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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-10-17, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17,1984 Aseaelaweiwiwieseicasamew DAVE SYKES _ "If you hadn't told me you'd done something to the paper, I probably wouldn't have noticed," a semi -spheroidal compa- nion offered at a social function. "But it sure fits better on the table." Ah yes, and so it is with change. It's implications are so noticable and far- reaching to those in direct contact and so un- pretentious to those not involved. There have been times when the mother of the children has openly berated this bozo for not noticing the reshaping or restyling of her hair. Incidentals. So,many people may not have noticed that over the past few weeks their favorite week- ly had fewer bon mots than usual. Others surely noticed but considered the change of less consequence than say the World Series, the Queen's visit, the threat of nuclear holocaust, or what socks to wear to work. But I would submit that a narrower newspaper has a direct effect on the lives of readers. Sample the following substantive Est of the advantages and disadvantages of a narrower paper. A narrower newspaper is easier to read on the subway or bus while riding to work at Champion, Domtar, the beer store or to your business on The Square. A narrower newspaper can be read by one (1) person without having to call in a friend, neighbour or significant other to hold the other side A narrower newspaper will fit more neat- ly into the waste basket without having to crumple up the edges or put your foot into / the garbage to keep it from springing out. A narrower newspaper weighs less mak- ing it more difficult for your paperboy to in- advertently toss it into the bushes, on the roof or in the path of a destructive dog. A narrower newspaper can be inserted more easily into the bird cage or will fit more neatly on the winter boot tray inside the back door. A narrower newspaper will not provide more fish wrap tor your au cents,' A narrower newspaper means that pro- truding fleshy bits may fall victim to the rain when the paper is held over one's head as means of protection from a storm: A narrower paper means you have snug- gle in close with a loved one while reading the newsy bits together. A narrower newspaper means that all those old editions will not protrude from the magazine rack. A narrower newspaper doesn't take as long to read. A narrower newspaper means that many people may be missing from the ends of group pictures that regularly appear in the Star. A narrower newspaper means that they will take up less space when generously stacked in the garage or back room. And finally, a narrowe newspaper means that you have to put up with less mean- ingless verbiage from this correspondent. THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich,, Ontario. Member of the CCNA end OCNA.. Subscriptions payable in advance '20.95, (Senior Citizens '17.95 privilege card number required] in Canada, '55. to U.S.A., '55. to all other countries, Single copies 505. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on request. please ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Advertising in accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be Bold. Advertising is merely en offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SH RI ER - President and Publisher DON HUBICK - Advertising Manager DAVESYKES - Editor tlile A efOrk HUCKINS ST. GooPG\"*''4%\ P.O. BOX 220 INDUSTRIAL PARK GOOERICH, ONT. N7A 4136 �` Member Second class mail registration number 0716 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES..pleaee phone [619] 524-B331 Ism ,mmommol Volunteers are past of community A story in last week's paper outlined the plight of many clubs and organizations in their continued efforts to attract volunteers. In fact, one local scout organization faced the prospect of folding if volunteer leaders could not be found. That situation is not unique to present day. Volunteer labour is often hard to come by and yet all of our organizations, clubs and groups involving children cannot survive without the willing and capable volunteer. Wether it's minor hockey, soccer, baseball, cubs, bronwies, beavers, figure skating or any other active and thriving organization, it's success depends on volunteers. The situa- tion is an enigmatic study of human nature. Many people would probably be willing to donate a few hours of work to an organiza- tion but are afraid of being left in charge or finding they are left to do all the work. Most people are willing to help, they just don't want to be in a position of authority, to have to make decisions. Also, in many organizations, the few people that do volunteer, end up doing all the work. After a while, people get shy and reluctant about volunteering their services. What it does is create a rather tricky situation. When you stop and consider the situation, clubs, groups, organizations, church groups, even entire communitites thrive on the dedicated and unselfish efforts of volunteers. They make things happen but are often the unsung heroes in a community or organiza- tion. People will often belittle the work of volunteers in organizations and clubs without any first-hand knowledge or experience. If everyone had the chance to volunteer his or her time and sit on the executive of a club, there would be less behind -the -scenes criticism. But those that don't volunteer, are cften the most critical of the people trying to do the work. In an effort to attract volunteers and to kind of shed some light on the problem, the recreation department has organized a three-part series. Saturday. October 20 has been declared Volunteer Organization Day in Goderich and groups, clubs and other organizations working with children have been invited to set up tables in the arena lobby. It is designed to be an information day. A day when clubs can find out about each other but also a day for interested citizens to come and discover what fine organizations exist in town. But most important, it will provide you with an opportunity to discover how a few hours of your time could alleviate problems for some of these worthwhile groups. Your assistance can mean so much to the children of the community. The second part of the series involves a workshop or volunteer seminar with Karen Ross of the ('antral Volunteer Bureau in London. She will speak on recruiting and making use of volunteers on Saturday, November 3. The third session in the series will deal with fund raising. Volunteers should be saluted for their efforts in the community. They are a vital com- ponent of small-town life and , in many cases, they are vital to the development of our young people. The work of volunteers is much in evidence in this community and hopefully the volunteer will continue to be an asset. D.S. The old and the new by James Friel POSTSCRIPT JOANNE BUCHANAN Something very' traumatic is going to happen to me on Friday. I'll be turning 29 that day and I am already totally depressed about it. Some people say that 30 is the big milestone. Others claim 40 was their most devastating birthday. But for me, 29 is bad enough. It means the end of an era. Only one more year to live as a person "in her twenties". Now that I'm older and want to be younger, I can't help thinking back on the days when I was younger and wanted to be older. Like many other kids, I was always being told I wasn't old enough to do this or that. As a result, I was quite anxious to become an adult. I remember