December 1 st, 2011 Fellow Nares Cottagers: You may have heard rumblings in the inlet at the end of the summer regarding a possible new paddle tennis court for Nares. As you know, for many years, we have been the beneficiaries of the generosity of the Thomson family and had access to their paddle tennis court; what a wonderful gift they have provided each summer, for generation upon generation! You may be aware that the Thomson cottage and adjoining property will eventually be deeded to the Georgian Bay Land Trust; this is an amazing legacy gift that will benefit all citizens. However, the reality of the situation is that both the Thomson buildings and the court will eventually be demolished. As the court is increasingly becoming in disrepair, Robert Thomson is concerned regarding the potential for injuries, etc. In light of the imminent transfer to the Land Trust, there is no practical reason for repairing the existing court. After a number of meetings over the summer, and after consultation with Robert Thomson, we formed a committee to pursue the construction of a new paddle tennis court in Nares Inlet. We have conversed with the Township of the Archipelago, who has granted us the use of a portion of the shore road allowance (66 feet) in a segment of the east side of Portage Bay (see aerial photo attached). This site was arrived at after consultation with a number of stakeholders, as well as consideration of alternative sites. The objective with the new court will to maintain the tradition and the experiences that we have enjoyed at the Thomson court, for so many years (although we will never be able to duplicate the Thomson view and bay breeze!). We intend on sizing the court the same as what we have now; there will be no other buildings constructed, or docks.
Page 2 Our intention is to raise the necessary funding from our community; we have established a preliminary budget of $50,000, which we believe will build the court and set aside monies for future maintenance (reserve). The Township has agreed to receive, hold and disburse monies on our behalf, which means that any donations will generate a tax receipt! Dennis Scale is an enthusiastic proponent of this project and has agreed to build the court at his cost (labour and materials)! Once the court is constructed, we hope to recruit next generation stewards to keep an eye on the court and make sure there is nothing untoward occurring at the Portage Bay site. In proceeding with this project, we certainly will acknowledge the contributions of the Thomson family for the past several decades. You also are very likely aware that Ian Stewart passed away last December. Ian loved to spend time at the paddle tennis court, as much for the social aspects of matches, as the competition! Ian was aware of the imminent removal of the Thomson court and was concerned as to how we could carry on, without... With Ian s passing and his love for the court, but more so for Nares and the Archipelago, a number of us felt that donations to this cause in Ian s name would be appropriate. (We will leave that for your consideration) Regardless, this is a community project that we hope will insure the continuation of the Thomson experience for many years to come. As such, we are hoping that we can count on your support. There are more than 40 cottages in our inlet and we hope to achieve 100% participation. We realize that we all have different means, also, that some people use the court more than others (now), but the fact is that almost all of us have benefited from this unique Nares experience, for generations! As a guideline only, we hope that each family will consider a donation of $1 - $2,000. We are sending this letter now, so that you can address this matter this calendar (and tax!) year. If you wish, we also will accept pledges for Y2012. You will receive a follow-up call from one of our committee members (see below). That will give you a chance to raise any questions that you may have.
We plan on some form of dedication plaque that will acknowledge the Thomson legacy, recognize Ian s contributions to our inlet and township, and cite the families/ donors that have contributed to this project. Page 3 Thank you for your anticipate support for this project; we are hoping to make a grand opening in 2012 possible. I should note that Peter Ursel (and family) has set up a website for this project and you will be able to monitor our fundraising progress, on line! www.naresinletpaddleballproject.com Yours sincerely, Harvey Cornish John Hansuld (township liaison) Edward Ketchum Kathleen Kidd Bill Morris Peter Ursel
Nares Inlet Paddle Tennis Project We would greatly appreciate your financial support of this project. This will insure continuation of the Thomson tradition and benefit Nares cottagers for generations to come. Please complete the form below and direct this and your donation to the Township of the Archipelago at: Township of the Archipelago (Phone:705-746-4243) 9 James Street Parry Sound, ON P2A1T4 Name: Address: Phone #: Island/Property # (Name): Amount of Donation: Y2011: Y2012 (pledge): We, your committee, as well as your fellow cottagers, greatly appreciate your support for this worthy project. Harvey Cornish John Hansuld (township liaison) Edward Ketchum Kathleen Kidd Bill Morris Peter Ursel