'You made the commitments without any thoughts'

Letters to the Editor - Dear Editor:

This letter is in response to the Parish Hall Committee's letter as it appeared in the July 7 edition of the Pen. A response is required to clarify the issue and to show that I am not a person who does not appreciate community events, the work of volunteers or the need for fundraising.

In their words, the committee "would like to set the record straight" and stated that "at no time do we know of it (the Parish Hall) being called a community hall." Yet, an Internet search on the 'Community Hall of Conche' will direct you to an ACOA media release from 2004. (http://www.acoa.ca/e/media/press/press.shtml?2886) The media release states the "the Community Hall of Conche will receive a complete overhaul at a cost of $140,005.00" and would include "flooring, windows, siding, roof, new furnace, ductwork and a patio." A similar search on the "Parish Hall of Conche" bears no such results. So, you will have to forgive my confusion.

You further stated that due to an "agreement made in 1993" that only "special event licences" could be used at the hall and that "it's always been this way ever since." Yet, on Aug. 8 1997, I provided bar services for a wedding at the hall and, at the end of the night, I gave (yes, gave) the parish 50 per cent of my profits. Furthermore, and not too far in the distant past, an area snowmobile trail organization hosted a fundraiser at the hall; not with a special events licence but with the use of someone else's liquor catering licence and it was them who provided the bar service, not the Parish Hall Committee. Yet, during the past month, I was not permitted to host an event at the hall. Based on past history, I fail to see why.

Your letter also highlights the many community events hosted at the hall, as well as the hall being a place for families to celebrate their special occasions. I have no issue with that. As everybody knows, my club is too small to host such events and I hold no grudge towards those that use the hall for their celebrations. I applaud the people coming home each year and well know the financial benefits that their visits not only bring to Conche, but also to the surrounding area. I look forward to their visits; not only because of my business but also on a personal level. I have even helped them celebrate as I have attended some of those celebrations at the hall. So, as you can see, I do not have a problem with those people using the hall.

The problem is with those who run the hall, namely, the Parish Hall Committee. Yes, people call you to book an event and yes, they have their dates selected, but, as the Parish Hall Committee, you have the final say on when the hall is available to the public. In past years, with the exception of the Garden Party, the majority of the hall events were on Friday nights and I was left with my regular Saturday night bands. No problem! But not so this year! When you received your request this year, why didn't the Parish Hall Committee give some consideration to the impact that their decisions would have on my business because, as you and most of the area residents know, the club has bands every Saturday night during the summer. Is such consideration and co-operation too much to ask?

If you were another business, I could understand. But you are a local church fundraising group and, this year, you made the commitments without any thoughts to me. I can say that because, if you did think if me, then I surely hope, that as a church fundraising group, you would not have committed to the Saturday nights and would have offered your hall for the other nights only.

I am not a villain that is against community events or volunteers or people using the hall. My problem is the Parish Hall Committee's refusal to allow me to host an event at the community hall and their decision to make the hall available for Saturday night functions, thereby, being in direct competition with my business. That is the answer to your question, "why now?"

Brendon FitzPatrick

FitzPatrick's Lounge

Conche