The Westerner for August 17, 2009
Meeting: chair, Ben Doz; music, Jerome; grace, Bert
Attendance/Guests: 30 including Hank Hendricks, Rotary Club of Edmonton South; Dianne Kereluk, guest speaker
Talk by Rotary International President: John Kenny is speaking September 18 in Edmonton; call Ben Doz if you want tickets
Casino: January 23 and 24, 2010; Bill Buckham will be contacting members to get shift assignments set
Danny Chau: thanks for the work you put in to make the salmon bake a success
Christmas: let Bob Lamoureux know if you have a good venue for the Christmas party
Shine Dental Clinic: Joe reported that, due to requirement by Alberta Health that all sterilization procedures for all medical facilities had to be upgraded, the clinic used funds from our club to buy a new sterilizer - thus they can keep their doors open.
Belise Education Project Update: Jennifer reported that she is now a believer in our District 5370 project to positively affect the lives of students in Belise. We are making a difference to the entire education system for the country. More when Jennifer speaks to our club September 14.
50/50: Bill Buckham and Dave did not match cards; $268 over to next week
Finemaster: Wayne was a no show so Jim Spalding took the mike with notice to Wayne of a fine next meeting. If you did not respond to Ben Doz with a potential new project $1; if you did not go to the football game last Thursday $1; if you did not know that former member Muggsy Forbes turned 80 last week $1
Guest Speaker: Dianne Kereluk was introduced by Jim Wooley who also thanked her. Dianne worked on her CMA degree while working for YMCA in Calgary, then got into programing computers for businesses; after 25 years in Calgary she moved to Edmonton and worked on her PMA degree. She is executive director for Stony Plain Road Business Association which is executing a Business Revitalization Zone in that area. An assembly of businesses work together and apply to the city for appointment as a BRZ to improve safety and marketing, among other endeavours.
There are 12 BRZ's in the city which represent 25% of the businesses in the city. The council of the BRZ's is working on a strategic plan with a major component to improve communication to all levels of government with the aim of getting more support. The business levy has changed from being charged to the business operators to being charged to landlords who will pass the levy on to all business tenants. The Stony Plain Road BRZ is the youngest of the 12 but is the third largest and is the most diverse in types of businesses (dues as low as $12 per month). Safety and security - protect cash stores & pawn shops, reduce prostitution and drug trade.
A cinema night was held where films were projected onto the outside of buildings - local skits - got the message out to residents of all of Edmonton of what is in the Stony Plain Road business area. Phase 1 of the revitalization was paid by Capital Services Revitalization Fund. Revitalization is making a difference. Business incentive to get family centered businesses to move to the area.
Edmonton is the only center that has a council of BRZ's. Because of this, BRZ's don't steal the focus that other BRZ's are working with. The location of the Stony Plain Road BRZ is from 100 Avenue to 102 Avenue, 140 Street to 170 Street southbound. The potential for LRT in the west end is probably 20 years off. They don't want the existing type of LRT with high wind and noise components as they are trying to attract bistros and coffee shops to open right on the street.