Chartering Ceremony for Friends of Queens Library at Hunters Point /Queens West, Taxi Beach July 13, 2009

Long Island City, NY July 13, 2009 GREETINGS JVB - Good evening. My name is Jimmy Van Bramer and I am the Chief External Affairs Officer of Queens Library. I am very excited to be here this evening for the chartering ceremony of the Friends of Hunter's Point/Queens West Library. This is a unique situation for us because we are here today to celebrate this group's commitment to a library that currently does not exist. Earlier this year, Queens Library met with a group of passionate and devoted community members who wanted to assist the Library in its efforts to build a library in this growing neighborhood. On behalf of Library Director, Tom Galante, who is in Chicago at the American Library Association and the rest of the Queens Library family, I welcome the Friends of Hunter's Point/Queens West. This group was officially chartered in February of this year. And the group wasted no time in joining the rest of our Friends groups by participating in Lobby Day to Albany and City Hall. And this coming Saturday, July 18th, they will have their first community outreach activity at City of Water Day on Governor's Island. This Friends group and the energy and commitment you bring to it only serves to strengthen the Queens Library, and the Hunter's Point/Queens West community as a whole. As Friends of the Library each of you will continue to play a key role in helping to build a library; and once it's here you will assist in promoting our programs and services. But most importantly as Friends you will serve as advocates for the library that is coming to you in the near future. By serving as unwavering friends you will make certain that the communities we serve and the elected officials who represent them know that people care deeply about their community library. This evening is a celebration of this community's continued commitment to the building of the library. I applaud each of you and look forward to working with you to make certain that Queens Library remains the dynamic and worthwhile institution it is today. JVB - Joining us today are representatives, Rosanne Darsh, of Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall and Claudia Khan, Community Liaison of Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan's office. I know that that they will go back and report to their respective officials how committed this group is about their future library and their community in general. [REPRESENTATIVES' COMMENTS INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO] RE-CHARTERING: JVB invites officers up to be sworn in.. The officers are: Dr. Donald Dodelson - President Nina Stromberg - Vice-President Mark Christie - Treasurer Rita Dusseau - Secretary Gregory Hughes - Member-at-large At this time I would also like to briefly recognize the remaining members of the group. Please rise or wave your hands. Let's give them all a round of applause! Congratulations and the best of luck to you all! REMARKS JVB invites Dr. Donald Dodelson, President of the Hunter's Point/Queens West Friends to make brief remarks. JVB invites Dr. Dodelson, CLM to make brief remarks. CLOSING JVB – We look forward to doing wonderful things for and with the Hunter's Point/Queens West Community Library. I invite you all to eat, drink and mingle as long as you like. Thank you for coming. REFRESHMENTS AND CAKE Don Dodelson - President FQLHP Nina Stromberg - Vice-President FQLHP Rosanne Darsh representing Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall Ed Sadowsky - President of CityLights and Member of the Queens Library Board of Trustees Mark Christie - Treasurer FQLHP Paul Januszewski - President, Queens Economic Development Corporation Gregory Hughes - Member-at-large FQLHP Rita Dusseau - Secretary FQLHP David Arnold, Legislative Aide representing Eric Gioia City Council Member 26th District