вЂў KEY CONTROL SYSTEMS вЂў SAFES вЂў ACCESS CONTROL вЂў LOCK HARDWARE Prompt, Professional, Mobile & Instore Service вЂў Residential вЂў Commercial вЂў Industrial Rob Burns - Owner 519-631-4110 ELGIN MALL вЂў OCTOBER 2011 вЂў Got ideas for the Free Enterprise Awards? Read more on page 11. Business Beat Table of Contents Pre-election business opinions ................................page 10 Hope you like our widget! ................................page 11 What if Sir Winston Churchill visited STEGH? ........page 12 IPM video released ................................page 13 Doing what is reasonable вЂ“ Bill C-60 ........................page 14 ItвЂ™s all about managing your risk ..........................page 15 Welcome new members ................................page 16 Federal action on вЂњred tapeвЂќ ................................page 17 Business After 5 Wednesday October 19, 2011 Business Sample Show St. AnneвЂ™s Centre 20 Morrison Drive St. Thomas Doors open at 4pm. Sponsor remarks and prize draws start at 6:15pm. Free admission for anyone from a business organization that is a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce. October, 2011 Business Sample Show October 19 With display space nearly sold out, the ChamberвЂ™s annual Business Sample Show promises to be a rewarding and informative opportunity for our exhibitors and everyone attending. This annual event is a regular for the Chamber each year as we mark National Small Business Week. This year, thatвЂ™s October 17 to 21, so we have planned the Business Sample Show to take place Wednesday October 19. ItвЂ™s our 8th Annual edition this year, and again a very popular forum as a вЂњminiвЂќ trade show with 60 exhibitors participating. The event does doubleduty as our October Business After 5, the only exception being that it is open to the general public and operates for hours that are extended beyond our Business After 5 norm. The Business Sample Show opens at 4pm and runs non-stop to 7pm. Beginning at 6:15pm, door prizes draws take place. St. AnneвЂ™s Centre will be fully licensed for beverage service for this function and we promise a tasty selection of food offerings as well! As the name of the event suggests, the emphasis is on samples вЂ“ and great prizes too! Products, promotional items, gifts and more вЂ“ thousands of items in all вЂ“ will be given to everyone attending. Chamber Members are still welcome to register a table for this fantastic event. Tables are either $150 or $175, and will give you the opportunity to meet and greet over 500 people in only three hours! Exhibitors will set up their booths between 9am and 3pm and then have the opportunity to browse through the hall prior to the public being welcomed in. Chamber staff will provide some snacks for Sampling the best of local business. exhibitors at this time, so please have your display ready to present at 3pm. Exhibitors are asked to either donate a prize to our prize table, or they can choose to give samples of their products. Patrons of the event will receive bags at the door to keep all the goodies in one place. In the past, exhibitors have given out pens, notepads, water, chocolate bars, fruit, gift certificates, picture frames, hand sanitizers, ear plugs and sunscreen to name a few. Everyone will definitely go home with something! Previous door prizes have included flat screen televisions, hammock chairs, gift certificates, luggage, jew- ellery, wine starter kits, DVD players, orthotics, cell phones, small appliances, restaurant gift certificates, NHL tickets, OHL tickets and much more! Be sure to round up your family and friends, spread the word and head to the St. AnneвЂ™s Centre for a great evening of networking, sampling and information! If youвЂ™re not a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce, and think you might like to take part in this event to showcase your business, please call Mike Vecchio at 519-631-1981 ext. 23. Mike is happy to sit down to discuss the many benefits of becoming a Member of our Chamber, and get you set up to participate in the best business show in the area. November Edition Advertising Deadline is October 17 Take part in our Farm Business report feature in the November edition Greg Minnema, Advertising Sales To take advantage of excellent advertising opportunities like this, give me a call at 519-633-1640 (ext. 22) or email me at gregthismonth@theweeklynews.ca E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 9 BUSINESS BEAT VIEWPOINT Events and News of Interest to our Members Pre-election business opinions A late August survey of more than 1,100 businesses in Ontario says the top priority they want government to act on hasnвЂ™t changed for three consecutive years. Reducing вЂњred tapeвЂќ remains Job #1 for the politicians in the latest Ontario Chamber study, and the importance is amplified by the fact that business has sent