Friday, September 24, 2010

Tuesday E-mail - September 21, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?

Accessibility Workshop - September 29th


The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a workshop to help your business comply with Ontario’s new customer service standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

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.

Please RSVP to Jessie at the Chamber by September 24, 2010. (705) 746-4213 or jessie@parrysoundchamber.ca


Upcoming Business After Hours

Join your fellow Chamber members on September 29, 2010 at a business after hours hosted by Georgian Bay Airways and Bear Claw Tours at Georgian Bay Airways location on Bay Street. Come and enjoy coffee and ice cream while touring their great facility. Enter a draw for eight lucky attendees to go on a flight the following day (weather permitting).

Other upcoming Business After Hours:
October 13th - RBC & The Stockey Centre
November 17th - Hidden Bay Leadership Camp
Please RSVP to info@parrysoundchamber.ca or (705) 746-4213.


Golf Tournament

Please note the last blog post outlining our “Fall Classic” Golf Tournament which also recognizes our sponsors to date. Including a $10,000 Hole in One Contest sponsored by Canada Brokerlink. Sign up your team or as a individual today by contacting the Chamber (705) 746-4213.


Parry Sound Municipal Election All Candidates Meeting

Hosted by the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce, the Parry Sound North Star, TV Cogeco and the Moose FM.
When: Monday, September 27, 2010
Time: 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Place: Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts
Also broadcast on TV Cogeco
Cost: Free
- Have your say and ask your questions during the public question period.
- Hear what the Parry Sound Municipal candidates have to say on the issues that matter to you.
- Hear the Municipal candidates answer tough questions from a panel of select community representatives.
- Hear platforms from the Near North District School Board Board Trustee Candidates.


Chamber Happenings:


Poverty Reduction Committee:


The Chamber has recently joined this committee because as employers you’re aware of the effects of poverty on the workforce. This includes lack of transportation, lack of nutritious food and overall mental distress due to economic circumstances. All of these have a direct impact on the productivity of the worker and society and it’s very important to work with area associations to assist in solving this issue.


REDAC: (Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee)

The Township of Seguin, Municipality of McDougall and the Town of Parry Sound have been working in a partnership over the past 2 years in order to bring sustainable economic growth to our area. The Chamber and other associations belong to REDAC and have/will start to partner with the committee to bring workshops and seminars to the area and to evaluate the housing/emerging developments/communications and work on issues involving all municipalities. We recently attended the REDAC strategic seminar and look forward to assisting
with the implementation of the ideas proposed at the meeting for 2011.


Another wonderful waterfront season comes to a close

The Chamber of Commerce has been contracted since 1987 to operate the waterfront facilities to serve the transient boater’s needs and to act as a tourism information centre for the Parry Sound Area.

For the past 23 years, the operation has served well over 40,000 boaters with approximately 120,000 people on board (not to mention the hundreds of thousands attending the info booth) and financially boasted our local businesses and economy.

With the wonderful weather that was provided for us this season, we had a very busy summer at the waterfront.

Visitor Stats:
Town dock Location: Total # of paying visits: 117, up from 64 in 2009.
Average length of boat: 38.97’
Head count from info centre: approx. 1372

Big Sound Marina: Total # of paying visits: 952 up from 794 in 2009.
Average length: 33.79’

Through the generosity of our members, we received the following items:
• New BBQ from Ritchie Insurance
• Free propane, plus an additional 20lb tank from Canadian Tire (which were filled 5 times this year!).
• Free shuttle service to and from Parry Sound Sobeys
• Bigger, better and more powerful antennae for the wi-fi service donated and installed free of charge from Georgian Bay Software (enabled the boaters to receive the wi-fi from the docks instead of on our deck as in previous years.)
• Donation of computer and improved wireless equipment for the Town Dock information centre from Georgian Bay Software (to replace the computer stolen two summers ago).

Customer Service continues to be our number one priority and strength throughout the season. From their initial interview, to the first day of training and continuing throughout the summer, the staff is told and trained on the importance on going ‘above and beyond’ for the boaters and visitors to the area. We ensure that the staff is familiar with the local attractions, business and events to effectively promote the area. Local brochures, maps and other promotional items were always kept in stock to help achieve this.

We had an amazing and wonderful team this year and can’t say and brag enough about them!


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Contact North and PARO workshops

Contact North and PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise have teamed up to offer workshops every Wednesday in September. The sessions are available free of charge and open to all Parry Sound and area residents though Contact North distance education delivery system. The Contact North Center is located at 60 James Street, suite 201. Please register by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.

Bookkeeping I
September 29, 2010 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Christine Sikerbol, PARO Centre
• 3 Categories of essential business tasks
• Daily recording of transactions
• Cash Receipts (A/R)
• Cash Disbursements (A/P)
• Bank reconciliations

Labour Market Information
September 29, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Adrienne Serreao, Service Canada
Job seekers, careers in transitions, or potential employers, this workshop will provide you with valuable resources
• What’s hot and what’s not in the local labour market
• What you can do to prepare
Please register to these seminars by e-mailing: buildingbridges@paro.ca.


