SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO BOX 3499 SUNNYSIDE NY 11104

From: Rigoberto Cardoso, Treasurer, Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, Pronto Car Service Date: January 13, 2014 To: The Sunnysidepost.com Swain Weiner, current President of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce, issued a press release January 10, without the knowledge of most of us on the board, which I believe contains an inaccuracy. Various members of the board and I dispute his account. Mr. Weiner was not in the room at the time of the vote. Further, all board members pledge that what occurs within our private board meeting is not to be discussed outside of it. The position of Luke Adams as he stated, was not “eliminated.” Adams was laid off due to lack of funds. Mr. Adams is a consultant, not an employee. We look forward calling again upon this excellent man when we have the funds. We cannot spend funds we do not have. Further, we believe that the lack of funds results from the failure to mail dues letter in a timely fashion, an unenergetic effort to recruit new members, a lack of fundraisers, and the usual delay of grant funds. We are grateful for and will personally donate to the coming fundraiser for Mr. Adams because we are also his friends. All who know me can attest to the fact that my English is not what it could be and sometimes I am hard to understand. I was born in Ecuador. But I speak from the heart and I find being bi-lingual helpful in NYC, now with 30% population who are Spanish-speakers. I am a proud citizen, and have owned and operated a successful business here for 20 years, and I am grateful to this wonderful area. I have volunteered my time to the Chamber for over 10 years. I will be running to become Chamber President, an unpaid position, in the coming election in April. I encourage local businesses to join me in being the one independent business voice in Sunnyside, so as to do our best to increase the business of individual business members, hold our events in new venues to showcase them, and encourage participation from all businesses, large and small. Our bylaws begin with this paragraph, set in place by our founders in 1947 are just as true today: “The primary purpose of the Chamber is to develop, encourage, promote and protect the commercial, professional, financial and general business interests and ethics of the area known as Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City; to promote civic interests and the general welfare of the community; to extend and promote the trade and commerce, and foster, develop and protect the industry in such area; to petition for laws and regulations desirable for the benefit of business; and to provide a forum for the reflection of the sentiments of business regarding matters affecting its interests.”