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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-06-22, Page 31PAGE 10A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1978 Students trying to start Big Brothers agencies BY JOANNE WALTERS There are an estimated 20 to 25 fatherless boys in Goderich. And this is probably a gross " un- derestimate, according to Marianne Frayne of Kingsbridge, one of two students working under an Experience '78 provincial grant to assess the need for and organize Big Brothers agencies in Goderich, Seaforth, Clinton, Wingham and surrounding areas this summer. The Big Brothers Association was first formed in Canada in 1913. Today, through local agencies in 135 com- munities throughout Canada, Big Brothers is reaching out to provide guidance to boys in their formative years. Each Big Brothers agency has a Board of Directors made up of volunteers chosen from a cross- section of the community. Professional full-time employees are selected by the boards and report to them on the matches of big and little brothers. Big Brothers are volunteers, 18 years of age or over, married or single. They're responsible individuals who, with the assistance of trained agency ` per- sonnel, maintain close relationships with boys who would otherwise lack a continuing male in- fluence. The main objective of the Big Brothers Association is to help the individual fatherless boy, between the age of six and 16 to develop a way of living that is personally and socially adequate. Youths': problems today are serious and alarming and affect the present and near. future. The cost to the com- munity (moral and financial) can be staggering. The most effective immediate and long range strategy is one of prevention. Every responsible study made, clearly reveals the fact that maladjusted children come most frequently from homes in which there is no father or adequate male figure. Big Brothers is dedicated to help such boys' development. Performance records from Big Brothers agency files demonstrate the effectiveness of this concept. Studies document improvements in academic per- formance, attitude and outlook. Less than 10,000 boys across Canada are matched with a big brother and every agency has a waiting list of prospective little brothers. Marianne and her parser Tracy Baker of Saforth through their E perience '78 project, are rying to alleviate that problem in this area. In each of the four towns they are dealing • with, they must find out how many boys require the service and how 'willing members of the com- ;munity are to co-operate by sitting on the board or being big brothers. Once the program is set up, they must help the four towns to find funding and more volunteers. ONLY TWO MATCHESNEEbED Marianne explains that Goderich Town Council Briefs BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER Councillor Bob Allen told cduncil that if the position' of Chuck Jewell changes at the Goderich Memorial Community Centre, he could receive an increase in salary even under the Anti - Inflation Board guidelines. Councillor John. Doherty had questioned an item in the recreation board minutes which indicated that an interim salary increase might be going to Jewell. Doherty felt that Jewell couldn't receive an increase in salary because of the AIB restrjc tions. Clerk Larry McCabe confirmed that if there is a change of responsibility, an increase in mid- year is acceptable to AIB. ++ Eileen Palmer, Goderich Deputy --reeve and a member of the Organizational Review Com- mittee, will contact the Rotary Club concerning the possb'F't`fty of a conference in Goderich to interest and encourage people in understanding and participating in municipal affairs. According to the minutes of ORC, the purpose of the conference would be to interest citizens in local government by increasing their knowledge and understanding; to ' provide knowledge to those who would serve on public bodies, either elected or appointed; and to encourage citizen -participation in local government. The Rotary Club is to be approached because one of the organization's main objectives is continuing education. Goderich councillors councillors agreed to concur with a' resolution from the town of Geraldton which requests the government of Ontario to either allbw municipalities to have control over district school board borrowing, or to institute the necessary, changes so that the Ontario Municipal Bo'1 will not take district school board debt into consideration when determining the municipality's ability to borrow. Geraldton is in northern Ontario, in the Lake Nipigon district. + + + Clerk Larry McCabe told council he is still working on securing the terms of reference for the Committee of Adjustment in Goderich. But after several calls to Toronto, McCabe was becoming discouraged. "At this point.' it seems even the provincial authorities may not have any specific terms of reference for the committee of adjustments," said McCabe. "Sounds like you're getting the provincial shuffle," quipped Mayor Deb Shewfelt. Anstett Jewellers LIMITED 11 ALBERT ST., CLINTON 442-3901 OPEN WEDNESDAYS For Your Convenience HOURS: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m..4 p.m.; Friday nights 'till 9 p.m. o Tracy Baker of Seaforth and Marianne Frayne of Kingsbridge as females may not be able to volunteer to be big brothers but they are certainly trying to get the Big Brothers organization off the ground in this area. The girls are working out of the Huron Centre for Children and Youth in Clinton this summer under an Experience '78 grant to assess the need for and organize Big Brothers agencies in Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, Wingham and surrounding areas. Here, they look over some literature on the task ahead of them. A public meeting on the subject is planned for this Monday in Goderich. (Photo by Joanne Walters) only two matches bet - .ween big and little brothers are needed in each community in order to set up the progr although she hopes for more. Once the program is started;, it's up to the community whether" it wishe to continue or not. Exeter has six matches and has been running an agency for a year now, says Marianne. Tracy and Marianne are sponsored by the South Huron Big Brothers Agency in Exeter and they are required to spend two weeks time there watching how it runs and figuring out ways to further improve it. In each of the four communities, the girls must find ten people who are willing to sit on the Board of Directors filling such roles as president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, chairman of publicity, chairman of recruiting, chairman of fund raising, chairman of screening and chairman of matching. The board members decide themselves how often they should meet, how they should run the agency, ways to recruit• - more big brothers, etc. "It'snot really a group organization," explains Marianne. "The board doesn't have to meet all that often." "It's basically a one to one thing -- the big brother and the little brother. Once the big brother is