The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores held their annual Installation Dinner on Saturday night at the Woodbury Country Club.

A night of festivities was enhanced by the presentation of awards to several devoted community members. Fran Licausi of the Community Wellness Council was honored as Chamber Member of the Year.

Business owner Ginny McClean of Have Your Heard? was awarded Board Member of the Year. She was also chairperson of the event.

"To be acknowledged by your peers is very special recognition," McClean said. "The groups I have worked with on the chamber board for the past nine years have been a group of the most dedicated people you would ever come across and I have the utmost respect for each of them. And I thank them from the bottom of my heart."

Michelle Gagnon of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District was awarded Community Person of the Year.

"It has been a pleasure and honor to work with such a group of wonderful, caring, and dedicated people," Gagnon said. "I am very grateful and touched by this recognition and I hope I can continue my volunteer work for many years to come. Bellmore is truly a great place to live, work and shop."

The 2010 board of directors was also installed.

2010 Chamber Board of Directors

 2010 Executive Board 

• President:  Ron P. Mare
• Vice President:  Bob Vecchi
•  Treasurer:  Karen Meyerowitz
•  Recording Secretary:  Sheryl Perry
•  Immediate Past Presidents:  Sandra G. Johnson  and Joseph Verdi

Directors:  Greg Conneely, Marge Elias, Robert Fein, Debby Izzo, Suzanne Johnson, Gene Judd, Virginia McClean, Brian McMillan, Mark Meyerowitz, Diane Severino, Monica Tarantino and William Wilgus.

Membership Representative: Martha Verdi

Executive Director/Festival Coordinator: Joni Caputo

Chamber members stepping down this year:  Richard Wilmerton and Thomas Valenti