black Kenyan Tea, Savannah Bee Peace Honey, Mudpie Extra Large Ceramic Mug, Lady Walton All Natural Butter Wafers.
Long Island Chocolate Lovers Basket, $55: Featuring local Long Island entrepreneur Gia Michaels Gourmet Garbage and Huntington's own, Chipped 'n Dipped chocolate bars. Quality ingredients and the loving care stand behind every hand-made product. Contents: Gia Michaels Gourmet Garbage, 2 flavors Chipped & Dipped chocolate bars, Sipping chocolate, Tortuga Rum Cake (Chocolate), Jenna Marie chocolate cookies, Chocolate Devotion CD.
Coffee Lovers Basket, $50: Featuring organic/fair trade coffee and sugar from Dean's Beans whose comprehensive sustainability strategy states "environmental and social initiatives are the fabric and lifeblood of our company - "...when we're done asking the questions, we act." Contents: All natural granola, Dean's Beans Fair Trade/Organic flavored coffee, Dean's Beans Sweet Justice organic sugar, Stonewall Kitchen all natural Scones.
The brochure, complete with images of the baskets will be up on both the VIP Basket Store her and the Leadership Huntington websites soon, but if you just can't wait go ahead and call VIP at 516-835-7176. They're happy to answer any questions, offer a "triple guarantee" of satisfaction and, if it's a local order, they'll hand deliver! Thanks, Virginia!
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THIS SATURDAY!: Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter Peace March
The following is an adapted message that Ed Perez, LH Class of 2003 has asked us to share:
Dear Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter;
Our organization Friends of Huntington Station Latin Quarter was created to address quality of life concerns in Huntington affecting all its residents. We have come a long way in addressing and correcting how our community is viewed. However we must work harder everyday to keep that image positive and free from negative rhetoric. Unfortunately events like to most recent shooting of three young men in Huntington Staiton makes our work that much harder. These acts of violence must STOP and IT'S UP TO US to address this kind of violent activity and produce a positive result that will uplift our community. I reached out to the following community leaders and discussed organizing a Peace March that will bring attention to the shootings and hopefully stem the vilolence; Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone County Executive-elect Steve Bellone SCPD 2nd Precinct Inspector Edward Brady NAACP President Daryl Dodson St. Hugh's Church Father Mike St. Hugh's Church Community Liaison Marta Smith
They are working with me in reaching out to other community leaders.
[PLEASE CHECK THE LEADERSHIP HUNTINGTON FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE WE WILL POST ANY UPDATES WE HEAR -- The March is expected to happen this Saturday, 12/3, 9AM-12PM] The plan is to begin the march at the location of the shooting, East 9th Street across from St. Hugh's, continue to HSLQ headquarters to pick up a second group, and continue to designated locations along the way to pick up other groups that will join us in our peace march to Manor Field where we will hold prayers and hear speeches that will address peace and condemn violence. Time is of the essence so please reach out to friends and family and join us. Give my information to other community organizations. If you have questions of suggestions please call me at 631.326.7229 PEACE; Ed Perez President Friends of HSLQ |
Moonjumpers -- "Warm for the Winter Coat Drive"
Did you come out for the first one? It was a rockin' good time with some GREAT people -- and they raised $3500 for PROJECT T.O.Y.! Many have inquired about this great new organization. Don't miss their next event!:
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, 8PM Start
Black & Blue Seafoor Chophouse in Huntington
LIVE MUSIC WITH PETER MAZZEO & THE HIT SQUAD
At that time, they will be accepting gently used coats for:
- The Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- The Family Service League
- The Refuge Food Pantry
- The Huntington Outreach Program
The Moonjumpers Charitable Foundation includes Robert Benson and Vita Scaturro (both Class of 2012), Larry Kushnick (Class of 1997) and seven other local notables, including their President, Peter Mazzeo of Peter Mazzeo and the Hit Squad. The idea is to support initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for children, families, veterans of war, organizations and other foundations through financial assistance and the purchase of products or equipment to aid in creating a better quality of life for those in need. We look forward to sharing more about this distinctly entertaining effort to do much good!
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As the 2% Tax Cap Looms Over the Complex Challenges Driving Taxes and Threatening Public Education, Leadership Seeks to Act as a Bridge From Regional Thinking to Local Solutions
Check out Leadership's Website for resources and to learn about Leadership's partnership with the LI Regional Planning Council to help bring their regional thinking on cost and quality of public education down to the local level.
