NEWS

May 2012

A new Fitness Centre to open in the Mahone Bay Centre.

           *** AND ***

Renovations to the Gym are well under way. A new gym floor will be installed soon.

• Centre Granted Charitable Status for Income Tax Purposes 
• Launch of Annual Square Foot Club Campaign for Gym Renovation 
• Work Starts This Week on Gym Renovation 
• Centre Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary (with lots to celebrate!)

Four exciting developments have just come together in a complementary way to create a real "good news" story for the Centre, its members, and the whole community.

Charitable Status
As The Centre prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary next week, we have just received official notification from Revenue Canada Agency that we have been granted charitable status for income tax purposes. This means that we can now issue official receipts for income tax purposes for donations made directly to The Centre. After ten years, and a great deal of work in the past year in particular, led by Jim Fox, this is great news. It will make it easier for the community to provide financial support, which is so vital to The Centre if it is to continue to improve the "building at the heart of the community" and offer activities and services to enrich community life.

Square Foot Club Campaign
The timing of the charitable status announcement could not be better, as The Centre has just launched its annual Square Foot Club fund raising campaign, with the focus this year on renovation of the gymnasium. The attached flyer, with a form for donations, and an explanation of the gym renovation, the sources of funding, and the importance of community support, has already been sent out in postal delivery to the B0J 2E0 area. Please fill out the form and send a cheque made out to "The Mahone Bay Centre", or pick up a form at the Centre office. We will now be able to issue you a receipt for income tax purposes.

Work Starts on Gym Renovation
On Monday 21 November OCR Rentals "inserted" their two-man powered scissor-lift down the wheel-chair ramp into the MBC gymnasium. With tight clearances on either side it was more like threading a needle. Cleaning top to bottom by Inside Out Cleaners is underway and shortly thereafter South Shore Electric will be changing our 18 mercury-vapor lights for 12 new more efficient fluorescent fixtures. This phase of the gym project will end in early December with a new coat of paint from top to bottom. We hope to start the next phase early in the new year --- the replacement of the floor with a more user-friendly cushioned floor. That will depend upon us raising the required funding. You can do your part by contributing to the Square Foot Club's current drive. You will be able to see the results of your investment in the weeks ahead.

10th Anniversary Reception
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mahone Bay Centre Society, The Centre's designation as a Heritage site, its new charitable status, and the start of the major gym renovation project, a wine and cheese reception is being held on Wednesday, November 30, from 5 to 7 pm, in the large conference room. A Heritage Plaque will be presented by Mayor Feeney and representatives of the Heritage Advisory Committee. We have a lot to be thankful for, so please come and share in the celebration. Simply RSVP to the Centre office (624-0890) or welcome@mahonebaycentre.com by noon on November 28.

The Centre has purchased a new router which now gives us secured internet and the opportunity of using wireless anywhere throughout the building. There is now a password required for our tenants and guests to access the internet wirelessly. Please see Colleen to get the password.