.Calabogie & Area Business Association  Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2008     Place: Calabogie Highlands Resort

 

Attendees: Cory Klinkenberg (303 Imaging), Elizabeth Jost Couture (F –E Translation), Brian Hunt, Mike Broomfield (Jocko’s Beach Resort), Amber Gorra (Artist/Creative Glass Studio) Polly & Peter Sackmann (Polly’s Li’l Shanty), Ross Richards (Double R Ranch), Georgette Reed (Artist), Gary Reed (CABA Director), Carolyn Jakes, Acting President/Chair (Celtic Colours Studio), Barry Fulton (Calabogie Home Hardware), Chris Fleming (Calabogie Highlands Resort and Golf Club), Betty Oattes and Blake Fillator (Murphy’s Landing Restaurant and Pub), Hank Schaly (Schaly’s Greenhouse), Julia Broomfield (Calabogie Peaks Resort), Thomas Riexinger (The Duck Restaurant), Bill Graham and Richard Copeland (Madawaska Highlander). Ann Stubinsky (Black Donald T & T Park), Karen Warren (Neat Things), Lori Bottriell (Design and Decoration), Fay Wilson, Treasurer, CABA (Valley VIP Real Estate), Scott D’Ascenzo (Calabogie Estates)

 

Guests: Al Lawrie ( Calabogie Seniors’ Club), Shirley Corneau and Marilyn Lawrie (Ladies Invitational Golf), John Buscomb (Calabogie Lions’ Club)

 

  1. Call to order (7 pm)
  2. Minutes of last meeting, January 2008 Approved with corrections.  Add Skip Hale to attendees. Correct spelling of names Lori and Glen Bottreill under Round Table.
  3. Treasurer’s Report  - Balance in bank as of end February 2008 is  $8,778.52. This includes $3,060.23 for new banners and $2,041.66 for trail development.
  4. Business Arising from Previous  Minutes

4.1 Calabogie MotorSports Park -Special event May 23-25 – Parts Canada Superbike Championship with local and national media coverage. John Hamilton invited not-for-profit organizations to fundraise on CMP property. Businesses catering to tourists are encouraged to plan for large crowds in Calabogie. Volunteers also needed for this special event. Advertising packages available. Package A: $1,000 + GST for 2’ x 8’ pit wall sign and ad in MotorSport Guide for all 2008 CMP visitors and participants and increased exposure on CMP web site. Package B - $300 + GST for Package A without the 2’ x 8’sign. More info to be sent out soon re advertising and volunteers. For info call Jane Blinn at 613-371-0414.

In 2007, more than 15,000 people visited the CMP for 110 events with 140 events already booked for 2008.

 

4.2 Festival of the Senses – October 4-5. Carolyn announced that the submission for a government funded grant written by the Township’s Economic Development Committee, was not approved but local businesses can still participate in the festival. The 7th Annual Calabogie Artfest will be advertised as the Sense of Colour and Amber Gorra’s Creative Glass Studio will adopt the Sense of Illusion. Others are encouraged to participate. (eg. sense of taste, adventure, speed, etc.)                                                                            Page 1 of 4 

 

4.3 ACTION REQUIRED If we decide to participate in activities for May 23-25 and Oct. 4-5, we will send the info to info@calabogie.org for inclusion on the home page of the CABA web site under “What’s New” so that others may see what activities have already been selected to avoid repetition.

 

4.4 Customer Service Training Course –

Calabogie Peaks Resort staff, Catherine Reynolds of The Fans of Calabogie B & B and Karen Warren of Neat Things have taken the 3 hour free course. Betty Oattes, owner of Murphy’s Landing Restaurant and Pub, will be in contact with Renfrew County to plan the next course which will be offered in Calabogie. Details will follow on a sign up form.

 

4.5 Free advertising - Calendar of Events and Photos – Photos and captions should be sent to somuchmorepix@gmail.com to arrange for posting your tourism-related photos of business events on the township’s tourism web site www.somuchmore.ca. with a link to your own web site. Also, contact David Lester (CABA web master) at 752-GOLF to obtain your pass word to post your own business event details on the CABA calendar of events which are accessed through the CABA and 2 township web sites as well. (Note: Call Cath Reynolds at 752-1595 to discuss details or have photos taken.)

The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association’s Summer 2007 Survey confirmed that 90% (not 80% as Carolyn stated at this meeting) of our tourists hear about us via the internet.

