2024-2023
The Lions Club of Tumbler Ridge (TR) has been under a lease agreement to manage the Lions Flatbed Creek Campground since March 2019, the lease is ending Dec 2024. As of April 26th we are negotiating renewal for the next five (5) years – 2025/2026/2027/2028/2029.
1) In January 2024 the core Flatbed Creek Campground team established a path forward taking off from the presentation made to the TR District in October 2023. A budget was drawn up to detail the work required with a final budget number of $133,722. We received $79,000 from one funding agency providing the Flatbed Creek Campground would cover the salaries for the employees and we could get matching funding for the remaining 54,722. A second funding agency committed $54,000 of matching funding after a presentation was given to them by the President on April 25, 2024
2) March 20, 2024, the Lions BBQ provided hotdogs and cheeseburgers for the Conuma sponsored Mine Rescue Competition between the Brule, Willow, Wolverine and Quintette mines. A total fund raiser value of $2,900 was invoiced to Conuma
3) April 3 we completed a FISERV Canada application to cover credit card transactions through Clover Connect, the financial arm of CAMPSPOT.
4) May 3, registered with WorkSafeBC to cover any labor required for the campground maintenance.
5) May 5, CAMPSPOT Services kickoff meeting with CAMPSPOT Implementation Manager
6) May 11, working with Implementation Manager to set up an interactive map and selection process for self registration.
7) June 20, Received a new Business Number form Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA)
8) May 15th, Vice President requested he carry the role of Campground Attendant again this hear for camping season May 15 – Sept 15 but the VP was limited in what he could do. The President worked side by side cleaning up the park for opening day, picking up pop bottles & dumping garbage until a laboured was hired to also do janitorial services.
9) May 15 upgraded existing Park Terms & Conditions & Campground Rules
10) July 10, worked with Tumbler Ridge District and Tourism to develop a website and upgrade the entry sign to the park. We went “live” with self registration, found it very rewarding, a saving of time and our campers love it.
11) July/August long weekends all 44 campsites were filled, we opened group camping in a green field area for the first time since the Lions took over the Flatbed Creek Campground.
12) President made a PowerPoint presentation in place of a report to the TR District Oct 6, 2023. Short terms goals were identified, the Lions Club agreed to cover the cost of renovations of the Main Building to be used as an Office with a window installed to monitor children playing on the Playground and monitor excess speeders in the park. Since we also store frozen food in a freezer and fridge a separation wall was to be installed between the food and janitorial supplies with a pocket door that would remain closed. The presentation also addressed longer 1,2 & 3-year goals to increase the revenue of the park. The plan is to remove trees and rock piles, extend the campsites from 44 to 46, and landscaping to accommodate the Campground Attendant trailer as 24/7 overnight stay is required. No decision has been made by the TR District to date.
13) The President also requested a meeting with the Mayor of TR and Council. They were in favor of all points made in the presentation to improve the park since they receive 20% of the net revenue from the campsites. The TR Council delegated an action plan to the TR District Maintenance department. No movement as of Dec 12, 2023.
14) Class A – Bingo License received from the BC Government with bingo starting 16-Oct-2023 to 27-May-2024. Application made by Vice President Frank Walsh. Operation was managed by five (5) Lions Members when available.
15) Meals on Wheels program for Tumbler Ridge is managed by a Lions Club Member with assistance from other. There are nine (9) recipients this year to date, with three (3) restaurants with certified kitchens supporting meals.
16) Installation of New Members
1. one returned.
2. one new member in Jun
3. one new member in Oct
4. one new member in Dec
17) Resignation letter from existing members
1. Two in March
2. Three more elderly to date who felt they were not able to contribute; it was made very clear, come out and socialize and talk to people – all this counts. It was requested by the President that all Members needed to help in some way with a minimum of three (3) events a year
18) Events held during 2023.
