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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-09-16, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,1992. PAGE 13. Ttie news from ondesboro Federation of Women Teacher's Association says no to violence at annual meeting Compiled by June Fothergill Phone 523-4360 United church to hold craft show Burns U.C.W. met at the Londesboro United Church on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with 18 members present. Gay Salverda opened the meeting with a reading. Hymn 494 was sung accompanied by Ida Leiper on the piano. Scripture readings were given by Ida Salverda and Gladys Leiper. Ida Leiper led in prayer which was followed by hymn 488. A reading, “September”, was given by Renee Snell. Margaret Taylor talked about the closing of Bums United Church on Oct. 16, 1969. Margaret had a local newspaper with several pictures of the church and congregation after the last service. The Lord's Prayer was repeated in unison. Renee Snell conducted the business and gave a reading. Roll call was answered with a Bible verse and minutes of the last meeting were read. The treasurer's report was given by Margaret Taylor. The Blyth Thankoffering meeting will be held Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. with Alma Langford as guest speaker. The Londesboro Church is holding a Craft Show in the Londesboro Hall Sept. 19. Village committee needs new members The Village Committee (for weddings, anniversaries and farewells) needs new members. It's a good way to get to know your neighbours and a great excuse for visiting. If you are interested call 523-4296 or 523-4427. Betty Hulley does clog dance for WI The September meeting of Londesboro W.I. was held at Londesboro Hall on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9. President Lois Elliott opened the meeting with the Opening Ode, Mary Stewart Collect, and “O Canada” with Ella Flood at the piano. Lois read an article on “Walking For Health”. Betty Hulley gave a demonstration of the Clog Dance to the music “Elvira”. Roll call was answered by ways to improve your health. The minutes of the June and July meetings were read by Helen Lawson. She also gave the Financial Report. Correspondence was read from Hullett School. The Historical Society meeting banquet will be at BrucefielcJ Thursday, Oct. 29. The Huntington Society County Institute Rally is Monday, Oct. 5 at Brussels United Church. London Convention will be on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Ailsa Craig. Renee Snell and Helen Lawson will be delegates to County Rally. Ramona Jamieson introduced guest speaker, Joyce Feltz, of Clinton, who spoke on and demonstrated Reflexology. Josephine MacGregor presented her with a gift. Lois Elliott presented Betty Hulley with a gift. Grace and the Queen were sung. Lunch was served by Beryl Reid and Margaret Taylor. The Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario (FWTAO) said “No” to violence this year in their Annual General meeting held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto this August. Nine women from the Huron Women Teachers’ Association joined 771 other delegates representing 41,103 women teachers in Ontario. This constitutes the largest women's federation in Canada, promoting the causes of women, children and education in its lobbies and input into government legislation and policy. Pat Marshall, co-chair of the federally appointed Canadian Panel on Violence against Women said “This (violence) is the number one health and environmental issue in Canada for women. If we were really dealing with the reality ... we would have ‘VW warnings’, violence warnings like we have UV warnings with the weather report. We'd have messages warning women about this environment and how unsafe it is across the country.” Marshall's report showed that violence against women is much more pervasive than most Canadians believe. After visiting 139 communities in every province across Canada, the report identified 22 different types of violence that women are subjected to, including sadistic sexual child abuse, torture, mutilation and murder that can even occur in a ritualistic or religious context. By far the most common form is spousal abuse. Marshall described the “landscape of horror” found all across this country. The panel heard of abuse systematically administered in ways reminiscent of a prisoner of war camp. They heard of abuse of the disabled and mentally handicapped in institutions, they heard of women of colour and immigrant women held hostage by sponsors, and of ritual and cult abuse. In many cases women were forced to re-enact violent sexual acts seen in pornographic videos, or were forced to perform such violent acts for filming. And in every province they discovered state supported