Executive Committee Report – June 29, 2007

BRIDGS
Executive Committee Report
June 29, 2007
Trading Post

Present: John Malmstrom, Susan Malmstrom, Rev. Ken Perkins, Hal Theriault, Gerry Chute.

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM.

Strategic Plan: is ready and an invoice will be forwarded to the Office of Economic Development. We will send out a formal press release when the Plan is officially approved and available to the public. Funders to be thanked include the OED, plus the municipalities. Gerry suggested that an executive summary version be sent out door-to-door if necessary. The full plan will be available on the BRIDGS blog. Hal and John will make presentations to the other groups in town. It will also be featured prominently at our next November ‘summit’ meeting of volunteers and volunteer organizations.

Signage: The signs that Rob has need to be installed as securely as possible, with 4×4s and 2×4s plus hardware. Since Gerry has the equipment needed, he offered to be the central point of information on this, and will talk to Rob.

Trails Workshop: Susan attended a workshop that was presented by Recreation Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Health Promotion on how communities can establish trails and other nature programs. This was listed as a priority by many people who were originally surveyed for the strategic plan, and should be pursued. The Board of Trade has stated that this is something they would like to accomplish, and will be raised as a topic within the Strategic Plan discussions.

Youth Centre/Active Saturdays Update:
• The Music Society is reforming, and we will forward a couple of names of young people to be involved. It would be great to have some informal coffeehouse nights at the Youth Centre featuring young people and acoustic music. In the meantime, we are looking into have a couple of official outings, such as a trip to the Lifeplex.
• We are currently waiting to hear back from Service Canada regarding our application for a job creation partnership with Digby Disabilities for a fulltime employee.
• There is a giant pile of refundable bottles and cans (from the Digby Exhibition) that currently sit in the Youth Centre. Gerry and Susan will coordinate getting them to the recycling centre.

Fundraising: Susan and Cindy are going to get together in September to begin work on applying for charitable status for BRIDGS.

Bear River Pageant/Play: There will be a staged reading on July 28 at the Oakdene, 7:30 PM, suggested donation. Ticket prices for the play in August were set at $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids under 12. Ken will budget this in the future. Hal has worked well within what his funding has allowed. We are working towards making this a source of income. At the August debut, there will be special invitees—please let Sharon and Hal know if you would like to add someone to the list.

Cherry Carnival: Meetings are going well. Projected income: $1200

Bear River Studio Tour map- 2007

Artists in Bear River have a long tradition of welcoming visitors to their studios. This brochure will guide you to the working studios and workshops of 14 local artists. Most are open year-round.
bearriverworkingstudios.pdf

The Bear River Story

The Bear River Innovation, Development, and Growth Society (BRIDGS) presents

This year the Hessians, the Loyalists and the 60’s Flower Children all return to Bear River as their stories are enacted in the streets of downtown Bear River.

“They came seeking a freer life…those who migrated here in the late 1700’s up
to the 1970’s sought safety and freedom from oppression, or sometimes just a new
home where they could live their lives peacefully, creatively, and independently.”

The stories of those whose lives were changed, here between the hills, will be retold in a series of vignettes at the Oakdene Centre and outdoor venues
beginning in mid-August in a new play by local writer/director Hal Theriault.
The Grand Opening of The Bear River Story will take place at the Oakdene Centre, Bear River, August 18th and 19th, 2007, at 7:30 pm. A dramatic reading of The Bear River Story will be held at Oakdene on Saturday, July 14th at 7:30 pm. For further information, please call 245-5629.

Letter from the BRIDGS Chair

Dear Residents and Friends of Bear River:

I am so very happy to introduce you to a new source of information on the exciting civic renewal that is taking place in your village.

http://bridgsns.wordpress.com is a weblog created and maintained by enthusiastic volunteer Flora Doehler.

One of BRIDGS’ principle aims is to foster communication and cooperation toward common goals for your community, and this blog will serve as a convenient point for all to share and learn.

