This coming October there will be another great opportunity to network with other people in business and cheer on your favourite business. As well, everyone has the opportunity to nominate a business. See below for details on how to nominate a business.

PECCTAC is proud to represent all the outstanding people and businesses of Prince Edward County.

1. Business Person of the Year
2. New Business (1-3 years)
3. Business of the Year (1-5 employees)
4. Business of the Year (6-25 employees)
5. Business of the Year (26-75 employees)
6. Business of the Year (76+ employees)
7. Not for Profit

To nominate your favourite business contact Lisa Rodrigues, Co-coordinator at 968-6481 ext. 3226
e-mail baac@citybelleville.com or qwcc@reach.net

Deadline for entries: August 16, 2003

Come Join Us!

Come out for an evening with your fellow business members. PECCTAC is looking to book Majesty Charters for an evening “Full Moon” cruise on September 10th. The cruise departs at 7 pm and returns at 10 pm. Refreshments are available on-board. Call Babbs for further details. RSVP by 27th August.!

Understanding the Accommodation Service Fee!

The Accommodation Service fee is for extra service provided by the Tourist Office for referrals. B&B, Motel/Hotel, and Campgrounds receive weekly calls during the summer season for availability. Cottages receive a call at the beginning of the season for their availability.
The staff will place calls for visitors at our office to an accommodation place to ensure availability. We do not make recommendations or reservations but do make the referral.

The Accommodation Service fee is a one-time fee per year.

The Accommodation Service (referral fee) is based on the number of guest rooms/sites that are available. The fees are as follows:

+ B&B – number of guest rooms x $7.00
+ Motel/Hotel - number of guest rooms x $7.00
+ Cottages - number of cottages x $9.00
+ Campsites - number of sites x 1.50

Please contact Babbs at 476-2421 for further information.

Update on "Pen Imprinting" Project

The salmon penning project that I reported on in the February newsletter has now been completed for the 2003 season. On the 8th of April, 2 members of CLOSA went to the Ringwood Fish Culture Station and helped to clip one small fin from the 20,000 fish to be penned so that they can be identified when caught or return in a few years time.

The salmon fry arrived and were placed in the pens on the 14th of April, 10,000 in Barcovan and 10,000 in Wellington. The average weight of the fish when delivered was 3.5 grams. With the help of many volunteers the feeding began at 8 A.M. on the 15th. The fish were fed 6 times a day and the water temperatures were taken twice a day. The quantities of food per feeding were given to us by the MNR. It was 89 grams per feeding to start and finished at 145 grams per feeding.

Between the two pen sites, we experienced a total of 40 mortalities, a lower rate than those experienced in the New York projects. By the end of the second week the fish began to turn more silvery, an indication that the smolting process had begun. The pens were cleaned numerous times during the 26 days the fish were in residence and the oxygen levels and water quality was monitored every two to three days. The release day was May 10, and the fish had grown to an average weight of 5.82 grams in the Wellington Pen and 5.04 Grams in the Barcovan Pen.
The balance of the stocking allotment for Wellington and Barcovan (15,000 each) arrived on the 9th of May and were placed directly into the Channel in Wellington and into Lake Ontario at Stinson Block Road, with an average weight of 4.5 grams. On the afternoon of the 10th of May the pens were lashed between two boats and moved slowly out into Lake Ontario and the fish were released.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers for their efforts in making this years project such a great success and hope we can count on them again next spring when the next batch of fish arrive. Many thanks also to Margaret Shari and Ron Vitale of the Reel Thing Fishing Pro-Shop for the use of their property and docks where the Wellington pen was located.

Ian Scrimshaw – Vice-President

Understanding PECCTAC’s Group Insurance Plan

As a PECCTAC member an excellent group insurance plan is available to you, your family and business. Wendi Stinsen of Empire Life will be available in September to provide information about PECCTAC’s group insurance plan. Please call Babbs at 476-2421 if you want to be notified about this information session.

Coming Soon!

The County’s 4-colour glossy bike route maps will be ready soon and can be purchased through the PECCTAC office for:

+ Members $.75 each
+ Non-members $1.50. each.

Coming Events - Don't Miss Out!

Do you want to know what is going on in Prince Edward County and surrounding areas? Check www.pecchamber.com under EVENTS.
It is updated regularly. If there is something you want added please call Babbs at 476-2421.

Info Session "WEBSTORE"

In our last newsletter you read about the exciting Webstore Project. To recap - PECCTAC is partnering with an internationally recognized accounting firm to offer small businesses e-commerce solutions at an affordable price.

PECCTAC will host an information session on:

Wednesday, June 25th, at 7 pm

at the Prince Edward/Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation office located at 43 Main Street, Picton.

RSVP by June 18th by calling Babbs at 476-2421.

WebSite Update

A number of members are asking about PECCTAC’s new website. The County has an excellent website at www.pec.on.ca
This website is owned and maintained by InfoLink, a privately owned company. In 1996 InfoLink approached PECCTAC about offering to our members an opportunity to be listed on this website as a member benefit. PECCTAC considered this to be great opportunity and naturally accepted. This website has been and continues to be a great asset to our members and to this community.

PECCTAC wanted to develop their own website recognition and offer to our members a business directory as well as other interesting and useful on-line information for our members.

With the help of OSTAR funding our website www.pecchamber.com will be further developed to enhance our organization’s vision - “Promoting and Increasing Tourism, Business and Civic Pride in the County of Prince Edward.”

Did You Know!

As a PECCTAC member you can place your business brochures in other Chamber of Commerce offices. The onus is on each business owner to ensure the brochures are placed and restocked in the stands. Take advantage of this great opportunity to network without spending a cent.

Government Website Offers Access!

For access to up-to-date laws you can go to www.e-laws.gov.on.ca e-Laws provide new and existing legislation within 14 days of their enactment. The most frequently accessed laws are the Employment Standards Act, the Highway Traffic Act and the Occupational Health & Safety Act.

PECCTAC Survey!

A big thank you to those who took the time to fill out our survey. If you have not submitted your survey yet we hope to receive it in the near future. Survey results will be posted in the next newsletter.

Welcome Centres Have Opened.

If you drive by Carrying Place and are looking for the Welcome Centre, it has moved! The Welcome Centre is now located at Hanthorns garage next to the restaurant. We want to thank Tony Hanthorn and their staff and Erik Hamilton at Rossmore for their support.
Both Welcome Centres are now open and the telephone lines that have direct access to the Tourist Office are functional.
In addition, the County Red Map are now in the Tourist Centre located at County Road 33 and Telephone Road as well as at the Prince Edward Yacht Club.

Welcome New Members!

Cherry Lane Cottages
Dixon House Antiques
Hickory House B&B
Pine Cliff B&B
West Lake Cafe
Willow Cove Resort

Thank you for your support!