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Mayor Reports UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS
Save the Date! View our 2011-2012 Event Brochure
CHAMBER PUB NIGHT
CONSTANT CONTACT SEMINAR
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING
What would happen to your business if you were not there for a month, a year, or ever? What steps do you need to take? Whose advice should you be seeking? How can you identify a potential successor? Seating is limited - please RSVP to Roberta or Heather at the Chamber office, 400 Tower Street South, Fergus, or 519 843 5140, rscarrow@cwchamber.ca.
RIBBON CUTTING
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
TRIP TO CHINA! Please take note of our Event Cancellation Policy MONTHLY WINK(CWCC's new tip of the month)
Did you know... The Chamber has created a new Member's Area (located at the top righthand corner of www.cwchamber.ca). Here you can login to edit your member managed webpage, and view helpful business information and presentations from past Networking Breakfasts. RIBBON CUTTINGS
Brighten Up A Grand Opening was held for Brighten Up, located on the main street in Erin. They carry educational and special interest products, provide tutoring, seminars, etc! (Pictured from left to right: CWCC Director Nardo Kuitert, County Councillor Ken Chapman, Gillian Bailey, Store Owners Stephanie Giugovaz and Chris Bailey, Carolyn Fox of TD Merchant Services, Town of Erin Mayor Lou Maieron, and Chamber Director Barney Tracy.
Fergies Fine Foods Opening their second location, Fergies Fine Foods celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting on January 28. Located on 1 Scotch Street in Erin, stop in to try some homemade fresh and frozen cuisine, delicious tortieres, fresh and frozen seafood! Pictured from left to right: Owners Miriam Foell, Ken Cuthbert and Wade Plewes, Chamber Director Janet Harrop, and Town of Erin Councillor Josie Wintersinger.
Fraberts Fresh Food To help celebrate their expansion, a Ribbon Cutting was held at Fraberts Fresh Food on January 28. Stop in to enjoy their new pizza oven, fresh made sandwiches, meat counter and much more! Pictured from left to right: CWCC Director Janet Harrop, Chamber President Michael Weinstein, Shop Owner Jackie Fraser and her Grandmother, Shop Owner Derek Roberts, Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj, and Councillor Mary Lloyd. |
JOANNE ROSS-ZUJ, MAYOR REPORTSTax Dollars at Work for You A recent Canadian survey was released late in December, 2011 and it indicates that 73% of Canadians are happy with their municipal services that they receive every day. However, the poorest results of satisfaction came from road and bridge repair. In Centre Wellington we face many challenges with 407 kilometres of road and 107 bridges. The weather conditions this winter have had been particularly difficult for our gravel roads. When we experience freeze thaw freeze conditions there is little opportunity to grade our gravel roads. Without the snow to help compact the holes the conditions become even more pronounced. All Municipalities have been subjected to decades of offloading and under-investment by other governments. As a result, we see the strain on many essential municipal services such as crumbling bridges and roads. To fully repair our roads and bridges in Centre Wellington we would need to invest 35 million in urban roads, 25 million in rural roads and 14 million in bridge reconstruction. Municipalities build and maintain almost two thirds of Canada’s core public infrastructure with just 9 cents of every dollar and for Centre Wellington being a two tier government that is reduced to 3 cents of every dollar. To meet this responsibility we must rely on the property tax, a regressive tax which hits Canada’s least well-off the hardest. A recent announcement by the federal government to develop a long-term infrastructure plan is welcomed news for Municipalities to begin to overcome the inadequacy of the property tax. Budget planning is in the works for all Municipalities and the challenges of infrastructure deficiencies are enormous. We put forward every effort to reduce the tax burden and this year we have been working in cooperation with the County to enhance the budget opportunities for the lower tiers. Getting a blended tax that is close to the cost of inflation is not an easy task but a realistic target. At the Township we will continue to work diligently to stretch each dollar into results that build a healthy Community. ROBERTA REPORTSAs you can see it has been a busy January and there is no slow down in sight! Now I am not complaining at all... I have just returned from a Chamber Executives of Ontario conference in Guelph - this is where I meet and gain professional development from presenters and peers. I was given a lot of food for thought in this 1.5 days. We know we need to better communicate better- ie. what is the value of Chamber membership? How do we really engage with our current members and prospects and especially with the Gen X and Gen Y demographic? We hold many networking events and are increasing our educational sessions (Several AODA sessions late in 2011, Feb 9th Social Media session for FREE, Feb 16th on Succession Planning, and on April 4th a session with Sue McEwen, Office of the Employers Adviser). What we need is to hear from you, our members about what you want from your Chamber. I know we can help with Advocacy issues at the Township, Provincial and Federal levels - but we need to hear from you about what your issues are and perhaps what you want to see done. I am open to hear from you about concerns. While we are not the be all and end all with all of the answers - we truly do want to work for you - our members. The Board of Directors will be spending some time at the next couple of board meetings to review the Chamber's Strategic Plan. Define, refine and be (un)reasonable. Will we meet all the goals we set? Probably not, but as we define what we want to be we will get better at giving our members better value.
