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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-04-03, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, April 3, 1996 L'QMMIINITL Where Are They N Where Are They Now? is.an extended series on South Huron District High School graduates and their career choices = Ross Rowe: directing human resources ,_ LONDON - "Work is not the way it used to be," said Ross Rowe, director of HumanResources with the City of London. "In today's environment you have to be innovative to address the cutbacks in government funding." His job involves organizing collective agreements, recruiting and deployment, administering income, insurance, pension, health and safety programs, managing skill training, and developing job evaluation and research systems. According to Rowe, skills needed for this type of work include the ability to be sensitive to employees' needs while at the same time aiming to "negotiate constructively." "When they come to you with a problem," he explained, "it's a big problem in their mind." Rowe, who specializes in labor relations and negotiating, feels people in the human resources field must deal with a number of issues in a changing work environment that once remained relatively stable. "That's the reality in today's environment...You have to cut your costs." • In the midst of job sharing, layoffs and downsizing efforts, Rowe doesn't see human resource responsibilities getting any easier in the future. A lack of funds means innovative ideas are more important than ever. And negotiating becomes more challenging when changes must be made within the parameters of employment legislation, which is also constantly changing. "I think we'll see some other changes," he added, using pensions as one example. Rowe was first employed with the City of London's Human Resources as a personnel officer in 1974 before being appointed a director in 1985. Prior to that he was hired in • human resources by London's A,) former Northern Life after working as a el supervisor at Canadian Canners in Exeter and then Simcoe for a total of eight years. "I haven't done anything other than personnel work," he said, adding besides studying psychology at the University of Western Ontario, he's taken numerous tabor relations and human resources management courses. Rowe was raised on a farm near Exeter and attended Thames Road Public School, a one -room • school with eight grades. Recalling a reunion he attended last year, he still has fond memories of South Huron District High School, which he graduated from in 1962. "My memories go back to the good teachers that we had," he said. `They treated the students like adults." Although he has many family members in the Exeter area, spending the past 25 years in London has him calling it home. He has a daughter, Laura, in British Columbia and a wife, Shirley. He enjoys church activities, walking and golfing in his spare time. "I can forget my cares on the golf course," he said. "I can forget work out there." Your Views Letters to the editor Single school board for Huron County We can live with the call to re- duce the number of trustees, and we have already acted to down- size our administration... Dera Editor: We have a great public education system in Hu- - ron County, and we are working hard to Inake it bet- ter. In this time of rapid change, we are ready for change. We knout t times are tou hand that pub- lic spending needMbe brought iii " " want to do our pan but, alone, a small jurisdiction like the Huron County Board of Education is a voice in the wilderness. • You have heard about the report on school board amalgamation. There are several good recommenda- tions in that report, but the most important among them are the recommendations for the reform of ed- ucation finance. We must have those funding re- forms if Huron County students are going to get their fair share of Ontario tax dollars for education. We can live with the call to reduce the number of trustees, and we have already acted to downsize our administration. We do not agree with the proposal to join the pub- lic school boards of Huron and Perth counties to- gether into one new entity. We think there is a better way. Please support our call to establish a' single school board for Huron County: one that provides for all sectors and protects the language and relig- ious rights of all parties. This is the kind of amalga , mation that makes thintost sense. 4 $• u v, tury, lei us ensure tha education in uron' County continues to be a front-runner - not only in - academic excellence and technology, but in govern- ance, administration and finance too. Please sign, one of the postcards being circulated by your local Huron Public Education schools, and share another with a friend. Smoker expresses opinion Lighten up on those who light up.... Dear Editor: This letter is in response to "Smokers deter bingo players." Give me a break! No really, I mean it. As a smok- er I am so tired of being put into a category of peo- ple who ruin other peoples health. There's hardly anywhere us '`smokers" can go and feel comfortable having a cigarette, and as for Mr. Hamilton's sug- gestion that Exeter bingo go no smoking is ridicu- lousl. I would say that 85 per cent of the players are smoking. (there's strength in numbers). Mr. Hamil- ' ton also suggested to have 2-10 minute breaks so us smokers can go outside and "light up". Well here's a suggestion for him, why don't you go outside and collect the fresh air you crave, like you said "Which is better, breathing in all that smoke, or being a little chilly", it works both ways. • And I'm sure when Mr. Hamilton asked for other complainants to respond this is not what he had in mind. And after all is said and done I'm sure he and his wife will return to Exeter Bingo.. "Lighten up on those who Light up" Ms. M. MacDonald, Exeter • Paul Carroll Director and Secretary -Treasure Roxanne Brown, Chair A memorable season "I would like to say that this sea- son has been the most fun that I've ever had playing hockey." To Exeter hockey fans: When I was first asked to play Juvenile hockey in Exeter by family friend, Don Richardson, I won- dered what Exeter could possibly