Meeting of 28 July 2015

Present: Loreto Doyle, Anne-Claude Pépin, Rosie Smith, Angelo Spinazzola, Paul Weinberg, Jitka Zgola

Regrets: Ian Green

Meeting Called to Order; Agenda Approved
Financial Report (Jitka)
- Current balance is $10,000.
- SABDA received an additional $3000 this year from Victoria County for the web site, to market the area. We now have $6000 for this purpose.
- Motion to accept the financial report as read (moved: Jitka; seconded: Paul; carried.)
Web Site Contracting
The final bill was sent to SABDA on April 19. The developer said at the time that he already spent more time on the web site than he had originally planned. Loreto reminded him that training was part of the contract, and he subsequently sent her a WordPress manual. Loreto reminded him that the contract states the training is for the template, not WordPress in general. The web site is at the point that we can add content, but there is nothing there to provide web site statistics or account management.
Paul said that Google Analytics can provide the statistics information we are looking for, including number of hits by page.
Loreto proposed that we approach a school and ask if any students would be interested in completing the tasks. There is currently $1000 remaining in the budget and some of the $6000 for marketing could be used as well. Rosie suggested Leah Noble, although we're unsure if she uses WordPress. Angelo said that she would also be a good candidate for the marketing/content development position.
It was decided that the marketing position will include one-on-one sessions to teach listers how to use the web site, and gather content for initial listings, plus social media updates and other marketing.
It was also decided that Leah would be approached. If she declines, board members will see how much they are able to take on themselves, and a student may be approached as per Loreto's suggestion.
Action: Loreto will change the passwords on the WordPress installation, add new test user accounts, and forward log-in information to the board.
Action: Board members will log in to WordPress and see if they can understand the current set-up, and also look at the content to identify gaps and determine essential content for launch.
Action: Loreto will put together a file outlining correspondence with the developer and forward it to the board.
Action: Loreto will forward to Rosie the list of items/tasks we still require for the web site.
Action: Rosie will ask Leah Noble if she would be interested in the web site and marketing positions.
Business Courses
A product packaging workshop was offered 13 May 2015, and was attended by 12 participants.
There is money available for another LAMMPS workshop (these are workplace training sessions funded by the Department of Advanced Education). SABDA qualified for a new session, but deferred from the fall of 2014 due to lack of interest at that time. It was decided not to hold another workshop, and allow other groups such as Inverness to access these funds in our stead.
Action: Jitka will contact Betty MacKenzie and let her know that we will not be holding another workshop now, and will not need the funds.
Englishtown Ferry
A letter from SABDA regarding the ferry has not been sent to date.
A bridge feasibility study will be tendered in the fall.
A payment plan for annual ferry passes will be implemented, which will be $20/month. This is only $10 less than the current annual fee of $250. The only advantage is that drivers would not have to pay for months when the ferry is not operating.
The immediate concern for SABDA is the increase in ferry fees. The issue of a bridge will be reviewed once the feasibility study is complete, and we will keep an eye on the progress of the tender for the study.
Action: Jitka will send a letter from the SABDA e-mail account. The letter will be sent to Pam Eyking, the Minister of Transportation, our County councillor (Merrill), and other relevant Ministers.
Health Centre Support Letter
A letter on SABDA stationery was sent by Jitka in support of the Health Centre's application for funds to hold seniors' cooking courses with Cape Breton chefs.
Ingonish School Closure
Grade 6 will move from Ingonish to Cabot High beginning in September 2015. Within another year or two, the lease for the elementary school will need to be renewed. The community worry is that it will provide an opportunity for the school board to close the elementary school at that time.
Anne-Claude did draft a letter for us. The letter will be continued, stressing the importance of community schools and keeping bussing times low for elementary school children.
Action: Anne-Claude will resend her draft letter to the board for comments.
Action: After feedback, Anne-Claude will send the letter to the County (Merrill), the CB-Victoria Regional School Board, and Pam Eyking.
North River Falls and Community Picnic
We have not heard anything about a community picnic being organised by the interested parties (in connection with cleaning up the North River Falls trail).
The idea of a SABDA community picnic will be deferred, due to an already busy community calendar for the remainder of the summer.
Anne-Claude's Leave
Anne-Claude will be absent from October until May. Jitka, as Vice Chair, will chair meetings in her absence.
Community Transportation Study
A report was produced for Victoria County. It is on the county web site.
Action: Loreto will send the link to the report to the rest of the board.
Action: All members will review the report for our next meeting.
Signage
Loreto proposes installing signs at the entrances to the community, listing the businesses that are present there. Signs could be installed at places where traffic normally rests. The Englishtown ferry and the Lobster Galley would be good locations. There may be too many businesses to fit attractively on a sign. Maintenance will also be an issue.
This idea will be deferred for now, and SABDA's tourism-related marketing efforts will be concentrated on the web site.
Next meeting:
Our next meeting is set for Tuesday 15 September 2015, at Simply Pizza.
Meeting Adjourned (moved: Paul; seconded: Jitka)

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