SHARE

Just Golden: RBA Will Mark 50th Anniversary In Style

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- Forget about a stuffy dinner with lots of speeches that put everyone's heads in their soup.

Al Samuels, President/CEO of Rockland Business Association.

Al Samuels, President/CEO of Rockland Business Association.

Photo Credit: File photo

Instead, the Rockland Business Association (RBA) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of service, leadership and tremendous accomplishments for the people and businesses of Rockland by throwing a huge party in true circus fashion.

The big day takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Airmont (at Exit 14B), with street performers for attendees enjoyment along with a smorgasbord of great food and drink.

Some of the fun will feature a professional troupe of entertainers to include clowns, a stilt walker, jugglers, magicians, mimes and a jazz quartet.

For those who don't know the importance of the organization and the significant accomplishments they have made in Rockland County, here's a brief primer:

The RBA was founded August 31, 1967, by a group of 40 local business leaders concerned with assisting the county in its growth, both as a business community and in its cultural and social programs.

From initiating the County Executive form of government to the creation of the Industrial Development Agency to the Exit 14B Interchange on the Thruway and the White Papers of 2012 and 2016, the RBA has provided the vision for much of the positive progress made in the county.

The organization developed the strategy that led to the creation of Rockland’s Empire Zone Task Force and brought the issue of broadband infrastructure to the public forum which then led to the creation of then-County Executive Scott Vanderhoef’s Technology Leadership Council. 

Most recently, the RBA was instrumental in gaining favorable considerations for the business community relative to the imposition of the state’s new minimum wage laws and a leading advocate for the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

"I have been involved with the RBA for 26 years," noted President/CEO Al Samuels, "And my pride in the organization has grown each year. We are Rockland's chamber of commerce, with a myriad of networking and educational programs and the best B-to-B target marketing opportunities in the county.

Rockland is the smallest land-mass county in the state (outside of the five boroughs of New York City) but our reach extends to Albany and Washington. We are recognized as one of the state's leading public policy, advocacy, and economic development organizations. We know we're one of the most regional organizations, with 24 percent of our membership coming from outside Rockland. And, our 50-year record of accomplishment and service to the community is without equal."

For information regarding the 50th Anniversary, visit the organization's website at rocklandbusiness.org.

For real-time Rockland news updates in your Facebook feed, be sure to "Like" Daily Voice's Rockland County Forum page on Facebook by clicking here.

Follow Daily Voice on Twitter, @DVRockland, by clicking here.

to follow Daily Voice Clarkstown and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE