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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-12-14, Page 219 PAGE 20—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1983 �ut�1s "Starting In January, 4-H homemaking and Agrciultural Clubs in Ontario will be a combined effort," Huron Rural Organiza- tions Specialist (Home Economics) Jane Muegge told 4-H homemaking club members at a recent local Achievement Night. From now on when you hear the term "4- H" Program", it will mean both agricultural and homemaking projects. According to 4-H leaders, the reason for the change is based on realization that both programs have the same goals (admittedly, the methods, techniques and materials are different in some cases). Some 4-H pro- grams such as regional conferences, leader- ship camp, trips and 4-H leaders' con- ferences are common to both programs. Therefore, they felt that one 4-1-1 program should be feasible since promotion, pro- gram development and administration can be dealt with more efficiently. Changes in the 4-H program are being considered by R.O.S. field staff, Guelph Staff and the Ontario 4-H Leaders' Commit- tee. With the input of the above three groups, possible changes are proposed, discussed and agreed upon by them. As changes are made, 4-11 members will be made aware of them. One very important change for 1984 is the age policy. In the past, homemaking members could be 12 to 26 years old and the agricultural program allowed ages from 12 to 19. The new policy for the Ontario 4-H Program are as follows for 1984 you must be at least 12 and no more than 21 as of January 1 or July 1. this depends on the starting date of the project. During 1984 to 1985, a person from 22 to 26 may enrol in the 4-H program as a member if he or she has previously completed at least one 4-H Homemaking project prior to ilk ®oin December 31, 1983. The results of this change allows agriculturally oriented youth to join 4-H for another two years. Also, more emphasis will be put on leadership roles and advanced projects for these senior members. "It makes sense, doesn't it?" said Jane Muegge. "In every other province in Canada agricultural and homemaking pro- jects are combined and new Ontario will follow their precedent." "I think it will work out well," the home economist added. Five new projects will be introduced for 19 . They are; Personal Finances, Quilting, Computers, Horticulture and Fitness Fare. Also, there will be some 4-H Dairy Calf age changes for the new year. The Holstein -Friesian Association of Canada will be implementing the new age structure for show purposes in 1984. These changes have been made so that one show age structure exists in North America. The Holstein -Friesian Association of Canada recommended the following three 4- 11 calf classes; Intermediate Heifer that started March 1, 1983 and ran to August 31, 1983. 1983 Junior Calf started September 1, 1983 and ran to November 30, 1983 and the 1983-84 Junior Calf class that started on December 1, 1983 and will run to February 29, 19;. The Canadian 4-H Council recently made available a book called, Learn to Do by Do- ing; A History of 4-H in Canada. Members who would like to order the publication must send a cheque to the Canadian 4-H Council for the amount of $5.50. The address is Cana- dian 4-H Council, 323 Chapel Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Z2. If you would like to see a copy before sending an application to pur- chase, one is available at the OMAF office. Salary increases approved for Separate School Board BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Salary increases ranging from 4.5 to 8.26 per cent were approved for the ad- ministration staff of the Huron -Perth Separate School Board. In an 8 to 5 recorded vote, the board voted in favor of the annual increases at its Nov. 28 meeting. Both the director of education and the superintendent of education have been placed on two-year salary schedules, while the superintendent of business and finance is on a three-year plan. The director's present salary of $55,500 will increase by 6.5 per cent to $59,130 ef- fective Jan. 1, 1984 which places that salary $10,000 above the maximum principal's salary of $49,130. In January of 1985, the director's salary will increase to $11,000 above the maximum principal's salary. The maximum principal's salary for 1985 w'on't be determined until sometime next year when a collective agreement between the board and the Huron -Perth unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association is reached. The superintendent of education's salary, as of Jan. 1, 1984 will be $5,000 above the maximum principal's salary. His present salary of $50,000 will increase by 8.26 per cent to $54,130. In January of 1985 the superintendent's salary will increase to $6,000 above the maximum principal's salary. The superintendent of business and finance will have his present salary of $43,400 increased by 4.9 per cent to $45,465 which is $3,665 below the maximum