1. New Year’s Potluck Supper
2. Winter Carnival Pancake Breakfast – Jan 21
3. Easter Egg hunt - April 8th
4. Emperor’s Challenge - Aug 12th
5. Daffodil Campaign
6. Lion’s Summer BBQ
7. Tumbler Ridge Elementary School – Sep 26
8. Tumbler Ridge Mountain Bike Association (TRMBA) Grand Opening – Oct 2
9. TR Fire Department Open House – Oct 1
10. TR Days Society Fall Fair - Sept 10; set up Sep 9
11. Community Gardens Potato Dig – Sept 17
12. Pumpkin Patch event – Oct 22
13. Halloween Bonfire – Oct 31
19) Training – Food Safe by one of our qualified High School Teachers, a long-term member. Most of our members are Food Safe trained and follow the program. We are also working with Junior Hockey to train and get help from some parents to work in concession since this is where we have a shortfall since our members cover nearly seven days/week depending on practices and tournaments for figure skating and hockey.
20) Arena Concession – Expression of Interest submitted by the President to TR District July 13. Expression of Interest approved August 8, 2023, to operate from September 15, 2023, to September 14, 2026 (3 years) with the option of a two-year extension (5 years)
21) Donations and Outreach for 2023
January 13 Medical assistance $500.00
February 6
Compassion donation $1,000.00
Compassion donation $1,000.00
February 24
TR Rippers Quilt Guild $500.00
Stars $300.00
March 6 Medical donation $1,000.00
March 23 Variety Club $1,050.00
April 6 Easter Egg Hunt $1,293.74
April 7 TRES and TRSS PAC $200.00
April 26 Canadian Cancer Society $101.00
May 1 Camp He, Ho, Ha $500.00
May 4The Kidney Foundation $500.00
May 10 The Nurses Organization $350.00
May 22 Battery for the scooter $348.80
May 26 Medical donation $1,000.00
June 1 Northern Health$7,511.34
Total $17,154.88
1. The Lions Club of TR have two scooters that they lend out at no cost and maintain during the summer for senior, disabled people of TR.
2. The Lions Club of TR purchased 2 Electric Wheelchairs for two disabled seniors - $7,998.
3. Safety signs and an entry sign for at the Campground - $1,599.36
4. Donation of BBQ and wiener/buns/condiments for Community Garden Potato Dig - $700 value.
5. Donation of BBQ, wieners, buns & condiment to TR Mountain Biking Association - $925 value
6. Donation of BBQ, wieners, buns, condiments to TR District for Pumpkin Patch event - $1.150 value
Total $12,372.36
Grand Total Donated: $29,527
22) Lion’s Membership Drive ongoing. Interviewing short term, mid term and long-term members to ask what they like about the Lions Club, why they joined and where we have helped the community in generals and those in need of help. This will be written up, edited, and submitted to the TR Ridgeline paper to set into print. The article will also let people know how to join the Lions Club of TR.
Standing motions for donations approved by board of directors:
Jan
Give BofD authority to donate for emergency requests - $1000
Feb
Placing Veterans Recognition Book Ad each year - $330
Mar
Donate annually to The Variety Club Show of Hearts - $1050
Donate to each Dog Guide and Camp He Ho Ha annually - $500
Donate to Canadian Cancer Society - $500
Donate to Diabetes Canada - $500
Purchase Chocolates and supplies for Easter Egg Hunt - $1500
May
Donate to Stars Foundation - $500
Jun
Recognize three (3) Grad Students from TRSS for $1000 Bursaries each TTSS - $3000
Donate Bingo Machine and Callers for the Grad Toy Bingo and cash donation - $200
Oct
Donate Cooks, Hotdogs and Hot Chocolate for Halloween Bonfire night – Oct. 31st
Donate Cooks, Hotdogs for Pumpkin Patch Event
Dec
In Town Tournaments – all Minor Hockey players and TR Figure Skating Windup children will receive one free Hotdog and Hot Chocolate
Donate to TR Food Bank - $1500
Donate to TR Figure Skating Club - $500
Donated to TR Hockey Club - $500
