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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-08-09, Page 22-THII HURON RXPOSITOR, Ata.ust O. 2000 News Sharon Chuter named first woman president of provincial telecommunications company By Carl Stavros Clinton News Record Staff Named president of the Ontario Telecommunications Association (OTA), Sharon. Chuter is the first woman ever to take this post. Chuter has worked for 27 years with the Tuckersmith Communications Co - .Operative (TCC) Ltd.. and has been general manager of the company since 1994. She explained that she is a director of the OTA, which represents independent telephone companies in Ontario. With 22 memhers in the OTA, the organization represents the companies in speaking with the CRTC and the government, Chuter said. . She gave as an example a recent trip to Toronto by Sharon Chuter three members of the OTA to meet with MPP Dr. Doug Galt. "We gave a report to him. He's on the task force for rural economic renewal," she said. "Every time we can, we have to let the government know what we're doing," she said, adding that the organization also works to share rural concerns, as most independent telephone companies are in rural areas. The OTA has a seven - member board, and for the past two years, Chuter has served as vice-president. Now, she has moved up to the position of president, in which she will also serve for two years. Commenting on the fact that she is the first woman to take on this position, she said, "There aren't a lot of women managers; not a lot of opportunity for women to become president." Looking ahead to her two , year term, Chuter said, "It will be fairly busy, but I have good staff." She noted that staff at TCC are very busy 'right now, as they work with the county to help implement the 911 system. "It is a large. project for our office staff. It's a lot of work," she said. The co-operative. while serving its customers' telephone needs, is also keeping up with the latest technology and has branched out to provide internet services. "We can service any area that can contact us free of charge," Chuter said, adding that improvements are planned to make this service even better for TCC customers. - "We are planning on introducing high speed internet in the fall. It will be fairly fast...a heck of a lot faster than dial-up," the general manager stated. She added that this new service is also a good one as those with the connection will be able to be on the phone at BIA prepares to offer new service • welcoming people moving to town By Susan Hundortmark Expositor Staff A welcoming service for new Seaforth residents wilt be offered by the Business Improvement Area starting in September. "We're not Welcome Wagon and we're not trying to 14' but we do 'want to provide information and maybe gift certificates to people new to flown to let them know what's, available in Seaforth and keep shoppers in town," says BIA president,Gerry Ryan. Shari Pickett, of Tuckersmith Township. will be paid by the BIA per welcome to run the program. She ran the Seaforth Welcomes You program which operated several years ago for about three years. "Shari is a great ambassador for the town because she knows everything about it, including the businesses and the recreation and sports programs. She's very sociable and she always points people in the right directipn. And, she does all her shopping locally, which helps," says Seaforth's deputy clerk Cathy Garrick. Garrick says the Seaforth Welcomes You program ended because it wasn't well coordinated but adds that this time, better organization, with fees, infomation and gift • items going through the BIA, should make the program, run more smoothly and successfully. Local businesses are asked to pay a fee of S20 and to provide 20 gift items to the BIA in order to participate in the gift bag that goes to new local residents. "Businesses can provide whatever they choose to give but we hope they choose something that will draw people into their stores," says Garrick. She says that while local businesses have been involved in services like Welcome Wagon in the past, the services were Play covers issues and still has humour From Pager 1 'Scott continued to learn • about the historical immigration of Laotians and Vietnamese and about their beliefs and customs before starting to write the script. Scott had also been invited to a Huron County Laotian Society event in Centralia where he and one other were the only non -Asians present where he had a chance to experience some of their culture first-hand. Known for writing comedies, Scott said while there are some comic 'moments throughout the • play, it is much more of a drama because of the seriousness of the subject matter. While encounters with snow for.the first time can provide comedic value, Scott said the play also looks at the Laotian couple's struggles to fit into a new.society. At the same time, he said the Laotian couple's struggles to tit in also creates an exploration of what it means to be Canadian, partly inspired by one of Scott's interviews. "This play is a• lot about the Canadian identity and who makes up Canada." he said. adding it includes 'discussions about Dutch, Irish and Scottish settlers in the area as well. "It takes a look at people's attitudes and stereotypes and tried to break them," he said. While the play is fictitious. Scott attempted to keep the it historically accurate as possible, researching Huron Expositors from that time period to explore the issues that were taking place then. Using a restaurant and household setting, Scott includes issues such as the low priceof grain at the time because of an embargo following Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Scott continues to work on revising his second play, Everything is Water, which had received a reading in 1998, following the success of his first play, There's nothing in the Paper, which was produced by the Blyth Festival. While Everything is Water. was not picked up by the Blyth Theatre, Scott is working at turning it into a novel, telling the comedic story of a Toronto advertising executive whose attempts to come up with a bottled water campaign take him to his rural home and explores an obsession with water. . Across the River will be read at the Blyth Festival Theatre on Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. by theatre actors and the ` public is invited to hear the play. A reading marks the first step in the process of having a play produced. If it is well received by the Blyth Theatre, it will then proceed to a workshop stage where again, actors will work with the production. offered out of other municipalities such as London or Stratford and didn't do enough to draw people to Seaforth. "They weren't local enough. This program will concentrate on Main Street. Seaforth and will expand into the new muncipality as time goes on.- she says. The new municipality of Huron East will be formed Jan. amalgamating Seaforth with Brussels and the Townships of Tuckersmith. McKillop and Grey. the same time that the Internet is connected. without the need for a second phone line. 'The new high speed connection will be offered only to those within the TCC system, Chuter said. While working to provide the best telecommunication services possible locally. she said she is also looking forward to the challenge of her two-year term as president of the provincial organization. "They are a great bunch of people; they will be just excellent to, work with," she said. "It will be fun." Alt NOTICE For the coe%entence of ..ur : hent, SEAFORTH VETERLVARY CIJNIC will b open THURSDAY'EVENINGS by appointment only Please call for appointment. 519-527-1760 O GRAY Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1-800-265-0959 Strathroy CIiII SerViCCSGodench You a e frwtted to attend these area. durches First Presbyterian Church St. W Seaforth WORSHIP SUNDAY 11 15 AM Sunday School during Worship First Presbyterian Church Welcomes Northside 8 Cavan St. Thomas Anglican Church 9 Jarvis St. Seaforth Rev. Robert Hiscox 482-7861 - SUNDAY, AUG. 13 Service of Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. Catholic Church Saturday -5:15 pm St. James Pansh, Seaforth Saturday - 7.15 pm St. Joseph's Pansh, Clinton Sunday - 900 am St. Michael's Pansh, Blyth - 11.00 am St. James Pansh, Seaforth St. Father Dino Salvador Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth SUMMER SUNDAY ' WORSHIP HOUR 10 a.m. Pastor: Rev. Doug Comveau 527-0982 Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Spnngett 10 a.m. Worship 11 We've Moved just up the street ICome me See Us' at our New Location. The Huron Expositor 11 Main St. (between Seaforth Sewing & Wong's GAB) Seaforth 527-0240 Fax 527-2858 j 1 find your focus YOUR ONTARIO I • rww 200" ock,1 1X3 t.,( 516.695 ra.o‘ ppb 011 eta annul el puicha i Orta. Olt•r sectudse trelt/It (1720). sconce. insurance. seeinjMa .,.s blare ane a• apposite, taw Das* may sel to Msslimited erne otter. Otter mey be canceled at any ane without notice Sae Deafer be dMtla. A+1rb MA. 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