GBA Update Summer 2024

ANNUAL MEMBER MEETINGS

Make your AMM a Star-Studded Affair

By Allison Needham, UPDATE Editor

A nnual Member Meetings (AMMs) provide our associations with an excellent opportunity to connect with members and ensure everyone has a say. But let’s face it—these meetings can often become dull, with lots of financial jargon and hand-raising. We often make the mistake of talking at our members instead of engaging in a two way conversation. Interactive activities like icebreakers and polls can make meetings more engaging and fun. Last summer, our member associations invited some special guests to their AMMs to encourage attendees to participate and connect with each other. The South Channel Association (SCA) and the Key River Area Association (KRAA) invited a representative from the MNRF’s FireSmart program to speak at their meeting, which led to increased awareness about fire safety. Similarly, the Pointe au Baril Islanders Association (PaBIA) and Bayfield-Nares Islanders’ Association (BNIA) hosted training workshops on fire pump operation. The Woods Bay Community Association (WBCA) brought in Action First Aid for training on first aid basics, CPR, and AED, enhancing the community’s emergency response capabilities. The Bay of Islands Community Association (BICA) invited local volunteer group North Shore Search and Rescue to speak on emergency preparedness. The West Carling Association (WCA) kicked off its AMM with Carling mayor Susan Murphy, providing updates on several projects, including a new fire hall, a proposed nurse practitioner clinic, and boat docking and parking for water access properties. Nicole Carpenter, a Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) representative, delivered a presentation on phragmites. Her talk

inspired a volunteer clean-up of the area’s phragmites stands and a GBA Guardians of the Bay video, a testament to the success of incorporating special guests in AMMs. Following is a list of programs and contacts that you might consider inviting to your next AMM:

ORGANIZATION

PROGRAM

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Members of the GBA executive team (Liz Phillips, President, GBA or Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director, GBA) can be invited to speak to your group • Educational talks to local communities about their work, the environment, and how we can all help conserve, protect, and restore Georgian Bay

Contact Shannon Farquharson to schedule 416-937-4990 sfarquharson@georgianbay.ca Laura Thipphawong 905-880-4945 ext. 4 laura.thipphawong@gbf.org info@gbf.org Laura Peddie (705) 774-0978 info@georgianbaybiosphere.com

Georgian Bay Association

Georgian Bay Forever

Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere

• General GBB presentation • State of the Bay presentation • Species at risk training

• GBLT presentation • Online workshops include: conservation easements and succession planning, reducing taxes through conservation

Sarah Koetsier, Director, Communications 416-440-1519 ext. 102 sarah.koetsier@gblt.org

Georgian Bay Land Trust

* Ontario Provincial Police

• OPP marine unit presentation

Contact your local OPP detachment www.opp.ca

• Boating safety presentations • Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks (PCCCs) Checks involve reviewing all equipment on board to ensure all safety requirements are met. • Cold water awareness courses led by world-renowned hypothermia expert Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht (AKA Professor Popsicle)

Greg Birdsell, Search and Rescue Program Officer 613-762-1677 xcasarsarnia@dfo-mpo.gc.ca www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca

* Canadian Coast Guard and Auxiliary

Ian Gilson igilson@rogers.com

Canadian Safe Boating Council

• FireSmart presentations

Shayne McCool, Fire Advisor, Northeast Region - 705-507-0509 shayne.mccool@ontario.ca Gabrielle Ayers, Outreach Advisor, Northeast Region - 705-561-9943 gabrielle.ayers@ontario.ca

* Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)

outreach@safequiet.ca

• Presentations on respectful boating practices, such as noise reduction, avoiding speediing too close to shore, damaging wakes. Here are a few topics that your members might be interested in learning about: • Water levels management & planning • Septic systems - parts, maintenance & re-inspection programs • Land use & planning • Land claims and reconciliation • Property taxation & mpac assessments • Docks permits & boathouses • Source water protection (conservation authorities, wells) • Water quality, healthy shorelines & lake stewardship

* Safe Quiet Lakes

Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands www.townofnemi.com Town of Parry Sound www.parrysound.ca The Municipality of McDougall www.mcdougall.ca North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority www.nbmca.ca

Local Government and Services

Township of The Archipelago www.thearchipelago.on.ca Carling Township www.carling.ca Township of Georgian Bay www.gbtownship.ca

• Invasive species prevention • Cottage succession planning

• Courses include AED, CPR, and first aid, both online and in person. They can train your group at your location anywhere in Ontario.

1-866-347-7824 i nfo@actionfirstaid.ca

Action First Aid

* Subject to availability

www.georgianbay.ca

GBA UPDATE Summer 2024

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