INTRODUCTION: 

This invitation to the Valley Voices 2007 Annual General meeting at 2PM on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Vernonville Community Centre is being sent to members and non-members of Valley Voices in the K0K 2G0 postal code. Many in the area are not Valley Voices members and Alnwick/Haldimand Township has many new residents.  So we apologize to our members if we share a bit about who we are for those that are unfamiliar with Valley Voices.

We have included a backgrounder to the Shelter Valley Aggregates (SVA) application, an agenda for our Annual General meeting, and a job description for the position of President.

BACKGROUNDER

Briefly we incorporated 3 years ago in response to the application by SVA to start a 100-acre gravel pit operation in our community.  We didn’t see the wisdom in sitting by and not letting our “voice” be heard by the Township Council, SVA, and the provincial ministries involved so we appealed the rezoning of the pit lands to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The MNR then referred the pit license decision to the OMB as well. While we were not able to stop the pit, last November we won a number of concessions from SVA that will make the pit more bearable.

Many members (and other ratepayers) may believe that the OMB decision was the end of the game. There is still a role for Valley Voices and there are still actions we can take to shape the future of our community. It is not a given that we will have an aggregate pit in Shelter Valley extracting up to 500,000 tons of gravel a year.  That would be about 66 thirty-ton gravel trucks traveling our roads daily!!!

Decisions about the road to exit the pit site, the external haul route along an eastern extension of Turk Road to County road #25, removal of the DDT dump near the site, an environmental assessment of the Turk Road east haul route and its impact on our community are some of the continuing matters we need to be involved in. Valley Voices also has the right to appoint 5 members of a citizens committee to deal with the pit operator about local concerns when the pit begins operations. This may not happen for a long time. 

On October 14 we want to discuss whether Valley Voices should become an organization that builds our community and speaks to policy and decision makers and others on broader issues about our community, the environment, our safety and our way of life and not just the SVA pit. We hope that this discussion will be a vibrant one.

We know that within our membership some are not satisfied with the result. We believe we achieved the best possible result by reaching an agreement with SVA at the OMB hearing.  We want to find out if it is possible to solidify support behind what we intend to do—advocate on behalf of all citizens about the impact the aggregate pit will have on our community, our safety and our way of life. We invite you all to join us on October 14 and to join Valley Voices if you are not a member.

Your Valley Voices Board

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

AGENDA

3)       Financial Report and Financial Statements
       (available at the meeting.

4)        Fundraising Report.

5)        A discussion of the future direction of Valley Voices.

6)        Board of Directors Elections.

Valley Voices has 7 directors.
5 positions are up for election for a 2 year term at this meeting as the terms of 4 directors end at this meeting and 1 director has resigned. 
We are looking for people interested in serving on the Valley Voices       board. Nominations may also be made at the meeting.
However, prior notice would be appreciated.

7)        Election of a President.
Carol Hanley has resigned as President. Your board of directors has developed a job description for the President which is included with this notice. This is your board’s “wish list” rather than a list of requirements.

          8)        Other business.

9)        Refreshments and Socializing.

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President of Valley Voices Residents Association

 

1. Provides leadership.
2. Is the public face of Valley Voices and its prime spokesperson.
3. Chairs meetings of the board of Directors.
4. Is elected directly by the members. 

 

1. Reside in the area;
2. Have both the interest and the time to do the job and will commit to do the job. 
3. Be concerned about our community and the environment.
4. Be informed about the history of the “pit fight” and the issues.
5. Be comfortable with public speaking and be willing to do so.  
6. Be a consensus builder.
7. Preferably have email.