Holiday Greetings Willowdale Email Network!     I am writing this to you all a bit early as I am due to undergo knee surgery on Dec. 16th, and wanted to make sure I communicated our Year End Update to our Association before my surgery and convalescence.   Please be advised I will be off-line from Dec.16th-31st, taking a well deserved break. Feel free to email me though, I will just be a bit slower in responding, but will receive all your emails on my Blackberry.    First off, I wish to sincerely thank my Executive team for their tremendous support and input this year. To Ed, Arthur, Allan, Chris, Aileen – THANK YOU all so much for all your hard work and effort in helping to make the Willowdale N. E. Neighbourhood Association (WNENA) the best and the strongest! Our combined dedication to ensuring our ongoing commitment to the residents of Willowdale is hopefully something of which our whole Network can be proud.    To my Executive Assistant Karen Cilevitz, where would I be without your help? Since you came on board last February, you have attended meetings I could not attend due to my work demands, and helped make my job so much easier. You have prepared some of the best meeting minutes anyone has written, and have helped me do a much better job with my email alerts and updates as well.  We all know how busy you were personally with your own Election campaign from May to Oct., and your ongoing work protecting the David Dunlap Observatory Lands. We appreciate all your hard work for WNENA and we THANK YOU - Richmond Hill ’s loss is definitely Willowdale's gain!    To our two new Executive Advisors, CS Leung and Pamela Taylor, we WELCOME you both. CS and Pam are both upcoming politicians with invaluable insight into how to make Willowdale better for all.  CS and Pamela are in the Executive email loop and will be of great assistance as the SOS OMB hearings begin in March 2011. We VALUE their input and support, and thank them now and in advance.    As you ALL know, our Number 1 issue currently is the Shops on Steeles re-development proposal which is now headed to an OMB Hearing, starting March 2, 2011.  I have been involved the last two years with the resident’s working group known as SOSWG. I am very grateful to former Markham Councillor Erin Shapero for ensuring Willowdale had a voice and presence at this table. While we didn't fully accomplish what we intended, it was an excellent learning experience for myself, and I am pleased that I was able to meet some very nice, similarly engaged people who also wish only the best for our combined neighbourhood.    I look forward to working with new Markham Ward 2 Councillor Howard Shore , and of course our own Ward 24 Toronto Councillor David Shiner. My thanks to Councillor Shiner for his continued support and his much appreciated opposition to the current re-development plans at SOS.      Speaking of very nice people, I have also had the opportunity to meet and discuss the SOS matter with the new President of the German Mills Ratepayers Association (GMRA) recently, and I, together with our Executive, look forward to working cooperatively and proactively with Alan Diner and his Executive team.    I wish to remind EVERYONE how important it will be to become a member of WNENA in 2011. This is a critical year and we need our Network members to become bona fide contributing MEMBERS of WNENA – if you haven't paid your Annual Dues as yet, PLEASE do so as soon as possible, it will be greatly appreciated. All monies collected as Annual Dues (only $10!) go toward supporting our Association in all the necessary participation which is required of us on an ongoing basis in our community. This coming year, that specific participation will be as having official “Participant” status at the SOS OMB hearing – WNENA working on behalf of and in the BEST interests of OUR community.    We may in the coming months have to ask for greater financial support for both WNENA and GMRA, and we know we will be able to count on our members gracious donations. Thank you all.   For all those wishing to attend, just a reminder tomorrow, December 6th @10am, Markham Town Centre, Council Chambers, is the 2nd pre-hearing conference for the SOS OMB, which is open to public attendance.   I have recently updated our website to include all the latest municipal news and contact information. Remember to visit our website often for updates, events and breaking news!    On behalf of your hard working and dedicated Executive, I wish all our WNENA members the very best of this holiday season – may you all enjoy this joyous time surrounded by the love of your families and friends. We will be back in touch in the New Year, take care Everyone, and have a great day!  Regards, David Slotnick-President & Founder W.N.E.N.A. dslotnick@rogers.com 34 Song Meadoway, Willowdale, Ont. M2H 2T7 416-726-6722   Concerned Willowdale, Toronto , Markham & Richmond Hill Residents. "Spread the Word" Website: http://www.willowdaleneighbourhood.ca/ Annual Memberships still available only $10 cash/ yr. Cash or Cheque. 2011 Memberships now DUE. Email network # 1 in Willowdale, Markham & Richmond Hill ; NOW OVER.. 6,600 residents +THANK YOU WNENA is the VOICE OF REASON, WNENA is the VOICE of Willowdale and Markham.  Off line, Dec 16th- 31st..Season's Greetings and Happy New Year.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------