C H A M B E R L I N E
Newsletter
October 2000
Volume 3 Issue 5
Editor: Nancy Romagna
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Contents |
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OUTGOING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Phil Jensen
As I reflect on the year 2000 and the things that happened, and those that did not, I can’t help but remember Y2K, Air Train and the latest fuel crisis. Despite the obstacles and challenges of the year, the JFK Chamber of Commerce achieved its objectives and goals for the year that included the establishment of a scholarship foundation at the College of Aeronautics, involvement in the passage of the PNTR with China and the continued relationships with KAAMCO, JFK Rotary and other JFK Airport Community based organizations. The Chamber organization continues to go forward with a diversified Board of Directors, representing a cross section of the various airlines, service companies and support industries that comprise the more than 400 members of the JFK Airport Chamber of Commerce.
I would like to express my personal appreciation to the Board of Directors and Immediate Past President Rudy Auslander, JFK Airport Manager Chuck Seliga, Finance Committee Member Joe Piacentini and Executive Administrator Linda Wright for their participation and involvement throughout the year of Chamber activities and events. I look forward to my future involvement as the “Immediate Past President and Director” and to serving our Year 2001 President, Mr. Don Wright.
Lastly, thank you for the experience and privilege of serving as the year 2000 JFK Chamber of Commerce President and the opportunity to serve the JFK Airport Community.
INCOMING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Don Wright
I consider it honor to have been elected as president of the JFK Chamber of Commerce to be effective October 1, 2000. I intend to share in the efforts of my predecessors and you the members to try to achieve your worthy goals. During the past few years I have seen the Chamber evolve into very viable organization within our JFK Airport Community. Many exciting things are happening at JFK. Construction of our newest passenger terminal, Terminal 4 is nearing completion. Many of our existing passenger terminals are or will be undergoing renovation. The completion of Air Train is growing near. The Air Cargo Industry is growing with completion of new cargo facilities and others that are in the process of being built.
As you can see the opportunities for doing business at JFK continues to grow. Being an active member of the JFK Chamber of Commerce will keep you abreast of these activities. The Chamber offers you the opportunity to find new business and to continue to foster continued relationships with your existing business within the airport community. It also allows for you to express your views concerning the airport.
I will be organizing a number of exciting events for the coming year that affords networking with all our members. Your participation in these events also continues to help us in sponsoring our education fund that endows Scholarships with the College of Aeronautics and other worthwhile community programs.
Finally, I would like you to play an important role in our Chamber by volunteering to serve on one of the many committees listed in this newsletter.
As you might know, the Chamber only has a part time executive director. Members who volunteer time and resources to work on these committees do all the activities.
In closing, I ask that if you already are a member, please renew your membership by returning the enclosed membership application with your remittance. If you are not presently a member, I welcome you to join and become part of our exciting organization for 2001.
The JFK Chamber of Commerce will be kicking off its 2001 Membership Drive. Please check your mail for your application. As an added incentive for current members you will receive a free page of advertising on our website for signing up a new member. For further information you may contact Bob Arens at 718-656-6555 or click here to get the application form.
The JFK Chamber of Commerce held its 3rd Annual Ladies Golf Outing on August 22. The sold out event began with brunch and a $5000 putting contest. Unfortunately no one was able to win the prize generously sponsored by the Kennedy Medical Center. Perfect weather and well stocked "bar boys" helped to make the day a huge success. Upon completion of the golf day the Lido Beach Golf Course presented the players and guests with a wonderful buffet dinner and door prizes were given out. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the day a great one.
AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL ANNEX READY FOR FLIGHT AT JFK
By Paul Casella, Annex & Internship Coordinator
Aviation High School, a public high school in New York City, in collaboration with The Port Authority of NY&NJ, the JFK International Airport Chamber of Commerce, the Queens Borough President’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Eastern District Office, have come together to complete an advanced maintenance technology annex at JFK Airport. This project has taken three years and 2.3 million dollars to complete.
The unique project was designed to meet the increasing demand for trained licensed aviation technicians, capable of working on today’s complex aircraft.
The annex will serve as the centerpiece of several aviation maintenance internship programs. At present Delta, JetBlue and United Airlines working in conjunction with Aviation High School’s administration and staff are developing internship strategies, which will take flight on February 2001. This program will give students the opportunity to make connections between theory and practice, under the watchful eye of both school staff and industry practitioners. They will participate in work-based learning activities and attend relevant classes designed to coincide with individual work experiences. The interns will observe first hand the relationships between what is studied in class and its application in the work environment.