When you visit this site, you’ll find updates on our various projects including minutes from all BRIDGS meetings, images, links, and well, just about all you could want to know about this rural Canadian village’s successful efforts to reinvigorate itself. And as you finish your virtual tour, we invite you to join the on-line discussion by posting your comments on the village and its projects.

Please note too, that BRIDGS’ new e-mail address is linked to this site, and will now be: bridgsns@gmail.com

As you explore http://bridgsns.wordpress.com, please join me in thanking Flora Doehler for the proactive generosity she has demonstrated by suggesting, creating, and maintaining this valuable new resource.

Sincerely,
John Malmström
Chair, Bear River Innovation, Development & Growth Society (BRIDGS)

Minutes, June 13, 2007

BRIDGS

(Bear River Innovation, Development and Growth Society)

June 13, 2007

Trading Post (Youth Centre)

Present: John Malmstrom, Laurel Shishkov, Susan Malmstrom, Hal Theriault, Don Rice, Norma Wagner, Rob Buckland-Nicks, Cindy Harris.

1. Call to Order/Adoption of Agenda

Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM.

MOTION to accept the Agenda. CARRIED.

2. Introduction of Minutes from Previous Meetings

3. New Business

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Rev. Ken Perkins was not present, although he had forwarded a preliminary report prior to receiving a bank statement. The report will be presented at the next Executive Committee meeting. The May fundraiser for the Youth Centre brought in $922.

Strategic Plan: The Plan Subcommittee has been working hard and will be finished before the end of June. The real work will begin once the plan is ready. There is lots of input from other village organizations and individuals. Everyone needs to be involved to realize the goals. Hal and John will meet with the organizations once the plan is officially published.

Pageant Update: Hal will put a casting call out as soon as possible, as there is now a working script. July 14 is the target date for a staged reading at the Oakdene, and production in mid-August. Sharon Trueman is working on promotion/marketing, Robbie Bays is creating sets and acquiring props, and Carol White is producing costumes. These are the incremental steps towards instituting the pageant as an ongoing program. Eventually we would like to hire tour guides, actors (with the larger roles) and an administrator.

Youth Centre: The Musical Mayhem fundraiser was quite successful, despite wilting heat at the Oakdene. Future evenings will build on the successes of the canteen and the raffle prizes. Next show is a fall festival/Halloween theme on October 27. There will be 2 hours of entertainment, and the entertainers will limit their sets to make for a shorter evening. Advertising may include a mail drop.

Health Centre Update: Norma reported that there will be a massage therapist on Mondays; and a nurse practitioner who specializes in adults over 55 will soon be available. There will be a presentation on ovarian cancer on June 19 at 11:00 am. The next board meeting of the Health Centre will be September 1.

Subcommittee Formation: New and improved subcommittees were formed:

• Fundraising: Rob, Gerry, Ken, Susan, Cindy

• Board Recruitment/Membership: Don

• Youth: Gerry, Susan

• Pageant: Hal

• Communications: Laurel, Cindy, Jon Pulchny (name offered by Don)

Subcommittee members are encouraged to recruit others to their respective committees, and will be reporting at future meetings on their progress.

Cherry Carnival Update: Gerry, Cindy and Susan met with Darryl Jelfs, regarding the auction. We will need 12 volunteers (some with trucks) to assist with items pick-up. We will also need 2 teams to work 2 shifts (12:30-2:30 and 2:30-4:30) on Carnival Day (Saturday, July 21). An announcement in the form of a mail-drop will go out from the Firehall at the end of June.

Bear River Signage: Rob has some very nice signs that should go up around Bear River as soon as possible. Locations need to be selected, and lumber and hardware acquired. Don, Gerry, Hal and John volunteered to meet with Rob and work on this.

Meetings’ Minutes: Due to the Strategic Plan meeting and our Annual Meeting, the minutes from both the April and May meetings required approval. For the April Meeting: Cindy made a motion for approval, seconded by Don. For the May meeting: Cindy made a motion for approval, seconded by Gerry.

4. Next Meeting

July 11, 2007 at 7:30 PM at the Youth Centre—new location (upstairs at the Trading Post).

5. Adjournment

Motion made by Cindy for adjournment, CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.