The challenges are intensely complex. Fortunately, there was significant regional thinking going on long before the 2% tax cap forced the issue. The LIRPC, in crafting its LI2035 Sustainable Strategies plan, assembled a working group that included the Nassau Suffolk School Board Association, Nassau School Superintendents Association, Suffolk School Superintendents Association, Nassau BOCES, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES, NYSUT (New York State United Teachers), members of the Regional Planning Council and its Leadership Advisory Cabinet. Together, this Education Working Group has yielded a 12-point Plan of Action.
You read that right -- School Board and Superintendents, Union Leaders, BOCES and other Local Stakeholders have forged a consensus-based proposal to address both crippling taxes AND student achievement. They seek to disseminate it locally as a framework for people looking strategize and prioritize implementation. As an independant forum Leadership seeks primarily to educate and inspire people to connect so they may engage in informed, concerted action.
We've had a few enlightening roundtables with local education leaders and members of the working group, and look forward to doing more. Many of the challenges are legislative, including unfunded mandates and state funding formulas. Some proposed solutions further recognize that schools do not operate in a void -- whether teachers can afford to live here makes a difference.
Meanwhile, around the Town, school districts are planning their own initiatives. The Long Islander's Danny Schrafel wrote an informative article about what local school districts are doing as the begin to grapple with the limitations put in place by NYS's passage of a 2% cap on school budget increases. We attended one highly informative event describing some state mandates affecting the cost of education at Elwood Middle School. It was put on by a local organization called Students on Top made up of parents trying to get a handle on the issue. See...many schools need to exceed the cap just to maintain current services. Without strong action to address things like unfunded mandates and healthcare costs, most of the things Long Islanders have perennially come out to vote in favor of will be off the table before the budget is even drafted. Being as the quality of education is one of the reasons a company or individual might invest in Long Island -- and being as there are also many schools who already struggle to provide a good education -- this is a serious challenge.
There will be more on this issue soon, and we look forward to learning what you're doing to help your schools deal with this pressing, critical issue. Give us a call at 631-470-3990 or email info@leadershiphuntington.org to talk about it!
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LWV of Huntington Wants You Informed When you Vote for Fire Commissioner!
The LWV of Huntington tries to keep the voters in Huntington informed. They want us all to be educated voters, and if we live in the Huntington Manor Fire District, they want us to participate in:
The Huntington Manor Fire District Public Election
When: Dec.13th Where: Fire District Headquarters, 1650 New York Avenue, Huntington Station Voters will choose one fire commissioner for their Board of Fire Commissioners. The board consists of five fire commissioners, with each serving a five year term. Three candidates, Bedel Saget, Ron Schankin, Raymond Spatafora have provided information about themselves to the LWV. Their bios will soon be available on the League's Website. Go to "The Latest "Voter" and click on the Dec 2011-Jan 2012 issue. Thanks! |
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News from the Flagship - The Best. Class. Ever.
A Report by Program Director Trudy Fitzsimmons
It has been an honor to host the Class of 2012 on their journey through the Town of Huntington. This is a journey that features many community mentors -- some of whom they meet, others who play critical roles behind the scenes. A strong majority of these are now Leadership Graduates themselves. You can find many thanks and links on our Facebook Page. Here though, let us share a little detail of where they've been:
The Opening Retreat was held at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Lloyd Neck. Our Master Faciliator and Team Builder, Craig Rider, was fabulous. We can never thank Craig enough for magic he has brought to our program these many years.
The Class then took the ever memorable History Tour with Rex Metcalf, starting at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial with Town Historian Robert Hughes. They toured the cemetery and visited the home in which Rex and his family are the fourth generation of residents. JoAnn Raia opened the Town Hall Archives to us. The Old First Church tour with Rex then revealed even more about Huntington's history. Lunch was provided by Billy Hoest of Canterbury Ales.
Next, the Class went to St. Hughes for "Not for Profit Day." There representatives from Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, LI Cares, Project Excel, Starflower Experience and the Visiting Nurse Service vied for a ficticious sum of money that the Class had to come to a reasoned consensus on how to distribute. Kura Barn donated a delightful dinner. Thank you, Sara Bluestone, for arranging that!
At the Skills Workshop, Our George dos Santos, a psychologist retired from private practice who has served as an adjunct professor at Adelphi and is a graduate of the Leadership Class of 1995, presented a series of exercises in Neurolinguistics, covering basic psychological principals such as building rapport, state of excellence, achieving a well-formed outcome and "chunking" large projects so one neither gets overwhelmed by the big goal nor lost in the details. National Grid was our host, providing a very informative presentation and tour, as well as breakfast and lunch. We are ever thankful for their generosity.