Nominations are open if you or one of your talented staff are interested in helping to shape the Chamber and what it is we do. You can participate in a Committee or you are welcome to let your name stand for election on the Board of Directors. We do an election each year (if not filled by acclamation). A Director is elected for a 2 year term (June 1 to May 31) and each year at the June meeting the Board elects their Executive. If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact Garth Green or Roberta Scarrow ANNUAL MAYOR'S BREAKFAST
On January 25th (minus the usual snowstorm!), Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj was enlightening with her speech on Planning, Programs, and Partnerships. Planning involves key results such as funding, infrastructure, growth, human capital, comunication, etc. In regards to a Program, have projects ready to go out the door, and Partnerships are the sustainability factor. They could be corporate, not-for-profit, or volunteer partners. A sold out crowd of 156 guests joined us at the Grand River Raceway that morning. OLG gift basket winner (pictured right) was Lana Palmer of Upper Grand Family Health Team, congratulations! BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
We had a great turn out of new and returning members on January 18, during this month's BAH at Noecker Travel in Elora. They ensure that every client gets customized personal service when booking a vacation and they pride themselves in being “the cruise and tour specialists in Wellington County”. Draw prize winner was Garth Green of HJM Insurance & Financial Services Ltd. Pictured from left to right: Chamber GM Roberta Scarrow, Director Aileen Hawkins, Noreen Winter of Uptown Cafe, Debbie Bath of Noecker Travel, and Chamber President Michael Weinstein. HAVE YOU HEARD? THE CENTRE WELLINGTON CHAMBER IS RECEIVING A NEW ELECTRONIC SIGN!Keep an eye on the Chamber as we are anxiously awaiting our new Electronic Sign, to be placed adjacent to our office and highway 6. Advertising opportunities will be available once installed. Call the Chamber office for more details! 519-843-5140. Below are some demolition pictures taken in January.
MEMBER MILESTONESGrand River Troutfitters is announcing a change in business model. Effective February 2012 the retail shop in the Fergus Marketplace was closed. Back to what we do best, Ken says - we are well known as "Your #1 Fly-fishing Education & Ontario Fly-guiding Depot". Now we can focus on just that and for those wanting fly fishing and related gear be sure to check out the eCommerce website coming in March 2012. Call Ken Collins at 519-787-4359 or by checking out www.grandrivertroutfitters.com Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club would like to announce that Jim and Nina have decided to retire and work on their golf games. Paul Cotey is now the Director of Golf Operations, congratulations! Times are changing, and so is Schelter Office Pro's name. They will now be Schelter Office Plus, to bring you simply more in 2012! Fraberts have expanded their store! Drop in to view their new meat counter, pizza oven, panini press, and much more! Hutten Collision Centre now has their own website! Visit them at www.huttenauto.com. Book an appointment or check out their vehicles for sale. Fergies Fine Foods has opened a second location, 1 Scotch Street (at Main Street) in Erin! Congratulations on your success Miriam, Ken, & Wade! Service by people you can trust... TRUE AUTO CARE (Formerly True-Centre Mu ffler & Brakes) has a NEW NAME - SAME GREAT QUALIFIED TEAM - SAME GREAT SERVICE! They provide on-going and seasonal maintenance, brakes, shocks & struts, oil changes, tires & steering, wheel alignments, coolant & transmission flushing, fuel injection service, C.V. joints, exhaust, custom pipe bending, performance exhaust, catalytic converters, etc! Visit their website at www.trueautocare.ca.
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Disclaimer - Any opinions and articles in this newsletter, do not necessarily express the views of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. We take every effort to ensure correct spelling and accuracy of information. If you have any comments or concerns, please email rscarrow@cwchamber.ca or phone 519-843-5140.
The Business Blink is a monthend email newsletter published by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the business community. If you are not already a member, please consider supporting the Champion of Business in Centre Wellington by becoming a member.
Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce | 400 Tower Street South | Fergus | Ontario | N1M 2P7 | Canada
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