Next LEBTA Board Meeting:  Monday 30 May: 5.30 pm.  Agenda items to Paullette admin@lebta.com.au

Next EGRBTA meeting: Wednesday 25 May at Mallacoota .  Agenda items to Tim Ellis. Minutes from previous meeting (27 April) can be made available.

Agri-tourism Forum in Lakes Entrance.  Wednesday 25 May 10am.  A free forum to discuss the use of agriculture in tourism.  This includes farm stays, specialist crops, farm to table dining, use of farm and fish products.  More information from Phil Richards EGSC.

Business Seminars: A series of 6 seminars will held on “How and Why of  Business Success”.  These monthly seminars will be held in Bairnsdale.  The first seminar is on Wednesday 25 May. 6.30pm.  Further information: East Vic Media 5150 2343.

VECCI Flood Impact Grants:  VECCI has grants upto $5000 for businesses which were ”indirectly impacted” by the floods.  More details: www.vecci.org.au/floods

Lakes Entrance advertising feature:  A free newspaper circulated to west, central and south Gippsland is running a feature on Lakes Entrance.  More details: www.localextranewspaper.com.au

Gippsland Coastal Board are hosting a marine and coastal forum on 19 & 20 July.  Venue is Paynesville Motor Cruiser Club.  Further details: David Morton GCB 5152 0451

East Gippsland Shire Tourism Snapshot:  A statistical report on the Tourism Industry.  Further Information: Phil Richards  www.egipps.vic.gov.au

Climate Change Presentation:  TV presenter Rob Gell will speak at Forestech on Tuesday 7 June; 6pm.  Further information: scott.ferraro@epa.vic.gov,.au

East Gippsland Business Awards:  To be launched on Wednesday 1 June 2011.  More details: Tim Ellis EGRBTA.

Hire and Drive pontoon boats:  A new business has been established hiring high quality pontoon boats for upto 12 passengers.  Hiring does not require a boat licence.  Based in North Arm

Metung Jetty:  Works underway thus boat access is limited.

####  IMPORTANT        DATES       TO        REMEMBER  ####

Wednesday 25 May: Agri-tourism Forum. Lakes Entrance Business Centre. 10am – 1pm. Contact Phil Richards EGSC.

Wednesday 25 May: Business Semniar in Bairnsdale. “Ancient Secrets of Marketing”. 6.30 pm. More information.  5150 2343

Thursday 26 May: Small Business Victoria mentoring sessions available free in Bairnsdale. 10am.  Bookings 132215.

Friday 28 May: Be Inspired Art Festival event at Lakes Entrance Surf Club House.  Brochure at Visitor Centres

Monday 30 May:  LEBTA Board Meeting

Tuesday 7 June: 6pm.  Climate Change Presentation by Rob Gell.  Forestech.

Friday 10 June:  Rotary Art Show at Forestech.  First prize $2500.

Tuesday 19 & 20 July: Marine and Coastal Forum.  Paynesville.

Friday 25 -28 November Historic Car Rally to be held at Lakes Entrance

Website Information: This LEBTA News Update (website) is uploaded once or twice a month.  Please supply any relevant information to  admin@lebta.com.au or peter@lakes-explorer.com.au

Next LEBTA Board Meeting:  Monday 30 May: 5.30 pm.  Agenda items to Paullette admin@lebta.com.au

Last LEBTA meeting was Monday 2 May.  A quick summary:  Historic Car Rally in Nov 2011,  February 2012 Fishing Competition, Sponsorship of future events, Licenced Tour Operator legislation, general brochure for Lakes Entrance, converting existing Tourism information to other languages, possible i-phone app, Committee for Gippsland, 2 new members ….  Minutes available from admin@lebta.com.au

Next EGRBTA meeting: Wednesday 25 May at Mallacoota .  Agenda items to Tim Ellis. Minutes from previous meeting (27 April) can be made available. Last meeting discussed: Social media presentations, Business awards, i phone app for East Gippsland, individual town brochures, weak Digital signal in far east Gippsland,  new EGRBTA brochure, meeting with CEO and Mayor, signage at Genoa, Bylaws Officer for Mallacoota, mining near Omeo, ….

