The move to form the Pinecrest Business Association gained steam as almost 100 area business owners and representatives recently gathered at a luncheon meeting to chart a course for the fledgling organization.

Rocky Young of Turnberry Bank, Helen Stovall of Young-Stovall seen with Vice-Mayor Leslie Bowe.

Steering committee chairman Brett Panter, a Pinecrest attorney with Panter and Panter, told the gathering at O’Casey’s Restaurant that he hoped to have the organization fully operational by the time of the association’s January 2000 meeting.  

Clauida Lewis, Patricia Delinois of Premiere Realty International and Stephen Armaly of Commercial Bank of Florida.

“Our hope is that we will organize, set up the bylaws and be official very soon, possibly by next month or within six weeks,” Panter said.

Panter also announced the members of the PBA steering committee, which will draft bylaws and develop a mission statement. In addition to Panter committee officers are Don Harris, vice chairman; Marvin Stein, bylaws chairman, and Harris and Gail Gudirnick, secretary. Other committee members include Jeff Anson, Jeanne Corbett, Joseph Glick, Grant Miller, Carlos Pantada, Toby Rose, Nancy Ware and Brad Yanda.

The sponsor of the November meeting was Rocky Young of Turnberry Bank.

Rocky Young, chairman of Turnberry Bank, told the group that his bank wanted to make “a real commitment” to the Pinecrest community.

“We want to become involved with the community and we want to get to know you both as friends and customers of the bank,” he said.

Pinecrest Village Councilman Leslie Bowe was the guest speaker at the meeting. He urged business people to contact Village officials with any problems they might have, saying officials are always available and ready to listen to them.

“No problem is too small to take the time to listen to,” he said. “I take the time seven days a week, night and day.”

Also in attendance was Pinecrest Police Commander Mike Liotti, who announced that the department again this year would coordinate the community’s holiday season toy drive for underprivileged children.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a bowl was passed and more than $150 was collected from the business people to buy toys for the toy drive.

A meeting of the steering committee was held the following day and, among other things, it was determined that there would be two levels of membership in the PBA  — a full membership for business owners and a non-voting associate’s membership for others.

Chairman Panter said the steering committee also developed a mission statement, which said the PBA would strive to develop a better a business environment, do civic service, be involved politically and work to make Pinecrest a better place to live. He said there was agreement among committee members that there should be annual membership dues, but no consensus on the amount.

“All in all, it was an excellent meeting,” Panter said. “We made good progress and set down an agenda to put together the bylaws.”

For more information on the Pinecrest Business Association, call 305-669-7355, ext. 216.