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Letters: To do business, a plan is needed

The tax payers should not be funding a charitable enterprise

Response to Stephen Reardon.

What brought my attention to SAFARS was when they started to carry signs protesting the city council for not giving or leasing a piece of tax payer owned land to their cause.

I then contacted Margarite and we had several emails back and forth with many suggestions of how to fundraise, suggestioning a local dance at the community hall, to a writing campaign to a casino night ... the list goes on.

I went as far as to find a nice piece of property for rent in East Sooke. Lots of acerage with a fairly new three bedroom mobile home. Owner was open to a rescue situation. Owner was open to building. There is one barn and a dog run, at $1200.00 per month. Long term lease.

I contacted Margarita and she said it was too far away. That is when I began to realize they really don’t have any money per se. They have no business plan. Margarita continues to say, when we get the land, that’s when we’ll start to fundraise and figure out a business plan. Sorry to inform you, but that is not the way business works.

Margarita is doing the best job she knows how and with the limited resources she has but the fact of the matter is she really doesn’t have a business plan. Does she think money falls out of the sky?

In my opinion, and everyone that knows me knows I have one, SAFARS should amalgamate and support Penny Stone. Penny has the experience of not only running an animal rescue shelter she is proving to be a wonderful fundraiser. She is not asking for the already over-taxed people of the Sooke region to fund her rescue shelter. This is what is called “fair” in life. Those that can afford to give often do.

I am sorry to hear about your health difficulties as I can relate to your pain. Recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis, presently waiting for a new hip. Hence, I am not physically able to help and I have tried to help with suggestions of ways to fundraise but Margarita does not seem interested. Eventually she blocked me from their Facebook page.

In closing I would like to say that I think it is a sad day when people are told no longer allowed to speak their opinion. Sad, sad, sad.

David Tillich

Sooke