Dear All Winter Wonderlanders                                            January 2012 

THANK YOU to all who decorated their homes with beautiful lights.  If this is what was done in December, I just cannot wait to see what our town will look like in June!  Especially with the extra lights that will be going up in the Municipal areas as well.
We have BIG plans and already put up our sample snowflake motive on the island near BP Gordon’s Bay.  That one is 1,8m in diameter!  It may not look like it, but it is BIG.  Thank You to Alan Schnider from Specialized Component Manufacture & Design who made the frame, to Joe Doubell from Zenergy who put up and sponsored the rope lights, to Johan Middleton who arranged for the snowflake to be put up and to Clint from the Municipality who supervised the connection to the lamp pole.
To enable us to manufacture more snowflakes – still need to get the cost confirmed – we need to generate more funds.  I also have a wonderful surprise in store should we get enough money together – something that will blow your mind!
A very special THANK YOU to our Graffiti Team who braved the weather, came out at night to do the transfers and then again during the hot days to paint the wonderful sign on the wall next to Talla’s.  The main guys who were there every time – Pino Settimi, Janne Dannerup and Sonni Lovemore.  Rupert and Alecia loaned us their extention leads and long ladders and Talla’s provided the electricity.  Getting the leads from the plugs to the outside provided many a customer (and us) some wonderful entertainment.
On the wall we advertise our face book page, webpage, e-mail address, the dates for this year and most importantly – our sponsors.  Colin McCann is in the process of getting the boards and soon we will be putting up the names of our sponsors.
People and businesses are all finding ways to get money together for the lights and have really used their initiative.  E.g. Gordon’s Bay Info and Accommodation Center took it to heart  when fund raising was discussed at one of our meetings and someone said that if each member of GBBF contributes R1000, we will make our target of R150 000 very easily – so that is what she did.  Charles from Talla’s organized, cleaned parking site and charged people for parking during the festive season and called me this morning to tell me that he has R5000 for WW!  Mark from Unathi has pledged R5 of each boat trip sold until April to WW, Fred Bovil will give 10% of sales of Merry-Go-Round (and he will be at WW again!), Joe Doubell from Zenergy will give % of all his sales from loyalty cards, Liz from Pam Golding has put out collection tin and money for photocopies made for customers will go towards WW .  
The Event Application will go in next week, so if you are planning to do something, please let me know so that it can be included in the application.  The WW is by Gordon’s Bay for Gordon’s Bay so that in the end ALL will benefit AND have a lot of fun!
‘Till next month
Margot Paulsen

Dear Winter Wonderlanders                            December 2011

This year marks the first of many Winter Wonderlands to come.  Thank You to each and everyone who took ownership and worked together as a community to make this – our first WW – work.          
With just 4 months to D-day, we had to get the information out to everyone of what we were planning to do.  With not a cent  in our pockets but a big dream and bags full of enthusiasm, we took the bull by the horns.  With numerous challenges (mainly out of ignorance), we found ways of working around them and also making the challenges work for us and giving us new and better ideas.  Thank you to WW committee for their dedication.                                                                                                            
A lot has been accomplished for next year’s WW which will be on 29-30 June 2012.  Lights will remain on from 22 June – 22 July 2012 which is during the school holidays and will also include the 21km Leapfrog flat and fast race on 21 July. 
Our main aim – to bring visitors to our beautiful village during the very quiet winter months.  Gordon’s Bay has the best weather in winter, beautiful sunny days, no NW wind and when it rains, it is just straight down.
We now have our own dedicated facebook, web page and e-mail:  http://www.facebook.com/WinterWonderlandGB - see what we have been up to and “like”, www.winterwonderland.co.za is under construction. (Rupert from modernwebpresence) and winterwonderland@gbbf.co.za (Andrew from atgordonsbay)
The wall at Talla’s is being painted (by dedicated members and non-members – Pino, Janne, Max, Sonnie, Alecia, Rupert, André, Mary-Jane) to advertise dates for next year, give contact information and most of all recognize our sponsors.  Without sponsors, we will not be able to expand the amount of lights that needs to go up.  Without lights, WW will not attract the visitors as it does and needs to grow every year to keep the anticipation going. 
 We also now have our own WW Nedbank Savings Account.  You are welcome to sign a stop order for monthly contributions or once-off contributions.  Please give your  e-mail address and name as reference so we can recognize you.  Account No:  2003320210  Branch Code: 11414500  Name:  Winter Wonderland. 
Application for NPO has gone in and should be getting this number soon. (Anton).  Charities will also be benefitting from Winter Wonderland.
Have had meetings with City of Cape Town - Director of Communication (Pieter Cronje) and also Area Head: Events Permit Office (Mario Finnis).  All very positive and excited about this and seeing the big picture.
In the process of constructing a BIG snowflake to go up on lamp pole. (Alan Schnider from Specialized Component Manufacture and Design). Planning to manufacture about 60 if enough funds received early enough.
Thank You to each person I have asked for help and without hesitation have offered their services as contribution to WW.  There are too many to mention but will be mentioned as we go along.
We are looking at finding better priced lights at same quality, but for now have managed to keep the price at R390 ea.  You can purchase your lights anywhere – a variety is good.  Also available at BP, Village plastics and Zenergy.
Let us start practicing this summer in decorating our houses and businesses for Christmas.  So when the extra lights go up next year, will be a great WOW and complete the picture.
May you have a blessed season, excellent business and peaceful time with family and friends.
Margot Paulsen


