For the first time in more than a decade, the annual Matthews Memorial Hospital Association (MMHA) Annual General Meeting will not be held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richards Landing.
Instead, the meeting will take place at the Desbarats Community Centre (Desbarats Arena) Saturday, Jan. 28.
Also new this year, an All-You-Can-Eat Pancake breakfast will take place at 9 a.m. with the AGM to follow at 11 a.m. Cost is by donation.
Breakfast and meeting will take place on the second floor of the building.
Posters have been distributed throughout communities in the catchment area.
In years past, inclement weather has discouraged some residents from attending the traditional evening meetings.
"The goal in changing the venue was to encourage more residents to attend and sign up to become members," said MMHA Board Chair, Sheila Campbell, stressing the importance of the meeting. "Should a threat regarding Matthews Hospital occur again, the more numbers we have the better. There's power in numbers and a greater voice."
Residents 18-years and older, and who are landowners or spouses of landowners from MacDonald, Meredith and Aberdeen to Bruce Mines including St. Joseph Island are eligible to review the year-end financial statements which will be presented at the meeting, as well, vote for the 2017 Board of Directors.
Association membership is $1 and can be paid at the door.
A single loonie not only secures your membership for the coming year but you are eligible to vote or, if you wish, hold a board seat.
Three of the current board members will not be seeking re-election.
"We need new people," Campbell said. "We need bodies not only within the association as well as those willing to sit on the board."
Campbell said along with voting for the nine board members, three from the North Shore and six from St. Joseph Island, the board will be discussing the completed and ongoing building improvements, as well, what lies ahead.
"In the coming year, efforts will be made to further stabilize its (MMHA) finances with the re-negotiations of its current loan with BridgeLink Medical Centre in the best possible way for everybody," Campbell said.
There are no guest speakers scheduled to attend.