Fwd: Positive Power Co-op: Mini-Breeze, Important Announcement

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>

> Dear Positive Power Co-op Members and Supporters,

>

> Over the last three years we have all been working

> diligently to keep our projects moving forward to

> prepare our organization and community for an

> important first: raising the community based capital

> we need to put 'wings in the sky'. Thanks to the

> support, time and resources of our amazing

> community, PPC has become one of the most

> progressive and accomplished renewable energy co-ops

> in Ontario. We all can be proud of what we have

> accomplished and the leadership PPC has brought to

> the Hamilton, Halton and Haldimand communities.

>

> Over the past weeks, the Board (with much guidance

> and support from our General Manager) has

> encountered a number of challenges that are going to

> have had a substantial impact on the short term

> operations of PPC. This information, and the

> related decisions it has brought to the Board table

> have prompted significant changes to how PPC

> operates. Regrettably and with much sadness, I am

> writing today to let you know that we will be unable

> to renew the contract of our talented General

> Manager, Jen Heneberry, after March 31/06.

>

> This decision is no reflection upon the leadership,

> dedication and skills that Jen has brought to her

> efforts at PPC over the past two and a half years.

> In fact, Jen has and continues to be the driving

> force behind our day-to-day growth in the community.

> Our organization has been incredibly fortunate to

> have had Jen working on behalf of important efforts.

> Jen's impact on our growth has been positive and

> profound.

>

> While extremely difficult to arrive at this

> decision, it has been made with the long term

> business interests of PPC in mind. Quite simply, we

> have stretched our financial resources as far as

> they can go and as a responsible employer we can no

> longer guarantee Jen the security she deserves as an

> employee. We are caught in a timing squeeze between

> our short term cash flow and our ability to reach

> out to the community to raise the capital we need to

> drive our projects forward.

>

> The board is well aware of the impact of this

> decision and wants to reassure all our members,

> volunteers and community supporters that PPC is

> going not going away. Our daily operations will look

> different for the next while but our goal of

> bringing community owned renewable energy to our

> members is unwavering.

>

> Thanks to your continued support it will happen once

> we have further clarity on two things: 1) how we

> will be selling our green power to the province; and

> 2) formal receipt of our 'offering statement; (the

> document that will let us sell bonds to raise the

> necessary funds for the projects). Once we have both

> of these puzzle pieces in place we will be in a

> position to generate the short term dollars needed

> to bring back a full time General Manager to drive

> that process forward.

>

> The board would like to thank all the supporters who

> have made PPC what it is today: A strong and

> business savvy organization that is willing to make

> difficult short term decisions for the long term

> growth of our movement. Your collective energy and

> belief in community owned energy will see us through

> this ‘blip’ in our efforts.

>

> The board would also like to once again thank Jen

> for all that she has given PPC. It has been a

> pleasure to work with her and we sincerely hope that

> PPC and Jen will one day again be working together.

> In the mean time we wish Jen nothing continued

> success and accomplishment and know she will add

> great value and leadership in what ever projects she

> takes on.

>

> Finally, thank you for your on-going support. We

> will be keeping you posted on our progress with

> electronic updates with details as they become

> available.

>

> Although it will be looking different for the next

> little while, rest assured that PPC is here to stay.

>

> With many regards,

>

> Curt Hammond

> Board Chair

>