Greater Geary Association

Jan 18, 2010 - GGA receives $25,000 grant for seniors recreation program!

The Greater Geary Association (GGA) has just received a $25,000 grant through the federal New Horizons for Seniors Program to undertake a senior’s recreation pilot program for the four communities of Greater Geary.  This project will engage seniors in Greater Geary, NB in the development and implementation of a local recreation program (including transportation) tailored to their needs.  The goal is to help Greater Geary become a rural age-friendly community.  Programs will be hosted in partnership with the Geary Lions Club.  (Read the press release here)

Photo of the presentation event:  L to R - Trevor Hanson, Chair GGA, Polly Carr, President of Geary Lions Club, Hon. Keith Ashfield, MP Fredericton (federal representative)
 

Nov 23, 2009. 7 pm - Neighbourhood Watch Meeting at Geary Lions Club

There will be a meeting at the Geary Lions Club on Monday, Nov 23, 7 pm for anyone in Geary, French Lake, Haneytown and Waterville interested in learning about or becoming involved with Neighbourhood Watch, a community program to help reduce crime. The event will be run by Allison Myers, Community Program Officer for the RCMP in Oromocto and is being organized in conjunction with the Greater Geary Association.

At one time there used to be a very active neighbourhood watch program in the communities. Many concerns have been raised about property crime, theft, and vandalism, it may be highly beneficial to get this program up and going again. Volunteers are needed, including a program champion, and Allison will talk about how our communities can rebuild the program and become involved.

If you plan to attend or for more information, please contact Trevor Hanson at info@greatergearyassociation.com

Nov 7, 2009.  Greater Geary Health Committee's Blood Pressure Clinic at Geary Lions Club Breakfast a success!

The first community blood pressure clinic organized by the GGA Health Committee was a complete success!  Many individuals took the opportunity to learn more about their health.  Thanks to Theresa Bartlett-Chase, Nurse, for organizing the clinic and to the Lions Club for hosting.  More clinics will be organized in the future. 

Theresa taking Trevor's blood pressure.  For the record, his blood pressure was pretty good!

Sept 27, 2009 - Greater Geary Softball ends its successful 2009 season with a pizza party!!

After a fun and exciting first year, the Greater Geary Recreation Council wrapped up its softball program with a pizza party at the Geary Elementary Community School. Kids received special medals with "Greater Geary Softball Champ 2009" also in the colours of the Geary Gators from Geary Elementary.  In addition, the kids learned about TrueSport how it promotes community recreation and that "good sport can make a great difference".  Thanks to all the organizers, coaches, parents, players and volunteers for making this such a successful year!

Sept 24, 2009 - GGA awarded $5000 from TrueSport Foundation to support GGRC youth softball! 

As a result of a $5000 True Sport Community Fund grant received from the True Sport Foundation, the Greater Geary Recreation Council will be able to secure new equipment and an upgraded playing field for its youth softball program and its 80 participants.  “Our goal has been to offer affordable and accessible youth recreation opportunities. We had an excellent start to the first season of our re-launched youth softball program and this grant will help us to secure new equipment, continue to make field upgrades and offset other expenses so that the registration fees are kept as low as possible.” stated Trevor Hanson, Chair of the Greater Geary Association Inc, the grant applicant, and member of the Recreation Council. “We are so thankful to the True Sport Foundation for supporting our communities and investing in our youth.” Read more here!

August 18, 2009 - Mixed Ball Tournament a huge success!!  The first mixed ball tournament held in Greater Geary in many years was a complete success!  Eight teams battled it out at the Waterville Field all in support of raising money for the Greater Geary Youth Softball Program.  In the end, over $2400 was raised in support of youth softball!  Many thanks to all the organizers, in particular Curtis Gallagher, the many volunteers (field maintenance, sellling 50/50 tickets, the BBQ), team captains, players, supporters and sponsors for making this such a fun time in support of such a great cause! 

The GGRC would like to thank the following sponsors:

July 20, 2009 - Geary Lions Club celebrates milestone: 40th Anniversary since its founding back in July 1969. Congratulations!

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See GG Rec Council for more details

8-Team Mixed Ball Tournament
Aug 7, 8, 9 - Waterville Field.   
$150 per team minimum ($15 per person).  All proceeds to support youth softball program and field

Contact: Curtis Gallagher - 357-8831

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July 13, 2009  - Play ball!  First players take to the field in Waterville.   Approximately 70 people were on hand for the launch of the ballfield in Waterville on Monday, including parents, volunteers, players, coaches, and a representative from the RCMP Foundation.  While the 7:00 pm games were cancelled due to rain, the two younger groups did get to play from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.   The first pitch opening the field was by Cst. Mike Kerr, RCMP member

July 6, 2009 - Softball season to begin again in Greater Geary! - Official field opening at a brief ceremony, 7 pm, Monday July 13th at the Waterville Ballfield (read press release here)

June 15, 2009 - Geary School moves up to #2 on DEC priority list!

Last week the District 17 Education Council released its Capital Priority List.  As you know, we have been working quite hard to get the Geary Elementary Community School as #1 on the list.  In fact, the voting was quite close, and the GECS emerged as the #2 priority for District 17.  While #1 was the goal, this is certainly very promising as this puts us very close to our goal.  If there is enough funding to fund the #1 priority, it is conceivable that #2 could be funded as well.  We need to keep working at this!

