At the Port McNeill Town Council Meeting on Monday, May 9, correspondence from the North Island Farmers and Artisans Market (NIFAM) was received and tabled for discussion at the Town's next council meeting.
In their letter dated April 26, the NIFAM's Managers Neva Perrott and Shannon Shepley stated that they 'were advised to be specific in our request for support from the town during the council meeting in early April. Upon discussion with membership, we are asking for funding of $800 to cover the cost of joining the BC Association of Farmers Markets (BCAFM) and its group rate for liability insurance.'
Perrott and Shepley went on to explain in the letter that the 'benefits of this membership are many. These include promotion of our market online, in brochures and on special highway signage. We also gain access to a variety of special programs.
As members, we become part of the BCAFM list serve, receive regular BCAFM newsletters and voting rights to elect board members. Reduced rates for webinars, conferences and workshops are offered to members too.'
Councillor Graham MacDonald spoke afterwards, stating that "they needed the $800 dollars to become an official farmers market, so I paid it," adding that by providing the money from his own pocket the group will now be able to meet their deadline of May 30 and "move forward." MacDonald also noted that "the most important thing about this is it gives people a place to sell their goods. It creates economy for the Town, and it gives us more vendors. We definitely need to create better food."