Tuesday E-mail - August 31, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?


Golf Tournament “Fall Classic”

Our “Fall Classic” Tournament is quickly selling out so please contact the Chamber office to reserve your spot. The event will be held on Wednesday October 6 at the Parry Sound Golf and Country Club, $125.00 per person plus hst, inclusive of golf cart, shotgun start at 11am, lunch optional, silent auction and dinner at 5pm with awards presentations, a great day away from the office and a chance to mix and mingle with fellow business operators.


Office Rental Space

The Chamber has a rental office for rent located in the CN station. This office space has a separate office area, separate entrance and would be ideal for a professional service. If you’re interested in more information please contact Perry at the Chamber.


Red Tape Principles: Bill 68-Open for Business Act Submission

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce as well as the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce are seeking your help understanding how businesses feel about red tape in the province. A group of Chambers in Ontario as well as corporations have formed a task force to discuss unresolved issues with red tape in the province.

We’re opening up discussion for our members in order to ensure that all businesses, small and large, Northern and Southern have an opportunity to have your views heard.

Please Click Here to share your feedback.


Accessibility Workshop Hosted by the OCC and the PSACOC

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a workshop to help Ontario businesses comply with Ontario’s new customer service standards.

Please join us on Wednesday September 29, 2010 at the West Parry Sound District Museum start time 8:30am to Noon for this important information session by speaker Louie DiPalma, Accessibility Works, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. We as chamber associations are determined to help businesses so that they can better serve the growing population of people with all types of disabilities.

For additional information and to rsvp please contact Jessie at the Chamber 705-746-4213 or jessie@parrysoundchamber.ca


Chamber Happenings:

We feel it’s important for you, our members, to know the involvement that we in the Chamber office and our directors participate in so this will be a new section each week to advise and enlighten on the happenings of the Chamber involvement.

Chamber Meetings:
The Chamber managers of Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes as well as our chamber meet every 5 weeks to discuss chamber items. This is a great networking event for us as we share ideas on how to promote our members, new business seminars and workshops and business in general. We’ll be sharing information with our members about upcoming seminars held in Parry Sound/Muskoka and I’ll be advising you through this publication in case you wish to attend.

Probus Origination:
Andrew Ryeland, President of the Chamber and myself were invited to speak with this group of retired professionals to provide the basic principals of a Chamber of Commerce and to provide information as to what our chamber is currently working on. We’d like to thank them for the invitation and we certainly enjoyed this opportunity.

Shawanaga: Youth Fair:
I attended this great opportunity for the youth of Shawanaga First Nations to expand their opportunities with business members and community associations of the area during the trade show and workshops.

Canadore College:
I was pleased to attend the third annual Canadore College Convocation held at the Parry Sound High School. Congrats to all the grads and let’s look forward to having this ceremony take place at the new college in 2011.

24 Hour Members TV:
I met with an individual who has come up with a very interesting marketing and promotional item geared toward the tourism and retail sectors. This would provide an opportunity for businesses to buy into a 24 hour television station that would also be able to be received through your blackberry and gps units. More information on this exciting new opportunity to follow.

Rosseau Road Power Sports & Marine Ltd.:
The staff and I attended this After Five event with hosts Bill and Jennifer Parks and family at their new location on Blackstone Crane Lake Road. We’d like to extend a warm thanks for their hospitality and to the members in attendance.

Canadore College:
The Chamber is involved with their advisory committee and I attended a meeting last week and it’s great to see the progress of the new campus as well as the proposed plans on courses that will be offered.


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Business Planning Seminars – REDAC

Are you ready to pitch to the Parry Sound Dragon’s this fall? Are you looking to improve your overall business knowledge or brush up on some specific skills? Don’t miss the following seminars geared to improving your business savvy.

September 1 - Presentation Skills
As presented by Local Entrepreneurs, Keith Saulnier of Georgian Bay Airways and Andrew Ryeland of Bear Claw Tours.
Contact Area Economic Development Coordinator, Kirsten LeDrew at kledrew@townofparrysound.com or 705-746-2101 ext. 39 for more information or to RSVP.

September 15 - Presentation Rehearsals
Dragons Den Applicants will have the opportunity to perform a mock presentation and gain valuable feedback on their presentations from a panel of business-minded individuals. Please contact Stephanie at The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound at 746-5892 to book a time.


District of Parry Sound VCARS Seminar

Parry Sound VCARS will be hosting a seminar regarding Documentation, Confidentiality, Disclosure and Access Policy presented by Robert M Solomon at Kellerman’s Resort on September 13, 2010, 5-8pm and cost per person will be $40.00 inclusive of dinner. Please register before September 3rd and for more information and to reserve your ticket please contact VCARS at (705) 746-0508.


The Synergy Project Presents Management & Leadership Skills

Management & Leadership Skills for First Time Supervisors and Managers presented by: National Seminars Group. The seminar will take place at the West Parry Sound District Museum and runs from 9-4pm on September 21st and 22nd with registration beginning at 8:30am.

Please register by September 10th and for more information on this highly interactive workshop contact Alyssa Koenderink, Synergy Project Coordinator, 746-9330 or email akoenderink@clps.ca


What’s Happening In Our Community?


Pension Reform Announcement

In case you are not aware, the Ontario Government has just announced proposed reforms to Ontario’s pension system. The government is proposing to tighten the funding rules and to increase Pension Benefits Guarantee Funds (PBGF).

The Chamber as well as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) believes that this approach will have significant consequences for businesses, by increasing costs of companies that our sponsoring pension plans.

The OCC is currently striking a Task Force to review the proposed changes, and to develop concrete recommendations as part of our response to the government’s intentions. For more information on this news release please visit www.news.ontario.ca. We will ensure that as information comes our way we will keep you posted.


Have a great week,
Perry