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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2001-12-12, Page 5News Building character through sports is citizenship award winner's goal This is the first of three stories about this year's winners of the Seaforth Cititens of the Year. By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff Bill Weber was not at this year's Business Improvement Area (BIA) Christmas party to pick up his citizenship award for his involvement in Seaforth sports.. Instead, he was where he's been during most of his spare time over the past 30 years - at a hockey arena, this time with his midget girls' hockey team at a tournament in Kitchener. The retired Central Huron Secondary School teacher, who lives in Egmondville, has a long list of involvement in local sports, from beginning Seaforth's minor hockey houseleague program to coaching about 30 different boys' teams in minor hockey, high school hockey and junior D and C hockey to startingjand coaching the Seaforth Stars girls' hockey team, which was a provincial finalist last year. But, more than building a winning team, Weber says he's always been most interested in building character in his players. "Hockey is a medium to teach values. It puts kids in a crucible that tests their values and strengths in a way any other experience does not. And, those skills will carry them through tough times in school or in the competitive job market," says Weber. "I like to have a program of skill development so they can see themselves improving as individuals and making the team as a whole stronger so they're able to perform at higher and higher levels," he Bill Weber says. One of his favourite teams over the years was the group of boys who played pee wee and bantam in Seaforth in the early 1990s, including current NHL players Boyd Devereaux and Mike Watt. "John Watt coached them for three or four years and then I had them for• four years. They were a great bunch of kids and most of them graduated from university. It was fun to watch them grow up and achieve," he says. As well as being a former vice president and executive member of the Seaforth minor hockey for more than 10 years, Weber has also run minor hockey schools in Seaforth for three years, achieved his level four hockey coach with the Canadian Coaching Association and coached mites for three years, tykes for one year, novice for three years, atom for two years, pee wee for two years, bantam for two years, high school hockey in Clinton for more than 15 years and junior D and C hockey for eight years. Weber says he helps his players achieve in other areas of their lives as well, such as school, by encouraging them to look for a balance in their lives. "When you're involved in sports, time management and multi -tasking become involved in your life and that serves you later in life as well," he says. After taking the Seaforth Stars midget girls' team from the B level in its pee wee year to BB and now the A level, 4-H and Advanced Agricultural Leadership program join together From Page 4 . Gordon, said, "Having a shared position involved in fund development is unique among agricultural organizations." Ann also said, "the development of a complementary fund development strategy, versus competitive, will be viewed favourably by current and potential donors." Rob Black, executive director, 4-H Ontario, said, "There are two positive messages out of this alliance. The first is that we will not be competing with each other, but working together to be more efficient and effective." "The second is demonstrating our interest in the stewardship of the dollars that are entrusted to us for the development of tomorrow's leaders." 4-H Ontario and the AALP arc totally responsible for the development and delivery of their programs. While both organizations do receive funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, funding from corporate and individual donations is extremely important and Will become more so in the future. The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program has provided intensive leadership development to over 230 graduates that represent a spectrum of agricultural and food sector occupations in Ontario. Established in 1985, the program, which is- administered by the Agricultural Leadership Trust, has a proven track record of developing participants that influence and direct change within rural Ontario. Molly will be working with a fund raising team at AALP, which includes Brenda Trask, AALP's Events Manager. For more than 87 years, the Ontario 4- H program has provided thousands of young people the opportunity to develop self-confidence, leadership skills and citizenship qualities. In "April 2000, the Ontario 4-H program became totally responsible for the delivery of the youth program to almost 8,000 young people in the province. • To contact Molly Ross about Ontario's leadership investment opportunities call either 4-H Ontario at 1-877-410-6748 or AALP at 519-826-4206 . 1 L__ct tis cllcl.ir111l you this C_hristlllu�. ,)11(1111t 1701) 1 )( 1 1I)1(' R( 1(lll1-(111k l r t. 1 �t 11 111 iH 1 /l� t 01111110 (1( titt11S •. • . ri • • • • • ••• ..• • • •• • • •• CAI .1 [7(11, ' 1) O1('C/) (111(1 111 t 71,'(' 1 1 1 c' Weber says he's excited how well they're doing. "They've moved up every year and grown as students too," he says. Weber says it's interesting to notice the difference between coaching boys and girls in hockey. "Girls seem to work hard and play the game but they don't dwell on it while the boys linger on it for awhile. Girls seem to have broader interests - they're not just interested in hockey while boys can get one- dimensional," he says. While women's and girls' hockey has really taken off during the past 10 years, Weber says he believes "quite a few" of his Seaforth Stars players will have a good chance to play university hockey when the time comes. "This year, we're second so far in our league so anything's possible," he says. Other than hockey, Weber has also coached minor soccer in the area for six years, has coached high school wrestling and track, is a member and past chair of the board of directors of the Huron -Perth Centre for Children and Youth, is a member of the Huron County Youth Needs Committee, is a member of the Egmondville United Church, is an, avid golfer and plays hockey for the Seaforth Beaver Oldtimer team. But, while he's been coaching since he was 16, Weber says next year may be his Last for coaching. "I think I should be doing other things. My wife certainly thinks so," he says. GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1-800-265-0959 Strathroy THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 12, 2001-5 Need To Store Something? NOW OPEN Seaforth Mini Storage -All Units Heated - 30 Mill Rd., Egmondville 522-1043 or 522-1060 LUMP EPITION•••TOM IY HILFIGER...G)MbooTs u1 Morer %awe More at /r bIrrEij6k (#;(rEN'5 WEAr T2ys 100 Main Street, Seaforth buy 1;tern & save 10% 1 buy 2 terns & save 20% buy 3 or More & save 30% x Sae Ends S a cI4 , Pecember 16, 2001 Located at Sumthing Special O g s1.009109"1139rj-r14 AwWO..L" NOI.lId3 d31IWt1 Church' Services YOU are invited to attend these area churches First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth Rev. Nick Vandermey Worship Sunday 11:15 am Sunday School during Worship 1 St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth . Rev. Michael Atkins " Sunday Service at 9:30 am. Parish Office 482-7861 Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm .St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Lance Magdziak Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Adventure Club for Kids Wednesdays 7 p.m. Egmondville United Church Sunday School Gr. 2.6. Adults - 10 am; Nursery -Gr. 1 - 11 am Worship 11 am ' COMING EVENTS Sunday, December 16 Sunday School Christmas Program -A LIVE ADVENT WREATH' December 23 - 11 am December 24 - 7:30 pm Steve Hildebrand - Worship Leader EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister 527-2635 or 527-1449 54 Goderich St. W. Cavan 9:30 am - Northside 11:00 am Sunday December 16th Advent III (Cavan Fellowship Hour After Church) Christmas Open House at the Manse following Worship Youth Group - 5:30 p.m., Thursday at Northside