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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-06-26, Page 8Page 6 Times -Advocate, lune 26, 1996 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy ijew& Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Preductlon• Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber. Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers 000,,A" co"v,,� providing news, advertising and information leadership • • GM 1 Pubncauons Mall Reostrauon Number 0386 One year rate for .ubsarNM. - 088.00 Two year rats ford a,$o subsorllbere - 088.00 e inion One year subscription • .0 subscription ♦GOT 1 Two year *abaci* *a • $3,.$.00 ♦ o0T BAsly --T Outside Canada - 009.00 •OOT Published Loci We+teed.y Meritllti et 424 Mer, S$., Exeter, oaten*, NOM 1114 by J.W. lady Publications Ltd. Telephone 1.619.2361331 • fax: 619-236.0766 6.e.T. 08105210635 A buyout should mean you're out I t is hoped a recent decision by the London Board of Education allow- ing early retirees to compete with sup- ply teachers for jobs during the next school year is one that will not be fol- lowed by other boards. Early retirees have been more than adequately compensated for their con- tributions to the educational system. They have accepted taxpayers' money to enable school boards to avoid going through the nasty experience of laying off staff. The idea is to allow the younger teachers a chance to continue in their careers without being shown the door. Layoffs are avoided because teachers at the top of the seniority and earnings scale will be paid to opt for early retirement. Apparently some kind of savings will eventually be realized by the boards us- ing this option. Higher priced, older teachers will make way for younger ones who really need the work. On the surface it seemed like a pretty good deal for everyone until the board either forgot their responsibilities or were persuaded to allow the well off, paid off teachers a chance to, in effect, start over and compete against supply teachers who are so desperate for em- ployment of any kind. It is difficult to understand why any- one who has been fortunate enough to have been offered the golden handshake would want to return as a supply teacher and compete against their younger, needier colleagues. Although there is no definition of how much money is enough, it is conceivable some teachers are continually looking for ways to re- main in the system. What is almost impossible to compre- hend is how the school board members, who are also taxpayers' representatives, could be led down this garden path of greed? Being paid handsomely to take an early retirement is reward enough. To take this money and then attempt a comeback as a supply teacher is not ac- ceptable. The Harris government's decision to give school boards the tool box to achieve their financial goals requires more talent than most board members possess. Perhaps those who called for an across the board pay cut were right all along. Your Vie� Letters to the editor Local support lacking "I was a little disappointed in the local merchants for not giving more support to these kids..." Dear Editor: i would like to congratulate the Hensall Calf Club who did a very good job of their calves and the peo- ple who bought them, especially Exeter Co -Op and Len Gamble of Brussels Livestock. As a bystander i was a little disappointed in the local merchants for not giving more support to these kids because these are the farmers and farmers' wives of the future who will be buying cars, tractors, lawnmowers, seed, fer- tilizer and many other things and in 10 or 15 years look after us older people. If you think these kids won't remember who bought their calf when doing business in the future, you're wrong. I can remem- her when my Dad moved my advance from l04 to 25¢ a week 42 years ago and i had a bad memory. Wayne O'Brien Complaints with council "Let us strive to find a council that can be honest for three years!" Dear Editor: Thanks to Jack Taylor for his terrific letter! if i had known what 1 know now, I would have held up the group home tor ninety days. It was a cover-up! Our entire local council went along with it! We made a mistake in the past municipal elec- tion- For the next election, let us strive to find a council that can be honest for three years! We don't need any more career politicians, retired civil servants or retired executives. Just honest indi- viduals with the intestinal fortitude to not cave into the special interest groups such as John Gray and Herb Verbeck. if Exeter doesn't soon give the Jack Taylors, Gib Dowse etc a break, as developers, it will remain as small as it is now, as proven by the new town hall telephone system. Who, calling from out of town would know, Liz, Laurie. Rick or Dave? That reminds me. why do we need a permanent administrator or building inspector'? Ron Westman By Tanya Ruh, 8txi t Employers - we want your help Summer is officially here and the students are out of school. Students who are still looking for work should come in and check out the listings on the JOBBANK, which is now up and running, or call the iNFOLINE at 235-2491. They ., should also fill out a registration card if they have not done so. This week is HIRE A STUDENT WEEK. On Monday, we held a SCAVENGER HUNT in Seaforth and on Thursday we will be hosting one in Exeter, which will involve many area a stude employers and should be fun for the students involved. There are many job posting for baby-sitters in our office. Most employers expect their baby-sitter to take the BABY-SiTTING COURSE. To help students out, we are teaching this course on July 15, 16, and 19 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Huron Employment Resource Centre in Exeter. The cost is a bargain at $10. Students must be 12 years old by August 30th. To