Village Association wants some of profits

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - The Stittsville Village Association (SVA) wants a piece of the action from any non-profit groups that provide food services at SVA-sponsored events.

At its executive meeting on Thursday, Feb. 9, a motion was passed that non-profit groups providing food services at SVA-sponsored events would be charged a minimum fee of 10 percent of net profits although the group could voluntarily provide a larger donation.

But it was also agreed that the SVA could agree to waive any fee at its discretion. This might occur, for instance, if total revenues were such that the fee would be only a minimal donation.

This action by the SVA executive came after a prolonged discussion about whether the SVA should invite other non-profit organizations in the community to offer food services at SVA-sponsored events and whether the SVA should receive a financial donation from the organization for this.

In the past, community groups such as the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville and the Stittsville United Church have provided food services at SVA-sponsored events.

SVA president Marilyn Jenkins urged that other community non-profit groups be allowed to participate and offer food services but that personally she believed that such groups should provide a donation to the SVA for their participation in the event.

She said that she felt that it could be a "win win" situation, with the non-profit group raising funds but also helping to share some of the revenue with the SVA.

There was some feeling that perhaps the SVA should look after the food services itself as a fundraising venture but it was felt that this would require an additional commitment by SVA volunteers who are already busy with other SVA activities.

SVA past president Metin Akgun pointed out that these non-profit organizations that would be providing food services are community groups that end up giving the funds back to the community in some way.

SVA director Christine Hartig said that the SVA should get a percentage of food sales at SVA events, adding that the groups that provide these food services know that the SVA has fundraising challenges.

"I think a percentage makes sense," she said.