the same message consistently since 2008. Several businesses from the St. Thomas area participated in the Ontario ChamberвЂ™s province-wide survey along with businesses from 60 other Ontario communities. The latest survey reveals four key election priorities for OntarioвЂ™s private sector. In addition to reducing the red tape or regulatory burden, reducing our overall debt/deficit situation emerged as priority number two. A two-way tie for third spot identified support for innovation and a sustainable/affordable energy supply as the other key items. With respect to OntarioвЂ™s tax environment, businesses have identified a range of options for the next government. A majority of businesses (52 percent) signaled that relief from rising energy prices in the form of lower fuel taxes is an important area for tax reform. Two-fifths of businesses voiced concern over personal income tax rates. Measures for boosting economic growth and productivity, including small business corporate income tax reduction and increased depreciation/capital cost allowance, were also singled out as important areas for tax relief. Other key findings: вЂў Support for spending cuts far outweighed that for tax hikes. Almost 60 percent of survey respondents want the Ontario government to cut spending and focus expenditures on strategic priorities including innovation, energy, education and transportation. вЂў More than one in three (36 percent) want more support for strategic partnerships to attract global firms to Ontario. вЂў Business sees underinvestment in machinery, equipment, software and capital stock as having a direct rela- tionship to our innovation/productivity gap. вЂў One-third of Ontario businesses want more investment in OntarioвЂ™s transportation infrastructure. Almost half (45 percent) want expanded rail services. вЂў When asked to prioritize competitive concerns for the future, green energy and conservation ranked first, followed closely by information and digital technology, then advanced manufacturing. Copies of the complete survey results are available on request to any Chamber Member via email. Contact Member Services Representative Wes Bailey at 519-631-1981, ext. 26, or email: wes@stthomaschamber.on.ca More than one of every three businesses surveyed by the Ontario Chamber say burdens placed on business by the Ontario government are their biggest concern. This chart shows issues raised and their relative ranking among 1,100 survey participants. Here are the results when businesses were asked вЂњWhich of the following tax changes do you want to see as an election commitment?вЂќ 1.59% 6.9Вў 1.64% Published by Carroll Publishing Inc. and delivered to businesses in St. Thomas and Elgin County For complete information on the St.Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, reach us at: 555 Talbot Street, St.Thomas, ON N5P 1C5 Telephone: 519-631-1981 Fax: 519-631-0466 E-Mail: mail@stthomaschamber.on.ca Website: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca President & CEO Bob Hammersley Member Services Coordinator 10 E L G I N Mike Vecchio Accounting Coordinator Susan Munday Project Marketing Sue McKittrick Member Services Wes Bailey T H I S M O N T H Acting Chair: Linda Sawyer Vice-Chair:В Jason White Treasurer:В Paul Smith Director:В Pete Charlton Director:В Monty Fordham Director:В Frances Kennedy Director:В Jeff KohlerВ В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В В Director:В Mark Lassam BMO Bank of Montreal Steelway Building Systems P.J. Smith & Associates CharltonвЂ™s Quality Meats Monty Fordham Law Office P3 Strategies Presstran Industries Kee, Perry & Lassam Chartered Accountants Director:В Debra MountenayВ В В В В В В В Workforce Planning & Development Board Director:В John Regan Elgin Business Resource Centre Director:В Darren Reith Reith and Associates Insurance & Financial Director:В Allan WeatherallВ В В В В В В В В В В St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation Director:В Laura WoermkeВ В В В В В В В В В В В St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre October, 2011 BUSINESS BEAT CHAMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members Hope you like our widget! Redesign of the main page of the ChamberвЂ™s website is complete, and with it comes a new home for a widget. Yes, there is such a thing вЂ“ at least in Internet lingo. On the left side of our main page at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca, we have placed a widget from the Canadian Chamber. ItвЂ™s a lot like a news feed, a vehicle for us to carry news and updates on business and related issues on an вЂ�as they happenвЂ™ basis. Canadian Chamber of Commerce staff in Ottawa load information at their end to give you the fastest possible information and analysis on national business issues. Information relayed through the widget can be both written and pictorial, including television