"Go, Tidnish 2016"

“Go, Tidnish” (August, 2016) - posted for the historical record and because it expresses an ongoing need

 COMMUNITY EDITORIAL PANEL
Go, Tidnish
BY CLARE CHRISTIE

Who knew?
The fabulous Wild Meat Dinner last winter was sold out with participants requesting a repeat, the Tidnish Festival the first weekend in
July was bigger and better than ever, exercise class three times a week has been an early morning staple for years. I personally can attest to all of these
programs and there are so many more sponsored by the Tidnish Community Association (incorporated in 1983).
Membership costs $5 and there are about 250 members.
But success is the result of careful planning and hard work. It isn’t reasonable to expect only a few people to do it all. And, as is so often the
case, in Tidnish those few people are burning out.
On July 27 a well-advertised information meeting was held at the refurbished Tidnish Community Centre, with the warning that volunteers
were needed or there would be drastic reductions in programs.
Four of the five remaining Board members, Melissa Downey, Secretary, Pierre Pinet, Piercy Haynes, and Charlie Atherton, Directors, and
Chair Past President Marjorie MacLean met with about sixty concerned residents from the defined area, a mixture of year-rounders and cottagers.
In order to operate during the winter, the Board must have a quorum of year round residents, especially in the executive positions, but there is
room for some cottagers in a 10 - 12 person Board.
Other positions are key as well, especially since the Centre has a new kitchen and is eager to attract rentals and to hold fund-raisers. The Secretary
has been doing double duty as the Booking Agent. A Kitchen Committee is essential, including people with Food Handling Certificates as one must staff
each event.
Our first volunteer was Daniela MacKay to be Booking Agent. Cheers all around.
What a relief to have four people come forward to sit on the Board, including County Warden Keith Hunter - experience in spades there, Barry
and Margaret Burke, and Jack Brown, one of our auditors.
People began to offer to take the day-long Food Handling Certification: Alan Morrison (our other auditor), Lynne Ross, Shirley Street,
Marjorie MacLean, Margaret Burke, Chris McCarthy, Margie Brown, June Estabrooks, Gerry Helm, Malcolm McCartney. Margaret Purdy offered to
arrange to have the course offered at the Centre, if possible. Rod Gilroy will be Kitchen Committee Chair.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can attest to the food preparation skills of many of the people on this list: you will be in for a treat!
Others signed as volunteers, including cottagers who now realize that we have a role to play.
The first meeting of the new Board was held on Aug. 2. Keith Hunter volunteered to be President, Barry Burke will be Vice-President, Nancy
Baxter is continuing as Treasurer and Melissa Downey as Secretary. Peter and Nancy McCathie, owners of the Amherst Shore Country Store, and
Gordon Davidson of the Tidnish Fire Department also joined the Board. With Piercy Haynes, Charlie Atherton, Pierre Pinet, Jack Brown and
Margaret Burke, they make the required 10 - 12. Pierre Pinet will be the essential Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Committee members are still required, including for maintenance, management, the bar/canteen.
Hopefully the crisis is over, but to avoid it in the future, as in all community organizations, volunteers must lighten the load of the Executive,
Board and Committees.

To buy my publications, go to the Amherst Artisan Gallery Amherst Centre Mall; Maritime Mosaic, Church Street, Amherst; Bev’s Bread,
Tidnish Sunday Market; Flying Colours, Maccan; and Main and Station, Parrsboro.
Coles carries My dear Alice.
For my six self-published books and booklets, go to the Cumberland County Museum and Archives and to the YMCA Amherst.
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Clare Christie is a member of the Amherst News Community Editorial Panel. She can be
reached at clarechristie0@gmail.com