Update - 15 May 2009

BAG NEWS ….

Our May General Meeting was held on Wednesday night, and although not a huge turn out, it was a productive meeting.

We resolved to write to council regarding the current operation of the spa complex. We have received some not so positive feedback from the community and tourists as to the level of customer service, cleanliness, and a general lack of atmosphere to the complex. The Mitchell community relies heavily on the spa as the major draw card for tourism, and without a level of standard to ensure repeat business, the whole community suffers. We need to harness every opportunity for local economic stimulus, and to miss out on those tourist dollars is of detriment to local businesses with flow on effects to the whole community.

We have had a prospective lessee come to have a look at the River Boat! It would be great to have this asset being put to some use, given that we are unable to use it in the Maranoa River.

Customer Service – Isn’t it obvious? Booringa Action Group is making arrangements for our first AussieHost customer service training program. Thousands of untraceable dollars are lost from the Booringa economy each year from customers choosing to shop elsewhere due to poor or indifferent service. In today’s competitive marketplace, if you don’t provide good service you won’t attract customers, and without customers, you don’t have a business! While it may seem obvious, Australian businesses in general have been slow to develop a service culture. Many businesses still reflect a lack of customer focus, with owners believing that their service levels do not need improvement – we’re okay, they say, it’s everyone else that needs to lift their game. In a highly competitive marketplace, it is the ability and willingness to deliver service excellence that lifts a business above its competitors and brings commercial success. Customer service is real, it matters, and more importantly, it is achievable. AussieHost is a nationally recognised customer service training program delivered across Australia. This exciting and dynamic training program focuses on interpersonal communications, customer relations and service. It builds personal, professional and community pride and inspires a greater commitment to providing better service. Most importantly it provides participants with the appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver high quality customer service. AussieHost’s unique approach focuses not only on skill development, but on versatility, innovation, self reliance and self confidence and ensures that the individual takes responsibility for their service delivery. Through successful facilitation, participants learn that a positive attitude to service and improved skills can make a difference to their personal development and their business opportunities.


BAG PROJECT UPDATES ………

Child Care Centre – C&K have advised that they are currently reviewing our proposal and we hope to hear back from them in the not too distant future, while BAG, the Kindy and Council continue collecting support for this project.

Sand / Weir – SunWater have replied to our letter bringing the current state of the weir to their attention and asking for their assistance. SunWater realises the problem, but there is little they can do, as the operation of their ‘business’ expects users of the facility to pay for any maintenance work. As it is classed as a storage facility for irrigation, it is obviously not viable to ask the ‘users’ to pay for it to be dredged! So back to the drawing board, and we will continue negotiations with dredge operators and explore further possible markets for the sand.

Dentist – A representative from the dentist practice visited Mitchell last week, to inspect facilities and meet with local stakeholders. This was a very successful visit, with all good news regarding available facilities. There are a few more details still to be finalised and signed off on, but it all looks very promising for a dentist in Mitchell to become a reality very soon.


GENERAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION ………

Qcoss social policy and advocacy forums 2009 – You are invited to attend the QCOSS Social Policy forum taking place at the Roma Neighbourhood Centre on the 26 May 2009 from 10 til 2pm. These forums will - give you and your organisation the opportunity to comment on social issues faced by your community and workshop recommendations to address them; analyse opportunities for local advocacy arising from the state election; report back on QCOSS advocacy work in 2008 and the local and state-wide results of the previous round of policy forums; improve QCOSS’ regional networks and mechanisms for feeding in to our policy and advocacy work. To register, please call Allyson Spears on 3004 6900.

Port-a-bowl – Active Roma has purchased a portable 10-pin bowling kit as a fun and enjoyable new sport for Roma and outlying communities (including Mitchell!). Port-a-bowl consist of five lanes and five sets of pins and balls which can be set up in a community hall or undercover area. Port-a-bowl is a modified 10-pin bowling game which could teach people of all ages and abilities the basic skills of 10-pin bowling, while developing the co-ordination of players working together. To access the Port-a-bowl kit, free of charge, for your community group, please phone Jasmine Glasson on 0428 200 033.


Until next week! J

Cheers,
Sharyn.

If you’ve missed an update, please visit http://booringaactiongroup.blogspot.com