Voting in Canada – or lack thereof!

I read a comment that said our vote is our weapon.  So why aren’t more people using that weapon, a weapon that is free (our ancestors already having fought for our right to vote), and takes only a few minutes to wield, instead of letting others speak for them?  To say, “my vote doesn’t matter”, is only an excuse not to vote.

Some of the non-voter turnout is due to a lack of engagement by the community, in the community – people are more transient than years ago.  Residing in an area for only 2-4 years, they don’t get to know who their representatives are, or who is running, what the issues are, etc.  Others just aren’t engaged in community matters: they don't feel anyone is listening, so they don't reach out.

I was elected to VP Membership for Halton Federal Liberal Association on December 8, 2011: my goal is to increase membership in the riding.  Liberals have less than three years to get better organized at the grass roots level, to “engage” the community, create better reasons to “wield those weapons”.

We need to create a dynamic organization, one that lets people know their voices are being heard and that their voices really matter.  I would be interested in people’s constructive ideas and suggestions about rebuilding membership.

Save Our Local Economy

An excellent website is Rurban Fringe, which this week contains a must-read article.

Save Our Local Economy

What are three local businesses you would hate to lose from our community?   Got them in your mind?  Great.  Okay, now commit to spending $50 in those three places each month.  Ta-da!!  You’re saving our local economy!

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  It is … and all it takes is you.
A growing movement called the 3/50 project is making it even easier for residents to help their communities and invest in local economies.  Not only does this movement provide a reminder that local stores offer local benefits (e.g. unique products, services and donations to local charities, schools, and sports clubs), research shows that dollars spent at home, tend to stay at home.

The tension for residents today is the reality of the economy vs. the need to support local businesses.
On the one hand, people are concerned about continuing to have a job and being able to pay the mortgage … yet on the the other hand, virtually everyone spends $150 on some combination of goods and services.

The question is … where can you spend those dollars so that they will have the most impact?
I’d answer that you should choose to spend your money in those places that you would hate to see disappear … or they may.

The 3/50 project 

3 What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?  Stop in.  Say hello.  Pick up something that brings a smile.  Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.
50 If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion* in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the population did that!
68 For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68* returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43* stays here.  Spend it online and nothing come home.
*U.S. figures but the results would have a comparative impact on the Canadian economy.

1 The number of people it takes to start the trend...you!
Pick 3.  Spend 50.  Save our local economy.

I support the 3/50 project … and challenge you to do the same.

Milton Public Library

November 17, 2010.  I attended my last Library Board meeting as a council appointee last night.  During my 7 years on the board there was tremendous growth in library usage.  For those who think the library might be in danger of becoming an anachronism, nothing could be farther from the truth.

The library is a community gathering place with 282,779 visits recorded this year. Whether to borrow books, use the internet, participate in conversation circles, programs, workshops, do homework, special events, the library is an integral part of the community. 

It’s amazing that library staff has been able to keep up. That they have is a clear tribute to their dedication.  From the 90’s when there was one full time employee (FTE) per 9000 people, today we have one FTE per 22,000 people.  And the Milton Library provides the fewest open hours of any comparable library in the GTA.

The frustration as a board member was in supporting the public’s wishes for increased hours of operation – only to see those hours cut during budget deliberations.

Given the number of councillors who campaigned this election to keep the Bruce Street Library open while promising a minimal tax increase, it will be interesting to see what happens during December’s budget deliberations.  Anything is possible with unlimited money. 

A little background on the Bruce Street location versus the new one on Main Street….
The decision to close the Bruce Street Library was made around 1999.  I was a member of Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) when we were presented with choosing the best of 3 possible sites for the proposed new Main Library.  It wasn’t a question of where to move the library – it had already been narrowed down to three sites.  CSAC members chose the Milton Hydro site as the best option. Oh, how different the answer would have been had the question been framed differently.

My thanks go to the dedicated and professional staff in the Milton Public Library System.

There are probably hundreds of community groups, all wanting, and needing, new members. But how to go about it? This article just appeared in Rurban Fringe - an excellent website.

Kick-Start a Community Group

Posted on | May 6, 2010

Most well-intentioned community group efforts fail.

They fail because they try to get all the stakeholders they can into a room to forge bonds that may or may not exist. They fail because they don’t take into account those that have agendas. They fail because those agendas conflict, becoming arguments. They fail because those not interested in arguing, quit.

You can’t start a group effort by starting big.

People need to identify with the purpose of the community group and with one another.

Start small. Model knowledge-sharing and positive networking behaviours yourself … what do you have to give to the community? Identify and invite community influencers and advocates. Watch people interact. Assist folks in really getting to know one another … informal coffee dates or anything involving food is good for this. Ask people what they would like to give and get.

While difficult – there’s no road map for building relationships – this work will steadily build trust, buy-in and support for the community … and trust is the glue that binds communities together.

Build the bandwagon. Once it’s rolling, you may be surprised at how many other people want to jump on.
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Inviting people to a first meeting where coffee and food is served is an excellent idea. Doesn't have to be anything more than cookies with the coffee but it will create a more relaxed atmosphere, to help establish those bonds, which will make people want to come back, a reason for giving up one's time.

Asking people what they would like to give and get is a good point. There has to be some benefit in volunteering - whether it makes you feel good, you feel useful, something that makes you want to go back.

Once in a while we get on committees that provide no satisfaction, no thanks offered, no acknowledgment of your contribution. Those committees are when we should take the opportunity to say NO more. There are a great many committees who will value our participation.

Now having said all that, the Nassagaweya Community Consultation Committee is looking for new members. The committee acts as a liaison between Town, Region, police and the community. We hold public information meeting twice yearly, publish an annual newsletter, operate the Rural Watch system, run the annual Roadside Cleanup, and a whole lot more.

Come to the meeting September 1 (first Wednesday of each month), 7pm at the Nassagaweya Community Centre. Come and have coffee and cookies with us, find out what we're about and how you can help.