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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-04-02, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2,1997 PAGE 23. Communities don’t need to fight alone Continued from page 3 where we've been able to separate ourselves in the past from changes taking place in t he large centres of commerce, are no longer protected. It is coming right in at us. We need to be aware and be able to react to it." But getting involved in the Inter­ net is not a solution in itself, Vod- den said. "To make it have an impact on your business, it's the idea that you have that will make it work." He told the story of a young man in the U.S. who read that 65 per cent of women were dissatis­ fied with the fit of their jeans. He made an arrangement with Levi Straus and set up a web page on the Internet. Women can look up the page on the Internet, learn how to measure themselves, fill in a form on the screen, E-mail that informa­ tion to Levi Straus which has machines that can pick up the infor­ mation from the computer and automatically cut the jeans to fit. Two weeks later the jeans will be delivered to their home. The cost for the custom-made jeans is about $10 more than a pair bought in the store. "He's doing a land-office busi­ ness," Vodden said. If this kind of marketing spread to other areas of the clothing and footwear business people could be in a lot of trouble, he said. "And it can happen so quickly." "I think all of us need to look at our business that way," Vodden said. "What if someone comes up with a whole new way of doing my kind of business or delivering the service I do. If you wait until it's happening it's probably too late." These changes present both opportunities and threats, Vodden Group entertains at Huronlea Continued from page 2 audience to participate, inviting them to join him as he announces his repertoire. Crafts with Kathy saw us preparing bristol board shamrocks and blackthorn shillelaghs, brier pipes and old top hats, the kind gentlemen used to wear when going to call on the lady of his choice about to take her for a drive in his brougham. We place dozens of the St. Patrick’s Day decorations on the wall in strategic places. Sunday church was with Rev. Beale officiating. The monthly meeting of the Residents’ Council was held. There wasn’t a lot of business, but Olive resigned as treasurer, and was elected president, while Edna Evers was elected treasurer. Before the meeting, the executive of the chapel board of governors met to plan new decorations for the Easter service. The purchase of Easter lilies was approved. It was also decided that the tape player in the craft room be placed in the chapel so that any minister who isn’t able to bring an organist, or pianist will be able to use the tapes. Buck & Doe for GRAHAM GLOUSHER and STACIE BESTARD on Saturday, April 5 8:00-1:00 Music by Soundproof $5/tlcket Age of majority Phone 523-9319 for more Information said. "The opportunity is there but if you don't snap it up someone else may and put you out of business." The Internet has a way of level­ ling the playing field between big companies and small, he said. At one time geographic location was the major factor in success but with the Internet that doesn't matter as much. A simple web page can be as effective as a complicated one from a big company. There are opportunities for com­ munities to get together to pool their resources so they don't have to fight the battle on their own, he said. "How about a learning village — instead of having all of us sepa­ rately trying to master all of this technology, we each learn a little about it and share it. Through that we can leverage our advantages. "We have a lot of advantages in this village. We can easily get together. In a small village it is more easy for us to be flexible to changing circumstances. We have low overhead. We have a vibrant community. There are all kinds of things that are in our favour and we need to build on them." The community needs to find ways of turning the threats that are coming its way into advantages, and exploit the opportunities, Vod- den said. There are already many benefits for businesses tb go on-line on the Internet, said Diane Beach of Data Quest, a Goderich-area company offering advice in using computer­ ized technology. Being on the Internet means your business has a presence for 57 million Internet users around the world, she said. It is easy and inexpensive (about $30 a month for a business to subscribe to an Internet provider) to give A group from Wingham enter­ tained at the monthly birthday party. As usual they brought a delicious collection of cookies and squares. Those celebrating birth­ days in March are Les Rowe, Rita Youngblut, Mary Yuill, Dorothy Thompson, Norma Hamilton, Mildred Wheeler and Alice Scott. Saturday’s new treat, which takes place at 10 