I am disappointed to announce that the Blockhouse School Project is coming to an end. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg have given us until October 18th to vacate the property. The barriers to success overcame the vision. We are told MODL is planning to tear down the school soon. [EDIT: It was sold to a private individual.]

The Blockhouse School was initially built by the municipality. The school was given to the province with the stipulation that it given back to the community when the Department of Education was finished with it so as not to lose the asset.

When the Department of Education no longer had need for the school, it was returned to the municipality, but due to its condition, it is now considered a liability. This building still has tremendous potential to become an economic and social hub for the community, but only if council can be persuaded to spend its funds on renovation, rather than demolition, which is expected to cost at least $150,000 of taxpayers’ dollars.

Regardless of what the future holds, much was learned from this experience. The project provided significant opportunities for individuals, small business and local organizations over the three short years of its existence. Some students of the Permaculture Design courses have already successfully gone into commercial food production. Mi’kmaw language renewal blossomed at the Blockhouse site. The collaborative Hinchinbrook Farm/Mahone Bay Farmers Market “We Dig Food” garden therapy bloomed and thrived here as well. Artists and craftspeople made and displayed new work, local young musicians jammed, and the famous recycled book-wall made the pages of a professional international library journal as well as a nationally distributed textbook for young people. We ate fabulous celebratory meals, danced, shared skills and wisdom, gardened, dribbled basketballs and built a Tiny Studio.

It is challenging to fit a creative project within the restraints of government regulation. Success can only be achieved through effective communication and collaboration between the project managers and those on the government side. Unfortunately, sufficient collaboration was not developed in this instance.

We dreamed big, but bit off more than we could chew…it would have been a shame not to have tried.
Ultimately, we would like to say thank you to the many people who gave time, energy and resources to this project. The experiences that were created will never be torn down.
Ann Bromley for the Directors of SSSVC, past and present.

TIME: Sunday, Sept. 27, 9 am to 1pm,
WHERE: The Blockhouse School in the gym. (The Waldorf School is having one at the same time.)

WHAT: Tables, chairs, desks, garden tools, other tools, books, dishes, pots and pans, carpets, folding garden chairs, bicycles, a stroller, light fixtures, exterior paint, costumes, sleeping bags, and much more.

Funds raised will go to pay outstanding bills.

For more info or to volunteer, contact Jeanette, email hidden; JavaScript is required

Skip LaPlante

We have a very short-notice opportunity to host a musical adventure at Blockhouse School tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, beginning at 7:47

Long time friend Skip LaPlante from NYC is visiting & brought one of his inventions with him. Skip makes instruments from recycled materials, composes work and then plays it-sometimes with his collective in NY and often by himself at various venues open to experimental music.

A highly trained and skilled percussionist, Skip can, & will, jam with anyone in any style of music. Skip worked in the NYC school system for many decades.

Our plan is to quickly get in touch with folks in the local music community who may have an interest in working (bring an ax) /listening with Skip for an evening, going where the sound takes us. Skip will start with a solo composition & then branch out from there.

In addition we are inviting people who like to move. The intention is that sometimes the players will follow the dancers and vice versa. Sometimes participants will just jam!

The audience will consist mainly of family & friends of the participants and the door will be open, similar to Open Mic sessions. Please do invite friends! There will be no charge for the event but we will put out a donations jar as usual.

David C.

PS: Meet him in this video:

• Pop-up Farmers’ Market from 11-3
• Airstream Cafe will be there with beverages and snacks
• Strawberry Social (tickets $8)
• Cheese-making demo with Heather Squires from Sweetwood Farm in Blockhouse, 1 p.m.
• Take a Mini-Tour of the grounds and the school
• Plant Identification with local herbalist Jeanette Poirier
• Sample the Special Blockhouse Tea Blend
• WE DIG FOOD Therapeutic Garden – Hinchinbrook Farm Kids Market & Healthy Eating Project
• Mini-Petting Zoo, plus Horse Rides & Tricks – Hinchinbrook Farm Society

The soil will arrive this week.

The We Dig Food! garden is a partnership project of neighbouring Hinchinbrook Farm, which works with special needs children, including those on the autism spectrum, particularly with the Horse Boy Method.

