| So this is retirement! I came
back to Quinte to write plays, relax and get into gardening.
My wife Yolanda moved to the County to paint. We bought an
old log cabin and moved it to our property for her painting
studio.
After two months of "relaxing" I decided to move
my charter boat business "Majesty" to the County
to give me something to do. As a new business, I decided to
join the Chamber and attended my first meeting, which was
held at Isaiah Tubbs. (Many of you will remember that was
the meeting where Taste voted to separate from the Chamber).
Having been born in Quebec, it made me think I was living
in La Belle Provence all over again.
Much has happened since that meeting, both personally and
professionally. Besides opening a new bar/restaurant at the
Tip of the Bay, I also became the President of PECCTAC.
Now that's been "something to do"! In five short
months we have fought the Post Office's plans to install community
mail boxes, presented a deputation to Council regarding the
Building and Planning Department, held five "meet and
greet" meetings, started a successful Accommodation Association,
hosted a special thank you dinner for the City of Oswego,
NY, addressed Corporate Services regarding our budget for
Visitors Information services and held a Special Meeting of
members to vote on the Visitor Information budget issues.
Whew!
During this time, I did manage to write two murder mystery
plays, which have been performed in six locations. I also
got to stage two nights of a live production of "Rocky
Horror Halloween" at my bar. My wife managed to finish
one painting, which was at first rejected by the Stirling
Art Festival, only to be sold for a mid-four figures to a
New York collector.
So now, I have something to do. Lots of things to do. My "garden"
is a mass of wild weeds threatening to take over the house.
I was on my boat twice this summer. My wife has single-handedly
painted the entire restaurant including the outdoor walls,
murals, tablecloths, umbrellas and an exciting twelve-foot
mermaid mural for the new "Mermaids Martini Lounge"
which is opening soon. (She never specified WHAT she wanted
to paint, just that she wanted to paint - right?)
As the holiday season approaches, we reflect on the year that
has past, and look towards the New Year. What surprises are
in store for each of us?
Will Council give us what we need to run the
Visitors Information services? Will we be in the tourism business
next year? Will we win the battle with the Post Office? Will
we see an improvement in the Building and Planning process?
Will we finally see the launch of the promised "Business
Enhancement and Expansion" project from Dan Taylor our
EDO? Will our membership hit the 300 goal by the AGM in February?
And what about this Loyalist Adventure project? Will our members
vote to take it over and get involved in building this into
one of the greatest shoulder season promotions in the County?
Stay tuned, get involved, and hold on for what will surely
be one hell of an exciting ride. Happy Holidays to you and
yours.
Sincere Regards, T. Rob Brown - President
General Manager's Report
Nine “County” businesses and four not-for-profit
organizations were nominated at the 8th Annual Business Achievement
Awards held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton. Your
Chamber was out to help celebrate the award winners and to
send congratulations to The Devonshire Restaurant & Inn
for receiving the Business of the Year Award in the 6-25 employees
category, and to the Awards of Merit winners, County Cider
Co., Marshman Jewellers, and New Life Girl’s Home.
Congratulations to all the other County nominees:
Black Prince Winery
Black River Cheese
Convent Garden Art Gallery and B&B
Huff Estates Inc.
Slickers Country Ice Cream
The Dressing Room
Community Living Prince Edward County
Pathways to Independence
The Edith Fox Life & Loss Centre
PECCTAC is proud to represent such exceptional businesses.
Congratulations to John Hill, PECCTAC Director, for being
recognized by the Honourable Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Minister
of Citizenship and Immigration at the 2004 Outstanding Achievement
Awards for Voluntarism in Ontario. John was recognized for
his 15 years of continuous service to the Prince Edward County
Chamber of Tourism & Commerce.
Lawrie Ackerman – General Manager
Do You Want To Participate?
We are asking our Members if you would like to participate
and help in the organization of the new Amazing Loyalist Adventure
event? Mrs. Honey King, founder of the Amazing Loyalist Adventure
has relinquished her lead role as organizer and has requested
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce
to take over the leadership responsibility to ensure its future
success. Under PECCTAC’s leadership the intention will
be to make this event a weeklong experience with a strong
cultural/tourism component focusing on extending the tourist
season and increasing tourism dollars to the community. Part
of the weeklong activities would encompass participation in
the “Doors Open Ontario” initiative by the Ontario
Heritage Foundation.
If you want to participate and help please contact Lawrie
at manager@pecchamber.com
“NEW” County Red Map Changes
The County Red Map is one of the best marketing tools for
your business. In 2004 we printed and distributed 75,000 maps.
