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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.
 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 PBA organized and registered by the time of the association's
January 2000 meeting.
"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 the Pinecrest
securities firm of Young-Stovall.
Rocky Young, president of the firm and 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.
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