Message from the President

I am now almost half way through my term as President of PECCTAC.

During this time our Board of Directors has dealt with many issues concerning our business community.

Every month we have seen growth in our membership and are at an all time high of 325 members.

PECCTAC will continue to be the “Voice of Business” representing our members and community and voicing the current issues and concerns of our local business owners to various levels of government. Your Board of Directors will continue to encourage and promote the benefits of membership to our business community.

We currently have group rates on home, car, medical, dental and life insurance.

Through our association with First Data we also offer excellent rates on Visa and MasterCard transactions. To help broaden the services and information we provide I need member feedback on the various issues within our community.
Our next “Meet and Greet” is on June 10th with a summer kick off BBQ at Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance & Farm Mutual Services.

Our “Meet and Greets” are a good venue for new members to introduce themselves and their business. I am looking forward to an exciting, fun and prosperous 2008 summer season.

Sincerely, Rick Caruso, President

Your Chamber @ Work!

Great strides were made at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in Oshawa.

President Rick Caruso and General Manager Lawrie Ackerman presented 2 resolutions:

Current Market Assessment Process and
Journey Person Ratios.
For further details on the meeting see the Media release enclosed with your hard copy Newsletter.

Picture above: Premier Dalton McGuinty addressing the OCC members at lunch

Do the best Companies join Chambers of Commerce?

Alexandria, VA
The best places to work tend to belong to their local chamber of commerce, according to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the United States and Canada this year, 94 are members of their local chamber, including all of the top 24.
Separately, ACCE found that in a random sample of 100 companies in the Fortune 1000, at least 75 were members of their local chamber. "This 'Best Companies to Work For' information is one more indication that the best companies tend to be chamber members," according to ACCE President Mick Fleming.
"If a company cares about its employees, there's a good chance it also cares about its community and the chamber is the way that great employers invest in both."
Local chambers of commerce are associations of businesses that come together to improve the local economic climate and help members network and find new business.
Strong employers link with and learn from like-minded peer companies through business-led civic organizations - chambers of commerce.
Check out the Fortune list of the best places to work:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008/

Dates to Remember

June 10
Meet & Greet Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance & Farm Mutual Financial Services, 13379 Loyalist Pkwy, Picton .
Don’t miss our summer kick-off BBQ, hosted by Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance & Farm Mutual Financial Services
13379 Loyalist Pkwy, Picton

September 10 NEW DATE!
Meet & Greet Katy's Collections,80 Main St., Picton

September 27
County Merchants Showcase , Picton Curling Club

October 14
Meet & Greet Sunrise Cottage Resort15841 Loyalist Parkway, Wellington

October 24
Quinte Business Achievement Awards Knights of Columbus Hall in Trenton

November 12 NEW DATE!
Meet & Greet Bergeron's Estate Winery, 9656 Loyalist Parkway, Adolphustown

December 9
TBA

Welcome New Members!

Arbour Gardens – Garden Centre
Arcanda’s Whitehouse
Art House by the Bay
Brick Street House
Canadian Tire (Picton)
East Shore Campark
Framed Expressions Photography
Management 201 Consulting
Mark Gardiner (Royal LePage)
Mindful Movements – Pilates Yoga
PARX Productions
Picton Golf & Country Club
Pure County Bottled Water
Prince Edward Power Sports
Prince Edward County Sandbanks Getaway Cottage
Serendipity on Main Street
Sprenkels Meat & Variety
Training Studio
The Patterson House Suites
We Organize – declutter and staging service

Thank you for your support!

Tourism Ambassador Program

The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce (PECCTAC) in collaboration with the Prince Edward Learning Centre has undertaken to develop a Tourism Ambassador Program that will provide a customized customer service module as well as a detailed County training component.
The Business Retention & Expansion survey that was completed in 2005 indicated there were several training issues that were lacking in Prince Edward County – hospitality & service skills training was highlighted.
A funding application is being submitted to address these training issues. The customized Tourism Ambassador program will be the 1st ever in Prince Edward County and will be flexible and affordable so all sectors and businesses can participate.
In order for Prince Edward County to build on its tourism we must provide a well trained workforce. This project will be open to all sectors and businesses in Prince Edward County.

For more information please contact Lawrie Ackerman at 613.476.2421.

And More Member Benefits - Don't Forget:

Bring in Your Water Samples for
PECCTAC’s Free Courier Service
to the Kingston lab.

Are You Paying Too Much???

VISA - 1.69%

MasterCard - 1.79%

CALL US TODAY TO GET THESE GREAT RATES!
613.476.2421 or e- mail pec@reach.net

A Clever Idea

We had to share a clever idea from a newcomer to the County.

