WELCOME NOTE
Welcome to our August issue of the Margate Business Association (MBA) Newsletter.

REPORT BACK ON THE SEASON
Feedback emanating from the business community of Margate is that although there were a lot of people in Margate during the July season, the second two weeks were quiet. Anticipation of Sardines beaching was high…. but the slimy little silver fellows stayed behind the back line. Word has it however that they will be back next year and will do their best to break through the barrier of dolphins and whales to get to the beach particularly since they have received feedback that the Pier will be renovated by second quarter of 2010!

MBA ACTIVITIES

The Margate Mardi Gras
The MBA organized three Mardi grass during festive season of which only one had to be moved to the next day due to rain. Traders and business demonstrated their staying power and commitment towards tourism and faced some challenging and stormy weather conditions. Likewise, our holidaymakers stayed focused and shopped in both shops and in the rain on the street! Local shop owners, informal traders, churches, youth groups, artists, dancers and musicians supplied entertainment which complimented a wonderful and varied shopping experience for both locals and holidaymakers. We extend our sincere thanks to one and all, the MBA helpers, SAPS and the cleaning & traffic teams from Hibiscus Coast Municipality for ensuring the success of this renowned tourism event in Margate.

The MBA gardener continues to work around Margate and I am sure that you have all noticed the new MBA trolley. Patrick is doing a great job on the CBD gardens and brings to mind the following “even if you sweep streets, do it like Beethoven did when he composed music”.

The Margate Centenary Celebrations
Big plans are underway for the Centenary Celebrations. The MBA, HCM, UGU, SC Tourism and the Ward Committees are working together to make sure that Margate features well on this historic occasion. The first event acknowledges the change of the season through a wonderful community Spring Parade on 5th September.

All business is encouraged to make floats and enter the Spring Parade. This picture shows a float that was made in the early days of Margate. Even though time is tight, we encourage business to participate and build floats. The theme is summer and fun and this is a great opportunity to spread positivity and promote your business.

Check out www.margatecentenary.co.za (kindly sponsored by John Gore) for information on these events and other wonderful community initiatives taking place. Watch for the Press Releases on the Spring Parade and Wall of Fame initiative.

The first event being the Council Centenary Gala dinner took place on 22 August 2009. The event was presented in carnival style by Vicky and her team at Wozani Africa Events and saw guests arriving from all six municipalities in the Ugu Region. This was the first time the hall was used and promises to be a fantastic asset for Margate and its people in the future. The speakers presented some motivational speeches and the Mayor officially thanked every person who had contributed to Margate’s success over the years and declared the Centenary celebrations open.

This is beautiful

Imagine ………for one moment I gave you the opportunity, once every Centenary to have a blank canvas placed before you, and let’s say I gave the canvas a name for instance “The Margate Centenary Wall of Fame”?

Your task – an envious one, create, revive, and stimulate memories – through names… names that make you smile, applaud, cry a little, laugh, but most of all treasure.

Ladies and Gentlemen…..your canvas awaits….CREATE!

Thank you to Esayidi College and their Community Responsive Unit for the manufacture and donation of the Centenary Wall of Fame board to be installed in the new Margate Community Centre.

(Hall of Fame speech written by Arnold Hoffman – Centenary Committee & SC Tourism Margate Area Committee)

Feedback from Council

The MBA continues to engage with Council on all issues around service delivery. A list of items was submitted to Council and within a very short time the list reduced substantially. There are a few challenges with street lighting at present and these have been brought to their attention. We thank HCM, their management, and their teams on the ground for their positive engagement.

At the MBA public meeting George Henderson reported back that road resurfacing had begun and supplied a list of what roads will be receiving attention. George also reported back the Margate Pier rehabilitation (wave damage) had been completed. The most exciting news was that the rehabilitation of the actual Pier should commence shortly. Hopefully the Pier will be ready for our fishing season by next season – and who knows, the Sardines may just show themselves again to celebrate!

At a Ward Committee meeting on Thursday 27 August George Henderson reported back the following:

• The road rehabilitation programme has started. The work will start in phases in terms of area. The Council request patience by motorists in the following areas which will commence first: Panarama Parade – resurfacing whole road, Uplands Road (including rehabilitation of pavement), Lagoon Road, Bank Street & Douglas Roads. Second phase will start in Ulu Drive, Montrose Drive, and “intersection” at Windsor Avenue opposite entrance to Hibiscus Mall. Third phase will start Strachan & Bidston, Pioneer, Julia, Chillingston & Glenmarkie. Forth phase Jenkins, Valley and Munroe. Muriel and Ada Roads have also been added to the list.
• Margate Fishing Pier: Structural Engineers are on board. Tender process starts 31 August 2009. Construction will commence last week October 2009 and Pier should be completed by April/May 2010.
• Wave damage (pavement/walkways etc) - completed.
• Margate Airport – Environmental Impact Assessment processes activated.
• Deliberations in process to create Inkongweni River Conservancy (river which runs under Crossroads and Margate lagoon).

• A presentation has been made to the Portfolio Committee regarding the Margate Upgrade and Renewal Programme which was submitted through the Ward Committee to HCM by the MBA. Consultants have made presentation to Council which included Road Network Improvements, Pier upgrade, CBD Pedestrianisation, Parking, Nodal Developments (pool & entertainment), Boardwalk Development and Formalized Hawker Area.

MBA acquires www.gosouthcoast.co.za Web Site

At the MBA Public Meeting that was held on 30th July 2009, a proposal was presented by Brian Blumrick and John Gore around our new www.gosouthcoast.co.za website and accommodation “package initiative”

We encourage everyone to participate. Check it out! Advertising pricing has been confirmed at R150 per month for non-MBA members and R100 per month for MBA members. Remember, to become an MBA member costs only R35 per month, and is a great organization to belong to and support, and it does a lot for our area.

“A CUSTOMER SERVICE STORY”
No one can make you serve customers well. That’s because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’ Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: “Wally’s Mission Statement”

To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment. This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’ My friend said jokingly, ‘No I’d prefer a soft drink.’ Wally smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.’ Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ‘I’ll take a Diet Coke, Handing him his drink, Wally said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.’ As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’ And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him on his own thoughts.

“Tell me, Wally,’ my amazed friend asked the driver, ‘have you always served customer like this? Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. ‘No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.”

That hit me right between the eyes, said Wally. Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more. I take it that has paid off for you, Harvey said. It sure has, Wally replied. My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action. Wally was phenomenal.
He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting. Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles. How about us? A MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.