Emergency Preparedness was our next workshop given at the Centerport Firehouse. It started with a presentation from the National Grid Gas Division on gas line safety. We then had a presentation of the Suffolk County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), given by Tom Ronayne, on the mission and usefulness of this volunteer program. Dinner was provided by
Nicky's of Centerport -- Thank you Bob Benson (Class of 2012) for arranging that!
The next workshop was Challenges in the Community with Peggy Boyd from Family Service League (Class of 1998) and Debbie Rimler at Tri CYA who provided an over view of local challenges. They then moved on to Pederson-Krag were MJ Fitzsgerald shared more. The Class then engaged in deeply meaningful discussion.
Our Business and Government Workshop began at BAE Systems, a local defense contractor. A tour and presentation were given featuring both an overview of work that they can share (most is classified), as well as their philanthropy and the very simple, yet effective ways they have significantly reduced their energy consumption. We then moved to the V.F.W. Post 1469 on Pulaski Road. A graduate had planned to present on what it takes to forge a government budget, but work unexpectedly demanded his presense elsewhere. To our rescue came Legislator Jon Cooper, who engaged in a frank 16-on-one conversation with the Class. One might think the conversation was politically biased, but our very informed, diverse class made sure all sides were well heard!
Our most recent class was the Smart Growth Summit, where Vision Long Island graciously donated 20 tickets so we could attend that very full day of movers and shakers seeking to improve the quality of development on Long Island. It was a true leadership experience on many levels, and we look forward to hearing the Class report on their impressions when we visit Covanta and the Sewage Treatment Plant in December
And so the journey continues...We can't ever fully express how grateful we are for the many hands that come together to present our Flagship Program -- or how proud we are to count these incredibly engaged people among our network. We hope in this newsletter and elsewhere to promote them, and to be available together with our over 250 graduates to support them. Surely, those who are attracted to this type of program tend to be the type who will take responsibility and strive for success all on their own. We hope, however, that their kind words are true and that our education program has had some hand in their evolution as extraordinary citizens. It's certainly a network we are proud to be a part of.
We look forward to more updates, and hope to see you all at our Gala on April 12th where we will debut this class and honor their Graduation at the Harbor Club. It's a wonderful place to reunite with Leadership and friends.
We love to hear from you. Please reach out, call us at 631-470-3990, email info@leadershiphuntington.org, come to our socials, and let us know what's new, what you're involved in, what's important, what's possible. Our mission is centered on supporting the good work of ordinary people who act as extraordinary citizens and we want to do our best to make membership a valued investment. you. Thanks. |
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As You Plan Your Holiday Festivities...
We hope you shop local, supporting our beautiful downtown communities, and please consider those who catered to Leadership this year. We can vouch for their deliciously good service and their commitment to our community. Please give them your support -- and don't forget to tell them 'Thanks!' on behalf of Leadership!
Almarco Italian Grill · 13 Wall St, Huntington · 631-935-1690, Take Out: 631-271-3132
Canterbury Ales · The English Style Pub is Celebrating 33 Years! · 314 NY Ave, Huntington · (631) 549-4404
Coliseum Caterers · All American Picnic & BBQ · 1150 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale · Phone: 516-483-4900 The Harbor Club · Full Service Event/Catering Hall · 95 New York Ave., Huntington · 631-271-5600
Kura Barn · Japanese Restaurant · 479 New York Ave., Huntington · 631-673-0060
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We hope in this newsletter to continually thank and support the multitude of people who fuel Leadership Huntington and give this organization reason, purpose, and deep satisfaction. There's no way to ever do it all at once, but we hope you know that every bit of financial support, guidance and volunteer effort is deeply appreciated and has impact beyond what any of us can know.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Leading Edge. We love to hear your feedback and to find out more about what our grads are up to. Please send your comments and submissions to info@leadershiphuntington.org
Sponsorship opportunities are available
Sincerely,
Katheryn Laible, Newsletter Editor
Leadership Huntington Foundation
Leadership Huntington is an independant 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that has been developing, connecting and enaging community leaders in the Town of Huntington since 1995. To learn more, visit www.leadershiphuntington.org or contact us at: 164 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743 (T) 631.470.3990
(F) 631.425.2870
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