The garden was a huge success last year, resulting in dramatic developmental improvements for many of the children.

Present:
Ann Bromley, Carol Bradley, Casey Hayes, Charlene Flint, Charlene Morton, David Cameron, David Walmark, David Young, Heather Holm, Helga Gruner, Krystle Retieffe, Lloyd Klassen, Maggie Gilbert, Marsha Greenan, Mary Lou Croft, Mary Walmark, Matt Greenan, Meredith Bell, Monika Wildemann, Mykal Koloff, Nancy Sherwood, Patricia McGill, Rowan Skinner, Wanda Martell.

1. Meeting called to order at 7:10pm.
Moved by Carol Bradley, Seconded by Patty McGill – all in favour.

2. Motion to adopt minutes from 2014 AGM.
Moved by Rowan Skinner, Seconded by Meredith Bell – all in favour.

3. Motion made by Meredith Bell to move for conveyance of TBS
Seconded by David Young, 2 opposed – motion carried.

4. Motion to accept Financial Statements.
Moved by Carole Bradley, Seconded by Mykal Koloff – all in favour.

5. Motion to adopt quorum rules
Moved by Heather Holm, Seconded by Ann Bromly – all in favour.

Leaving Board:
David Cameron, Lloyd Klassen, Gail Tuttle, Jason Remy, David Young, Heather Holm

Nominations:
Mykal Koloff, Heather Squires, Jeanette Poirier, Ann Bromly, Krystle Retieffe, Meredith Bell, Patricia McGill, Rowan Skinner, Matt Greenan

6. Motion to accept new board slate
Moved by Heather Holm, Seconded by David Young – all in favour.

It was decided that SSSVC will move towards conveyance of the property. There is no immediate need to decide the logistics of how the environmental assessment will be paid, this will allow ongoing projects and rentals to continue and expresses our intention to MODL. Structural assessment of building will also be a factor in whether or not SSSVC actually would like to take over property.

It was also noted that the project’s vision should be re-framed as a ‘community centre’, such that people in the community see the value in the project. Out of this comes programming, enterprises, garden projects, etc. If we can pitch the project such that it appeals to a broader demographic, we are much more likely to succeed.

(If they look familiar, it is because they were passed at last year’s AGM but were not sent to the Co-operatives Branch for approval, so we must vote on them again. Amendments will be considered at the AGM.)

Motion regarding Directors

Whereas the Blockhouse School Project has many aspects requiring the active input and involvement of a wide range of people:

Be it resolved that Section 10(a) of the SSSVC Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, be amended as follows:

The number of persons serving on the board of directors shall be an odd number between 3 and 9. Directors shall be elected for a term of up to 3 years, with the maximum number of terms a director may serve being 2. New directors shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting as needed to fill vacancies.

and that Section 10(c) of the SSSVC Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, be amended as follows:

The directors shall meet as often as the business of the Co-operative may require but not less than 6 times per year. They shall also attend to the business of the Co-operative by electronic means, and may vote on board matters electronically.

A quorum shall consist of 50% + 0.5 directors.

Motion regarding quorum

Whereas

• SSSVC is a broad-based membership organization;
• there are many people who support the organization in various ways but who don’t live near enough to the Blockhouse School Project to attend meetings;
• a broad-based membership supports the overall goals of SSSVC;

  Therefore let the following be added to the SSSVC Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, replacing section 9(b):

Quorum

(i) The base for determining quorum shall consist of the number of current members residing in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia;
(ii) 10% of that number shall constitute quorum;
(iii) any current member residing outside Lunenburg County and attending a meeting may also vote and have their vote counted; and
(iv) the presence of members residing outside Lunenburg County shall not contribute to the number required for quorum.

Motion regarding Notice of Meetings

Whereas sending out notices by regular mail is increasingly expensive in terms of postage and also volunteer time,

Be it resolved that section 9(c) of the SSSVC Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws be replaced with the following:

Notice of annual or special meetings shall be announced by at least two e-mails to members, with the first e-mail sent at least 10 days prior to the meeting, and shall also be posted on the Co-operative’s website(s) and in the electronic calendar used on the website(s).