On Wednesday, April 6, OWBA held its first official meeting to accept membership applications and appoint executive members. It was our pleasure to receive this heart-felt welcome from our president, Gino Milito:
Good evening Everyone and thank you for coming to our first official meeting of OWBA!
Tonight is our very first meeting of the Osgoode Ward Business Association, with its first board of directors a moment that I believe will be a defining milestone when you all look back ten years from now and see its formation and success that was accomplished in the interim.
The first thing I want to make clear is that OWBA is not here to take over any existing association or organization. Our goal is to be a source of inspiration for the existing organizations and work with them side by side with all the business people of this Ward.
There are so many issues to deal with; including communicating with the different levels governments and its bureaucracies so they know where we stand and what we want.
There is such thing as a disadvantaged business. Everyone has a need in this life and everyone’s need is different from the next, but I also believe that there is one factor that plays a major role in the success of any business.
I often think about one of Ted Turner’s favourite phrases (remember Ted Turner, founder of CNN?). He said:“Early to Bed Early to Rise, Work like Hell and Advertise” ….
YES, PROMOTE YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS (OWBA IS HERE TO HELP)
Therefore, as you know “Networking” plays a key role in Advertising. Networking offers you the opportunity to meet other businesses that – even when you least expect it – will bring you future business success. Regarding your product and/or service, and in many cases will provide you the solution. Or to put it another way, we will SEEK solutions on your behalf no matter the type of business *this will of course include home-based and agriculture businesses.
We plan to work to promote each of the businesses within the Ward itself including the entire Ottawa area and if your product or service is marketable province-wide, Canada-wide or even world-wide then we will make every effort that those connections are made: They will know what you are offering or selling. Our goal is to work diligently with our Councillor, Mayor, MPP or Federal Member of Parliament including ANY Tom, Dick Harry or (and being politically correct) MARY as well. Whatever source carries the authority to do something about your issues or concerns.
In brief, OWBA has now a board of seven and (9 executive waiting positions to be filled) that combines representation from Greely, Osgoode, Metcalfe, Vernon, Kenmore, Bank Street, Power Road and Manotick East.
OWBA’s goal is to genuinely make you aware of all goings on in our ward whether it’s an infrastructure issue a new development or a new tax grab, I have a personal interest to help it succeed because this is where I live, this is where I work and this is where I conduct business and the more I work with and become involved with the surrounding businesses and its people , the more we will unite our business community to become the power of MANY.
I always say that “you must experience some lows in order to appreciate the highs”. Remember: Success is getting up more than you fall down. It’s not how high and fast you reach the top, but how high and fast you bounce back when you hit the bottom.
We hope that OWBA can give you the influence and empowerment you want and need. Let’s face it! We all want to feel important and, as Thomas Edison said, “If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” SO LET’S ASTOUND OURSELVES!
In this respect I wish to share with you ONE of these evenings’s closing QUOTES by Mark Twain:
“There are basically two types of people; People who accomplish things and people who claim to have accomplished things. I guarantee you the first group is less crowded”
OWBA wants to be in the first group!
Welcome everyone, to our first OFFICIAL meeting of OWBA!
