VP Mike Bird standing in as Chair With 6 of the Directors plus 6 members present
Motion: Be it resolved that Tyler Graham engage with NVCU to set up online banking to pay utility bills and accept donations and membership[ fees online or as authorzed by the Finance committee
Motion – Rick Montemurro
Second – Bob Motion
Motion PASSED w/o objection
No other motions passed, discussions only Tyler and Bob M wil continue to assist Ken T as Treasurer. Volunteer & skill sheets passed about will be kept onsite to call help when needed New Member: Mike Grainger joins us as a fully paid member Kieth Gordon will follow up on donated shuffleboard Bill, Phil, Ralph,Greco and Rick will work on floorpan & layout of unit. Now we have a location it was mutually agreed future meetings should be held monthly at 2:00 pm on the first Wednesday of the month and informal ad hoc meetings can be weekly and casn pass items to add to the agenda of monthly meetings
Our fall yard sale is scheduled for Sat. Sept 27th at Cottonwood Park. Tell people about it, attend it yourself. It is open to everyone and we will only ask a $10 donation from every vendor. Set up a booth, a table, an area or blanket on the grass or sell items from the trunk of your car, bed of a pickup or a trailer. Shed marshalls will direct you to spots you can set up on a first come first serve basis. If you have a booth and need electrical contact us so we can reserve those spots for you. The Men’s Shed will have a booth where you can ask questions, learn about men’s sheds and join us
Men’s Shed tent At the Junk in your trunk sale Aug. 0, 2025
Member opportunity to see the new location at the Shopping Centre on Weds Sept 3 at 2:00 PM. Take a look at the place we have to deal with and offer your suggestions and ideas. This will be a chance for input and volunteer to help set up the place. Find out the rules and restrictions that we have to follow in that location.
Not the actual sign on the shop that is still being arranged
Financials: currently able to progress on a location. We will be setting up so people can make cash donations and members can submit membership fees online with Interac
Membership: stands at 29 with 11 present at this meeting
Junk in the Trunk: sales raised over $500 in donations plus a $500 donated to us by the Car Show
Rental Property: upon prior consent by the Executive members, a motion was tabled by Rick Montemurro to proceed and sign a lease for the unit at the Fort St, James Shopping Center, between Service BC and the Loonie bin. The motion was passed by the membership. A public Grand Opening is tentatively planned for Nov. 15th. We can begin setup and occupancy as of Sept. 1. A floor plan is underway, signage for the unit is being researched and volunteers to help will be called for then.
Grant applications are being sent out, any more suggestions to apply should be sent to Bob Motion. Bob informed us we must raise our $10,000 goal and then a $2500 grant from Centerra Gold will be sent.
Grand Opening Event: mentioned in (4) planning is underway. Many suggestions were discussed and more are welcome
Next Junk in the Trunk: it was decided that name will no longer be used and to change to Community Garage Sale for public clarity. Next sale is tentatively set for Sept/ 27 again at Cottonwood Park
Car Show: Tyler Graham expressed his wishes to turn over operation of the annual NMI Classic Car Show to the Men’s Shed. A motion (Bob M, Bill H) passed to do so for the 2026 show, Tyler will assist.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm
Suggestions and questions can be submitted online or through any Director, Online form is at https://mensshed.fortstjames.com/contact
Agenda 1. Financials – bank account status 2. Membership 3. Junk in the trunk Aug report 4. Rental property status report 5. Grant application status 6. Grand opening event – New store front – Date of Grand Opening?? – Centerra Gold Event Grant – BBQ ?? – Signage 7. Next Junk in the Trunk Event – Mens Shed participants – September?? – Borrow the Integris BBQ and have food available? 8. 2026 Car Show – Does Mens Shed want to take over the Car show for 2026
A regular meeting for the membership will be held on Weds. Aug 10th at 2:00 pm at the Curling Rink. Discussions to include info about the Junk in Your Trunk sale, ongoing fundraising efforts and support from community groups and the recommendation of the Board of Directors to proceed with the chosen rental space for September 1st. Things are happening! New members are welcome to join at the meeting.
In spite of the rain and slower than expected turn out, with a donation of $500 from the NMI Car Show, we managed to raise over $1000,00 for the Shed. We will use what we learned from the event and are now planning a Fall Junk in the Trunk sale on a date to be announced.
A members only area has been added to this site that the general public can’t access. A password is required and if you ask a Director and you are a paid up member they will give it to you. It is for privacy of lists and discussions around members and policies. The general public can access the main site. Member lists and more will be here. A private Member’s Chat is here. If you know the password, do not give it out to anyone who is not a member of the Stuart Lake Men’s Shed Society. If you don’t know the password you can email mensshed@fortstjames,com and we will check that you are a member and send it to you.
A little over a week away! MEMBERS: be sure to show up yourself on Aug.9 and you can visit the Classic Car Show – there were over 100 cars to see last year. Tell your friends and neighbours about it, bring them with you when you go, make it an outing for the day! People wishing to sell can do so from the trunk of their car, the bed of their truck, from a table or booth or a blanket on the grass. Vendors only pay a $10 donation to the Men’s Shed and many shed members will be donating things to sell or part of their earnings to the group.
