Chamber News & Minutes
Flesherton & District Chamber of Commerce meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday of the Month (except in July and August).
Minutes of the Monthly meeting of the Flesherton & District Chamber of Commerce
Date: June 9, 2010
Location: Millennium Room, Flesherton Library
Call to order: 7:40pm
Attending: D. Turner, C. Wood, B. MacKay, J. Robinson, M. Brown, J. Bernard, S. Halliday,
C. Boer (this meeting’s Recording Secretary), guest: Carol Gott, from the Highlands Community Cooperative.
Approval of Past Minutes as circulated
Minutes of the meeting from May 12, 2010 were approved as circulated.
Motioned: J. Robinson, Seconded: S. Halliday, Carried.
Business Arising: D. Turner attended the Library Board meeting on our behalf. We could use the garage (as a Tourism Office next year) but it may be needed by the contractor when construction starts on the new library. We like the location but the building needs a lot of work. A suggestion was made to get siding for the garage to match the new building. It would be more cost effective to order at the same time as the library.
Sidewalks and marked crossings are needed to the new library and to Macphail school.
Correspondence Rec’d: Small Business Quarterly, Canadian Chamber – AGM notice, Gold Rush Days Sponsorship request ( May already be paid – C. Boer will check.
If not paid – Motioned: C. Boer, Seconded: J. Robinson, Carried that we support Eugenia Gold Rush Days – $250.00.
E-mail re: First Impressions visit to Burke’s Falls: D.Turner, S.Halliday to participate on the Chamber’s behalf. Student Jordan Fawcett will also participate.
Markdale Chamber/Sun Times – offer for 104 ads annually at a cost of $3,500.oo. More info is needed. D. Turner is to explore and report at September meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: Bank balance $4,598.oo plus $1,800.oo escrow.
Motioned: C. Boer, Seconded: B. MacKay, Carried.
Guest Presentation – Carol Gott brought further information on the Highlands Community Cooperative. Their application to the Trillium Foundation is being rewritten and will be resubmitted within 90 days. They have also made application for funding to the Federal Rural Secretariat. One of the grants (if successful) will be used to promote community leadership skills for people aged 18 to 35. Carol asked that the Chamber promote the Cooperative and community engagement within our membership and asked that a Chamber member sit on their advisory board. D. Turner volunteered. Carol asked for a letter of support from the Chamber. B. MacKay will write for President to sign on behalf of Flesherton Chamber.
Motion: That the Chamber support the HCC proposal – B. MacKay
Seconded: J. Robinson.
Carried.
Promotion: Same as last month. No further progress on Restaurants and Accommodations Guide. Data entry needed.
Tourist Booth: Student Jordan Fawcett has been hired. If we get a laptop computer, Jordan could input the data for “Promotions”. Jessica Bernard & Diane Jackson had volunteered to check into getting a computer. Stewart Halliday may have a computer. Secretary could use it for minutes as well.
Walking Initiative: Red blazes now mark the trail in the Flesherton Forest. The trail is also posted to the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority website. Ad hoc walks were suggested but leaders are needed. (FYI Snow measurement for the conservation authority takes place at this site each winter).
Motion: That $100.00 be spent to promote A Walk on this new trail – B. MacKay
Seconded: C. Wood
Carried.
Website: Arts in the Area does not have a dedicated writer and contributions/media releases from the Museum, Art Gallery, Dusk Dances, Fling are being used as content for this page. It is open to others too, for events in the community or of some relation to our community and unique in the region.
Business Directory: As of the end of May, The Business Directory Committee (B.Mackay, D. Turner Doug Crawford from Markdale Chamber) has signed off on the directory. B. Mackay
worked with Laura Camillari to finalize the changes and the project finished at the end of May. However the Directory can’t launch till the municipal website goes live. No date set.
Municipal Liason: S. Halliday reported – 5 tenders received for the new library. Alan Hastings was lowest. Proposed start date for construction July 5, 2010. Finish date March 15, 2011 ?
-Kinplex tenders are out this week for wheelchair access, storage, kitchen, dishwasher, stove, AC etc. Possibly could be Alan Hastings that gets the job.
-Proposal to rezone property to Hwy. commercial on Hwy 4 (Perminder) – Grey Sauble approval not in yet. There was a general consensus that it was good to welcome new business in town. Project in Memorial park progressing. Should be done first week of July with basketball nets.
New Business: Beautification Liaison Janet Lamb will attend some of our meetings. Lamb will meet with D. Turner and B. MacKay re:
- More green is needed in town. Replace some trees?
- Plants are in barrels and boxes.
- Sandwich boards at the corner were discussed.
Numbers of sandwich board may be increasing. They are a useful tool but they can also be an eyesore or a safety hazard. There is currently no sign bylaw in Grey Highlands that covers this issue. It was agreed the Chamber should look into putting up a communal sign. Stayner for e.g.
Economic Development: Vision for Flesherton ? Proposal for more beautification/ planters / benches etc.
Fling: Layers of promotion- flyers/ posters – Brochure on day of event.
Moved: That the Chamber cover the printing cost of the brochure for the day up to $350.00. Motioned : S. Halliday, Seconded: C. Wood, Carried.
Sign on Hwy 4 East of town: Motion: A new Chamber of Commerce sign to be ordered. Motioned: B. MacKay, Seconded: C. Wood. Carried.
A request was made by B. MacKay that email polling on various issues be limited to the executive and only in matters of unusual urgency. Most items can wait till the next scheduled meeting.
Next meeting: September 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Millennium Room.
Adjournment 10 PM.