As the president of the Metro-Long Island Chapter of New York State Commercial Association of Realtors (NYSCAR) I am looking forward to the New Year and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We are entering a new Decade in commercial real estate. As our tag line says, "NYSCAR Bringing Commercial Real Estate Practitioners Together." Our challenge as an organization is always, what can NYSCAR do to help the commercial real estate professional? The focus of NYSCAR will continue to be industry education and legislative concerns. NYSCAR is passionate about the laws that affect all of us, both on a state and national level. With our affiliations with NYSAR and NAR we have a voice in opposing legislation that would hurt our industry as well as supporting positive legislation. This political "watch dog" function of our organization is critical to safeguarding the livelihood of our members. NYSCAR is committed to education and will continue to support programs provided by its local chapters. So far this year the Metro-Long Island Chapter of NYSCAR has the following events planned: We start the year with our annual state Of Long Island VI (Ground Hog Day) event with a panel of industry segment leaders will speak on the way they see the markets will be heading. Deloitte will speak about the FASB rule changes that may affect all commercial leases . This event will be held on February 2, 2011 at the Milleridge Inn. This year's experts include: Paul Fetscher CCIM, SCLS of Great American Brokerage who will be our moderator and discuss the retail market. John Maltz, SIOR will discuss investment properties in outer boroughs, Robert Knakal will discuss investments and Frank Frizalone of Cushman Wakefield will discuss industrial properties. On June 13-15, NYSCAR will be hosting the Turning Stone Event in Verona. This is a three day event in which all six chapters of NYSCAR participate. Last year there were several hundred attendees. There are educational and break out sessions, SEC marketing, golf and many more activates. July brings back our annual Jeopardy Event July 13, to be held at the Milleridge Inn, Jericho, at 8 a.m. where last years winning team CCIM will be defending their title. In October, we hold our Banking Symposium at the On Parade Diner in Woodbury at 8 a.m. As other chapter events are planned they will be announced. I look forward to the opportunities 2011 will present. Harvey Kolin, CCIM is the 2011 president of the Metro-Long Island chapter of NYSCAR and broker-managing member of Corporate Commercial Realty LLC, Melville, N.Y.