Georgian Bay Women’s Network

Georgian Bay Women’s Network is offering a six week course on Simply Accounting - Level One. It will run on Wednesday evenings - for a total of 18 hours. Starting October 13th and running into November.

They will provide the teaching module of Simply, the textbooks, instructor and a copy of the software for each student. The cost to you is only the payment of the textbooks - $50.00, plus a $15.00 donation to the YMCA. Please note space is limited. Contact Susan at the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre today to sign up, (705) 746-4455 or susan@cbdc.parrysound.on.ca


What’s Happening With Our Members?

RISE Open House

Join RISE (Resource Centre for Independent Living) on September 28, 2010 as they open and celebrate their new location. Meet the staff and volunteers. Light refreshments will be served. 11am to 2pm, 70 Isabella Street Parry Sound. For more information contact RISE at (705) 746-6996.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Chamber Golf Tournament Information

Tuesday E-mail - September 14, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?


Upcoming Business After Hours

Join your fellow Chamber members on September 29th at a business after hours hosted by Georgian Bay Airways and Bear Claw Tours at Georgian Bay Airways location on Bay Street. Come and enjoy coffee and ice cream while touring their great facility.

October 13th - RBC & The Stockey Centre
November 17th - Hidden Bay Leadership Camp


Accessibility Workshop - September 29th

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 section each week to advise and enlighten on the happenings of the Chamber involvement.

This past week has been very busy for us in the office. We’ve been preparing for the upcoming Accessibility workshop, business after hours and our monthly board meeting.


Chamber Business Directory

We’ve also started working on the 2011 “Chamber Business Directory” which will be published and ready for distribution early spring. You’ll be hearing from us over the next couple of months to ensure that the information we have on file for your company is accurate and up to date. Of course there will be advertising opportunities to promote your business in the directory and we’ll be sending this out under separate cover at a later date.


Golf Tournament

Please note the following Blog Post outlining our “Fall Classic” Tournament” which also recognizes our sponsors to date.

Canada Brokerlink has just sponsored a $10,000 hole in one so this is going to be a great tournament.


Fire Truck

Many years ago a 1938 GMC Fire Truck was donated to the Chamber and has been on display at the Old Town Fire Hall. This truck could be used for parades and community events however it does require some minor work. If a member is interested in assisting us with this repair as a sponsor that would be great. For additional information please contact Perry at the Chamber, (705) 746-4213 or perry@parrysoundchamber.ca


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Contact North and PARO workshops

Contact North and PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise have teamed up to offer workshops every Wednesday in September. PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise provides programs and services to residents across Northern Ontario who are ready to start, grow or build new opportunities. The sessions are available free of charge and open to all Parry Sound and area residents though Contact North distance education delivery system. The Contact North Center is located at 60 James Street, suite 201. Please register by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.

The Good, The Bad... What were you thinking?
September 15, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Brenda McDougall, Suzanne Tighe, PARO Centre
Have you ever read an ad and wondered, “What were they thinking”? Learn how to make the most of your marketing $$.
• Avoid costly bloopers and blunders
• Do it right the first time!

Record Keeping
September 22, 2010 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Christine Sikerbol, PARO Centre
What to do with all that paper that flows in and out of a business!
• Filing Mechanics and systems
• Record retention guidelines
• Bank statements, cancelled cheques, accounts payable, accounting chart of accounts, posting invoices and payments.

Debt Freedom
September 22, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Shirley DeWilde- Debt Freedom
Debt Freedom Financial helping to make choices in
• Debt Management
• Revenue Protection
• Expense Control
• Asset Management

Please register to these seminars by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.


Georgian Bay Women’s Network

Fall has arrived which means the Georgian Bay Women’s Network is up and providing seminars and workshops again. Starting October 13th and running into November they are offering a six week course on Simply Accounting - Level One It will run on Wednesday evenings - for a total of 18 hours. They will provide the teaching module of Simply, the textbooks, instructor and a copy of the software for each student. You will learn everything you need to know to navigate Simply accounting, create and configure a company, use general ledger features, accounts payable, accounts receivable, historical data, perform transaction inquiries, perform commonly used transactions, bank transactions, periodic processing, forms, reports, and management tools.

The cost to you is only the payment of the textbooks - $50.00, plus a $15.00 donation to the YMCA. Please note space is limited. Contact Susan at the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre today to sign up, (705) 746-4455 or susan@cbdc.parrysound.on.ca


The Synergy Project Management & Leadership Skills for First Time Supervisors & Managers Workshop
An important update from the Synergy Project...
There are only TEN spots left for the Management and Leadership Skills for First Time Supervisors and Managers workshop!
Register now to reserve your spot. Presented by: National Seminars Group. September 21 & 22 from 9am-4pm, at the West Parry Sound District Museum.