a.m. is coffee break with Cheryl. The first effort which was supposed to be March 15 had to be cancelled due to the bad weather. Let’s hope that storm turns out to be winter’s last gasp! I must report on your pets’ progress. They are becoming quite tame so are allowed to wander where they like. Suzy Q, the white kitty, is still timid, but allows herself to be caught and petted, with great dignity. Sylvia, on the other hand, is a bit of a clown. She often comes when called and will jump up on to my lap. details, up-to-date information about your business to people both locally and internationally, she said. Information on your products and services is available 24 hours a day. It's also possible to incorporate sound and pictures, video clips and can allow potential customers to experience what your business has to offer, she said. In addition, she said, people using the Internet generally have the money for frequent purchases. Potential customers can get more information from you by using e- mail or through putting the answers to frequently-asked questions on the web-page. "Don't think of the Internet just for its international reach," she said. "More and more people here in Huron County are going on line." You can also check out your competition through the informa­ tion they put on the Internet, she said. Martin Vanderloo.of Odyssey Internet in Clinton said the speed of data transmission on the Internet is becoming faster all the time as faster modems and wider band­ widths come into use. In some cen­ tres like London, cable TV companies are providing new com­ petition to telephone lines. Already available is satellite communications and coming soon will be wireless communications. It ’will allow faster transmission of complicated graphics. All this expanding technology will lead to a growth in global com­ munications, Vanderloo said. "I think we're going to see more com­ merce on the web as well," he said. There are still problems with secu­ rity for people purchasing on the Internet using credit cards but those will be solved. Already, he said, banks are offering their services on the Internet. Electronic communications will make it difficult for governments to control the flow of money in and out of countries, he said. "The Internet will make the individual much more powerful than ever before," said Vanderloo. "I think we'll continue to see KEN AND DORIS FISCHER and family invite you to celebrate with us in honour of our 50th Wedding Anniversary Ronnie’s Coburn’s Friday April 4th, 1997 8:30 p.m. * 1:00 a.m. at the Brussels, Morris & Grey Arena To make their evening a special occasion in lieu of gifts we would appreciate a monetary donation or a non- perishable food Item for the Huron County Food Bank. Please accept this as your personal invitation home-based employment and busi­ nesses flourish," he said, but he said computers will not decentral­ ize and democratize the workplace by themselves. "These sorts of changes are not made by technolo­ gy by people applying machines, vision and a will to make changes. The fundamental principles of com­ municating with each other. Tech­ nology offers us a different media to do it in." HELD OVER 3RD BIG WEEK 7:00 ft 9P.M. LIAR LIAR Jim Carrey (TO) Language May Offend JEFFREY BOWMAN BLUEWATER KENNEL CLUB Experienced Instructors Serving Huron County for over 20 years presents its ANNUA DOG OBEDIENCE COURSES Basic For Dogs Over 5 Months 10 week course $70 oo $1 n oof Vi or I Vi persession to get ready fo CKC Obedience Trials BLYTH COMMUNITY CENTRE Starting Tuesday, April 8th, 1997 7:00 p.m. NO DOGS FIRST NIGHT HEALTH & RABIES CERTIFICATE REQUIRED Pre-Register by calling: LYNN FLOWERS 524-4963 After 5 p.m. FLORENCE PULLEN 233-7896 Congratulations to Jeffrey son of Robert and Elizabeth (Bolton) Bowman and grandson of Dorothy (Wright) Bolton and the late Leslie Bolton on his recent graduation from Radio College of Canada with his Honours Electronics Engineering Technologist. Jeffrey received the I.E.E.E. award and the General Knowledge Award for outstanding achievement. Jeffrey has accepted a position at Northern Telecom in Toronto. We are proud of you. Mom and Dad, sister Andrea and Grandma Bolton. The best in Scottish Entertainment Saturday April 26th LUCKNOW COMMUNITY CENTRE - 8:00 P.M. Sponsored by Five County Pipe & Drum Band and the District A9 Lions Clubs Advance: Adults $13.00 Students At Door: Adults $15.00 $10.00 5 Country Pipe & Drummers - 7:15 - 7:45 p.m. Limited Seating. For more info call 1-800-799-3363 Tickets available at: Lucknow - Annie’s Gas Bar - Chisholm Fuels Wingham - McPhee IDA Pharmacy Blyth - Elliott Insurance - Brussels J.L. McCutcheon Kincardine - Helen-Kincardine Independent, O’Brien’s Meats Clinton - Clinton Legion Band Members Listowel - Atwood - Pat Wilson 356-2365 Ripley - Royal Bank Goderich- Campbell’s - Edward Fuels- Mel at McGee Motors