April 9th 2009 --> McLennan Hall

Dale called the meeting to order at 7pm

Dale gave an update on the steering committee
Chair – Jack Priest
Co-Chair – Tom Dalton
Recommend a spokesperson for our group to do any press conferences, etc. – Team to consider, will discuss next meeting.
$2500 from townships to date for budget
$1870 to date from businesses, etc. plus another $200 not confirmed yet, $100 from CASS, further donations from schools, school councils, etc.
Commitment from Lock City Dairies to pay for one full page ad
Banner ads okayed, first one published last weekend, change up the info bullets each time, next 3 planned out for the last 3 weeks (April 8 deadline)
Jody suggested we use the donations from individuals, etc for advertising and any excess needed to come from township donations

Placemats were presented for inspection – they look awesome!!!!
Jody had some concerns about some of the facts and figures regarding feasibility and viability – we must have verified facts
Question for the information group – who administers or runs the day to day operation of the MMH and/or Thessalon
Heather and Brian Fox were asked about their costs – we should reimburse them for their costs – they say their costs are fairly low.
Sidgrid has gotten Island Enterprises to do a 3-sided display board
We have a table at the Maple Syrup festival – so we need people to man it
-we have to finalize the brochures for that event
-the Legion will stagger the placemats with theirs to extend them throughout the
event.

We have to make sure the information on the placemats, the brochures and the 3-sided display board are accutate.

Some suggestions for the new signs include:
Rural Health Care Under Attack (4)
Stop the Attack on Rural Health Care
Rural Health – Sow the Seeds (1)
Grow a Strong Country –Keep Rural Health Care Flourishing (0)
Rural Health: The battle is ON! (2)
Great Rural Health Care Keeps the Country Strong (1)
Stand Up For Rural Health Care (13)

Signs – must be placed correctly according to MTO regulations, but use any place you can think of – need as many as possible along the highway
Dale will talk to Brady Irwin, former public relations officer at SAH about possibly helping out

What we need people to do:

Join the SAH Corporation as a member
Continue writing letters (Jody came up with a suggestion of focusing the letter campaign to each group)
Sheila Hatherley is our rep on the SAH Board
Buttons - 2-1/4” size – Jody will design – white background with red lettering
-design it ourselves – about 1 week I “Heart” Matthews for the slogan
500 is about 50 cents each (Approx. $260)

Ribbons – 500 ribbons $120 plus shipping and handling – done up as bows
- will ship express post if needed

Jody asked how effective the buttons and ribbons are at this point – should we concentrate on other things at this point until the decision is made.

Banner ad in Sentinel - $81 for 1/8 page
¼ page ad is $152 – Jody will do this option 2 weeks)

Banner ad in Sault This Week –
Soo News has given us excellent coverage

Advertising in Soo Today - $600 for top banner of site
http://savematthewsmemorial@blogspot.com new website that Hollie has started (should be included on brochure)
should do a press release about what is going on with the committee to keep area residents up to date. – Jody will do this
advertisement in Sentinel should tie in possible future events at Thessalon

Brochure:
-use what Dale has done up as the inside “information” part of the brochure and include a titlepage with our slogans, a photograph,etc with the map on the two thirds of the other side.

Full Page Ad:
When does the Sault Star need the ad for it to be published on Saturday April 4?
Photograph: Jody suggested a “posed” picture with enough cars to fill the parking spots and enough people to walk in and out plus the ambulance in the side driveway – suggest 2 sets of parents with kids, some seniors, singles, etc.


Joan volunteered to call the townships and towns to warn them about the possibility of kids and or parents dropping of school art projects and their offices for us to use. They are to call Dale for pickup from there. Others of the group will pick up from the offices

Schedule of volunteers for Maple Syrup Festival
8am to 6pm each day (April 4 & 5 and April 11 & 12)

April 4 – Donna & Fred 8-noon, Cathy Drager noon-4, Dale 4-6

April 5 – Donna & Fred 8-noon, Sue & Keith noon-4, Dale 4-6

April 11 – Gina Marie 8-10, Dale 10-2, Kathy S 2-6

April 12 – Gina Marie 8-10, Dale 10-2, Merielle 2-4, Dale 4-6

Others of the group will contact friends and neighbours to see if they will do some of the times to relieve those who are doing multiple shifts

The placemat design has been modified sounds great!!

Next Meeting: April 2, 7pm Joan will find out if MacLennan Hall is available and she and Donald will email everyone with details