Norfolk County Email Addresses

Folks if you use these email addresses, this will get you around the gatekeepers


mayor dennis.travale@norfolkcounty.ca
councillors mayorandcouncillors@norfolkcounty.ca
gatekeeper maureen.rebbetoy@norfolkcounty.ca
mpp toby@tobybarrett.com
simcoe reformer simcoeclass@bowesnet.com

Norfolk County Proposed Marina Operations

The Corporation of Norfolk County

Normally, I finish each year by renewing my slip, paying my deposit for the next boating season. I have not done this yet, because I have not received the renewal forms. I have made inquiries to why, and have learned (through my efforts, not proactive measures by the Marina), that the reason I have not got my renewal forms, is because the Marina Board resigned. The County Government is going to run the Marina and is proposing a 20% increase for dock fees and a 5% increase for electricity. I have also learned that there is a town hall type meeting scheduled for Jan.13/09. My facts may be wrong, but I have not been given the courtesy of the Marina informing me of the correct facts even though I have been a customer for 10 years. If it were run like a proper business, a letter of intent would have been sent even if it were to say, we are reviewing our policies and will get back to you later.

I suppose the County Government strategy is to delay informing its customers of the proposed increased in the hopes of blindsiding boat owners, or perhaps they just not up to the task of running the marina? We recently had a large increase, is another one warranted due to the current economic circumstances? The members of the Port Dover Harbor Marina are primarily middle class families that struggle with the same issues as everyone else, rising gas prices, taxes etc, and have limited resources to dedicate to our boating activity. The Marina Board would know this if they studied their fuel sales for the last few years. The increase in fuel cost has limited the usage of boats. It appears the County Government is looking for more money, without taxing its voters. Well guess what? I vote with my wallet, in the stores and restaurants around Port Dover, and I have a limited amount of resources, if I didn’t then I would have a boat on Georgian Bay.

Suppose you increase the rates 20% and lose 20% of the boats,

Your net result:

• to the Marina is loss of revenue of 4%,
• but your costs don’t decrease, the grass still needs to be cut,
• the community impact is far greater.

That is:

• 20% less people at the Marina,
• 20% less work for Bridge Marine, Dovercraft etc.
• 20% less marina customers at the Restaurants, drinking establishments, theatre, shops, and the farmers market.

I would suggest that amount is far greater, even more because hardly a weekend goes by that we don’t have guests. The guests at times book hotel rooms, shop in the craft stores, and eat in the restaurants. Most other boaters have visitors as well.

For those that do stay, they have 20% less money to spend, perhaps they bring their food, don’t go out to see live entertainment, so it becomes a slippery slope. Businesses have fewer customers, need fewer employees, and it recesses from there. Is this the course the County Government wants to chart?

It is estimated that a dollar gets multiplied (some say up to 8 times in a community) so the loss to business could be much more substantial when you consider the three fold decrease:

• less boats,
• less visitors to boats,
• less disposable income for those that stay.

A business needs to balance several items to maximize the net over all benefit to the shareholders, and this is a business. The County Government’s plan has not considered the net effect to the loss of revenue to the businesses and residents (the shareholders) of the town of Port Dover, they have missed the big picture.

So here is the big picture. The Marina is a cash cow which brings money into the community. The County Government needs to balance how they want to milk the cow, because their current course of action will kill the cow, and dead cows don’t give milk.

Geoff Sanders

Dock 1 of the PDHM

Winter Rendezvous

Hey Stop Shovelling and Come to the Winter Rendezvous!

See your friends
Spent some $$
Eat some food
Lament about the weather


Winter Rendezvous Sunday February 22/09
1:00 pm at Callahans Beach House
RSVP by February 16/09 to Judy Redmond,
email to 1whisper@sympatico.ca or
phone @905-385-0313.
Thanks
Judy

January 13/09 PDHM Townhall Meeting

A message from a Member (anyone can add to the blog)

Geoff please see revised email below for the mayor and councilors, we have been asked to send emails to Maureen Rebbetoy and she will distribute to the mayor and councilors.

