Volume 1, Issue 5
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
The World is Flat
When it comes to Global business, the view looks good

RBD Round-Up:
RBD is On the Air!
WRCR teams up with RBD Co-publisher for weekly show
RBD Business Survey
Take part in RBD's 1st On-line Business Survey

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Round-Up
• The Local Economy
Construction industry confidence rebounds, managers predict greater optimism
• The Smart Investor
Investing From Within: The key to becoming a smart investor
• Economic Viewpoint
It All Adds Up: The Fed takes delight in the economic numbers

Business Round-Up
• The Work-Life Minute™
Small business owners need innovation to battle burnout
• Marketing By Design
There Ought'a Be a Law: Marketing is nothing more than long-distance selling

Ask The Experts
• Business Start-ups
Negotiating a lease - from the tenant's view
• Expensing & Depreciation
Tax incentives for small business

Retail Round-Up
• Who's Hiring?
Summer employment program offers benefits to all
• New In Town

Invest in Your Community
• Provident Bank Charitable Foundation
Works to support help from People to People
• Red Cross Celebrates March
Partners with local business people for the good of all

Odds & Ends
• From The Publishers
• Letters to the Editor
• Rockland Newsmakers

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
The State of the RBA

RBA/United Way Golf Outing
The Rockland Open: Monday, May 21st

RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

The Provident Bank Charitable Foundation has contributed $7,500 to the Help From People To People, a charitable organization based in Nanuet, N.Y., whose mission is to feed the hungry in Rockland County. The funding will help support the group’s Neighbors Against Hunger program, which operates a food pantry, soup kitchen and Feed the Newcomer drive. Help from People to People gave meals and cooking essentials to more than 35,000 people in need last year.

“We are proud to offer our support to this much needed program,” said George Strayton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Provident Bank. “This organization is a support vehicle for those less fortunate than most of us. It is an excellent cause and we are pleased to be a part of this effort.”

Help from People to People was founded in 1973 with the mission of ensuring that no one in Rockland County goes to bed hungry. The group of volunteers now provides food, meals and other support to more than 35,000 people a year. The soup kitchen is located in St. Peter’s Church in Haverstraw. The food pantry is in the group’s Nanuet headquarters. In addition to its food programs, Help from People to People provides supplies and support to at-risk schoolchildren and has a “happy holiday” program that reaches out to more than 2,500 children a year.

“Help from People to People provides essential food and support to thousands of people from all over Rockland County every year and demand has been increasing in recent years,” said Dolores Treger, the group’s Executive Director. “More than 10 percent of the meals we serve at our soup kitchen are hot breakfasts for children on their way to school, which shows how important these programs are. We are extremely thankful to the Provident Bank Charitable Foundation for its generous support.”

The Provident Bank Charitable Foundation was established in connection with the second-step conversion of Provident Bancorp, MHC and related stock offering of Provident New York Bancorp, which is the stock holding company of Provident Bank. Headquartered in Montebello, N.Y., Provident Bank, with nearly $2.7 billion in assets, is an independent full-service community bank. Provident Bank operates 33 branches that serve the Hudson Valley region, including one office in Bergen County, N.J. The bank offers a complete line of commercial, retail and investment management and trust services. RBD

Red Cross Celebrates March by Partnering
with Local Business People for the Good of All.
Local activities are planned by the American Red Cross
in Rockland County.

The designation of March as Red Cross Month originally began more than 60 years ago to help the American Red Cross gain exposure and celebrate its successes in serving communities across the country. Back then, the organization raised funds spontaneously when people learned about catastrophic events.

During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson commanded the American Red Cross to raise funds to support its aid to the military and civilians affected by war. During World War II, a War Fund campaign raised $66 million in just a few months.

In 1943, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the entire month of March “Red Cross Month.” Following the declaration, the American Red Cross requested $125 million (the largest sum requested in one campaign by any American organization at that time) and raised $146 million. President Roosevelt claimed that it was “the greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.”

The American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) is the largest Red Cross chapter in the U.S. and helps nine million people in New York City and Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Sullivan counties prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. ARC/GNY provides immediate aid to more than 100,000 people affected by 3,000 emergencies a year, including fires, floods, building collapses and blackouts. Given the uncertainties of today’s world, the chapter is accelerating its collaboration with partner agencies to develop and implement readiness plans to respond to major natural and man-made disasters.

The chapter also helps New York residents and businesses prepare for emergencies by offering hundreds of courses in first aid, CPR and aquatics, and free emergency preparedness training programs and resources. The American Red Cross in Greater New York is not a governmental organization and relies on individual and corporate gifts, special events and grants from foundations and local, state and federal government to fund its essential programs and services.
In the spirit of Red Cross Month, and to help the Red Cross assist residents during emergencies, consider making a donation to the American Red Cross in Greater New York – Rockland and becoming a trained volunteer instructor or emergency responder.

To learn more about classes, programs and volunteer opportunities, visit ARC/GNY – Rockland at 143 North Broadway in Nyack. You can also all 845-358-0833, or visit www.nyredcross.org.

Rockland activities during Red Cross Month:
• The Red Cross Club of Clarkstown South High School will conduct a blood drive at West Nyack Free Library, 65 Strawtown Road, West Nyack, Saturday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Pre-registered donors will receive immediate attention and every donor will receive a t-shirt.
Members of the Red Cross Club will be at the Rockland County Youthfest at Rockland Community College's Fieldhouse Sunday, March 11, to schedule donors. For more information, please
call the American Red Cross in Greater New York - Rockland at 845-358-0833.
• Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pearl River, Sunday, March 18, 1:30 p.m., Red Cross emergency responder volunteers will march and be accompanied by a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle.
• Classes for standard first aid, CPR and babysitter’s training will be offered during the month. Call the American Red Cross in Greater New York - Rockland at 845-358-0833 for class dates and times. RBD