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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-04-28, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2005. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Capucine Onn The Citizen The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $30 00/year ($28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada; $85.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Filling a leaky bucket AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PA P REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1 HO email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Website www.northhuron.on.ca jjocna ^cna Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible tor unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright The provincial government apparently solved the work-to-rule issue among the province’s elementary school teachers by providing more money to hire more teachers so there would be more time for classroom preparation. Now everyone else in the education system, from support staff to secondary school teachers, wants more money too. For the government, trying to provide enough money to fix the education and health care systems is like trying to fill a leaky bucket. As soon as money is available, the professionals in the system want raises to compensate for what they feel they’ve missed out on during tight-money times. Soon all the new money is used up and there’s still no money for books for school or hospital supplies. Everybody wants a better system but few will sacrifice to get it. — KR Democracy wounded again Long after the headlines of the sponsorship scandal have faded, Canada may continue to pay a price because of the cynicism that affects voters and undermines democracy. Many have lamented the declining participation in elections in recent years. The current scandal will likely only deepen the problem as citizens turn their backs on all things involving politics. Leading the revulsion would be the federal government officials, Liberal party fundraisers and advertising company executives in Quebec who subverted the sponsorship program, designed to help keep Quebec in Canada, into a slush fund for personal and political graft. The undermining of faith in democracy, however, goes much further. There would be the Conservatives, who on the night the budget was delivered vowed they would support it. Now, however, they smell election victory because of the scandal and they may move to defeat the government before the budget gets passed. NDP leader Jack Layton, meanwhile, who has expressed outrage at the scandal, is ready to prop up the government if it will cancel the corporate tax cuts included in the budget. Prime Minister Paul Martin, supposedly committed to his budget, is negotiating as we go to press, on changing it to win NDP support and possibly stay in power a little longer. Meanwhile the media show the frenzy of those crowds you see in the background at a schoolyard swarming, eyes shining with excitement at the pummeling they see in front of them. This mess has left everybody involved with very soiled hands. Faith m democracy has suffered the most. — KR Looking back__________ THEY FIGURE THAT THE GAS RISES HAVE CAUSE? THE UPSURGE IN THIS MONTH'S INFLATION I SUBAAIT THAT THIS CYCLE 1 OP GAS AN? INFLATION OCCURS HOURLY IN THIS HOUSE J - . „*] Margret * « Comack Wingham & District Hospital Hospital board members make a difference April 28, 1948 A former Blyth girl, Lorna Bray, made her first parachute jump as a member of the Parachute Club. The Blyth Lions held its charter night at Memorial Hall. Playing at local theatres was My Wild Irish Rose with Dennis Morgan, Arlene Dahl and Andrea King and The Unfinished Dance starring Cyd Charisse, Margaret O’Brien and Karen Booth. April 26,1950 Area students took part in the fourth annual oratorical contest sponsored by the Bluevale Women’s Institute. The winner was Cavell Ruttan of Morris Twp. Her topic was My First Trip to the CNE. Other winners were: Phyllis Hamilton, SS #4, Bluevale School; Kenneth Holmes, SS#6 Turnberry and Bruce Robinson, SS#8 Morris. Members of the Brussels Boys and Girls Lions Club Band competed in the brass and reed section of the county music festival. Joan Thomas was winner of the educational scholarship and Gerald Cardiff received a special award as second prize winner of the solo class. April 26, 1972 The Brussels Agricultural Society was working with the centennial committee to make the 1972 fair an outstanding success. An extra booth will be built for the ladies’ division. There would also be 10 units of moveable bleachers, the exterior of the Crystal Palace would be painted, space would be arranged for the centennial rodeo and improvements to the poultry and pet pens would be made. April 25, 1973 Bill Thuell was named Citizen of the Year by the Blyth board of trade. Central Huron Secondary School students presented Oklahoma. Among the performers were local students David Street as Curly, Catherine Streeet, Kim Watson, Frances and John Battye, Gary Hesselwood and David Thompson, ail from the Blyth area; Jo-Anne and Rick Snell from Londesborough. Don Scrimgeour of Seaforth and formerly of Blyth purchased Button’s Butcher Shop in Blyth. At Brownie’s Drive-in in Clinton it was Barry Newman and Anna Karina in The Salzburg Connection. Mrs. Donald Cartwright was president of Auburn Women’s Institute. April 30,1986 Hugh Hanly was the new clerk at Brussels. The Brussels Lions Club celebrated its 40th anniversary. Robert Brak of Blyth won first prize in the Maitland Valley Anglers fishing derby at Goderich. His rainbow trout weighed 12.25 pounds. Joan Smith of the Cranbrook area was one of five LDSS students chosen to compete in a safety contest in Mississauga. By Margret Comack, CEO Wingham and District Hospital Each year the Wingham and Listowel hospitals seek new members for their respective hospital boards and each year the process of finding individuals to replace outgoing members becomes more challenging. Busy lives and other commitments seem to be a deterrent for people to consider hospital board membership, while the importance of a skilled and committed board becomes even more paramount. This year the members of each hospital board have collected thoughts and experiences as a way of encouraging others to consider becoming a hospital board member. The board of the hospital is legislated by the Public Hospitals Act to set the strategic direction for the hospital and to ensure the safe, effective and efficient operation of the hospital. The board accomplishes this through the work of the board subcommittees and by working with the chief executive officer and senior management team as well as the chief of the medical staff and members of the medical staff. Board member responsibilities include attendance at meetings which are held monthly, sometimes site­ specific and six to eight times per year at either the Listowel or Wingham jiospitai site. Board members are assigned to committees which meet monthly or less frequently. The role of the board is at the level of governance and not operations of the hospitals. This requires orientation and ongoing learning which is provided through board meetings, education sessions and retreats held annually. Board members are also encouraged to attend education sessions provided by the Ontario Hospital Associat­ ion. The government’s transformation agenda moves forward this month with the announcement of the CEO and board chairs for the Local Health Integration Networks. It has never been more important for hospitals to have board members who are committed to availability and access to health care services in rural areas. The Listowel and Wingham Hospitals Alliance seeks community members who have skills in business management, planning or communications as well as a keen interest in serving their community to ensure that adequate health services continue to be provided well into the future. “The hospital,” states Margaret Stapleton of the Wingham hospital board, “is such a vital part of the community that everyone has a vested interest in its operation.” Recently, current board members had this to say about their experiences on the hospital board; I enjoy most...“the evolving and changing nature of health care... working with people who have the same interest and concerns about an organization that impacts on just about everyone in our community... having the opportunity to participate in the hospital redevelopment is very rewarding... feeling like I am helping my community.” I have learned...“the absolute necessity of strategic planning and communication with all levels of government... the importance of planning well into the future... what a tremendous amount of work and dedication is required by the hospital management team, staff and medical staff... the importance of creating a shared vision and opportunity to see the results of our planning.” To encourage others, I would say...“It’s a great opportunity to learn, to improve one’s knowledge around the complex issues of health care... there is a satisfaction that comes from being able to contribute to the community through planning for the continuation of excellence in rural health care... being on the hospital beard is a great experience if you want to contribute to the community and have an impact for many years to come... we all need to be involved in our community.” “You can’t leave your participation until a time of emergency,” states Jackie Espenson, Listowel board. “Anyone with an interest in maintaining the hospital and watching it grow and continue the wide variety of services and superior medical care it offers, has something to contribute.” People who are interested in considering a nomination to the board of the Wingham or Listowel hospital should contact Brenda Ritchie at 357-3711 ext. 216 or Debbie Wilson at 291-3125 ext. 241 for more information.