feeds with audio. For example, when the CBC interviewed national Chamber CEO Perrin Beatty for comments on Bank of Canada interest rates, the widget gave us a direct link to see what was said. The information posted through the widget changes regularly with breaking news posted immediately. All content is loaded chronologically and remains in the widget for several weeks. In this way, it can serve as a research or reference tool and allow Members to see items from a few days or weeks ago at your convenience. Free Enterprise ideas? The ChamberвЂ™s annual Free Enterprise Awards Program is our annual celebration of business and entrepreneurial success. Established in the mid 1970s, it provides a yearly opportunity to recognize short-term and long-term success through presentations of the Free Enterprise Awards. The program also has a distinguished history of proudly welcoming some of the most influential people in and on the Canadian business scene as keynote speakers at the annual Free Enterprise Awards Dinner. Planning for the 2012 program has begun and the first task is to identify and confirm our keynote speaker. The date of the Awards Dinner is set to harmonize with the speakersвЂ™ schedule, usually in March, April or May. Who would you like to see and hear? Is there a topic or subject that you think we should focus toward? Is there someone special you have connection to and could help us welcome to our community? Our Awards and Recognition Committee welcomes your ideas and suggestions right now as we head toward the 36th Free Enterprise Awards in 2012. Chamber president & CEO Bob Hammersley is the staff member assigned to work with the Committee and welcomes your input by email at bob@stthomaschamber.on.ca The business of Business After 5 As business cycles go, weвЂ™re thinking itвЂ™s entirely accurate to say that the ChamberвЂ™s monthly Business After 5 events are continuing to enjoy solid performance. The Business After 5 sponsor calendar is booked solid with only three months open between now and the end of 2012. For that reason, weвЂ™re ready to open the books and accept 2013 sponsorships. The three remaining options left for 2012 are all good weather months, making them ideal for indoor or outdoor (or mixed) programs: June, July and August. Sponsorship of a Business After 5 event can be as simple as agreeing to a date and budget with the Chamber and letting our staff organize details, or you can do as several sponsors choose and take an active role in planning a special agenda and adding unique or custom touches to the program. To explore details contact Chamber President & CEO Bob Hammersley at the Chamber office at 591-631-1981, ext. 24, or email bob@stthomaschamber.on.ca Bob can provide a copy of a detailed event planning guide to you and discuss any details or questions. ...Priority One for Our Residents! Book a Personal Tour and weвЂ™ll treat you to lunch! ItвЂ™s not what you earn... ItвЂ™s what you keep. Kee, Perry & Lassam offers a full range of public accounting services. Our chartered accountants and staff have the experience, training and skills to deal with your business needs. вЂў вЂў вЂў вЂў Accounting Auditing Business Plans Tax Services вЂў вЂў вЂў вЂў Cash Flow Preparation Management Consulting Information Technology Small Business Services At Kee, Perry & Lassam we ensure our clients recieve the service and expertise they need to succeed. Please make a call to our office your first step on the road to success. 15 Barrie Boulevard St. Thomas, ON Canada N5P 4B9 519-631-6360 519-631-2198 fax The Next Best Place To Home! 45 Metcalfe Metcal calfe Street,, St. Thom Thomas homass 5519.631.93933 Fax: x: 519.631.2563 5 www.diversicare.ca October, 2011 E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 11 BUSINESS BEAT POSITIVE EXPOSURE Doing Public Relations Right What if Sir Winston Churchill visited STEGH? by Allan Weatherall Have you ever thought about someone who you would just love to meet or at least have had the opportunity to meet? In my case, I would have really enjoyed sitting down with Sir Winston Churchill. He was a wonderful person and his command of the English language was astounding. He once said, вЂњA pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.вЂќ It is in this regard that I gather my thoughts for this monthвЂ™s contribution. What an opportunity we have as a community to do something that transcends anything else we might do, and is for multiple generations. I refer to the extraordinary chance we have to rebuild several essential sections of our valued local hospital, the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital or STEGH as it affectionately known. This redevelopment is critically important to Elgin CountyвЂ™s infrastructure and essential to recruitment and retention of health care professionals, and frequently a key factor in business relocation decisions. If STEGH doesnвЂ™t keep pace with ever changing health care technology вЂ“ while also having modern well-equipped facilities вЂ“ then over time we all suffer. The plans to add a new building on the northwest section of the hospital were approved on August 24 by the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Yet despite this marvellous news there are still so many who seem to go out of their way to target something negative about their hospital. