|
|
Monthly Survey Question 
The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce wants to know what you think!
Click here to view this month's survey question regarding the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Thanks to all those who responded to last month's survey question.
Here are the stats from last month's survey:
What do you feel the City's budget priority should be?
Investigate cost sharing initiatives and grants from outside sources - 23%
Streamline services by identifying duplication and inefficiency - 73%
Narrow the gap between commercial residential property tax mill rates - 4% |
Manager's Report by Lorraine Renyard
We are looking for interested members that would like to put their name forward for one of the three Issues Advisory Committees: Municipal, Provincial or Federal. The committee will meet two or three times in the year to search out issues within the community to put forward to the Board of Directors. Please call me at 250-492-4103 if you are interested.
The 2009 Network Conference "Welcoming the World" took place on Feb. 9 & 10 in Vancouver where Tourism BC introduced the new website www.destination2010.ca and the TBC-Resource-Package "Welcoming the World in 2010". Soon you will be seeing new retail products and staff & volunteer programs in our visitor centres.
The Superhost Program will be replaced by the Worldhost Program to realign itself with the business community. The official launch will be in April. If you are interested in having this program taught to you and your staff please call the Chamber office at 250-492-4103.
Tourism BC encouraged us to reach out to the business community offering marketing options, connecting tourists with local businesses, offering attractions for local customers, as well as international tourists and to network with other Visitor Centres in the area by sharing more information.
Visitor Centre staff, Aaron McRann and Anette Engel, both had the privilege to attend this conference. If you are interested in hearing more about this conference or just have any questions please call them at 250-493-4055. |
Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Report by Kelly Reid 
Nominations have now closed for the 2009/2010 Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Advisory Council.
The five positions include two one year terms; open accommodation and golf/ski/sport, and three, two year terms; Accommodation (26 to 75 rooms), Attractions/Retail/Restaurants & Campgrounds and Festivals/events/arts, culture & heritage.
Online elections will open at 8:00 am February 25, 2009 and close at 3:00 pm, Thursday, February 26, 2009. Results will be announced at the Penticton & Wine Country Tourism Annual General Meeting scheduled for 3:00 pm, Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Wine Country Visitor Centre Boardroom.
|
| Ambassador of the Month
Dixie Slusarchuk has just joined our Ambassador Team in the fall of 2008. She very much looks forward to greeting you and getting to know more about you at our upcoming Chamber of Commerce events.
Dixie is ½ of "The Sisters" Real Estate Team over at Royal Lepage Locations West Realty. The offices are located at 484 Main Street Penticton. Dixie works as a team with her sister Joy, specializing in residential and commercial sales.
In her spare time Dixie enjoys entertaining, dancing, walking, reading, & traveling.
Dixie has volunteered her time to organizations such as Hospice & special events in the city.
Dixie is definitely an asset to our Ambassador team! |
Payworks 
Setting the Record Straight on Record Keeping
Online Payroll Services
The voice on the other end of the phone is a Revenue Canada Agency (CRA) official asking for the payroll records of Employee "X" for the last 6 years!
"No problem," you think. "I'll just get my payroll provider to take care of it for me."
Unfortunately it isn't that simple. According to the Income Tax Act, the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Revenue Plan, every business is responsible for maintaining its own books and records. Even if you hire an accountant or payroll provider for record keeping, you are still responsible for keeping the records and providing access to CRA officials. Or as the CRA Information sheet IC78-10R4 states: "a person who keeps records is not relieved of any of the responsibility because he or she contracts...to a third party."
|
Literacy Now 
for the latest edition of The Buzz on Literacy newsletter.
Caroline Pennelli
Literacy Now Coordinator |
Crime Tip of the Month 
#4
Cheque/Overpayment Schemes
A fraudster contacts an online seller - often an online business - offering to purchase posted goods. The bogus buyer sends a counterfeit cheque in excess of what is owed; the seller is asked to return the excess funds to the purchaser. When the cashed cheque is returned as probably counterfeit, the seller is out of pocket and has shipped the merchandise.
Quick Tip: Never accept a cheque for more than your selling price; and never agree to wire back funds to a buyer - a legitimate buyer will not pressure you to do so. Consider using an online payment service.
|
|
|
Substance Over Style
How to Advertise in a Recession
"If you say that there are elephants flying in the sky, people are not going to believe you. But if you say that there are four hundred and twenty-five elephants flying in the sky, people will probably believe you." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez,
winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature
Ah, the power of details.
|
|
VOICE OF BUSINESS
E-NEWSLETTER ADS
Advertising Space:
One Issue: $50.00
Two Issues: $42.50
Three or more Issues: $37.50
- Ads include a link to your website
- Reaches over 800 members and businesses via email
- Newsletters are posted on Chamber website
- Specifications: 200 x 400 pixels. JPEG, GIF or PDF format
Space is limited. Please call the Chamber at 250.492.4103 to book your ad. | |
|
Photo by David Szabo Photography
NEW MEMBERS
Fuzzy Paws Petsitting & Walking Services
Izayana Pineda
Penticton BC
250-809-4499
izybeez@hotmail.com
Incline Contracting Ltd.
Blair Chapman
1356 Commercial Way
Penticton BC V2A 3H6
250-493-3886
incline51@shaw.ca
Think Marketing Inc.
Jessie Campbell
140-1060 Manhattan Drive
Kelowna BC V1Y 9X9
250-979-1570
Jessie@thethinkpad.com
|
|
| |