register. call 235-1711. COVER LEI I ERS 101 I have been asked if you have to include a cover letter with your resume. The answer is no you do not have to, but including one will give you an advantage over those who do not. It is like a farmer. selling vegetables at a market. They do not have to wash their vegetable, but they are more likely to sell them if they do. A cover letter is used when you know what job you are applying for and who the employer is. It introduces you and your resume to the employer. A cover letter n t . represents you in your absence and, therefore, must be professional, attractive, and concise. Too often people spend time creating a powerful resume only to have it rejected due to a sloppy, careless, or poorly though out letter. A popular, effective format for a cover letter has your address and the date in the top right hand corner and then about four lines down on the left hand side, the contact person's name, position, company and address. Leave a line and type RE: and the position you are applying for. TORC 'ITO -- Premier Mike Harris's undying admiration for Americans is preventing him standing up for his province. The Progressive Conservative premier often has demonstrated fondness; for the U.S. He has picked up many ideas, the ultimate tribute, on cutting government, making welfare recipients work and getting tough with criminals from places as diverse as New Jersey, Michigan and Wisconsin and their Republican administra- tions. Harris has just announced a workfare pro- gram he calls Ontario Works a few months af- ter Wisconsin announced Wisconsin Works, and it is unlikely this is coincidence. Harris's first holiday as premier was spent fishing with former U.S. president George Bush and, although he hSpot found time to meet many Ontario orgarrTiza , errupt- ed a busy schedule to hear Genera olin Pow- ell. former chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff. talk about U.S. politics. Harris has now made his first visit to New York's financial community -- a traditional pil- grimage by premiers -- trying to persuade it to invest money in Ontario, and naturally had praise for the U.S., calling it a great trading partner with excellent flations with Canada, which most of the time is true. Harris mentioned how proud he was to be classed as a cost -cutter with governors George Pataki of New York and Christine Whitman of New Jersey and did everything short of leading the gathering in singing God Bless America. He said his main message was to let the U.S. know that "Ontario is again open for business." Harris pretends outside investment virtually stopped when the New Democrats were in gov- ernment from 1990 to 1995, although there are many examples of U.S. companies investing money here during that time. The premier then launched into a surprisingly bitter attack on his predecessors in govern- ment. Harris complained that from 1985 to 1995, when the Liberals and New Democrats were in Leave another line and type Dear and the contact person's last name (i.e. Ms. Jones, Mr. Smith) and then a colon. There are four paragraphs in a standard cover letter. The first paragraph describes y+ha job you are inte Ott you heard abt38t it' aeitd paragraph explains how you qualify for the job. The third paragraph tells that you have included a resume. The last paragraph explains that you would like an interview and tells the employer how they can contact you. To conclude, type in line with your address, Sincerely and your name, leaving enough space for your signature. It is important to check for spelling and grammar mistakes and to print your letter on the same paper as your resume. I have outlined one possible format for a cover letter. The format you use is up to you. Other formats are outlined in books available at the Huron Employment Resource Centre and the library. Good luck with your cover letter and next week I will talk about the interview. Until then! American friends power, "growth in our deficit and the resulting debt has been dragging us down. These govern- ments did not bring forward policies to help address these accumulating challenges." "Instead, the two governments imposed 65 tax increases. During that time government spending doubled and Ontario's debt tripled. "Yet despite this increased spending and tax- ing. Ontarians were no better off. There were three times as many people trapped in the cycle of welfare dependency. The average worker was taking home less pay in real terms than in 1985, when my party last held power. "Ontario was still relatively competitive, but this was in spite of government and its taxation levels and regulatory policies. it is unprecedented for a premier to travel so far and spend so much time knocking former governments and opponents. Harris could have explained how his cuts in red tape and union power can assure a larger re- turn on investment without washing Ontario's dirty linen before an audience who would not be interested in his predecessors anyway. But he could not resist crowing over his de- feated opponents among those with whom he feels comfortable, in the U.S. Yet Hams could not find time even to men- tion the biggest irritant in years between Cana- da and the U.S., the Tatter's new policy enabling anyone who "traffics" in property in Cuba con- fiscated by the Communists who took power in 1959 to be sued for damages and barred from entry to the U.S. It is part of the long -continuing U.S. attempt to bring down the Communist regime and would penalize Ontarians who lease plants or mines in Cuba. The federal government. Mexico, Caribbean countries and European Union are all protesting that the U.S. is trying to stop nations trading with whom they choose. But Harris may prefer to stay out, possibly because be sympathizes with the U.S. - certain- ly some of his best friends are Americans. i 1