have that Tavis- tock didn't. I found out in a hurry. My rookie sea- son for the Chiefs turned out to be my most memorable season. I should start by thanking map - ager John Rasenberg. I think that it was due to your consistent phone calls that got me here. Thank you for helping me out and signing me to a card. Next, I would like to thank my coaches, Henry DeBruyn and Jeff Playfoot for their advice in playing. You two guys kept on us and believed in our team and let me play so many games this season. I learned a lot this season, both on and off the ice. Thanks for all of your time and dedication this year. And to the 1995-96 Exeter Chiefs and parents, thank you. I really appreciate everything that you did for me this year. You accepted a total stranger onto a team at the first practice I was at. I felt like I had known the Mayers all my life. I will always remember all the games and practices we had en route to the O.M.H.A. Semi -Finals. We have to keep in touch and get together over the summer. I would like to say that this season has been the most fun that I've ever had playing hockey. This was the most talented team that I have ever played on. Exeter is a place where the players respect each other and all get along. Don, John, Henry and Jeff should all be commended for their efforts to make us a "real" team. Here's hoping I enjoy a couple more years in an Exeter uniform. Dennis Roth Exeter resident enjoying winter in Mexico The area where we winter is along the shores of Mexico's largest in- land lake.... Dear Editor. Greetings from the land of sunshine and flowers. By the time you receive this, it will be getting warmer in Huron County, after what must have been a rigorous'winter. (Or so CNN says). The area where we winter is along the shores of Mexico's largest inland lake, 60. by 30 miles. It is 5,2000 feet in altitude - like Denver, "the mile -high city". There are between eight and 10,000 Canadi- ans in this expatriate society. Many ate year-round residents, most are short term, three to six months. It is not a honky tonk area like Acapulco, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta can be, but a quiet, relaxed at- mosphere, We enjoy our winter home, but look for- ward to our return to Exeter, the "Best small town in Canada". We take the odd trip to other areas. We recently journeyed to Manzanillo. on the Pacific coast. a pleasant six hour drive over Mexico's new toll road. The hotel where we sttj+bdittostly f til of French-Canadian. The entt�ntnent at night was in French as well as English and Spanish! The few Americans who were resident told me they are dis- gusted with the manners of our French Canudians. One man said they are "loud, pushyand unfriend- ly". nfriend-ly". He also said - if they want to separate, get rid of them - and we don't want them! This was an honest opinion, openly expressed. You can draw your own conclusions. The highlight of our side trips was to Lapaz in the Baja, to see the whales. And whales we saw, huge creatures, but seemingly friendly and unphazed by the proximity of whale watchers in small 18 foot outboards. We almost touched the gigantic mam- mals. An unforgettable experience - ittbluding two mothers swimming with their "babies". Some babies were 30 ft. long! The local Canadians seem disenchanted with the pteseat Federal Government. They say, many of them • a "bunch of do-nothings. Of course I agree! The Ontario government and Mike Harris comc out better. They admire his efforts to whip the wel- fare receivers and free -loaders. They say "only the press are against him." For those of you who tippet!, imported Scotch is approximately 510 (Canadian) for 26 oz.! See you in the spring! Happy landings! Jim (Gibby) Gibson b - "The quality of your paper has ` been upheld by such fine sports reporting." Dear Editor: I would like to congratulate you and your paper for the quality of the sports coverage that has be- come such a pleasure to read and to co-ordinate with. I am writing as a regular reader and as an or- ganizer of a local sports league. With respect to each of these capacities, I can only compliment your sports•stafi. The Exeter area is recreationally diverse. This is reflected in the coverage offered by the Times - Advocate. The weekly round -ups do justice to all the activities and the periodical "up -close -and - personal" biographies have included quite a variety of local athletes both male and female, young and old. As the organizer of the South Huron Indoor Soc- cer League, I considered the local media coverage quite important, as the league is new and exposure helps get it established. Chris Skalkos has been a pleasure to work with in this regard. He regularly visited the games in Huron Park and took time to in- terview key people in order to get his story accurate. I will add that the same attention to detail was com- mon during the recent highschool basketball sea- son. The players I coached were avid readers of the columns that Mr. Skalkos put together and they en- joyed them very much. Getting back to soccer, I was impressed by the graphics used to highlight the reg- ularly printed scores and standings of the indoor soccer league. In fact, they were so impressive that an entire team from Stratford stopped off to buy 15 copies of the paper in order for each player to have a copy of the current stands! Lastly, Mr. Skalkos opened and closed the season with a fine expose. The league appreciated the effort. The quality of your paper has been upheld by such fine sports reporting. Such a terrific effort deserves the gratitude of those who are rewarded by the cov- erage and who draw pleasure from reading it. Thank you for the job well done. , Sincerely, George McEwan, Exeter The Grand Bend Lioness held its Effective Speaking Contest at Grand Bend Public School on Tuesday night. Back row, from left, Grand Bend Lioness representatives Joyce Morden, Norm Casarin and Marg Roberts. Front row winners, from left, Greg Parks, Bosanquet Cen- tral Public School, Honorable Mention, Samantha Haddon, Grand Bend Public School, Third Place, Josh Heywood, Stephen Central Public School, Second Place and Mike Breen, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, First Place.