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, maybe we should all step back and consider what a gem we have before we find something to criticize. Having worked at three other hospitals in Ontario вЂ“ two in Ottawa and one in Huntsville вЂ“ I can speak truthfully about what we have here and we really should be very proud. STEGH has among the shortest emergency wait times in the entire province! There is a waiting list for physicians wishing to work in the emergency department! Unheard of elsewhere! The hospital won a prestigious Quality Healthcare Workplace award in 2010, one of only four to reach this pinnacle in Ontario and the only community hospital. So here we are presented with a gigantic opportunity to rebuild the surgical suites designed and opened 60 years ago. In addition, the emergency will finally have a large specifically-built facility; a new ambulatory care area will be located on the ground floor of the current Complex Continuing Care area allowing for improved infection control; and a new patient/visitors flow through the building will also be created. Finally, an essential 15-bed mental health NEW unit will be included allowing for treatment of those needing this special type of care. By all means, form an opinion about your hospital вЂ“ but where would we be without it? Would you rather be the optimist or the pessimist when it comes to having a $100M+ вЂ�healthyвЂ™ investment made in our community? Sir Winston Churchill also said вЂњWe make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.вЂќ I wonder what he would say to us about our hospital and its redevelopment вЂ“ maybe вЂњseize the opportunity and do what needs to be done!вЂќ This article has been prepared for the Chamber and our Members by Allan Weatherall, B.A., CFRE, APR Director of Development at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation. He received accreditation (APR) from the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1993 and a CFRE (certified fundraising executive) in 2000. He welcomes your comments via email to: aweather@stegh.on.ca or telephone 519-631-2030 extension 2247 The St.Thomas/Elgin Weekly News now offering FLYER INSERTS in every weekly newspaper Call your Sales Representative for more information St.Thomas/Elgin 519-633-1640 12 E L G I N T H I S M O N T H October, 2011 BUSINESS BEAT MEMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members New Members reception With an average of seven new businesses and organizations registering as new Members of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce each month, itвЂ™s important that we share news and information on our programs, projects and activities. Part of that initiative includes our Member Services Committee hosting a New Members Reception at regular intervals through the year. This photo [left] shows our group sharing time to mix and chat before hearing brief presentations on Chamber events and programs including our Member Benefits Bundle. Our most recent New Members event took place September 13 at the Elgin Business Resource Centre. Special thanks to the Workforce Planning & Development Board for sponsoring refreshments and a light breakfast for everyone attending. Gosh Mr. Smit it says here thath, us a job developer ing Employment Servic at es will help us find Elgin right staff and the itвЂ™s absolutely FREE! Why didnвЂ™t I think of that? IPM video released If youвЂ™re looking for memories from one of the largest events hosted in Elgin last year, look no further than a new DVD released by Dog & Pony Productions. The International Plowing Match 2010 Commemorative DVD is priced at $25 and available now at this web link: ipm.dogandpony.ca The web site also offers three preview videos. Business-Before-Business Contact Us Today Employment Services Elgin 400 Talbot St., St. Thomas P: 519.631.5470 Mon-Thurs 8:30am-6pm вЂў Fri 8:30am-4pm The ChamberвЂ™s bi-weekly Business-Before-Business breakfast networking groups offer an exclusive opportunity for people from Member businesses to exchange business leads and contacts. Participation is restricted to one person from any business type of sector. For example, one banker, one realtor, one auto dealer, etc. Groups meet every other week over coffee and/or breakfast. Interested in building your lists of prospects and contacts? Call Member Services Co-ordinator Mike Vecchio at the Chamber office at 519-631-1981, ext. 23 or