To keep up with the demand, in 2005 we will print 80,000 County
Red Maps and will have an expanded & highlighted listing
available. The basic listing is $75.00. For an additional
$10.00 your business will be highlighted and the e-mail &
website listing added. Please contact Jan at 476-2421 to have
this extra listing added.
Did You Know?
Health Card Renewal Service is available through QHC PECM
Hospital for Prince Edward County residents. Call 1-800-268-1154
to make an appointment.
New Opportunity!
PECCTAC membership encompasses many businesses and expertise,
which can be shared by others. In this newsletter you will
see an article written by one of PECCTAC’s members,
Brent Timm, Farm Mutual Financial Services. All PECCTAC members
are encouraged to submit a business article for our newsletter.
Share your experience and expertise with others. Thanks to
Brent for his article.
The following is the information given to PECCTAC members
at the
Special General Meeting
on October 27, 2005
Visitor Information Funding
It is clear that Visitor Information Services provided by
PECCTAC benefit all businesses in the County. There are approximately
1600 businesses in the County, 275 (approximately 17%) are
members of PECCTAC. Clearly there are many businesses that
benefit from tourism that are not contributing by being members
of PECCTAC. PECCTAC has grown from 220 to 275 members this
year alone. We must do a better job of encouraging more businesses
to become members.
The total 2005 PECCTAC budget is $157,000 of which our members
currently contribute 60%. The total cost of Visitor Information
Services in this budget is $127,000. The 275 PECCTAC members
are paying 50% of the cost of the visitor’s information
services.
Dan Taylor, EDO, has suggested he would like to cut PECCTAC’s
funding for Visitor Information Services from $46,000 to $25,000
over the next 3 years. The Board has advised Mr. Taylor that
this is completely unacceptable. We have gone before the Corporate
Services Committee to explain why and how this $63,000.00
is critical.
To be prudent we must decide, as a group, what could be done
if Council decides to allocate $46,000.00 or less for visitor’s
information services instead of the requested $63,000. The
question before the membership tonight is, “Are we willing
to operate Visitor Information Services under these conditions”?
The following is an outline of what we could do if Council
allocates $46,000.00.
1. Provide a self-service information centre during office
hours only, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We would not
be able to open evenings or weekends.
2. Reduce postage costs from $5,000.00 to $3,000.00. This
means we will mail out packages for as long as we have the
funds resulting in at least 1,000 information requests not
being fulfilled.
Current cost:
$1.60 per package within Canada
$2.80 per package to U.S.A.
$5.60 per package to Europe and other international destinations
We will either have to reduce the overall number of packages
mailed out or eliminate mailing to the U.S.A., Europe and
all other international destinations.
3. Opt out of the Bay of Quinte Tourist Association and Ontario
East, a savings of $3,900. This will mean no map distribution
outside the County and no representation at the following
14 trade shows:
· Northeastern Sport Show, Syracuse, NY
· Eastern Sports Show, Harrisburg, PA
· Outdoor Adventure Show, Toronto, ON
· Ottawa Boat & Sportsmen’s Show
· Toronto Star Golf & Travel Show
· National Women’s Show, Ottawa
· Toronto Sportsmen’s Show
· Quinte Homebuilders Home Show, Belleville
· Toronto Travel & Leisure Show
· Travel & Vacation Show, Ottawa
· National Women’s Show, Montreal
· Quinte West Home & Leisure Show, Trenton
· Great Canadian Outdoor Expo, Woodstock
· National Women’s Show, Toronto
4. Reduce County Red Map printing to 50,000 since over 25,000
were distributed through Bay of Quinte Tourist Council and
Ontario East at trade shows and tourist information centres
across the province. We printed 75,000 County Red Maps this
year and ran out the end of September. It has been proven
the County Red Map is one of the County’s most powerful
marketing tools. (If the $63,000 is approved we will print
and distribute 100,000 copies in 2005 and have them distributed
at all the above trade shows.)
5. Cut travel expenses and staff time for the cleaning and
restocking of the information kiosks. Hopefully this service
will be picked up by the EDO’s office but we are concerned
about this option as the EDO’s office took over staffing
of the information kiosks 2 years ago and to date they are
still not staffed.
VOTE:
Should PECCTAC Members cover the shortfall to provide Visitor
Information Services?
Yes__0_ No__51
Would you be willing to volunteer to work on events to raise
money to cover the shortfall?
Yes_ 17 No__31
Would you be willing to pay more for advertising on the County
Red Map?
Yes__1_ No__50
Should PECCTAC reduce the Visitor Information Services as
outlined above if Council allocates $46,000.00?