Put the latitude and longitude (in decimal form) for your place of business on all your advertising material. Many visitors now have GPS systems in their cars and boats. This will help them to find you!

Bay of Quinte Tourist Council Update

Great News to Report!

The 401 Tourist Information Booth located at the Wooler Road exit will again be staffed – this year - 7 days a week.

We have been successful in obtaining some funding from Service Canada to hire 2 students for 10 weeks.
The cost to display your brochure in the kiosk will be $350 per season. Please call PECCTAC to book your space. 613.476.2421

Carrying Place Kiosk

Yes!

The Carrying Place Welcome Centre Has Moved!!!!

Visitors coming into Prince Edward County will find Visitors Information at Sprenkels Meat & Variety store. A big thanks to Jerry Sprenkel and to Ron Dubyk Manager of Properties for making it happen.

Thank you to Jan for cleaning and stocking both Welcome Centres for the May 24 weekend.

RST Exemptions Information

The Ontario Ministry of revenue has announced the following RST exemptions:

+ Admission to live theatres, including dinner theatres, of not more than 3,200 seats that present live dramatic, comedic, choreographic or musical performances;
+ Energy Star household appliances and light bulbs purchased on or after July 20, 2007 and on or before July 19, 2008;
+ Bicycles and related safety equipment purchased on or after December 1, 2007 and on or before November 30, 2008.
This exemption is on the purchase of new and used bicycles that have a purchase price of $1,000 or less and includes tricycles and unicycles.

For further information on these exemptions please go to
www.rev.gov.on.ca

New Great Advertising Opportunity

PECCTAC’s website had over 1.3 million hits in 2007.

Now your business can be front and centre on our website.

Go to http://www.pecchamber.com/ and check it out.

Market Place Tarde Show

Book your space for our Market Place Trade Show!
Saturday, September 27 at the Picton Curling Club.

Call Jan at 613.476.2421 to book your space.

All the details are enclosed with your hardcopy newsletterwith a layout plan.Call us to book your space ASAP.

Attention Campground Owners

If you still have campground space available Friday morning please let us know.
PECCTAC will email the Sandbanks Provincial Park with accommodation availability of private campsites each Friday at noon throughout the summer.

The Ontario Government's New Accessible Customer Service Regulation

On January 1, 2008 the Ontario government’s new standard on accessible customer service for people with disabilities came into force. All organizations in Ontario that provide goods or services to the public, and have at least one employee, will be covered by the standard. This includes private businesses, non-profit organizations, as well as the provincial government and municipal governments, universities, colleges, hospitals, school boards and public transit organizations.
The standard came into force on January 1, 2008; private businesses and non-profits have until 2012 to comply with the standard while public sector organizations, including the provincial government and municipal governments, hospitals, school boards and public transit organizations, have until 2010.
For updates on the development of standards, visit www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario/accesson

Under the new standard, organizations will be required to:

+ Demonstrate a commitment to removing barriers to quality customer service for people with disabilities;
+ Train employees and volunteers on how to provide accessible customer service; + Offer an accessible way for people with disabilities to provide customer feedback and commit to taking action on any complaints;
+ Provide information on any service disruption that would prevent accessibility for people with disabilities (for example posting signs at the entrance of a building to let customers know that the elevator is temporarily out of service);
+ Make information available about the accessibility features of your customer service practices; + Permit the use of accessibility supports such as service animals, assistive devices and accessibility support persons;
+ Clearly advise customers who require help from a support person, whether or not that support person will be charged a fee for entry if you are a business that charges admission (for example movie theatre, museum, sports facility); and
+ Communicate with customers in a way that takes into consideration their disability (for example providing a publication in an alternative format, such as audio or large print).

The Recreation Facility Survey is closed now

Here are the results:

Would you agree that the Wellington Community Centre needs to be replaced in the next 5 years:

YES: 81%
NO: 19%

Are you prepared to accept a tax increase to support a new facility in the County:

YES: 46%
NO: 54%

What should a new recreation facility include:

Ice pad (hockey/skating only): 75%
Aquatic centre; 40%
Fitness centre: 56%
Meeting Rooms: 46%
Senior activity centre: 43%
Sports fields on property: 31%
Tourism &/or Cultural Centre: 15%
All of the above: 34%


Where should the recreation facility be located:

Town of Wellington: 43%
Town of Picton: 9%
Central location: 48%

Are you willing to donate funds to support a new recreation facility in the County:

YES: 56%
NO: 44%

The ATV SURVEY is closed now after 12 days

We would like to thank everybody who took part.
The result:
YES: 901
NO: 455

Total: 1357

In other words: 66% YES, 34% NO.
The comments are still available for your review. New comments will not be accepted.