email him directly at mike@stthomaschamber.on.ca Aylmer Community Services West Elgin Support Services 25 Centre Street, Aylmer P: 519.765.2082 Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm Tues 9am-6pm 160 Main Street W., West Lorne P: 519.768.0020 Mon-Fri 9am-5 pm www.jobselgin.ca This Employment Ontario program is funded by the Ontario Government The countdown is on CHEVROLET ORLANDO 116 Edward Street, St. Thomas October, 2011 Join us October 3 CHEVROLET SONIC at Disbrowe for a special presentation 519-631-7960 E L G I N T H I S M O N T H www.disbrowe.com 13 BUSINESS BEAT LEGAL BUSINESS Legal News and Issues for Business Doing what is reasonable вЂ“ Bill C-60 by Monty Fordham The famous American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote вЂњHard cases make bad law.вЂќ Subsequent legal scholars have developed the converse maxim вЂњBad law makes hard cases.вЂќ Some recent cases in Canada have driven the federal government to review certain criminal laws, in an effort to address public concerns regarding a personвЂ™s right to defend himself, his property or to arrest another person who has transgressed against him or his property. The first case that attracted national attention was the case of David Chen, the Toronto grocer, who, after growing weary of being shoplifted repeatedly by the same individual, pursued the thief and arrested him. Why, you might ask was Mr. Chen charged with anything? Well, the answer lies in the fact that, prior to chasing the alleged thief, he forgot to read carefully the Criminal Code section dealing with the power of an ordinary citizen to arrest. The present law requires that the individual being arrested be found actually committing an offence. Mr. Chen was eventually acquitted of the charge but not before he had spent many dollars defending himself in court. John Hutchins from Brampton found himself in a similar situation, with thieves stealing him blind from his auto parts yard. He eventually pursued the culprits along with his son. The Hutchins apprehended the trespassers but not before the senior Hutchins had smashed the window of the thievesвЂ™ car and roughed up the two trespassers. Charges against Mr. Hutchins and his son were withdrawn in early September, so we will never know how a judge would have ruled on his вЂњdefence of propertyвЂќ defence. Once again, the Hutchins Business ownership should be about money, freedom and fun... Are you on track? Bryan Vine 519-207-4865: Office 519-857-4865: Cell b.vine@thegrowthcoach.com вЂў www.thegrowthcoach.com/bvine Each office is independently owned and operated 14 E L G I N had to incur considerable expense in their legal defence. The Thomson case in Niagara region involved the firing of a pistol over the heads of some assailants who were firebombing Mr. ThomsonвЂ™s house. This case is still pending and will probably be decided under the present law. Canadians have been asking, and rightly so, вЂњWhat can I legally do to protect myself or someone else from assault? What can I legally do to protect my property? Can I legally arrest someone, and, if so, when?вЂќ As Mr. Chen, Mr. Thomson and Mr. Hutchins found out, having the wrong information can be expensive. In order to address the obvious concern on the part of home and business owners as to their rights in these situations, the federal government has introduced Bill C-60 The CitizenвЂ™s Arrest and Self-Defence Act. This bill is part of the omnibus crime bill that will, if passed, effect sweeping changes in the Canadian Criminal Code. Presently, defence of person and property is covered in sections 34 to 37 and sections 38 to 42 respectively. Powers of citizenвЂ™s arrest is dealt with by section 494(1). The difficulty the government is seeking to address is the relatively complicated analysis which must be undertaken when the defences arise. The new act will replace sections 34 to 37 with section T H I S M O N T H 34, respecting defence of the person. Sections 38 to 42 will be replaced with section 35 dealing with defence of property. A new section 494(2) will be added to clarify the citizenвЂ™s right to arrest in situations where the offence, which is the subject of the arrest, is not actually taking place. Certainly, clearer laws are always welcome, and any effort to assist people in ascertaining and asserting their rights is a positive. However, it is important for all of us to realize that like any legislation, the proposed law contains what I like to call вЂњweaselвЂќ words. The most troubling weasel word in this legislation is the word вЂњreasonable.вЂќ Both the new sections 34 and 35 require that the act in defence of person or property вЂњbe reasonable in the circumstances.