prin- cipal's salary. In January of 1985, the superintendent's salary increases to $1,600 below the maximum principal's salary and in January of 1986, the salary increases to $500 above Christmas seals fight disease New generations continue old traditions in special ways. And this year's Christmas Seals celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the Lung Association in Canada. The seals originally were used to raise money to combat tuberculosis in children. The children of today have never seen scenes that swept the nation early in the twentieth century. Then, dying children lay in their mother's arms coughing up blood. Entire families were wiped out by a monster disease call tuberculosis. In 1900, the average lifespan was only 47 years. TB and other infectious diseases cut life brutally short. By 1982 that span had soared to 73 years. By creating Christmas Seals, lung associations provided a way for everyone, of however little means, to join the fight against the monster disease. This enormous effort by dedicated volunteers to rally a na- tion against a single killer had never been attempted before. The story of the fight against TB is one of the triumphs of our cen- tury. Today the means to eliminate TB com- pletely are available. But today there are also other threats to our lungs. More than four million Canadians - children and adults - suffer from long-term respiratory disease. Most people no longer die suddenly from in- fectious diseases; three-quarters of them die lingering deaths from long-term ones. Long-term lung disease ranks in the top four causes of all deaths. This year's Christmas Seals support the ongoing fight against lung disease and its current causes, including cigarette sinking and air pollution. To continue that fight, and a Canadian tradition, answer your Christmas Seal letter. "It's a matter of life and breath." Safety is the greatest gift Out of gift ideas? Consider a smoke detec- tor for the family. Or how about an infant restraint for that newborn. Concern for safe- ty of your family and friends shows that you really care, says the Ontario Safety League. the maximum principals' salary. The salary increases for these positions are subject to the Ontario Restraint Act and could be rolled back. The co-ordinator of maintenance will have his salary increased by about 4.5 per cent, from $24,600 to $25,700. The salary for this position is $7,500 above the full-time custodial rate. The secretarial staff at the board office received a five per cent increase, bringing the salaries up from $15,815 to $16,615. All salaries were dealt with in committee - of -the -whole, but trustees discussed the director's salary in the open portion of the meeting. Chairman Ronald Murray asked where the personnel committee got the $10,000 and $11,000 (above the maximum principals' salary) from. "I get the impression that the committee is trying to bridge the disparity between our local director's salary and similar positions in other counties," commented Stratford trustee John Devlin. "Our ability to pay comes in, doesn't it?" queried the chairman. Trustee Ronald Marcy of Stratford noted that the difference between a five per cent increase and a 6.5 per cent increase ( which the director received) is about $700. "I noticed that the trustees conference ac- count is $2,700 over budget," stated Mr. Marcy. A recorded vote was taken to approve the director's salary. Those in favor were Vincent McInnes, Arthur Haid, Michael Moriarty, William Kinahan, Ron Marcy, Dave Durand, John Devlin and Michael Ryan. Those opposed were Ray Van Vliet, Tim McDonnell, Ron Murray, Louis Maloney and Gerald Groothius. Trustee Ernie Vanderschot was absent. This young hockey player could hardly wait to get en the ice and join his friends on Saturday. The Clinton arena was host to a free skating party for children. The event was sponsored by the Clinton BIA, and free hot dogs and drinks were offered to the kids. ( Wendy Somerville photo) `Tis the season for poinsettias Poinsettias are one of the most decorative of all plants for the Christmas season. A native to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia has become very popular because of its unique ability to -hold flower" for so long, says Tony Hogervorst, rural organizations co-ordinator ( Ontario Horticultural Association) with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural organizations and servics,braner.. The poinsettia flower is actually a group of bracts or reduced leaves surrounding a flower cluster, a characteristic common to the Euphorbiacea plant family. The colored bracts, which are available in red, pink or white, should remain attractive for at least three to four weeks if kept in a cool, bright place. To keep a plant after the bracts have fallen, keep the plant in a cool, bright room and water sparingly to induce dormancy. Cut the plant back severely, 15 cen- timetres to 25 centimetres (six inches to 10 inches) from the base in late spring or early summer. Then begin to water often and fer- tilize well with a household fertilizer. Cut- tings of new growth can also be taken and rooted in mid -summer. Protect your poinsettia from frost in the fall and place plant in a sunny window. After October 1, keep the poinsettia from artificial light at night and it should be brightly col- ored by Christmas. 