 

4.6    Banners for Hydro Poles. Motion carried, that CABA spend $2,521.62 for the banners and $400 for installation. 

Break

               

  1. Committee Reports

      5.1 Canada Day Fund Raiser-shirts, buttons  - Volunteer needed.

 

5.2 CABA Business Directory will be in June Madawaska Highlander.

 

5.3 CABA Corner articles in the Highlander are being written by Shelley Monaghan and Karen Warren. Contact them if you have questions.

 

5.4 Ross Richards (CABA Rep on Township’s Strategic Plan Implemention Committee) reported that the first draft report will be posted on the township web site soon. Doctor recruitment is an issue. Ross was asked to take to the committee the need for the return of the Blood Clinic to Calabogie.

 

 

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5.5 The CABA money for trail development which was raised through a golf tournament will be included in a township grant proposal along with money from the

Township’s Ec Dev Committee budget. We wish the CABA money to be used for something which can be identified such as signage  Betty Oattes will send an email to Bruce Parker, Chair of EDC, re feedback from trial users and need for signage.

 

5.6 Renfrew County Chambers of Commerce Report (from Debora Giffin, CABA rep)- Renfrew’s County’s Buy Local initiative, of which CABA is a participant, has been so successful that the project is being taken over by Enterprise Renfrew. The grant money has been spent so April Cappel has left the project and joined MYFM.

 

April is developing an event called “Renfrew New Business Expo (June 27 at Renfrew Armories) to showcase new small busineses in the county (in operation for 3 years or less)  Trade booth space is expected to cost approximately $159. MYFM will in return pay your $30 CABA membership dues for 2008-09 if you participate in the Expo. Call April at 432-6936 or email april.cappel@myfmradio.ca.

 

Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber is 50 years old this year. Renfrew Chamber Awards Banquet is May 7th. They are applying for a grant to build a new web site. City of Pembroke’s application for waterfront festival funding was not approved. Arnprior Chamber plans to add web page profiling new members.

 

5.7 Township Economic Development Committee  is discussing securing improved High Speed Internet Service with Dave Lemkay, chairman, BRAVO Task Force.  OPG Waterfront Licences in our township were on the agenda of a Feb. meeting in Toronto. Calabogie Peaks’ Juniper Ridge development  is in progress. The township map (and tourist-related business listings for 2009) is being discussed. The five largest businesses in the  area may be asked to buy advertising allowing the other businesses to be listed free as in the past.

 

  1. New Business

6.1    Doctor Recruitment  - 1st year Medical Students visiting rural areas in May and August  will receive the township map and business listings.   

 

6.2    Notice of Motion for May 12 meeting: To change bylaws from General meetings are held the second Monday evening of “ five months of the year”  to “three months of the year”. The annual meeting would continue to be held in the spring of each year. This would mean one meeting per quarter. Annual meeting and elections - May 12

 

6.3    CABA Annual Awards – Nominations due July 31.

 

 

 

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  1. Round Table : Welcome new members: Hank Schaly (Schaly’s Greenhouse),                

      Elizabeth  Jost Couture (F – E Translation), Polly Sackmann (Polly’s L’il Shanty

      Restaurant).

      Peter Sackmann provides masonry work.

      The Highlander is considering printing double the number of May newspapers

      (3,000 extra) so that they can be handed out at the gate of CMP for the May 23-25

      special event.

      Betty Oattes commended businesses for taking a team approach for event

      planning.

      Scott D’Ascenzo reported on possibility of using the space next to    

      Murphy’s Landing Restaurant for a gym.

      Calabogie Run ATV Rentals (with guided tours) is expanding by adding team

      building.

      Blake Fillator is a construction contractor.

      Chris Fleming spoke about the status of the Youth Activity Centre, thanking the

      volunteers and highlighting the positive effect it has had on two youth in

      particular. He is stepping down from his position as Township Rec Committee

      Chairperson to direct his energies on managing his business interests with CMP at

      the forefront. 

      Members are encouraged to attend the Township Council meeting tomorrow at 4   

      pm since there will be a dozen motions involving CMP and items which will

      impact on the township budget and tourist-related businesses.  

 

  1. Adjournment 8:40 pm

 

 

Note: Members in attendance picked up their Calabogie lure brochures and 2008 Township Map which they can give free to tourists and which lists all the tourist-related businesses. They also took the brochures to deliver to other tourist-related businesses not represented today. Contact Carolyn if you need brochures. (Brochure costs were paid by the township.)

 

 

 

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