The Rural Voice, 1999-01, Page 56GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: gc!a@greynet.net Website: headwaters.comigcfa 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Community spirit can't be legislated
Community spirit can't be
legislated. It is just part of "us"
living in the rural community.
Having said that though, what
government does whether it be
Federal, Provincial or your local
municipality, affects the ease with
which you can enjoy and participate
in the community.
School closings are one issue
where they have tried to take away
community spirit by busing students
longer distances and making parents
pay to allow their child to stay at
school and eat their lunch. So we as a
commuhity speak up and say we
don't wish to support the public
school system any longer, but in fact
want to support a community school.
Therefore we end up with a one -
or two -room schoolhouse again. Is
the school building a necessity at all?
Is the school building obsolete
because of our complex computer
systems and communication
network? Interpersonal skills can be
learned at social functions and family
gatherings.
GREY COUNTY
FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS'
MEETING
Thursday,
January 28, 1999
1:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Markdale
Members are welcome to attend.
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Do you count on governments to
come to your aid in personal
disaster? Yes, but after the
firefighters or police leave, it is
usually your neighbours and friends,
"the community" that gives you the
most heartwarming help. Community
clergy, Queen's Bush Rural
Ministries and Outreach personnel,
just to name a few, are also there to
help make sure fewer people, fall
through the cracks and are not
forgotten. These people and
organizations are made up of caring
individuals and companies in your
community.
These businesses that exist in a
community do so because of their
contribution to that community. A
rural business will not last if it does
not give, but also will not last if the
community does not support it. Is
saving a dollar on an item worth the
loss and the convenience of a local
business and sponsor closing up shop
or moving out of the area?
If the health of a community is
based on its people, then I would
have to give the residents of Grey
County an A+ for the way in which
you respond to help others in need.
Government is only as good as the
people who run for office and those
elected, but they do need our input
and communication to respond to our
needs. Politicians do listen and care
but need our ideas on how to make
our communities better. Without our
input they are just guessing at what
we want. Decisions made won't
always be the best for us, but
hopefully they will be for the
community. Thus the saying "give a
little, take a little".
I hope 1999 increases your
community spirit and I wish for you
great joy in your personal life. All
the best in 1999.0
— Submitted by Bob Rodger,
GCFA President
Sponsors of Pork Rally Bus to
Queen's Park
We would like to thank the following who helped sponsor
the bus organized by Grey County Federation to Queen's
Park on Tuesday, December 1 —
Ivan J. H. Carmichael, RR 2, Chatsworth
Bluewater Feed Company, Desboro
Huron Bay Co-operative, Owen Sound
Simcoe District Co-op, Dundalk
Pringle Quality Feeds, RR 3, Chatsworth
Secure Insurance Solutions Group Inc., Markdale
R & B Lennox Fuels Ltd., Collingwood
Simmental Country Magazine
and the passengers.