May 28, 2009 - GGA releases "Proposal for a gymnasium for the Geary Elementary Community School" (Click on image to download)

Read press release here

May 19, 2009 - Greater Geary Recreation Council officially incorporates as a not-for-profit organization 

May 9, 2009 - Softball preregistration at Geary Lions Club, 10 am - 12 pm 

April 29th, 2009. GGA presents vision for new gym

Over the last couple of months, the Greater Geary Association (GGA) has been working with a group of UNB Civil Engineering students on a class project to develop a vision for a new Geary School gym. 

 With the class project now complete, we are posting their conceptual drawings to the “in support of the new Geary gym project” facebook site and the Greater Geary Association webpage (www.greatergearyassociation.com). Their project involved consultations with the Home & School Association, Parent School Support Committee, school staff, Greater Geary Association, and the new Greater Geary Rec Council.

The students did such a great job that we shared the vision for a new gym with the District 17 Education Council (DEC) on Tuesday, April 28th. The purpose of this was to show the DEC that the new gym project has extensive community support that now needs engineering assessments, architectural designs, and public consultation to determine actual location and design. We need the support of the DEC to make this happen and it is our hope that they will commission these studies in the near future. In addition, it is our hope that Department of Education appropriates the necessary funds to make this project happen in a timely manner.

Noted features in the conceptual design: a wheelchair accessible stage and facility, change rooms and washrooms, double playing court, and ample storage space. 
 

April 22, 2009 - GGA Launches Campaign in support of a new gym for the Geary School

The Geary Elementary Community School has been an integral part of the Greater Geary communities for 50 years. With the growing student and community population, it is time to bring the school infrastructure into the 21st century to meet the 21st century needs placed upon it. The 170 students at the Geary Elementary Community School need a gym.

Have your voice heard!  You can..

Join the facebook group "In support of a new gym for the Geary Elementary Community School"

Write the School District 17 Education Council, 17 Miramichi Rd, Oromocto, NB. E2V 2P6

Write the Minister of Education, Hon. Kelly Lamrock, Place 2000, P. O. Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1

Contact your local MLA Jody Carr (http://www.jodycarr.ca/contact-jody/)

By speaking up, you can help move this project forward!

April 21,2009. First Rec Council Meeting a success! The First Rec Council meeting took place at the Geary Lions Club on April 20th. Many volunteers were identified to help launch a new softball program this summer, including the ballfield redevelopment. If you missed the meeting, it's never too late to become involved - contact the council at greatergearyrecreation@live.com  or on facebook.  Within one day, 65 people joined the GGRC facebook group.  Way to go!

April 9, 2009.  RCMP Foundation donates $5000 to support the youth in Greater Geary Area!!

(L to R - Hollie Hanlon, chair of the new Greater Geary Recreation Council, Trevor Hanson, Greater Geary Association, Sgt. Tammy Ward, RCMP) 

The RCMP Foundation presented a cheque in the amount of $5000 to the Greater Geary Association (GGA) in support of rehabilitation of a ball field in the community. (Read the press release here)

RECENT GGA EVENTS

Feb, 24, 2009.  Greater Geary Association launches Online Business Directory for Corporate Members -  Businesses in and around the Greater Geary Area are eligible to join the GGA as a "corporate member" and will be featured on the GGA online business directory.  The cost is only $5 per month, paid every 6 months and funds are used to offset the website cost.  To see the list of corporate members, click on "businesses" in the menu.  Please email us at info@greatergearyassociation.com to join!

Jan. 21, 2009. Greater Geary Association Releases "Recreation Needs Assessment" .  With the help of civil engineering students from UNB, the GGA has completed a recreation needs assessment for the communities.  This is the first step to addressing the recreation challenges faced in our area.  Download here

Read the Oromocto Post Article

Dec 23/2008 - Provincial Government releases new plan for rural communities, but decides not to implement it.
Report was released publicly on Friday is available at this website: http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/promos/flg/index-e.asp, The proposed recommendations include the development of 12 regional municipalities in NB (kind of like the Halifax RM) of which our area would fall under the Fredericton Region. We are going to review the report and determine what impacts there might be for our communities if the major recommendations are implemented. Let us know what you think.

Dec 16/2008 - We made a presentation to the District 17 Education Council (DEC)called "Geary Community School: Case for Priority 1". The Geary Community School has been near the top of the priority list for several years, but the trend has only been for the number 1 project to be approved. If the DEC elevates the GCS to number 1, then there is a very good possibility that the new gym we want to see at the school will be funded.

October 2, 2008.  Fredericton Regional Solid Waste Commission.   Representatives met with citizens at the Lions Club to discuss recycling.   

October 2, 2008.  GGA goes Facebook!  Check us out on Facebook under "Greater Geary Association"

September 29, 2008 - Official launch of the Greater Geary Association Inc.! The official launch was a huge success, with around 80 people attending the event held at the Geary Community School.   

August 2008.  GGA in the News 

July/August 2008.  GGA submits briefs to two  provincial government public consultations on changes to local government and potential changes to the NB tax system 

June 13, 2008.  Geary Elementary School is designated a "Community School" by the Minister of Education.  GGA participates in ribbon cutting ceremony. 

June 6, 2008.  The Greater Geary Association is now officially  a not-for-profit corporation in New Brunswick.

April 26, 2008. Oromocto Post publishes GGA News

April 18, 2008.  MLA introduces GGA at the Provincial Legislature

April 17, 2008.  The GGA hosted the first community "Meet and Greet".  The purpose of this event was to bring together community-minded individuals to discuss issues of mutual concern in the communities of Greater Geary: Geary, French Lake, Haneytown and Waterville .

The event was a great success, with nearly 40 people in attendance, many of whom are community leaders and volunteers.  This “Meet & Greet” represents the first major unifying community effort for many years, and is the first step towards addressing the major concerns of the area.