Historic Car Rally to be held at Lakes Entrance 25-28 November.  The Rally has 100 cars from pre-1980.  Attracts approx. 2000 including drivers, officials and spectators.  This year they hope to start and finish cars in the central area of the Town.  Final location yet to be determined by Shire.  Businesses in Lakes Entrance are encourage to to provide special deals and packages for participants.  A promotional show bag to be produced and sent out.

Social Networking Presentation: Thursday May 12. 7.30am (Breakfast).   Learn more about websites, facebook and twitter for your business.   This presentation will also be given at Omeo, Mallacoota, Orbost and Bairnsdale.  The presentation is funded by VECCI.   Please notify Paullette if attending.

Business Survey:  Volunteers from LEBTA plan to door knock on most businesses in Lakes Entrance over the next 4 weeks with a survey form to try to identify what are the main issues the town faces and how LEBTA is preforming.  Extra volunteers are welcome. Further information: Shane Kidd or Deb McTighe.

Future Events: LEBTA are aware of several large events that are proposed for East Gippsland thus are liaising with the Shire to create a benefit for Lakes Entrance businesses;  Future events include Australian RV Rally, Victorian Caravan Rally (Mallacoota), United Trikers, Fishing Tri-athalon, Beach Luau.  Further Information: Deb McTighe.

Multi-lingual Brochures: At the last LEBTA Board meeting, general discussion on the advantages of translating website and brochure information into other languages.  This is very important for possible international visitors who will only read websites in thier own language.  LEBTA are keen to hear which languages may be useful to potential tourists.  Further Information; Tim McDonald

Agri-tourism Forum in Lakes Entrance.  Wednesday 25 May 10am.  A free forum to discuss the use of agriculture in tourism.  This includes farm stays, specialist crops, farm to table dining, use of farm and fish products.  More information from Phil Richards EGSC.

Business Seminars: A series of 6 seminars will held on “How and Why of  Business Success”.  These monthly seminars will be held in Bairnsdale.  The first seminar is on Wednesday 25 May. 6.30pm.  Further information: East Vic Media 5150 2343.

Lakes Entrance Neighbourhood House has a range of short courses including Safe Food Handling, Computer use, Twitter, Skype, Cooking, Dog  obedience classes.  Information 5155 2277.

New LEBTA Members:  Lakes Entrance Tourist Park.  Whiter Street Volunteer Charity Store (Associate member).  A full membership list is on this website.  Please assist LEBTA members by using their services if possible.

Shire Staff update: Lakes Entrance VIC Co-ordinator: Wendy McPherson.    EGSC Events Co-ordinator:  Stephen Klientz.   Tourism Co-ordinator:  John Munns on leave til 14 June.

Russell Chester:  Skyshow Co-ordinator now works for LJ Hooker. 0488 218 181

Metung Jetty:  Works underway thus boat access is limited.

EGRBTA are negoitating with several sponsors to run an East Gippsland Business Awards with several catagories.  Further details: Tim Ellis

####  IMPORTANT        DATES       TO        REMEMBER  ####

Tuesday 10 May: Recreational Boating community workshop. 5pm at Gippsland Community Health.  More details: belinda@ainleyprojects.com.au

Thursday 12 May:  Presentation on “Use of social media for business” (Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, websites) to be run in Lakes Entrance by VECCI, EGRBTA and LEBTA.  More details:  Admin@lebta.com.au

Friday 13 May: St. Brendans Trivia Night. 7.30pm.

Thursday 19 May:  Presentation on Dementia.  Bellevue. 10.30 am.  5127 9130

Friday 20 May: Bairnsdale Theatre; Fiddler on the Roof.   7.30pm

Wednesday 25 May: Agri-tourism Forum. Lakes Entrance Business Centre. 10am – 1pm. Contact Phil Richards EGSC.

Wednesday 25 May: Business Semniar in Bairnsdale. “Ancient Secrets of Marketing”. 6.30 pm. More information.  5150 2343

Thursday 26 May: Small Business Victoria mentoring sessions available free in Bairnsdale. 10am.  Bookings 132215.

Friday 28 May: Be Inspired Art Festival event at Lakes Entrance Surf Club House.  Brochure at Visitor Centres

Friday 10 June:  Rotary Art Show at Forestech.  First prize $2500.

Website Information: This LEBTA News Update (website) is uploaded once or twice a month.  Please supply any relevant information to  admin@lebta.com.au or peter@lakes-explorer.com.au