Char's Landing MIRACLE!!! continues

*** June 29th 2016 10am ***
Last Sunday after a long weekend of events we enjoyed a very special evening of music, food and fellowship on the landing on a hot summer's night.  A seasoned out-of-town musician.  A up-n-coming local musician.  A tired backpacker.  A SoPo born-n-raised successful shop owner.  A forlorn wanderer.  A supportive neighbour.  and Char.  MAGIC !!!

I am reminded of the gift that is Char's. 

The weekend before Solstice Arts Festival sponsored by the Arts Council was a treasure and we were pleased to be able to support through facilitating washrooms, tables, chairs, music stage in exchange for the much needed beverage sales. 

Last week summer run of 7 concerts in a row reminded me of the incredible support and encouragement we receive from the singer/songwriter troubadours.  They come from all over the country and the world to perform at Char's for our stellar acoustics and listening audiences. 

The walk-ins for dorm style (hostel) beds is taking hold thanks largely to word of mouth and the revenue from the guesthouse is thankfully increasing.  

One more step toward reaching Char's MIRACLE !!!
35 letters of support of the zoning change were sent to City Council.  We made it through the 3rd reading and now have a July 6th appointment with Dorothy Clarkstone Notary to consolidate the legal packages.  Then we'll be back to City Council July 11th (hopefully) for final adoption, then to the bank.  I realize the expenses are still growing.  We'll have to re-register with Victoria, re-appraise, re-assess, re-finance.  The list goes on so I am again grateful that the GoFundMe is growing.  I have a MIRACLE folder and will produce a summary of the expenses for my supporters.

Thank you for keeping the dream alive!  Charlene. 

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*** April 25th 2016 3:30pm ***
1. $1200 to re-zone for re-financing
2. $1000 for kid-friendly ammendment to liquor license
3. $2800 for 4x$500 bunk beds + 8x$100 mattresses
                     to convert 2 guestrooms to hostel rooms
CHAR'S MIRACLE $5000 reached in a mere 24 hours !

I've learned that Club Char supporters have wanted a way to show their support so I'd like to leave this GoFundMe open for now... with my thanks.  Charlene.
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*** April 23rd 2016 3:30pm ***
This is my first gofundme... I've arrived here in financial desperation... and I truly hope that when you hear the story of Char''s Landing, the heart of our community, Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, you will want to help.

I am Charlene Patterson.  Born and raised in the Okanagan, near Kelowna, BC, Canada.  The 5th of 6 kids and family singing in 4 part harmony in the car on the way to church continues to be a happy memory.

I graduated in 1979, then Vancouver computer consulting for 20 years, then lived on Cruise Ships running the computer department for 12 years.   Stressful job but met a ton of wonderful people, was introduced to a multitude of beautiful cultures and saw incredible sights.  I have been blessed.

Retired and looked for a place where I could buy land near the ocean with a building where I could live and have a business opportunity.  Through an incredible sequence of lucky cooincidences, I found this beautiful building right in the heart of Port Alberni's Arts District that originated as a First Methodist Church with first service August 4th, 1912.  Moved to town April 1st 2010 and re-named the building Char's Landing.  After 30 years working in aviation and the marines, I have planted my feet firmly on the ground. 

The Port Alberni community of 18,000+ welcomed me with open arms and inspired me to host concerts and community events.  Fully renovated the building into my apartment, a 3 room guesthouse plus a meeting space with 150 person capacity.  Employed/Purchased all local and brought new life to the building, all new plumbing, electrical, heat, sewer, perimeter, painted the exterior, built a beautiful deck and ramp, created green spaces for a wide variety of flowers.

I have been so lucky for the support and have really dug into my new community.  During the first years I was asked to sit on the board of the Arts Council, the board of Rotary and the board of the Chamber.   I have been 100% engaged in the future of this beautiful community, and shared in the transition from it's mill town roots.

It has been such an honour to host travellers and to present singer/songwriters from all over the world.  They contact me to play for our now well known stellar acoustics and attentive listening audiences.  I take such pride in what we have created and the joy that it gives.  Char's Landing has given me a life full of joy and friendship.  For this I am eternally greatful.

However, April 1st, 2016 as I started my 7th year here and sadly had the awakening that I could not make payroll.  Seems I have been living off my savings and investments and finally credit cards all this time.  Month after month loosing money.  Crazy I let it go this far.  I was forced to lay off staff and cut any extra expenses.  I decided to share my story and now I have asked the community for a miracle to keep our doors open.

One big step is my application to the City of Port Alberni to rezone the property from commercial to residential, as the primary use of the building is for my home.  Residential status would allow me to apply for a personal line of credit, at a low interest rate, which would allow me to pay off my credit cards and 10% commercial mortgage.  I'm currently paying $2500 per month in interest alone !!!

The City Planner helped me through the application and the fee is $1200, which I do not currently have.  So, I thought I'd ask the gofundme world if they would help.   Will you help me, with my eternal thanks?

I built Char's Landing to give me a life, full of community, friends, art, music.  I am so very grateful to have that now but am afraid if I cannot get out of this incredible financial debt, I will have to close, and disapoint the thousands that consider my 2000sqft living room, their home away from home.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story...
Charlene.
www.charslanding.com
www.portalberni.ca
www.albernichamber.ca
www.portalberniarts.com