MEC supporting Community Air?

[Big Pratt]

Hey there!

Just wanted to let you guys know that I contacted Mountain Equipment COOP a while back now and have not heard back from the Toronto office.
The reference to the MEC gift certificates is still online on the Community Air muppet's website.
http://www.communityair.org/Get_Involve ... ction.html

I stopped shopping at MEC for my outdoors gear.

You could also throw a quick email to either the head office and/or to the Toronto office.
We need to speak up as a group and be heard!
You wouldn't want to see TO's mayor Miller become Daley II and see City Centre end up like Meigs Field!

Here's the exchange I had with them over a month ago:

Hello xxxxx,

Thank you for writing to info@mec.ca and for seeking confirmation about the use of MEC gift certificates in Community Air's fundraising event.

I am not able to confirm the details of the donation of the gift certificates, being here in Vancouver and out of touch with this issue.
I have copied this communication to Dave Robinson, our Sustainability Coordinator in the Toronto store who will be much closer to local events.
You may write him directly at drobinson@mec.ca or call the Toronto store: 416.340.2667


Best wishes,
Janet


MEC Service Centre

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxxx@gmail.com [mailto:xxxxxxxx@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 5:48 AM
To: info@mec.ca
Subject: Your endorsment of comunity air? (Thread:142697)


I just wanted to confirm whether your support of community air in their fundraiser is something that was authorized by the head office or just a case of someone donating gift certificates and community air using your logo without your permission.

I ask because I would not want to make a statement about it on a pilot association board without your confirmation.

A lot of pilots outfit themselves with your excellent gear for their trips in the Canadian bush but I am sure that they would rather not spend their money at a store that supports a group that works against them...

Here's a link to their website:

http://www.communityair.org/Get_Involve ... ction.html

(Roll over your logo with the mouse for the auction details.)

Regards,

xxxxxxxxx

[2R]

From the" Community " site
Issue: Medevac
Contrary to the lavish media campaign launched by the TPA in 2007, the Island Airport does not serve critically ill patients. In fact, our study (see tab 18), based on data provided by the Ministry of Health, establishes that the Island airport location for its helicopter ambulances significantly increases the response time for those patients - to their grave detriment. From page nine of this study:

...more than 70% of emergency Medevac flights are located north of the City, and the Toronto Island airport location offers the poorest response times. In fact, between 2001 and 2003, in order to reach critically ill patients, the Medevac flew an extra 18,000 miles from Toronto Island over the amount that would have been required departing from Buttonville.

ORNGE, the service that operates this service, agrees with our study, but states that its hands are tied, owing to the lease Ontario Realty Corporation has signed with the TPA. As a result, we have suggested to the TPA's then chair that the TPA consider releasing ORC from this obligation. There has been no response. See tab 19

You will be aware that the helicopter noise is a severe irritant, particularly during the curfew hours. Moving the helicopters to another vastly more suitable location is essential. In the interim, as the operator of the ORNGE helicopters has, on occasion, breached that curfew by conducting maintenance operations, and by permitting helicopters to return to the airport after the emergency has ceased, instruction by the TPA that such practices must cease are required.



I wonder if /when ORNGE is going to move ?

[Big Pratt]

While I am convinced that most of you agree with me here, I fear that few will actually bother to voice their opinion in a message to MEC.

It takes less than a minute so PLEASE send a quick note to drobinson@mec.ca and copy info@mec.ca while you're at it.

Don't be mean, just say that you don't appreciate them supporting a group that fights against what you believe in
... and that you're willing to vote with your wallet.

Have a safe summer everyone!

PS Even IF the certificates weren't donated by MEC, they are allowing their logo to be used on Community Air's website which to me implies support.

BP

[teacher]

Aren't another group of folks trying to close Buttonville aswell. What happens than?

[C-FABH]

I wonder if Community Air has simply purchased the gift certificates themselves and placed them up for bid.

[NorthSky]

Message sent.

[Guido]

Just in case, here's what I sent:

Hello,
I'd just like to voice my concern as a shareholder that MEC would support a group like Community AIR. I am a pilot and I have been very happy to use MEC's products in my survival kit, and day-to-day life. Supporting a dishonest, profit-driven group such as Community AIR is wrong, and I will withhold my spending dollars from MEC until such time that they stop any outward support of Community AIR.

Thanks for your time,
[Guido]

[donnybrook]

msg sent

[Rudy]

Class act.

[linecrew]

x2

[donnybrook]

class act for sure. however, i can't believe there are only 10 people on this forum who could be bothered to inquire about this issue....

[Big Pratt]

Glad to hear that the issue got resolved so fast!
It is amazing what a little noise can do.
Now we'll just have to see how long it takes before they remove the MEC logo from their site.

You'll notice, that there are very few "major" companies associated with this group.
The only exception being VIA Rail but their involvement is understandable.
The less name brands they have associated with them, the less legitimacy they'll have.


Once again A BIG THANK YOU to all that wrote or called and SHAME on those who just shrugged and carried on their day.

It all reminded me of an old proverb:
“Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by wolves”


BP

PS I will call Mr. R tomorrow to let him know that I appreciate his way of handling this issue and I think it would be a classy on your part to either call or send a quick note as well.

PPS Having become hooked on kayaking last fall, I was very interested to see how this would turn out.
Now I know where I'll go to get some gear before hitting the water this summer.

[C-FABH]

Just sent David a thank you email for his email response. I wanted to hear a little bit from MEC's side before firing off anything.

Glad he came out and said that.

[bob sacamano]

I received the same reply as well.

[Flying Low]

got my own copy too!

[Flying Low]

Just had a look at the Community AIR site. The MEC logo is gone!

[ScudRunner]

Good stuff, I could almost . a rock at the MEC here in YYC and almost did reading this, Good on MEC for being a stand up company.