residential abuse. The panel also discovered “an absolute vacuum of services” in helping healing begin, which Marshall claims is because Canadian society has too long denied the size of the problem. “Denial is part of the tolerance of the violence we have.” Marshall outlined necessary measures which will have to be taken in a society with zero tolerance of violence. Police officers need to be retrained to deal with abuse and rape cases, and police abuse needs to be dealt with more strictly. Doctors need to learn to read the symptoms of abuse. Many victims who have mentally blocked experiences of childhood sexual abuse have later become victims of inappropriate medical diagnosis. Many have consequently become penalized by inappropriate medication or by psychiatric hospitalization. Marshall has also worked with the College of Physicians and Surgeons to revamp new policies by the college where a policy of zero tolerance has been adopted. Mandatory reporting by physicians of victims of abuse will soon be a condition of licence. Marshall stressed the need to enact strict guidelines for the enforcement of zero tolerance in institutions or spiritual institutions where leaders of special authority could perpetrate acts of violence. Says Marshall, the day is coming when unions will demand zero tolerance of violence as a safely issue! The schools also need to focus on violence prevention programmes from daycare to college. If programmes are adopted to deal with conflict resolution, self esteem, sexism, sexual violence, racism, dale rape and street safely, perhaps educators will have an effect on lhe younger generation's attitudes towards zero tolerance of violence. As well, school personnel need further training to deal sensitively with disclosures and early detection of abuse. The Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario passed a variety of resolutions towards lhe issue of societal violence at their annual meeting. The federations has lobbied for the immediate and automatic cancellation of the teaching certificate of any teacher convicted of child sexual abuse. They also lobbied to replace lhe recently struck down “rape shield” law. And FWTAO has circulated petitions to support various legal cases involving abuse or murder of women. To date the FWTAO has contributed over $200,000 to women's crisis centres, with local women teacher's groups matching that amount. The Huron Women Teachers contributed $4,000 this Continued on page 26 Purchasing a vehicle is a big decision! Let us help you make the right one! GARRY WOODCOCK Quality Cars & Trucks We Can Save You Money Drive A Little - Save A Lot Jj^^ONTGOMERY; LUCKNOW 528-281 Rural life speaker to visit church Greeters at Londesboro United Church on Sunday, Sept. 13 were Len and Betty Archambault. Ushers were Doug Dolmage, Todd Shaddick, and Kevin and Kent Shillinglaw. The choir sang “The Great Physician Now is Here.” Rev. Ross's sermon topic was “Welcome Mats”. Huronview Fellowship times resume Thursday afternoon, Sept. 17. Confirmation Class (for grade 9 and up) will meet Thursday, Sept. 17 at the manse. Mr. John King from London Conference will speak about the farm crisis for rural life on Oct. 11 in the church. Choir practice is Sunday, Sept. 20. The September U.C.W. meeting will be held at the church on Monday evening, Sept. 21. Hullett agrees to hire Animal Control Officer Hullett Council accepted the grader tender from Champion Road Machinery at a cost of $168,588.25, subject to Ministry of Transportation approval, at its reg­ ular meeting on Sept. 1. Road Superintendent James Johnston was authorized to pur­ chase trees as needed from Baker's Nursery. Council agreed to pay $100, $200 to be invoiced to owner, for a fire call to the Dykstra property on Lot 25, Cone. 4. A by-law was passed to impose special annual drainage rates upon lands in respect of which money is borrowed under the Tile Drainage Act in the amount of $23,700. Another by-law was passed to enter into agreement with the town­ ships of East Wawanosh and West Wawanosh to retain the services of an Animal Control Officer within the confines of the police village of Auburn. The costs are to be appor­ tioned as per the police village ratio between the townships of Hullet, East Wawanosh and West Wawanosh. The agreement between Hullett Township and Gordon Daer for the rental of lands composed of part of Lot 12, west of the north and south road of Hullett township, was renewed for a further 12 month period at a rental rale of $420. Council accepted the petition for drainage works filed by Ralph Buffinga and others for the drainage of the pond on Lol 26, Cone. 4. The firm of W.E. Kelley & Associates has been requested to prepare a preliminary report. Name r i i I i i i i }l ! 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