waiting impatiently for my 13th birthday. I thought being a teenager would be so exciting. I even looked forward to attending high school. After I got there however, I was terrified. As a lowly Grade 9- er, I was in awe of the senior students. They walked confidently through the halls while I slunk along trying desperately not to get lost. There were so many new things to get used to ( like lockers with combinations you could never get open ► and I was most afraid of failing my tests or getting a pink slip for being late. But my worst adolescent nightmare was the thought that I Might not be "accepted". What if nobody Liked me? After surviving the ages of 13 and 14, I set my sights on 16 because that's when I could take Driver's Education and get my licence. But not only was learning to drive quite difficult (especially the parallel parking part), I soon discovered that it wasn't much much fun when you didn't have your own car. As a trade-off for borrowing my parents' car, 1 soon found myself playing taxi service to my younger brothers, driving them to hockey practices and other events they had to go to. And I didn't like paying for gas either (in later years when I got my own car, I found that buying gas was the least of my worries after paying for insurance, repair bills and the car itself ). Being 16 also meant I could get a social insurance number and a part-time job so I could earn my own money. I had visions of all sorts of wonderful things I could buy myself. But I soon learned that the money I worked hard for, didn't go far. So, 16 found me longing to be 18. Then I would "legally" be considered an adult. I could go to bars and flash my I.D. card while acting totally insulted at the impertinence of the waitresses for asking me to produce it (if only they would ask me now! ). Eighteen also meant graduating from high school, going to college in another city, moving away from my parents' home and into my very own apartment. Looking back, I still wonder how I ever survived those three years in Toronto while attending Ryerson. The first year I lived in a nurses' residence in North York which was a long way from Ryerson. Having to get up at 6 a.m. so I could be ready in time to catch a crowded bus arid subway was not my idea of a good time. 14ing my purse the first day of classes was not exactly my idea of a swell thing to happen either. And then there were the winos and other degenerates asking for money all the time, not to mention the constant hurry, push, shove of city life where nobody seemed to eare about anybody else. The culture shock of moving from small town to big city was bad enough but when I began living on my own, I discovered all kinds of things I had to do for myself which I had always taken for granted while living with my parents—getting myself up on time in the mornings for starters. Buying my own groceries. Paying my phone bill and the rent. When I got my first full-time job after graduation, the responsibilities were magnified. What if I couldn't do the work? What if I got fired? And as the responsibilities seemed to increase proportionately to my age, I decided that being an adult was not all it was cracked up to be. I longed for the carefree days of childhood when my biggest worry was what kind of cereal to have for breakfast. I decided that I didn't want to get any older. Twenty-one was a good age to stay put at. Why couldn't I start having birthdays every five years instead of every year? These days, I don't feel any older than 21 but I know I look it. The other day, a young attendant at the gas station called me "ma'am". It made me feel terrible. I went around all day thinking, "I look like a "ma'am". I didn't like the connotation. I glanced in the mirror and thought I noticed a few more wrinkles. I also thought about the glasses which I never used to need but now find myself wearing more and more. Can you imagine what I'll be like when I discover my first grey hair? I don't even want to think about that! So I won't. I'll end this column right now. Oh, but one more thing, If you happen to see me somewhere on Friday, please don't wish me a happyt birthday. I'd rather just forget about it. To kill or not to kill, that is the question. Only we call it capital punishment. One can hardly say ax ything new on the subject when a storm of passionate and committed disputes makes waves across the country. Both the opponents and advocates of returning to capital punishment have exhausted all the known arguments and the news media are mirroring the deeply felt views on either side pf, the divided conclusions. Thus it becomes simply a question of being counted. For me there is no dilemma. My opposition to capital punishment is without reservations. It cannot be anything else. Being repulsed by individual murders l cannot deceive myself into believing that a coldblooded and well organized killing by the state would be somehow better or that any degree of public blessing would make it right. Should the conservative element outweigh the progressive part in the name of the political party currently in power and should the government decide to turn the clock back by resorting to the more barbarious methods of the past, it will be •a day of inconsolable mourning for me personally and for many citizens of similar beliefs. Large and powerful lobby groups are clamoring with vehemence for the return of the noose as society's answer to a number of despicable and deranged cases of extreme individual violence. Private grief of bereaved families and public outrage over the recent wave of killings 1'police officers have newly unleashed powerful emotions demanding quick solutions and disregarding the reality that as a civilized society we owe it to ourselves to approach situations with rational and calm responsibility. The currently strong demand for capital punishment in Canada seems to take it for granted that once the noose has been restor'fed ,in our country, all our violence - related troubles are over, the killings stop and we are safely removed from the nasty complications bothering us now. Or at least we are entitled to approved revenge, accepted form of collective vigilante mentality. Much of the deterrent theory has been rejected by both sides in the dispute, against a statistical background showing that in 1975 (the year before Parliament abolished hanging) our homicide rate per 100,000 population reached its highest point, whereas this rate has declined in the years following the abolition. So what is there to justify a well prepared, deliberate killing by the whole society? I should like to express my admiration for the Huron County Council for resisting the ease of jumping on a popular bandwagon. At a recent meeting the county councillors were faced with a broadly worded resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, asking for support for capital punishment. In a recorded vote of 23-5 the council refused to endorse the resolution, partly because of its vague wording. The discussion revealed courage, maturity and considerable soulsearching, particularly in the face of the fact that several other counties in the area had backed the resolution with ease. As Canadians we pride ourselves in having attained a high level of civilization. Those who support capital punishment fail to show what legitimate social progress would be served or how our state of civilization could be retained or improved by putting a rope around someone's neck and lowering ourselves to the level of the murderer. Civilization is my choice. ELSA HAYDON