вЂќ Clearly, what was reasonable to Mr. Thomson was different from what was reasonable to Mr. Hutchins. How are we going to know what is reasonable in our own unique fact situation? The answer is fairly clear; the Courts will tell us as the case law evolves, and only after numerous people raise the new defences after being charged. Everyone should inform themselves with respect to the new Criminal Code provisions regarding self-defence, defence of property and arrest. However, I suspect that even if they do there will continue to be some hard cases. Lawyer Monty Fordham prepares this monthly column for the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce and our Members. Monty is also a volunteer serving on the ChamberвЂ™s Board of Directors. Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns are welcomed by Monty at his Law Office, 4 Elgin Street, St. Thomas. Telephone 519-633-4000, FAX 519-633-1371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca October, 2011 PRO TEXT Business Management News & Issues BUSINESS BEAT get, claiming bankruptcy is no longer the solution to dodging debts that a court awards. Then, of course, there is the all time favourite excuse of вЂњвЂ¦I canвЂ™t be sued.вЂќ But you can! Provided an alleged injured party can convince a legal professional they have suffered some loss, whether to their personal property or some form of bodily injury and the case is deemed to have merit, the action can be presented. It is of equal importance to note that as an employer you are legally responsible for the actions of your employees while they are under your employ and acting in the scope of their employment. At the end of the day it is recommended that you purchase as much liability insurance as you can afford. ItвЂ™s all about managing your risk вЂњIf an alleged injured party can convince a legal professional they have suffered some lossвЂ¦ an action can be presented; you can be sued.вЂќ In our practice we often hear the phrase вЂњвЂ¦well itвЂ™s not going to happen to me.вЂќ These eight words are usually followed up with вЂњвЂ¦so delete that coverageвЂ¦вЂќ or вЂњвЂ¦lower that limitвЂ¦вЂќ or вЂњвЂ¦find a way to make it cheaper.вЂќ Like anything, cheaper is never better. With insurance, cheaper often means coverage has been removed or limits lowered which means you have less coverage. Insurance is all about risk вЂ“ managing it and transferring it. It is a very easy concept: if you or your business suffers a loss, how much do you want to be responsible for and how much do you want someone else to be responsible for. That someone else is your insurance company. You pay a premium for the privilege or convenience of someone else assuming the lionвЂ™s share of your loss. It is one thing to save by short- changing yourself by underinsuring your building or contents (stock and equipment) but it is an entirely different matter when you underinsure for liability. When your policy is lacking for property coverage one can always use personal resources (savings, RRSP, bank loans, loans from family and friends) to top up the difference; but with liability you face not only a potentially large court award but the cost of defending the lawsuit. вЂњ вЂњ by Dan Reith Insurance is all about risk вЂ“ managing it and transferring it What many choose not to understand is that the cost of defending a liability suit is paid by your insurance company, generally, as there are certain types of liability policies that pay defence costs out of the limit of the policy in addition to whatever the court awards. If your policy carries a $1,000,000 limit of liability and the court awards $1,000,000 to the injured party, the cost for the lawyer, investigators, professional witness, etc. is all paid on top of that $1,000,000. Where the suit or amount claimed exceeds the limit to your policy one must then obtain and pay, out of pocket, for legal representation for every dollar beyond the policy limit. We have seen cases where the action is settled out of court for a nominal sum yet the legal costs far exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Can you pay that? Oh, and donвЂ™t for- This column appears regularly in Business Beat and has been submitted by Dan Reith, BA(Hons) CAIB, Principal Broker, Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited. Questions and comments on this column are welcomed by the writer at 519-631-3862 or via email: info@reithandassociates.com St.Thomas Golf & Country Club 2012 Corporate Social Offer to St Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce Members One of the highest rated golf courses in the world . . . (2012 fee) no initiation, no shares now affordable to many Chamber members St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce members have the opportunity to take part in a monthly program to play the most prestigious golf course in the area in 2012. Ranked one of the top 1,000 golf courses in the world in a recent Rolex survey, the St. Thomas Golf & Country Club has launched a new program targeted toward Chamber members interested in the business, social and exercise benefits of the Club commonly known as вЂњUnion.