Here are some of your pictures emailed to us. Thank you for them:

Good news -  the lights of the Winter Wonderland will remain burning until 17 July so please keep your homes and businesses sparkling.  Dont worry - these LED lights burn a fraction of electricity.

The Winter Wonderland on 1 & 2 July was a wonderful success - Gordon's Bay was the busiest in memory with happy families enjoying the festivities. Many businesses reported  a record turnover and have pledged even more support for our next Winter Wonderland in 2012. For Christmas we are encouraging all in Gordon's Bay to put up even just one string of lights - we can then have two seasons to attract visitors to our village. The primary aim of the event was to build Gordon's Bay's public image, to bring attention to the village and thereby improve tourism and bring prosperity to the area. We had no government sponosrship - we knew it would start small this year and we all had to do it for ourselves - this was truly an event 'By Gordon's Bay, For Gordon's Bay".

My sincere gratitude goes to the following people - without their help this special new event would not have been the success that it was:

Thank you, especially, to every resident and business owner who displayed even one strand of lights – every contribution is valued!

Winter Wonderland Committee:

Lester Burrow and Jeanette Loring for their wonderful support and motivation to get the Winter Wonderland off the ground,  Kevin Wearing and Deon Goosen from the Gordon's Bay Business Forum Events Committee and all in the Winter Wonderland committee who generously offered their help: Danie Miller, Jo Yoxen, Jenny Burnham, Lila Hattingh, Mickey Saunders, Karin van der Westhuizen, Alecia Gous, Gleneen Grundling from GBRA, Paula and Jimmy Lang and Pietie of Lions International, Sadree Spies and Clive from NSRI.   Monica Miles gave her knowledge generously and  Richard Loring shared his expertise in organizing events.

Financial sponsors:

R29 600 was donated for 1,26km of Fairy lights in the Post Office Tree, the 3 Palms on Red Square, Old Cape Mall and Fairy Forest. The palms at the village entrance were sponsored in total by BP: 

    Marijke Havenga -  Touch of Hair
    Richard & Jeanette Loring
    Kevin Wearing -  Leapfrog
    FC Sutherland
    Rina & Gerhard Smit - CGS Vervoer
    Meriel Barlett
    John Adams - Gordon’s Bay’s Post Office
    Gareth -  Battery World in Strand
    Elize Te Boekhorst
    Dr Chris Smit
    Chesney Ziegers – Builder
    Juanita -  Pure Health and Skin Care at Manor on the Bay
    Danie Ackerman
    Johan Hattingh
    Le Bay Guest House
    Rotary Club of Gordon’s Bay
    Barry Kruger
    Rita Strachan
    Blue Horizon Guest House
    MA Smit Architects
    The Tavern
    Tamashii Daiko
    Mojito’s
    Louis & Erna Kruger – Kuruman
    Dolf & Jeanne Fick – Caledon
    Jimmy & Paula Lang
    Mnr & Mev Burger
    Stephen Kitshoff
    Alecia Gous of D Rentals
    Monica Miles
    Di Nosworthy
    Jo Yoxen
    Solene Walters
    Maria Ryke
    Danie Hoogenhout
    Ellenberger
    Berg & Zee Guest House
    L. Bester
    Gordon’s Bay Security 
    Pick ‘n Pay
    BP Gordon’s Bay
    Customers gave donations in tins at  Pick’n Pay, Spar & BP
    Pick ‘n Pay and Spar allowing promotion and fund collection every Friday  

