VALLEY VOICES RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
April 6, 2006
Did you think that our silence since the OMB appeal deadline in February meant your BoD was on hiatus?
Hardly!
We are:
• following your request to obtain environmental biologic, and noise experts. We have planning and hydrogeological experts. All this takes time and money;
• working on an audit to present at the AGM early this summer.
• working on a fundraising proposal. This OMB business will not be cheap but we think it is within the means of the Valley and area. The appeal could take a long time. Our fundraising activities, plus generous pledges from several members, are most encouraging.
• looking for members to join the Board of Directors as the Vice-President or as a Director. The duties can be challenging but the cookies, home-made bread, and wine and cheese parties more than compensate for your work. It’s exciting work with so much to learn! There is a tremendous sense of satisfaction to know you are contributing to the social and environmental health of the Valley.
• looking for volunteers. The *** indicates volunteer activities. Help with distributing flyers, posting signs, writing letters, telephone campaigns, and the like is always needed. The present Directors and volunteers are fatigued and really need more help. Please contact Carol Hanley @ 344.5947.
• looking for volunteers*** to work on the Membership Committee. This entails phoning members to confirm e-mail addresses, to solicit paid membership, to determine if our outside supporters are, or want to become, full members of VVRA, and to grow our membership.Interested? Please contact Carol Hanley @ 344.5947, or Margaret Jansen @ 344.7304. We thank Christine Thompson for offering her help. Organizations such as ours require membership numbers if we hope to succeed.
Which, of course, we do.
Not only in the Valley, but also in the Township. Municipal elections are due in November. We wonder if it’s time for VVRA to expand its horizons and put together a slate of candidates who would be more respectful of the Township’s quality of life.
OMB APPEALS: VVRA and three Valley residents filed appeals. The OMB must give at least 35 days advance notice of a formal hearing. Our lawyer is busy working to dispel some of the murkiness surrounding what will/might happen next, and when.
COMING EVENTS:
> Our AGM is slated for early this summer. Details to follow.
> Our annual Yard Sale*** is set for Saturday, May 20, from 7:00am to 1:00pm. Details TBA. The format will be similar to last year’s.
> Shelter Valley Art Auction***, a fundraiser, Grafton Village Inn, at 4:00pm on June 10 with a preview on June 9. Tickets are $5. Featuring: live and silent auctions of works by prominent Northumberland artists (paintings, pottery, photographing, wood, iron work, and glass and fibre); door prizes, delectable nibbles, music by Shelagh Purcell. Free preview and advance bidding Fri. 2pm to 9pm and Sat. 9am to 3pm. We need volunteers*** to sell tickets, make food, deliver flyers, put up posters, sit shifts at the Preview at the INN and work at the auction June 10. Generous compensation at an artists/volunteers post-AUCTION party. Contact Carol Hanley @ 344.5947 to offer your help.
> Our annual Poker Run*** is set for Saturday, August 20.
> Our annual Golf Tournament*** will be in September.
> We are working on a VVRA Cookbook*** for Christmas, 2006. Recipes to/Info from Margaret Jansen at mhjansen@eagle.ca or at 344.7304 or at FAX 905.344.7509.
And A Large Thank You to Chuck Shook.
For personal reasons, Chuck has resigned from his position as a Director and Vice-President. Every organization such as ours has a few key players who, quite simply, balk at nothing. Chuck’s efforts on our behalf have been extraordinary. He has helped to guide the BoD through many times of anxiety and uncertainty. In his own quiet way he has continued to stir the pot.
Since VVRA was incorporated some three years back, Chuck has barely missed a Council or Planning Meeting. We owe him an enormous thanks! And a thank you to Lorna for accommodating Chuck’s involvement.
Chuck has offered to continue to attend Council/Planning Meetings on our behalf but he sure would like some company!