On October 24, 2000, the official opening celebration will take place at the new facility, Building 141 at JFK Airport at 10:00 a.m. The celebration will bring together all the people, companies and organizations that have worked to have this truly unique educational initiative completed.
This project brings to life the motto of the Aviation High School Annex facility:
“School, Community and Industry working together to build the future.”
The first phase of a seven year 1.2 billion dollar plan to provide three airlines with new terminals has been authorized by the Port Authority of NY&NJ. This initial phase of the project – for United Airlines, JetBlue and TWA – will cost $810 million dollars and take to 2004 to complete. The Port Authority will fund about 240 million dollars with the rest of the cost divided among the airlines.
ANNUAL TABLE TOP NETWORKING SHOW
Once again, the JFK International Chamber of Commerce is embarking on bringing together the largest Networking Table Top event for the JFK Airport Community for 2000. This year's event will be held on Thursday, November 2 at the Holiday Inn - JFK. A networking event such as this one will bring together the vendors and customers from all areas of the JFK Airport Community. Take advantage of a rare opportunity and call for a table or to be a sponsor.
Tables for members will be $75.00 without electric and $100.00 with electric. For non members the cost will be $100.00 for a table without electric and $125.00 with electrical hook up. For further information, please call Millie Amsterdam at MAF Mechanical Services 516-432-3333 or Bruce Abbate at Beck Office Furniture 516-747-6755 ext 35, or you can fax the Chamber of Commerce office 718-656-8868.
If you already have your reservation form, please send it to the Chamber of Commerce office along with your check payable to the JFK Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, Inc.
We ask for the participation of the airlines in this Networking Extravaganza. The airline industry is a major procurer of products and services in the JFK Business Community. We cordially invite you to attend this fabulous tabletop show. The admission is FREE and Hors D’oeuvres will be served. As all events of this nature the SUCCESS of it are based on, parties need each other coming together. Even though your company may be on contract out of state, you will find that the products and services you need can be secured faster and easier and still through your home office. So COME ON DOWN AND TRY IT! YOU WILL LIKE IT!
The JFK Chamber of Commerce would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Phil Jensen, Evergreen International, for his service to the Chamber of Commerce as President for the year 1999-2000. Over Phil’s term, the Chamber has become more well known and established a new scholarship program involving the College of Aeronautics.
We would also like the take this time to welcome Mr. Don Wright, ANA Airlines, into the President's seat. Don as been an active member of the JFK Airport Community since his arrival here in 1985 as Director of Operations for TWA's International hub. We all look forward to Don's years as President and wish him Good Luck.
JFK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
Monday October 2 was a beautiful sunny day at the Inwood Country Club as the sold out Golf event teed off. The day began with a buffet breakfast at the country club followed by 18 holes of golf. The golfers vied for prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin and everyone hoped to win the car by getting a hole in one. Congratulations to all of those who did win. Cocktails and dinner brought the evening to a close. Thank you again to Tom Carmody, Pem Electric, for his hard work, without Tom the golf outing would never be such a huge success.
JFK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON
There was a hint of Irish in the air at the Holiday Inn-JFK on October 5 at the JFK Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Admiral Cathal Irish Flynn of the FAA was the guest speaker. The Admiral explained that with JFK Airport being a focus airport and a global airport it is a target for terrorism. After giving us a history of how anti terrorist measures have evolved over the past few decades Don Wright presented The Admiral with a plaque.
In addition, at the luncheon Phil Jensen introduced Don Wright as the new President of the JFK Chamber of Commerce. Phil also presented Dr. John Fitzgerald of the College of Aeronautics with a $15,000 check to the College to establish the Scholarship Fund.
It was a beautiful day in September when the bus started off from the Holiday Inn-JFK for the east end of Long Island and the Wineries. The first stop was Palmer Vineyards where everyone went on a hayride through the vineyards and then a tour of the wine making process. After the tour, they served a sampling of the Palmer wines that are served in the First Class cabins of many airlines. From there, the bus went to Bedell Vineyards where we were treated to a special wine tasting on the lawn under an old Oak tree.
Lunch at Hellenick Restaurant on the LI Sound in Greenport was next on the schedule. Lunch was served on a lovely patio and the food was delicious.
After lunch, the next stop was Osprey-Dominion Vineyards where a live band greeted us and invited us to a wine and cheese sampling on their patio, a perfect end to the perfect day.