Other Sponsorships/Contributions:

Mr McAuliffe – for use of the van Riebeeck site

Wynand Elektries, Optic Power and Frontline electrical supplies for lights

Gordon's Bay Security

GG Hauling – Music Truck at Van Riebeeck Site.  Deon Vervoer also offered his truck.

Gerhard Smit & Casper - for decorating the music truck.

Jacques du Toit - electricity for Music Truck

Chesné Ziegers loaned his electical lead.

Mickey Saunders designed flyer. Motivated all at Harbour Island .

Kevin at Leapfrog - advertising leaflets to households in Gordon’s Bay and printing of flyers.

Annatjie Badenhorst - 20 Protea Drive   - printed and distributed 2500 flyers.

Jenny & Karin - personally motivated  Guest Houses and Restaurants.

The Navy College - for painting the GB sign on the mountain.

Print Zone – for assistance with flyer

CSI Africa – security 1-2 July at Fairy Forest and at Pick ‘n Pay.

Gordon’s Bay Security – lights security until 17 July.

Pick 'n Pay Security - lights security until 17 July

Johan Adams of Post Office for allowing us to decorate their tree.

Official permissions and support:

Johan Middleton for guidance and excellent support.

Minister Ivan Meyer and Adv Pretorius for their support and encouragement.

Jan von Willigh and Donovan  for electrical connections.

Ne-Ray Lubbe, Adj Mostert and Cassie Lotter - for public trees, policing and fire

Elton at the Municipality for assistance with event application.

Display & connection of lights:

Lester Burrow and his men Anton and Shaun who did an excellent job.

Rudolf & Alecia Gous

Johnny and Godknows from BP,

Jenny and Mary-Jane Paulsen

Young Japanese man who happened to walk by. 

Monica Miles who drove by and bought connections and loaned her ladder.

Publicity:

Jeanette Loring for copy writing and circulating info to the media.

All the media  for their generous support:

Gordon’s Bay Reviews  - Cyril and Lynn Brown for their passionately support.

District Mail - Marli and Larah

Die Bolander  - Brian Joss

Helderpos.

KFM for a jingle and

Radio Houtstok read our SMS’s and Mariette Myburgh spoke about WW on "gemeenskapskas" out of her own

Radio Helderberg  and Shaun Stuart of NSRI – enthusiastic 15 min promotion every Friday

Musicians:

Thank you to new talent and professional musicians who performed at no charge:

The Bands:  Stone Age, Shakedown, 3D The Band, Ripcord

Musicians:  Abranda Kruger, Anton le Roux, Daniel Joubert, Edrich Swart, Jean le Roux and Lester Burrow.

Tamashii Daiko  -Japanese drummers

Initiative:

Le Bay Guest House - all proceeds of Father’s Day Lunch donated.

Cammy from Spar - who sponsored lights for other business owners.

Nikoleen - 111 Beach Rd for reporting problems at Fairy Forest & so kept lights burning.

Junk on the Bay  - removal of rubbish from Van Riebeeck site

The Fairy Ferries were a wonderful idea.

André Paulsen for keeping financial records, keeping us in our budget and for drafting financial statements.

If I have left anyone out (totally unintentionally), please let me know.

Taking down the lights?

Thank you in advance - on Monday 18th – any volunteers?  Please contact Margot 082 467 3060 or margot@gbsec.co.za  if you can help.

The planning for next year's Winter wonderland has already started. We have an 'open' committee - everyone is welcome to contribute their ideas and comments at any meeting.   We will hold it at Le Bay Guest House in Sir Lowry Rd on Monday 1 August.

Best wishes

Margot Paulsen