Geoff as we spoke on the phone today we attended a meeting put on by Cliffside Yacht Club to address the proposed 20% rate increases. This meeting was for all interested parties.

It was suggested that as many letters/emails as possible go to council from INDIVIDUALS was the way to go, with copies to the local MP and media.

The chair of the meeting asked for our executive contacts emails but I did not have anything with me so I said I would email his information to our exec, I will list his name and email/phone number below.

Meeting chair (Cliffside Yacht Club) Pat Young Ph 519-583-3502 email pyoung@kwick.com

Mayor and Councilors emial maureen.rebbetoy@norfolkcounty.ca (she will distribute to the mayor and councillors)

Address The Corporation Of Norfolk County

50 Colborne Street South

Simcoe, On.

N3Y 4N5

Local MP Diane Finley email Finley.D@parl.gc.ca

Constituency office 70 Queensway West

Simcoe, On.

N3Y 2M6

Simcoe Reformer 50 Gilberts Drive

Simcoe, On.

N3Y 4L2

Ph. 519-426-5710

FX 519-426-9255

Port Dover Maple Leaf 351 Main Street,

Port Dover, On.

Ph 519-583-0112

FX 519-583-3200

email info@inportdover.com

My suggestion would be to urge all members to send individual letters to the mayor and councilors with copies to others listed above. The more they hear from the boaters the more they will listen.

Commodore Jody, has tasked Past Commodore Norm in organizing the following wine tour

Details from Chart above (enhanced for some of our older members)

Start with Breakfast at 0930 at Al Dente restaurant, 250 King George Road, Brantford.

Then travel by luxury bus to Niagara to visit three famous wineries for tours, wine tasting and a few pointers on wine appreciation.

Next visit the Ice Wine Festival at Niagara on the lake. See the ice sculptures, taste the ice wine and enjoy the ambiance.

After a great day in the Niagara area, the bus will bring you back to Al Dente in Brantford for a four course meal, ( choose Vegetarian, Chicken, Steak or Fish) complete with wine.

TO BOOK or obtain more information:

Call Al Dente direct at 519-753 4303 and say that you are with the Long Point Bay YC

Or Contact Norm Mills 519-751-0890

PLEASE BOOK BY JANUARY 18th

Fall General Meeting

The AGM was held Sunday September 21/08 at the Brig, and several items were up for discussion under new business. The actual minutes of the meeting will not be published here, but two items of consideration under new business will be presented for club discussion for those of you that missed the meeting.

Firstly, Steve Redmond will be chairing a committee to study the feasibility of having a de-defibrillator at the marina. The suggestion was made to keep the de-defibrillator at the gas dock, to help power boaters deal with sticker shock of filling their tanks. Clear!

Secondly, the club has presented a cheque to cover the initial costs of setting up the wireless internet access at the marina. The new executive will decide on the position going forward. Currently there is a committee to study the feasibility of how this wireless will work going forward. Contact Geoff Sanders, the Chairman of the committee should you want to be involved in this decision.

Message from the Commodore

April 12, 2008
Hi everyone.
This is my first communication and I would like to thank-you for having me as the Commodore for the 2008 boating season. The club voted in a great group of people for the executive and committee chairs.
The Executive has been meeting over the winter working out the summer events and has come up with a great list of events for your enjoyment.
Our first General Membership meeting will be the 2008 spring meeting on April 20 @ 1:00 PM. We will be up dating you on the social and cruising events at that time. Also, this year there is a Constitutional vote, hope you can be at the meeting or send your proxy with one of your friends.
The weather, hasn't been so great, but rumour has it that May should be warmer (15-20 degrees). Now that's more like boating time and great way to start our 2008 year.
I'm a person who likes to talk, so please come see me at Dock 3-slip 1 anytime or email me via donnaf61@cogeco.ca, or through the LPBYC website. Any suggestions or comments would be great way to have the club run even better. People, the club is your place to have fun, and your input is needed and appreciated.
Commodore
Rob Zaffino