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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-06-24, Page 1ESTABLISHED IN 1873 "THE SEPOY TOWN" ON THE HURON -BRUCE BOUNDARY Hospital year finishes well Despite the pessimistic promise at its outset, the fiscal year 1986-87 has been described as a good one for the Wingham and District Hospital. That message was one given to a small gathering of approximately 35 people who turned out last Thursday for the annual meeting of the Wingham and District Hospital Corporation. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the hospital's board of governors was an- ticipating a deficit by the end cf 1986-87. Instead, however, the hospital finished the 12 -month period with a surplus of slightly less than $308,000. In her report submitted to the annual meeting, Board Chairman Mary Lou Thompson, credits careful planning by the hospital's financial and administrative staff -for the financial turn around. In his report, Executive Director Nor- man Hayes explained the year began on a pessimistic note for the hospital as it was once again faced with watching health ministry funding decline on a percentage basis below the hospital's actual cost of providing service. This meant that more. and more of the hospital's expenses had to be met from resources earmarked for the future, Mr. Hayes said in his report. For example, in- terest earned on hospital capital funds in- vested for future growth had to be diverted to operating expense. However, Mr. Hayes also pointed out, this year the Ministry of Health and the provincial government recognized this erosion of capital was occuringand took steps to rectify it through the provision of additional funding. "We were fortunate to receive additional funding from the Ministry of Health as the result of a year -over -year increase in the cost of operating the hospital," Robert Pike told those attending the board meeting. Mr. Pike, as chairman of the board's finance and audit committee, made the statement during his presentation of the auditor's report and financial statement of the annual meeting. Referring also to the change from an- ticipated deficit to actual surplus, Mr. Pike suggested the public should "inter- pret cautiously the meaning of a surplus." He said three factors affect the bottom line of the hospital's operating budget -- the level of activity, funding from MOH, and the extent or degree to which the hospital can control expenses. "The surplus was not the result of a decrease in services, but rather in spite of an increase in services," Mr. Pike said. Unlike it is in the normal business world where increased activity usually translated into increased revenue, the op- posite is crue with hospitals, he explained. In addition, it will be increasingly more difficult for the hospital to conttol costs in the years ahead due to the anticipated in- crease in activity, Mr. Pike added. The hospital's revenue during the fiscal year totalled $7,220,651 while expenses reached $6,912,856, resulting in a surplus of $307,795, according to the financial .state- ment included in the auditors' report from Thorne, Ernst and Whinney of London. Also in her report, Mrs. Thompson said the board of governors is awaiting the presentation of the final draft of a role study for the hospital. The board's management committee has worked close- ly with David Coulson and Associates to complete the study and it has been a "lear- ning experience" for all concerhed, she said. The study has indicated the need for some changes in the hospital's current operation in order to meet the changing demographics and needs f the area which it serves. Dr. Brian Hanlon, the hospital's chief of staff and chairman of the board's manage- ment committee, also made reference to the role study in his report to the annual Turn to page 2 a Y4ir;:�•t� Grade six students at Brookside Public School were presented with certificates and pins Thursday morning in recognition of their completion of the VIP program. Receiving their certificates from Tony McQuail, trustee with the Huron County Board of Eduation, and Con- stable John Marshall, of the Goderich OPP detachment, were Chris MacDonald and Lisa Cairncross. (Lou -Ann Hope photo ) Students complete YIP program Values, Influences and Peers (VIP) . That was the name of a program taught to grade six students at Brookside Public School over the past school, year and on Thursday morning, students in the two grade six classrooms were presented with certificates and pins upon com'letion of the program: They were pre: ented Tony McQuail, trustee with the Huron County Board of Education, and Constable John Marshall, of the Goderich OPP detachment. The classes marked the first Brookside group to take part in the VIP program, taught by the grade six teachers and Con- stable Marshall. The program is in use in various elementary schools and is taught to prepare the children for upcoming situa- tions which they may find themselves in. Seems like yesterday, couple says as they celebrate 40th wedding anniversary Sunday An open house was held at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Corrin on Sunday afternoon in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. The Corrins', well-known throughout the Luckihow area, were married in Brantford June 21, 1947 and have resided in Lucknow since 1948. (Patrick Raftis photo) After six children, numerous moves and busy careers, Dr. Melvin and his wife, Margaret, Corrin look back on the last 40 years with happiness. Well-known Lucknow residents, Dr. and Mrs. Melvin°.Corrin, celebrated their 40th \ wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon at their home on Outram Street with family and friends attending. It was 40 years ago Sunday (June 21, 1947) that the Corrin's were married in Brantford at the Salvation Army Citadel. Dr. and Mrs. Corrin were introduced to each other by his cousin, Margaret Foster, while they were members of the Salvation Army Young Peoples' Group. However, once married, the Corrins' did not establish one household. They established two, in differnt cities, nonetheless. "I graduated from the University of Western Ontario (medical school) on June 10, 1947. We were married June 21 in Brantford and then I went back to London where I interned for one year at Victoria Hospital," Dr. Corrin said. "I stayed in Brantford to work," Mrs. Corrin added. "It was terrible. He was working quite a few weekends. I would go to London on the train to visit him when I could." Finally, the one year internship ended Turn to page 2 Twelve different units were taught in the 14 -week long program. Subjects ranged from friends, decision making and the dangers of drugs to values and. influences, peer pressure and belitting. Various displays, slide presentations as w well as videos and films were used in conjunction with the program which was taught in bi- weekly 45 minute sessions. "All the stuff you learned in the VIP pro- gram, you think you might not be able to use it now but wait until you get .to high school. It will prepare you for what is ahead," Constable Marshall told the students. He added' that grades 7, 8 and 9 are the most difficult years for students to getthrough and that the VIP program was designed to assist them in this area. Your Sentinel this week... Summerfest held The 13th Annual Lucknow Kinsmen Summerfest was held in Lucknow over the weekend. The event attracted 32 men's and 16 women's slow -pitch teams from thesurrounding area. For complete details and pictures from Sunday's ladies B division finals, SEE PAGE 13. Hello and goodbye The Lucknow Sentinel has appointed Goderich native Rob Bundy as editor. Rob began his duties yesterday and looks forward to meeting Lucknow and area residents. For a hello -goodbye column, SEE PAGE 4. School's out Students at LOPS and Brookside have completed the 1986-87 school year and are looking forward to summer holidays. For their year end summer reports, SEE PAGES 14-15.