вЂќ The 2012 Chamber Social Package вЂ“ never before offered вЂ“ will appeal to business and professional people who may have previously considered the course beyond St Thomas Golf and Country Club is offering Chamber members the following program for a limited time: Corporate Dues..........................$757 Monthly Golf package X 6 ..........$380 (includes: 4 golfers, 2 carts, once a month) their means. Golf lovers who take advantage of this package will quickly appreciate the benefits for their businesses and their families. Think challenging golf, think business relationships, think excellent restaurant, think вЂњhome away from home.вЂќ Chamber members who may have dreamed of вЂњplaying UnionвЂќ are encouraged to call the club today. 519-6314800. It may be one of the best business investments youвЂ™ll ever make. House minimum spending ......$1000 (must be spent by Sept30/12) Yearly Assessment ....................$180 ($15 invoiced monthly) Call for more information (519)631-4800 Entertain Clients at one of the Highest Rated Clubs in Ontario. вЂњIt doesnвЂ™t get any better than this!вЂќ 42325 Sparta Line, Union вЂў 519.631.4800 вЂў www.stthomasgolf.com October, 2011 E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 15 BUSINESS BEAT NEW MEMBERS Welcome To The Chamber Network The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the following businesses and individuals as our newest Members. The staff and management of the organizations shown below were accepted as registered Members from August 16, 2011 to September 15, 2011. Canadian Blood Services 850 Commissioners Road East London, ON N6C 2V5 Phone: 519-690-3981 Fax: 519-690-3941 Website: www.blood.ca Email: marisa.gatfield@blood.ca Contact: Marisa Gatfield, Community Development Coordinator BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Agencies & Associations Products & Services: Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-forprofit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. St. Thomas blood donor clinics are held the third Wednesday monthly, and the fourth Saturday bi-monthly. Centennial Storage 75 Centennial Avenue St. Thomas, ON N5P 3S7 Phone: 519-808-0334 Fax: 519-633-4151 Contact: Don Budden, Owner President BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Storage Products & Services: Centennial Storage offers space for storage of large equipment, trailers and storage containers. Conveniently located on Centennial Road. Ferguson DiMeo Lawyers 211 - 750 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1E2 Phone: 519-633-8838 Fax: 519-633-9361 Website: www.fergusondimeolaw.com Email: dferguson@fergusondimeolaw.com, sdimeo@fergusondimeolaw.com Contacts: Donald Ferguson, Lawyer; Sandra DiMeo, Lawyer BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Lawyers Products & Services: Ferguson DiMeo Lawyers is a general practice offering a wide range of legal and advisory services in real estate, estate wills, corporate, personal injury, MVA, and wrongful dismissal. Hellyer Law Firm 13 Curtis Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1H6 Phone: 519-637-0007 Fax: 519-637-1007 Contact: Nancy Hellyer, Lawyer Email: nancy@hellyerlaw.ca BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Lawyers Products & Services: Hellyer Law Firm specializes in practicing family law and wills. Pets 4 Life 10 - 399 South Edgeware Road St. Thomas, ON N5P 4B8 Phone: 519-637-3000 Website: www.pets4life.com Email: glenn@pets4life.com Contacts: Sherry Forrester, Presi- dent; Glenn Forrester, Vice President - Operations & Finance BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Pet Supplies & Services Products & Services: Pets 4 Life is a manufacturer of holistic pet food, made from restaurant-grade raw meat, fruits and vegetables, and uses only Canadian produce and meats. R-Safety 4 - 1155 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G6 Phone: 519-633-5884 Fax: 519-637-3666 Website: www.r-safety.ca Email: will@r-safety.ca Contact: Will Zufelt BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Safety Products Products & Services: R-Safety Sales and Supplies offer a huge variety of safety equipment, from traffic cones to safety boots. They carry a wide variety of top grade tools and equipment, as well as a vast array of safety clothing, cleaning supplies, gardening equipment, safety glasses and other industrial supplies. Social Media COO 51 Roseberry Place St. Thomas, ON N5R 2H9 Phone: 519-637-6410 Website: www.socialmediacoo.com Email: info@socialmediacoo.com BuyerвЂ™s Guide Category: Business Advisory Services, Media Products & Services: Social Media COO (Chief Operating Officer) offers social profile management for executives and entrepreneurs. Managing your social profiles and online presence and making sure you get the maximum value from