WHITBY FRiEE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1981, PAGE () Wants to sell Chamber of Commerce . ... President wants to restore chamber By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The new president of the Whitby Chamber of Com- merce wants to revitalize that organization not only for the membership but for the community as well. In an interview last week, Rick Raczkowski said that his first priority is to in- crease the membership's in- terest in the chamber and then to increase the mem- bership. The reason for this, he said, was because "we've lost membership over the past four years." As of last Thursday, the "paid-up" membership was 58, down from the all-time high of 200 in 1978. There are approximately 600 businesses in the Town of Whitby. "That's a tremendous drop," Raczkowski said of the declinging membership. In fact, the 60-year old purchasing agent for Croven Ltd., of Beech Street, was considering dropping from active participation in the chamber - that is, until he was asked to serve as president from 1981. However, Raczkowski wanted two conditions fulfilled before accepting the post. "I'm going to elect my own board and I'm going to choose my own people to work with," he said adding that he wanted to "execute Police to crack down in Port Complaints from Port Whitby residents has prom- pted Durham Regional Police to crack down on cars parked illegally on Brock Street, south of the CNR overpass. Residents claim that cars often park on the east side of Brock Street infront of the St. John's Anglican Church cemetary. Reg Williams, a shift worker at Dupont, told the town's operations commit- tee two weeks ago that cars parked along Brock Street made problems worse at Brock and Victoria Streets, an intersection he termed, "very dangerous." Williams said flashing red and amber lights at the in- tersection after midnight are hazardous because drivers can't see over the hill on Victoria Street east of the light. Residents also filed com- plaints that cars were being parked illegally on Brock Street, north of Watson Street, opposite the Silver Grill restaurant. Dave McMullen, traffic manager of the Durham Region works department, said there has been no ac- cidents at the intersection since the flashing lights were installed in 19T7. He said that parking near the Silver Grill and on Brock Street and south of the CN bridge will be closley monitored by police. "If operational problems arise, parking restrictions will be implemented," said McMullen. what I thought was in the best interests of the cham- ber." Raczkowski said that one of the things he wanted to improve on was the com- munication between the members and the board of directors. He also cited this as one of the reasons for the decline in the chamber's membership over the past few years. "We're not com- municating with the paid-up members," he said. The Poznan, Poland native claimed that at times the only people involved with the chamber and knew what was going on were the members of the board. "The members don't know what was happening," he said adding that with the board running things "that was as many people who knew what was going on." The newsletter that the chamber sent out was not of much help either, he said. So, he had devised another method of communications with the membership. From now on, each of the chamber's 19 directors will be responsible for an equal percentage of the member- ship. Each director will be responsible for maintaining contact with his members and informing them of meetings and other up- coming events. Raczkowski said that he wanted each of the directors to sell the chamber and to keep the members in- terestéd. "If you can make the members interested in the chamber you've won half the battle," he said. To do this, the former pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War Two, had a meeting with his directors prior to their taking office and told them of his plans. "I told them that it is going to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears," he said, "we can do something and get people interested." Raczkowski said that he will be devoting a lot of time to the Chamber of Commer- ce's activities and that he wants others to get involved as well. The 23-year resident of Whitby also said the cham- ber will be distributing a new brochure outlining the history and the purpose of the Chamber of Commerce. He intends to carry on with such chamber functions as the Peter Perry Award, the Trade Fair, the Wine and Cheese Party and the Businessman of the Year Award. While he indicated that he would like to introduce new programs, he said that "nothing is planned because the new executive only had its first formal meeting a few days before the inter- view. However, Raczkowski said that he will be conduc- ting a membership drive. He said that he will be ap- proaching businessmen with the attitude that "you have got to give it a chance or the chamber will be doomed to failure and the only way to give it a chance is to be a member •and support the chamber." The new president em- phasized that the chamber needs the help of every mermber and that he told his directors that to get this help the most they usually have to do is ask. Raczkowski also said that he wants businesses to want to become members of the chamber. He wants to return to the day when it was "traditional" for a business to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. "I want people to be proude to be a member of the chamber," he said. The president also said that he is also carrying on an internal re-organization of the chamber. "I'm very enthusiastic about (the job and the chamber) and I've got a good crew," he said. "And we're going to sell the chamber as a worthwile organization." GO NATURAL Health Food Store1 Goat's Milk Products are now here We also have sour cream and Kefir yogurt. We have bread made without sugar or milk COD LIVER OIL $5.75 500 ml Reg. 6.95 121 Brock St. N. Whitby 668-2661 DURHAM WEST PRONVICIAL PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION NOTICE OF NOMINATION MEETING DATE: Thursday. February 5, 1981 PLACE: Ajax High School (Bayly St. east of Harwood St.) TIME: 8P.M. PURPOSE: TO nominate a Progressive Conservative Can- date for the upcoming elections. This notice is given the 24th Day of January 1981 J.J. Moskaluk President Ontario SeniorCitizns nowhavetheirown guide to services and programs. Ontario's Senior Citizens have contributed a great deal to our province, and to help ensure that they can enjoy healthier and more active lives, the Ontario Government has published a new booklet called "Guide for Senior Citizens" This handy reference guide describes the wide range of services and programs available for seniors in Ontario. The Guide includes information on health care programs, housing assistance, tax grants, community clubs and centres, and many other subjects of interest to seniors in Ontario. By the end of February, al Ontario Senior Citizens who receive the Old Age pension will receive a copy of the Guide in the mail. Others who would like a copy can write to: Ontario Governrment Publications Centre, 5th Floor, 880 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8 Ontario Margaret Birch, Provincial Secretary for Social Development William Davis, Premier