MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF COTTAGE OWNERS INC. P.O. Box 281, Station Main, Winnipeg  R3G 2G9 Minutes of Annual General Meeting Date:             Saturday, October 20th, 2007 Time:            10:00 AM Location       Place Louis Riel, 190 Smith Street, Winnipeg Present         List Attached Dave Crabb, President Welcomed everyone and thanked the Place Louis Riel and the Directors for their help. Guest Speakers: Ian Wishart Vice-President, Keystone Agricultural Producers Ian Wishar,  spoke to the meeting about school tax on farm property and nutrient management. Ian outlined how school taxes are charged on farm property as well as providing an example of the large amount of taxes that is often paid in an area with a minimal number of children eg:  $180,000 / 11 children. Ian spoke about how farmers are managing nutrients as well as examples of greenhouse management.   • Farmers must grow the most for the least cost.  He gave examples of farmers putting wetlands back    as they act as filters.   There are also buffer strips along waterways. • Farm Stewardship Manitoba - 5000 participants covering 8m acres through self-analysis. • Farmers have voluntarily spent $120m to change environmentally. • Maps and aerial photos are 70 years old. • Working with Water Stewardship although there has not been any contact for about 10 months. • Urban areas use 5 - 8 times fertilizer • State of Tennessee support regarding ducks. • There has been improvement in Europe. • There is support research on Lake Winnipeg. Adrienne Batra, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Adrienne Batra advised that the Canadian Taxpayers Federation became a national organization in    1991.  She is the only representative in Manitoba and there is no staff.  British Columbia and Ontario     have provincial offices.  Province of Quebec is the Quebec Taxpayers League. There needs to be     less tax, less waste and government accountability. Date:           Saturday, October 20th, 2007 Time:           1:02 PM Location:   Place Louis Riel, 190 Smith Street, Winnipeg 1. Call to Order     President Dave Crabb called the meeting to order at 1:02 pm. 2. Adoption of Agenda     It being determined that there were no changes, the agenda was adopted. 3  .Adoption of the Minutes of the previous meeting of October 21st  2006      Rene Comeault moved adoption of minutes as presented.  Seconded by Lorne Britton.   Carried. 4.  Financial Report     Gary Dunlop moved adoption of the financial report.  Seconded by Marian Jones.  Dave Crabb     explained the status of the $5000 grant and other funding for the translation.  Carried. 5.Membership Report     Rene Comeault advised that 39 associations and 3 individuals have paid totaling approximately              3000   members.  6.Correspondence      The meeting was advised that the correspondence book was available for perusal. 7.President's Report     Dave Crabb provided his report.  - •  Membership could be set up as a yearly automatic payment rather than waiting for approval of       executive or membership. •  Failure of associations to have a constitution or following it.     -Provided information regarding Pelican Bay, Ayers Cove area and the blockade by Hollow Water.       There may be access granted today day and maybe tomorrow to allow for winterizing.       Responsibility rests with the province for process - not RCMP. •     Management of cottage lot draws not managed well.  Development not done through agreement        with  First Nations.  There was no response from First Nations regarding this.  •    With Adrienne Batra's help, MACO became part of the Let's Pay Fair group (Manitoba Education       Financing Coalition.) •    The need to sign petition.       Refusal of the Education Minister to attend MACO annual general meetings. •    Protest is planned for spring.  Larry Baker is in charge of the planning.  Numbers are important.  It       will be a short event.  More information to follow.  Please provide email addresses if possible.  Will       need volunteers to fan out and telephone. •    Outlined collection responsibility of rural municipalities to collect school taxes.  The municipality       doesn't set the tax. 8.Old Business "Living by Water project.  Information provided on book.  There is $5000 in the bank being held due to delay in producing French brochure.  It will be a first in Canada. "Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium (LWRC).  Website information changes often with new information and images.  Dave Crabb explained that the letter pursuant to the motion at last year's Annual General Meeting wasn't sent as Dr. Kristofferson advised that at that time the letter wasn't required as there was lots of funding coming in from governments.   Mo Tipples spoke about the need for corporate support and the need for a tax number. 9.New Business • Canadian Taxpayers Federation - MACO is a member and paid a membership fee of $250.00.  Gus    Wruck moved that MACO continue to be a member.  Seconded by Donna Jean Crabb.  Carried. • Let's Pay Fair - Dave advised that Let's Pay Fair group may be hiring The Navigator and MACO's    share, to stay in the group, will be $2,000.00 to cover costs such as legal fees, advertising.  Lorne    Britton moved that MACO pay the money to stay part of the group.  Seconded by Marion Jones.        Carried. • Tembec - 26 board members including Dave Crabb and Gus Wruck went on an information session    and tour about harvesting how and why.   Hunters do most damage.  They saw 20 - 30 eagles in one    place.  Gus advised that present forestry problems are due to high Canadian dollar.  They have shut    down a couple of plants in the last 2 months but are still continuing public involvement. a)  Elections.  Dave Crabb presided over elections.         Vice-President - 2 year term   Nominating Committee nominated Dan Lester.       Members were asked three times for nominations.   Nominations closed.  Dan Lester was declared       elected. Treasurer - 2 year term         Nominating committee nominated Gary Dunlop Members were asked three times for nominations.  Nominations closed.  Gary Dunlop declared elected.          Three Directors  - 2 years terms Nominating committee nominated Donna Jean Crabb, Gus Wruck and Larry Baker.  Members were            asked three times for nominations.  Nominations closed.  Donna Jean Crabb, Gus Wruck and            Larry Baker were declared elected. One Director - 1 year term             Replacement for Jim Neufeld.  Nominating committee nominated Al Perron.  Members were             asked three times for nominations.  Nominations closed.  Al Perron was declared elected. Silent Auction           Oak Lake Cottage Owners Association, Four Seasons Resort, Dave's company and Cox Morris           donated silent auction prizes.           Prizes were won by Carol Corbett, Poppy Cummings, Noreen Sealy, Gary Dunlop, Anita Moyse,           Joel Bretecher, Ken Corbett, Shirley Nixon, Marian Jones, Anita Comeault and Gus Wruck. 10.Meeting adjourned at 2:32 pm.