social media without having to spend your time online! Social Media COO (Chief Operating Officer) also provides small business social media consulting. They help you market your services online using sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Blogs, and many more! PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY Save 3.5Вў/litre Chamber members qualify for EssoвЂ™s Direct Billing Program; you pay 3.5Вў off the posted retail pump price whenever you fuel up. You may also get a convenient, detailed monthly invoice and also qualify for SpeedpassВ®. For an application, contact: Lynhurst ESSO & Variety 16 Wellington Road at St. George St. 519-633-0002 t! Fresh at Its Bes вЂў Delicious, Fresh Baked Goods like no other! вЂў Parties вЂў Weddings вЂў Anniversaries вЂў Meetings вЂў Any Special Occasion 24 First Ave., St.Thomas вЂў 519-633-0040 kathyscatering@sympatico.ca E L G I N T H I S M O N T H Achieve Greater Income and more Free Time www.thegrowthcoach.com/bvine Bryan Vine 519-207-4865: Office 519-857-4865: Cell b.vine@thegrowthcoach.com October, 2011 BUSINESS BEAT MEMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members Federal action on вЂњred tapeвЂќ Competitiveness remains an issue As noted in the provincial survey reported on page 10, the biggest complaint business consistently has with government appears to be the burden of regulations and paperwork or, as it is commonly called, red tape. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying at the federal level for changes in national regulations impacting business, and is closely following the work of the Government of CanadaвЂ™s вЂњRed Tape Reduction Commission.вЂќ The CommissionвЂ™s first report was released September 7 by the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, Maxime Bernier. According to a summary obtained by the Chamber, the most notable wins with the first report, and at this stage of the commissionвЂ™s work, are: the tasking of government departments and agencies to respond directly to the challenges raised, and to further make reports and recommendations later this fall. The Chamber has been advised that businesses are now invited to provide additional feedback on the points raised (or missed) in the initial report, and as importantly, to pinpoint which of these points are the most critical for government to pursue. The Chamber encourages Members to see the commissionвЂ™s website at www.reduceredtape.gc.ca A summary on the initial Red Tape Commission report is available for Members on the Canadian ChamberвЂ™s website at www.chamber.ca A final report including recommendations will be delivered to Tony Clement, the minister in charge, later this fall. ItвЂ™s a mix of good news/bad news. The good news is that Canada remains in the top 10 percent of countries around the globe in being globally competitive. The latest research from the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows that, of 142 countries measured, Canada places 12th overall. The bad news is that in 2009 we ranked number 9 and, last year, number 10. Other components of the WEFвЂ™s annual Global Competitiveness Report show Canada as 24th in terms of corporate capacity to innovate, despite our countryвЂ™s highly-educated workforce and vast resources. We also scored poorly in measurements of trade barriers and a lowly 129th of 142 in national debt. The full report can be viewed online at the World Economic ForumвЂ™s website: www.weforum.org Fi d your Find your busi b business i iness plac place l ce in i the cr creative rreative eative economy! ecconomy! Thursday, Thursd Thur sd day, Oct day October Octobe ober 20, 2011 Att the Elgin A nS St. t. Thomas Br Bridges idge es to to Bett Better er Businesss Confer Conference! ence! 300 South South Edgeware Ed dgeware R Rd dS Stt Thoma Thomass Come to to the Elgin Bu Business usiness R Resource esource Centre Centre to to hear kkeynote eynote speak speakers, e s, lear er learn n about building g your your business, business, network network with other e entrepreneurs ntrepreneurs and lear learn n what w consumer consumerss look forr from from local business. REGISTER NOW for this all-day ev event ent (8 (8 am am - 4:30 4:30 pm) pm) and attend attend d informative informative seminars seminars on o cloud cloud computing, creative creative economy, economyy, website website marketing, markketing, and roundtable roundtable discussions d on tourism, tourism, incubation, incubation, and and business issues. Limited Limited number of of trade show show booths available. available. Cher y at 519-633-7597 519-633-7597 ext. 341. 341 1. Contact Chery Fee: F $75 (includes (i l d breakfast b eakfast br kf t and d lunch) l h) P Partial ar tial ti l day d pr pricing i i icing available, available, il bl call ll for f details. details d t ils. October, 2011 E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 17