1 TWO LEVELS OF SHOPPING FO R M E N ONLY Thursday, December 15 NOON TILL 9 P.M. 0 % OFF ENTIRE STOCK Excluding Sale Items YES, WE GIFT WRAP 3 DAYS ONLY Thursday, Friday, Saturday, December 15, 16, 17 — ALL IN STOCK FURNITURE °Chesterfields °Chairs °Coffee, end tables °Tea wagons ®Wall units °Desks r, lei rI rgB' VISA L DECORATIVE 8 SHOPPERS SQUARE, GODERIUH CCESSORIES 524-4400 OFA members are desperate Farmers want ore gove The lack of government responsiveness to the needs of Ontario farmers was the com- mon message expressed by delegates to the 47th annual convention of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture i OFA I. Many of the delegates gave examples of suffering and desperation among hard- pressed producers from across the pro- vince. OFA President Ralph Barrie summ- ed up the frustration when he said, "Neither the federal or provincial governments ae providing adequate ur timely answers to the critical questions facing us." Barrie added that while the general economy continues to improve, the farm economy is still stagnating. Input costs are rising and marry commodity prices are dropping, leading to severe financial hard- ship for many farmers. Referring to meetings with government, Barrie said their response is, "There's no free lunch." "That's just not true. By selling livestock below the cost of production, beef and pork producers are providing thousands of free lunches every day for Canadian con- sumers," he said. Barrie called on guverrunent to provide a "ladder of opportunity" for the agricultural community to climb to more prosperous times, as well as "safety nets" for those pro- ducers who are in trouble. The ladder of opportunity should include a well-preserved land base. a healthy farm supply sector, stable and secure pricing, a well-developed wholesale and retail sector, and government policies that provide incen- tives and stability to farming. Barrie also stressed the need for a well-educated socie- ty in regard to modern agricultural prac- tices and the development of more effective farm organizations. Delegates to the convention also approved the majority of recommendations in a report on ways to increase the effectiveness of the Federation. The report dealt with structure, finances, lobbying, communica- tions and on-going service development. A recommendation on making the basic membership unit of the OFA the farm fami- ly was sent back to county federations for further input. A decision on changes to any List contents An accurate, up-to-date inventory of household contents, year purchased, and present replacement value is essential to have on hand in case a claim needs to be made on your household contents insurance, says Grace Whittington, home and family management specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural organizations and services branch. Keep it in your safety deposit box away from the house. membership will be made at a board meeting early next year. Other decisions made by the convention delegates include: - Rural landowners within 1,000 feet of a severance application be officially notified. - Foodlands receive greater protection from quarries and other development. - Off -shore labour quotas be increased because there are not enough qualified Canadians available for farm work. - Unemployment insurance regulations be changed to reduce the paperwork and ad- ministrative burden on farmers. - Duties and sales tax be eliminated from imported agricultural products. - The tax write-off for farm losses on off - farm income be increased to reflect infla- tion from 1952, when the regulation was in- troduced. - Beeinning farmers be allowed five ent suort years to show a profit under the federal In- come Tax. the same as is allowed under the Farm Credit Corporation. - Farmers be allowed to deduct up to $5,500 a year from their income if used to reduce mortgage payments. - Noise levels, in line with farming prac- tices, be part of ministry of environment guideline. - Professional engineering, and the subsequent costs, be recommended, but not required under the Ontario Soil Con- servation and Environmental Protection Assistance Program. - Retroactive payments be made to beef producers to bring stabilization payments in line with other provinces. The OFA is the largest general farm organization in the province, representing more than 25,500 individual members and two dozen other farm organizations. dreaming of a Bradshaw Christmas PROUD - Of our selection of gift ideas. Each of our staff wants to help you find the perfect gift, particularly at Christmas, the happiest time of the year. BRADSHAWS 129 ONTARIO STREET STRATFORD 271-6283 Ministry of the Attorney General