Letters to your Alderman

[John Kwong]

Hi,

Here is the letter that I just sent to my Alderman regarding Shane Keating's motion to be presented on Sept. 12. Please take the time to craft your own letter and send it this week to your Ward's Alderman. You can find your Alderman by going to http://www.calgary.ca/Aldermen/Pages/Wa ... ities.aspx

Dear Alderman Demong,

I am writing you as a longtime member of the Calgary Kart Racing Club. Our club's facility is currently located adjacent to Race City Speedway, at 12740-68th Street SE. and our sublease is due to expire without a renewal option at the end of this year. This facility is also used by the A.M.R.A (Alberta Mini Road-racing Association), Allen Berg Racing Schools, the Fast Trac Safety Training Motorcycle School as well as the general public who have the appropriate equipment. The track was originally built in 2001 with funds earned by the club members through casino volunteering, member donations and government grants.

When we initially found out that we would have to move to another location our search began immediately. A location near Irricana was found but complications ended our application with the M.D. of Rockyview. Many other locations have been investigated but with the financial limitations of a not-for-profit club and a growing city, we have not been able to secure anything as of yet. There are a few options but more time is needed. It is my understanding that the parcel of land that our club lies on is not in immediate demand by the City's waste/recycling department.

A proposal is going to be put forward by Alderman Shane Keating on September 12 to allow our club more time to find an alternate location. I urge you to support this motion to protect a Calgary club that has existed for more than 45 years. My Father raced with this club in the 60's and early 70's and I have raced with this club since 1981. We have had to move before so this isn't anything new but the challenges of finding this new location are more difficult than ever and a more flexible timeline would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

John Kwong
CIR Realty
403-294-1500

[newson48]

John

A very well written letter.I too would encourage members to write their own letter to personalize it.. One other group that uses our facility is the UofC.

I recently heard that the City is looking for feedback on new recreation facilities to be built. It has ear-marked a reported $150 million to help build these facilities. http://www.secrsinfo.com (hockey, fitness, swimming etc.)
We are just asking that our facility not be shut down for a few years.

Blake

[John Kwong]

Thanks Blake!

I forgot about the U of C.

Any contact to your Alderman will be effective, so something as simple as, "I belong to the Calgary Kart Racing Club and would like you to support Alderman Shane Keating's September 12 motion to extend our lease." The Aldermen need to hear from us. Recruit your family and friends to get a word in.

John K

[phil]

Thanks for the post, John. I just want to add that ANYONE can send a letter of support to their alderman requesting support of the motion, club members, or not, so please get as many friends as possible to show their support. It can be as simple as "As my alderman, I am requesting that you support the motion being put forth by Alderman Keating concerning a lease for the Calgary Kart Racing Club".

Phil

[phil]

PLEASE DO NOT phone your alderman, contact by e-mail only.

Thank You
Phil

[SteveO]

Does anyone have a valid email address for Peter Demong - Ward 14 Alderman?

I've tried sending a message to my alderman all day today through the City's web page by all I ever get is:
The Aldermanic Contact service is currently unavailable.

Okay, I finally found it. If anyone else in Ward 14 would like to get hold of Peter Demong, his email address is ward14@calgary.ca

[CKRCAdmin]

I got the same error. I thought I was being clever and assumed that "ward4@calgary.ca" would work for ward 4 but it bounced back.

[SteveO]

You'd think there'd be some consistency somewhere in City Hall....did I really say that?!?!?

I believe Gael Macleod is the alderman of Ward 4 and her email address should be alcaw4@calgary.ca

Good luck!
SteveO

[John Kwong]

Article on us in the Calgary Herald today:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary+ka ... story.html

John K

[le_harv]

Ward 9's email address is...

ward09@calgary.ca

I sent Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra the following email, I hope it helps:

Dear Alderman Carra,

I would like to draw to your attention a situation that has arisen at the Calgary Kart Racing Club (CKRC) race track located adjacent to Race City Speedway at 12740 68 ST SE. The CKRC subleases the land and this is due to expire at the end of this year without an option for renewal. The track was built in 2001 through club fundraising activities.

It is my understanding that the land that the track sits on is not needed immediately by the waste management department and the club is in need of time to find a more suitable location in which it can host the national level events it has held in the past. Karting is well known as being the grass roots for all motorsports and even the top echelons of the biggest racing series in the world have started out in this low cost form of motorsport.

Alderman Shane Keating is putting forward a proposal on September 12th 2011, to allow the CKRC more time to find an alternate location from which the club can keep on providing a professional facility to this city and province. The facility is also home to the Alberta Mini Road-racing Association, Allen Berg Racing Schools and Fast Trac Safety Training Motorcycle School.

I am in my first year of volunteering at the track, ensuring the safety of the track competitors and I urge you to support this proposal that is being put forward to help protect a club that has existed in Calgary for 45 years. If you would like proof of the CKRC’s excellence then you can attend the penultimate rounds of the 2011 championships being held this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s free to spectate from the grandstands and the racing in the afternoons will be fantastic.

Yours Sincerely,