On May 1 our new Executive Director, Art Walker, joined our team. Art has an impressive background as a Chamber professional with extensive experience in the South Florida market. He is quite a unique individual -- exuberant, dynamic, and a ceaseless bundle of energy. He has a wealth of ideas and tremendous plans for the Chamber. By the way, when you call the Chamber office you'll hear another new voice on the line -- that's our new administrative assistant Monica Merino. You'll get to meet Art and Monica when you come to our May Luncheon Program.

And speaking of our May Luncheon Program "Real Estate Overview on the Airport West Area" is this month's topic featuring a panel presentation consisting of Carlos Rodriguez, Cardel Hospitality Group; Steve Stephner, C & S Development; Donna Abood, Abood & Associates and Calvin Babcock, U.S. Commercial Realty. Our moderators will be Joann Soman of Kennedy-Wilson Florida Management and Paul Cohen of U.S. Commercial Realty. This month's luncheon program is being sponsored by Kennedy-Wilson Florida Management and the Tower Group.

The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Holiday Inn Miami Airport West, 3255 NW 87 Ave. Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m. and the program starts promptly at noon. To reserve your seat, send e-mail to the Chamber at dawcc@msn.com or call the Chamber office at 305-592-5141. If you make your reservations by Friday, May 12, the registration fees are $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members. Late registration and "at the door" registration fees are $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

That's your chamber on the phone Our annual Membership Drive is well underway. By the time you read this, many of you will have already received your telephone solicitation and have signed up for Chamber membership. The Doral & Airport West Chamber of Commerce is a private, voluntary organization that works to expand business opportunities and promote the economic benefits of doing business in the Doral & Airport West area. Membership in the Chamber is generally deductible as a business expense. In addition to holding Monthly Luncheon Programs, the chamber has networking & business Card Exchanges, forums on important business topics and trends, and provides its members with a diverse and ever expanding list of member benefits -- including Chamber discounts on long distance telephone service from MCI WorldCom, and the opportunity to provide your employees with credit union membership from Tropical Federal Credit Union, FAA Federal Credit Union and Eastern Financial Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Abbate serves on the Chamber Board of Directors as Vice President, Public Affairs and is Director of Communications and Resource Development for Carrfour Corporation.