The JFK Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Joseph Bertuccio "The Wine Specialist" for coming on the bus with us and educating us in the finer points of wine tasting. Mr. Bertuccio is a wine specialist who has been involved in all aspects of the wine industry including being commissioned by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to select the wines for the 50th Anniversary of the mission of the Russian Federation on Long Island. Mr. Bertuccio has also appeared on the Food Network with Bobby Flay and will soon be hosting his own national cable TV show "The Wine Show".
The JFK Chamber of Commerce extends their sincere thanks to Dieter Bergt and Linda Wright for all of their hard work setting up this event.
JOSEPH BERTUCCIO -- THE WINE SPECIALIST
For the past three decades Joseph Bertuccio (The Wine Specialist) has been involved in all phases of the wine industry from planting of wine stocks to managing distribution in the metro area for a major to consulting for the Sate Department on dinner wine for the president of the United Sates.
As a true Crusader of Wines, Joseph always enjoys introducing people to the world of wines by teaching them how taste, read a wine label, select quality and pair it with food. Recently, The Wine Specialist was commissioned by Sergey Lavaroff, Permanent Ambassador of The Russian Federation, to select the wines for the 50th Anniversary of Killingworth, the official mission to the Russian Federation on Long Island. Guests included members of the United Nations, Security Council, Ambassadors to the United Nations, and now Secretary of State, Madeline Albright.
Joseph has also consulted for Harvard University-International Affairs Department for wine etiquette and wine selection for prestigious dinners and seminars. As a wine columnist and host/producer of the first television show on wine, The Wine Specialist, Joseph has had many encounters with professionals in the industry. In his travels he has also met may corporate professionals. It is to answer their many questions that he has written The Wine Wise Executive, A Professionals Primer on the Wide World of Wine.
Joseph has currently quested on The Food Network’s “Hot Off the Grill” with Bobby Flay. He is scheduled for continuing appearances on several national talk shoes and will be hosting his own show, "The Wine Show” on national cable TV.
KOREAN AIR CARGO OPENS NEW TERMINAL
By William Armbruster, Journal of Commerce
Korean Air Cargo opened a $102 million terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday, October 10, 2000. The 20-acre complex will double Korean Air's capacity at JFK to more than 200,000 tons annually. Besides serving Korean Air, the world's largest trans-Pacific cargo carrier, the terminal will house cargo operations at JFK for Air France and Aeromexpress, two of its partners in the new SkyTeam Alliance. Delta, the fourth member of the alliance, will keep its own terminal at JFK.
Aeromexpress will move in on March 1, followed by Air France on May 1, said Ken Choi, the carrier's vice president for cargo on the East Coast. KAL operates 12 freighter flights a week from JFK. The carrier said the facility will allow it to expand its services -- through the hub-and-spoke concept -- to other important East Coast markets like Toronto, Atlanta and Miami. "We are positioning Korean Air cargo for profound growth over the next five to 10 years. The eastern U.S. seaboard is an important piece of our overall strategy to expand our position as a leader in the cargo industry," Choi said. The project, which broke ground in February 1997, includes a nine-acre aircraft ramp capable of loading and unloading three 747-400s simultaneously, along with 180,000 square feet of warehousing space.
The architect for the 20-acre project was H.O.K (Hellmouth, Obata & Kasabaum), New York, and the general contractor was Turner Construction Co., also of New York. Financing was provided by New York Industrial Development Agency.
Security for the terminal will be provided by Corporate Loss Prevention Associates, which has developed a completely new system for the KAL facility, according to Joseph Clabby, the company's president and founder.
"CLPA will be responsible for each piece of freight as it moves from the airplane, through customs and is loaded onto the trucks to ensure that there is no tampering and that all the proper paperwork is completed," Clabby said. "We're going to make it really tough for any group looking to cause trouble at Korean Air."
Choi said the terminal illustrates Korean Air's optimism about the continued growth of the trans-Pacific cargo market. For the first six months of 2000, KAL's trans-Pacific imports are up more than 25%, while exports are up 16%. Choi expects the increase for the second half of the year to be even more dramatic. "The complex also allows Korean Air to fortify its position as one of the world's cargo giants," Choi said.
For the fourth straight year, Korean Air's cargo operation has been ranked by the International Air Transport Association as the world's second-largest commercial cargo carrier in terms of scheduled freight ton-kilometers. The airline recorded 5.86 billion FTKs behind Lufthansa Cargo's 6.6 billion FTKs last year. FTK is an industry term that denotes each ton of cargo flown one kilometer.
