CHAMBER UPDATE

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: We are pleased to welcome the new owners of Three Islands Motel, Hasu & Nina Gosai, to our community and the Chamber family. They can be reached at 738-2313.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE: It is time to again put on your "thinking caps" and send in your nominations for Citizen of the Year - I.E. "Ted" Shea Memorial Award; Business Leader of the Year - Roberta "Robbie" DeClute Memorial Award; Outstanding Business Achivement Award. Click here for a copy of the nomination form and details of the criteria for each award. Deadline for nominations is March 28th at 5:00 p.m. As a reminder, those honoured in the past two years have been: Citizen of the Year - John Brown (2000) and Charlie Devenish (2001); Business Leader of the Year - Paul Pankhurst (2000) and John and Sherry Peel (2001); Outstanding Business Achievement - The Bobcaygeon Inn (2000) and Thompson’s Ready To Wear (2001).
The awards will be presented again this year at the 4th Annual Spring Social Banquet & Auction, being held on April 27th at Caygeon Lanes. Tickets for the evening will be available next week in the Chamber office or from one of the committee members. We are pleased to be continuing to work with Kawartha Settlers’ Village on this gala evening.

4TH ANNUAL SPRING SOCIAL BANQUET & AUCTION: As mentioned the date for this special event is fast approaching. Tickets are still only $35.00/person, which includes a gourmet buffet dinner and an evening of horse races, lucky draws and the chance to win $1,000 cash! Tickets for the $1,000 draw are now available at the Chamber office and only 500 have been printed so get yours soon! The committee is again offering corporate sponsorship packages and a copy of the sponsorship form is attached. If you have any questions please contact the office or committee co-chairs Lori Ann Moffattt (738-4399) and Janet Brock (324-9181).

INFORMATION FROM THE ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
1. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is represented on the province’s Ontario Small Business Advisory Committee by OCC Board member Wayne Munday. The Small Business Advisory Committee is looking for input on business’ experience with Ministry of Finance’s Tax Auditors. Please take a few minutes to complete their survey at: http://occ.on.ca/cgi-bin/Tax/.
2. Members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce can now access a special rate for hotel accommodation when in Toronto at the Colony Hotel Toronto. This hotel is centrally located behind City Hall, close to the Eaton Centre, theatres, Queen Street, hospitals and the subway. In order to receive the discount you must contact the hotel at 1-800-387-8687 or sales@toronto-colony.com.