To register contact Alyssa Koenderink, Synergy Project Coordinator, 746-9330 or email akoenderink@clps.ca


What’s Happening In Our Community?


Canadian Youth Business Foundation seeks Mentors

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation is looking for entrepreneurs and professionals with strong business acumen, who possess strong communication skills, are great listeners and can advise as necessary. Answer the call to mentor and Inspire, Learn, Build and Grow young
entrepreneurs in your community.

Further Details can be found on their website:
- www.cybf.ca
- http://www.cybf.ca/assets/pdf/Become_a_Mentor_Sheet.pdf
For additional information please contact Janice Weir, CHRP jweir@cybf.ca or 1-866-646-2922 x 2105

Tuesday E-mail - September 7, 2010

What Is The Chamber Doing For You?


Business After Hours - September 29

Join your fellow Chamber members on September 29th at a business after hours hosted by Georgian Bay Airways and Bear Claw Tours at Georgian Bay Airways location on Bay Street. Come and enjoy coffee and ice cream while touring their great facility.


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.


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


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 http://www.news.ontario.ca/ . We will ensure that as information comes our way we will keep you posted.


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. This past week has been very busy for us in the office. We’ve been preparing for the golf tournament, the upcoming workshops and seminars with association partners and the closure of the waterfront operation.


Chamber Business Directory

We’ve also started working on the 2011 “Chamber Business Directory” which will be published and ready for distribution early spring. You’ll be hearing from us over the next couple of months to ensure that the information we have on file for your company is accurate and up to date. Of course there will be advertising opportunities to promote your business in the directory and we’ll be sending this out under separate cover at a later date.


Fire Truck

Many years ago a 1938 GMC Fire Truck was donated to the Chamber and has been on display at the Old Town Fire Hall. This truck could be used for parades and community events however it does require some minor work. If a member is interested in assisting us with this repair as a sponsor that would be great. For additional information please contact Perry at the Chamber, (705) 746-4213 or perry@parrysoundchamber.ca


Upcoming Business Workshops & Seminars:


Contact North and PARO workshops

Contact North and PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise have teamed up to offer workshops every Wednesday in September. PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise provides programs and services to residents across Northern Ontario who are ready to start, grow or build new opportunities. The sessions are available free of charge and open to all Parry Sound and area residents though Contact North distance education delivery system. The Contact North Center is located at 60 James Street, suite 201. Please register by e-mailing : buildingbridges@paro.ca.

Business Expenses & Budgeting

September 8, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Barbara Gauthier, PARO Centre
Business Expenses and Budgeting leave you confused? We will help you make sense of it all ...
• Variable vs. Fixed Expenses
• What is your reliable income?
• How to budget for your business

“Getting the Money”
September 8, 2010 - 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Pauline Shesnicky, Thunder Bay Ventures
• How to get funding
• What steps are involved
• How can this work for you


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 Seminars:

Management & Leadership Skills for First Time Supervisors & Managers
Presented by: National Seminars Group. September 21 & 22 from 9am-4pm, at the West Parry Sound District Museum.

To register contact Alyssa Koenderink, Synergy Project Coordinator, 746-9330 or email akoenderink@clps.ca

Positive and Productive Meetings

With Julie Malette, HSA Canada. September 30 from 9am-4pm, at the Log Cabin Inn. To register contact Alyssa Koenderink, Synergy Project Coordinator, 746-9330 or email akoenderink@clps.ca


What’s Happening In Our Community?

Canadian Youth Business Foundation seeks Mentors The Canadian Youth Business Foundation is looking for entrepreneurs and professionals with strong business acumen, who possess strong communication skills, are great listeners and can advise as necessary. Answer the call to mentor and Inspire, Learn, Build and Grow young entrepreneurs in your community.

Further Details can be found on their website:
- www.cybf.ca
- http://www.cybf.ca/assets/pdf/Become_a_Mentor_Sheet.pdf

For additional information please contact Janice Weir, CHRP jweir@cybf.ca or 1-866-646-2922 x 2105


What’s Happening With Our Members?


Members featured on TripAdvisor

In a recent e-mail blast from TripAdvisor about places to stay and things to see in Parry Sound many Chamber Members were featured.

Making the top five in the following categories were:

Featured B&B or Inn
- 40 Bay Street Bed & Breakfast

Hotels:
- Comfort Inn
- Kellerman’s Resort
- Quality Inn & Conference Centre
- Microtel Inn & Suites

Things You Shouldn’t Miss:
- The Ridge at Manitou
- The M.V. Chippewa III

Most Popular Restaurants:
- Kellerman’s Resort
- Log Cabin Inn
- Trapper’s Choice Restaurant