"This facility is massive and is outfitted with the highest quality logistics services along with state-of-the-art warehousing facilities," Choi added. "We are extremely proud of the technology incorporated into this building and its warehousing components. We think our customers will be impressed with the service that this new technology allows us to provide."
As stated by our President, Don Wright, we need your help by volunteering to serve on one of the many committees of the JFK Chamber of Commerce. Become involved in the activities of our airport community. Let your voice be heard. Volunteer your expertise by serving on one of the committees listed below:
A. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Responsible to promote the JFK Chamber of Commerce to the JFK Airport Business Community and promote business in the JFK Airport Community. Chairperson: Fred Catanese 718-656-8090 and Charles Ponsford 516-623-8045.
B. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: Responsible for publishing the “Chamberline.” Need volunteers to write articles of interest, assist in preparing the mailing of the newsletter. Chairperson: Rudy Auslander 718-244-5140, and Nancy Romagna, Editor 516-627-3694
C. BUSINESS ACTION COMMITTEE: Addresses issues that relate to cost of doing business at JFK. Chairperson: Carl Soller 212-425-9494 and Dennis Klainberg 718-656-6606.
D. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: Addresses environmental issues that affect the JFK Business Community. Chairperson: Ginger Priolo 718-656-6020
E. FINANCE COMMITTEE: Responsible for the Finances and Budget for the operation of the Chamber. Chairperson: Tom Kelliher 718-656-5344 Members: Joe Piacentini and Chris Klein
F. AIRLINE COORDINATING COMMITTEE: Addresses issues related to passenger, cargo and airline facilities at JFK. Members of this Committee are restricted to Airline members only. Chairperson: Mauri Lappela. Member: Jim Groark, President KAAMCO.
G. SCHOLARSHIP & EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Oversees the Annual Leon D. Star Scholarship, provides tool boxes for 5th Year Students of Aviation High and coordinating the endowment given to the College of Aeronautics to be awarded to students who plan an aviation related career, and addresses issues aviation related to students who wish to pursue aviation related careers. Chairperson: Bill Puckhaber 718-244-6788 Member: Phil Jensen and Dick Rowe.
H. HOTELS & CATERING COMMITTEE: Addresses issues concerning the Hotel. Restaurant and Food Service Business at JFK Airport. Chairperson: Tony Oro 718-529-1780 Members: Joe Afif, Victor Vongs
I. LEGISLATION & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: Includes Government Agency Items (Customs, FAA, USDA, Port Authority of NY&NJ, etc.) Addresses Government Regulatory issues that impact all businesses at JFK. Chairperson: Bill Greenway 718-656-4623. Member: Joel Ditkowsky.
J. SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE: Includes Luncheons, Card Exchange, Golf Tournaments, Luncheon Speakers and other events of special interest to our membership. Chairperson: Ernie Davis 718-453-2418 Members: Dieter Bergt 212-685-0085, Linda Courtois Wright 718-656-6664, Linda Grasso.
K. COMPUTER & WEBSITE COMMITTEE: Maintains this website for the JFK Chamber which was established in 1998 and handles all Chamber office computer related issues. Chairperson: Rudy Auslander 718-244-5140. Members: Joe Piacentini, Donna Santora, and Bill Greenway.
These committees will meet independently of the Board of Directors Meeting. The Chairperson of each Committee will report the activities of his/her committee at the monthly Board Meetings. Please contact the chairperson of the committees listed above if you would like to volunteer. You may also send an e-mail message to webmaster@jfk-airport.org
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ETCHING PROGRAM
In the near future, the Port Authority Police Department will be offering free V.I.N. etching to Airport employees. The program will be conducted at JFK in a location to be announced shortly.
V.I.N. etching is a process where a stencil of the vehicle identification number (V.I.N.) will be applied to the vehicle’s glass and a solution is applied over the stencil to make it indelible. The impression is extremely small and almost undetectable. The process of the V.I.N. etching takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It should be noted that Insurance companies might offer discounts up to 5% for vehicles that have this process.
It has been proven that V.I.N. etching is a deterrent to auto theft. Dealerships charge over $200 for this service. The Port Authority Police Department is offering this service to employees as a pilot program FREE OF CHARGE.
In order to participate in this program you will only have to show your Airport Employment Identification, your vehicle registration, and fill out the required application form. For further information contact Lt. William Hanley of the PANY&NJ Police at 718-244-4335.
Don't forget to renew your membership dues for 2001! Click here to get the membership application form.