No vote taken.
Do you think Council should provide additional funding to
PECCTAC ($21,000) to fully operate and staff the two Welcome
Centres?
Yes_ 50 No__1_
President Brown asked all Members to contact their Councillor
to encourage them to support PECCTAC and the budget request
of $63,0000.
Welcome New Members:
Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward
Shanti B&B and Yoga Retreat
County Antiques & Ironworld
Farm Mutual Financial Services (Brent Timm)
Foster’s Fishing Centre
The Stone House Inn
A Home Re-Arranged (sub-listing for Wellington on the B&B)
Spencer & Co., Community Planners
Fairway Farmhouse sub-listing (Simply Elegant Accents for
Everyday Life)
W3Connex
Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty
Halfmoon House
The Little Art Shop
Harbour Breeze Guesthouse
Glenview House B&B
MacCool’s Re-Use
Robyn’s Nest Pets & Things
Iron Duke Café
Picton Physiotherapy & Sports Injury & Massage Therapy
Four Corners Restaurant
Taste the County
Alleycats Restaurant & Bar
Cindy's Bayshore B&B
Magnus Landing Nets
Prince Edward Limousine Service
Arcanada B&B
Oeno Gallery & Guesthouse
Bay Meadows Trailer Park
Traditions B&B on Centre St. & Traditions... In Wood
Thank You for Your Support!
TINKERING WITH
PROPERTY TAX CONTINUES:GOVERNMENT MUST NOW FIX THE SYSTEM
Toronto – The Ontario government continues to tinker
around the edges of the property tax system, while failing
to address the acknowledged, fundamental problems with the
system.
“Today’s announcement is great news for Maple
Syrup producers, and once again shows us that the government
is aware of how flawed this system is,” said Len Crispino,
President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “But
once again, government has chosen to apply a bandage instead
of trying to heal the patient.”
The OCC has communicated extensively with the Ontario government
on needed reforms to the current property tax systems, including
advocating for a property tax review panel to address the
systemic problems and inequities in the system.
“The government must shift its focus from piecemeal
tax reform, and take a look at the system as a whole. Providing
certainty and fairness is critical to business competitiveness,”
said Crispino. “While today is a small victory for one
specific segment of the business community – it represents
continued frustration for the majority of businesses in Ontario.”
The OCC passed a resolution at its last annual general meeting
calling for the establishment of a property tax review panel.
Its mandate should be to:
Review Ontario’s property tax system, including progress
in moving towards current value assessment with the goal of
ensuring that Ontario’s property tax system is equitable
across the province;
· Identify and establish an economically healthy property
tax burden for each class of property;
· Identify options for a more equitable business education
tax;
· Evaluate the heritage tax program;
· Modify the Business Protection Program (5% Hard Cap)
for property tax, requiring properties to phase in Current
Value Assessment by December 31, 2010;
· Identify existing meaningful expert research data
regarding property tax burdens and rates and their impact
on economic activity; and,
· Provide detailed analysis of the full financial impacts
of recommendations on all property tax classes.
Background information on this issue can be found at www.occ.on.ca.
FOR THE LOVE OF
MONEY
By: Brent Timm, Farm Mutual Financial Services
My goal with this column is to educate and inspire readers
to look at how you handle your money on a daily basis and
how a small (or large) change can make you feel better about
your financial situation.
Through my 15 years of talking to people about their money,
I have learned some great tips/strategies that I would like
to share with our local community at large. I hope you learn
at least one thing that can help you personally.
This month’s topic is: TIME.
We all have only 24 hours a day to do the things we want to
accomplish (actually only 16 if you average 8 hours sleep).
How we make use of that time is the most important factor.
Overall, people that spend “some” time every week
discussing or taking action on money issues usually feel better
towards their financial situation.
I can hear some people saying things like: “ I don’t
make enough money to worry about it” or “ I live
paycheque to paycheque” BUT, it is “your”
money. It is not how much you make, it is what you do with
it based on your financial priorities.
For example, taking 30 minutes Sunday Night (during or after
dinner) and talking to your partner/spouse and /or children
(depending on age) can be a great step. Just talk about where
your money went during the week, how you feel about money
decisions made during the 7 days, etc.
The key is to make it a priority to book some time with your
family and talk openly and honestly about the subject on a
regular basis! The content of the conversation is secondary,
just start talking without judging the other family members.
If you have any questions or comments, please call Brent Timm
at (613) 476-8101 or e-mail at brenttimm@yahoo.ca.
The opinions/comments expressed in this column are the
writer’s and not endorsed by the Prince Edward County
Chamber of Tourism & Commerce
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