matched up to the little brother, he is required to spend up to three or four hours a week with that little brother for a year's commitment. He is not supposed to spend time at the little brothers' home but he doesn't necessarily have to take him on outings either, says Marianne. He is just someone, a male, for the little boy to talk to or share mutual hobbies and interests with. A sporting event or library visit, a fishingtrip or work project, may occupy the time they share. "There's always a waiting list of little brothers and not enough big brothers," says Marianne. ,`•`It's the same everywhere. The biggest problem is to find people to volunteer to be big brothers." Those who do volunteer to be big brothers, have to be carefully, screened, she says. "Not just anyone can be accepted as a big brother." Each, volunteer is OPENING SOON R.J. NEPHEW PHOTOGRAPHY s WATCH FOR IT! screened twice by a screening chairman but Marianne says this should not discourage volunteers.. "They don't do a lot of prying. All the questions asked are very basic like, 'Why do you want to be a big brother?' and everything is kept con- fidential. The volunteer must give references too. It's not that hard on a person when he is screened." Marianne and Tracy are working out of the Huron Centre for Children and Youth in Clinton. Since they started their project on June 6, they have con- tacted lawyers, doctors, dentists, teachers, public health nurses, social services and schools to try and find out ap- proximately how many fatherless boys there are in each community and to spread the . word about their project. "We have to re'y on word of mouth mostly because we don't have an advertising budget," explains Marianne. "Most people we've talked to think Big Brothers is a good idea," says Tracy. "A lot of mothers want their sons to feel proud about being male." "It's surprising," says Marianne. "Both Kin- cardine and Exeter have Big Brothers agencies - which operate very'well• Goderich used to have one bit it fell through for some reason or other." Tracy says.. she and Marianne have all the old files from the Big Brothers agency which used to exist in Goderich and these have been very helpful in their research. PUBLIC MEETING PLANNED "The girls have planned 'their first public meeting on Big Brothers for Monday, June 26 at 8 p.m. in North Street United' Church in Goderich. Anyone interested in being a board member for the Goderich agency or a volunteer big brother is invited to attend. Mothers of fatherless boys are also welcome as are people who are just pl�in interested. " No one attending the meeting will be under any obligation," says Marianne. The girls have Lbeen advertising in church bulletins and school news letters about their project and they are planning to hold a public meeting in each of the four towns they represent. Since starting their project, the girls have discovered that there is a real need for Big Brothers in the area. There is not as great a need for Big Sisters as there are not as many single fathers as single mothers. By the end of their 12 - week project, the girls hope to have a Big Brothers Agency suc- cessfully operating without their help in each one of the four com- munities they are in- volved in. Marianne will then return to her music NOW AVAILABLE AT ANDERSON'S BOOK CENTRE East St., Goderich t 1 ;unit, Nt.tui • } THE KELLYS (A.Family History) with some of tho History of „ St. Joesph's Parish, Kingsbridge R.K. PECK APPLIANCES "In The Heart of Down Town Varna" • Vacuum Cleaners - Sales and Service of most makes • CB Radios and Accessories • Speed Queen Appliances • Moffat Appliances • Snioke Sensors • Insect Lights and Fly Killing inits • Handcrafted Gifts Varna, Ont. Phone 482-7103 to Millions of tourists spend billions of dollars a year in Ontario. d4 That means jobs! Would you believe it? Tourism creates over 400,000 jobs in our province. It brings in more than 4 billion dollars a year. In the end it helps pay for government services that the people of Ontario need. That's -why Ontario is launching a special promotional program to tell peOple in. other parts of Canada and in the U.S. that they are especially welcome as We treat you visitors to Ontario. royally We're saying "we treat you royally" Last year, over 100 million visitors enjoyed Ontario's hospitality. This year 00 we're expecting; even more. Here's Where you come in. You can slake every one of these visitors glad they're here, and give them a good impression to take home. That way, they'll want to come back, and will tell their friends to come here, too. That's good business. Let's all treat visitors royally. We'll not only he helping to create jobs ... we'll he making new friends. Your Ontario Government actively helps develop tourist facilities, staffs travel information offices, and promotes Ontario as a most attractive •vacationland and convention centre. Travel Ontario yourself this summer. For your free "Get to Know Ontario" kit, which includes our Traveller's Encyclopedia of Ontario and our "Summer Events" brochure, call collect or write to: Ontario Travel Department 3 Ministry of Industry & Tourism Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario Tel: (416) 965-4008 John R. Rhodes, Minister of Industry & Tourism William Davis, Premier Province of Ontario program at the University of Western Ontario and Tracy will return to her nursing program there also. As girls, they may not be able to volunteer as big brothers, but they are certainly enthusiastic -about trying to,get the program off the ground. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need to expand such services and establish new agencies in many communities. In this manner boys are given opportunities to become - happier, better adjusted people while men participating usually experience one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. For further in- formation about the program, contact Marianne or Tracy at 482- 3931. And don't forget to participate in the public meeting. 1St mortgages from as low as 9j%m 2nd mortgages at competitive rates. VG VICTORIA and GR,! TRUST Mgr. A.A. WEATHERBY GODERICH 524:7381 Notice Of Application by The Corporation Of The Town Of Goderich TO DISPENSE WITH A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS TAKE NOTICE THAT: 1. The Council of The Corporation of the Town of Goderich intends to apply to the Ontario Municipal Board for approval of the Neighbourhood Im- provement Program as described in Schedule "A" hereto at an estimated cost of 51,523,500.00 payable out of current revenue from the general rate in an amount of $463,425.00 over the years 1978, 1979, and 1980: The following amounts will be recovered front sub- sidies: Central Mortgage and Housing Cor- poration 5...357,500.00 Province of Ontario 367,500.00 Public Utilities Commission 43,150.00 Ministry of Transportation and Communications ...291,925.00 TOTAL AMOUNT 51,060,075.00 2. Application will be made to the Ontario Municipal Board for an order to dispense with the assent of the electors to the undertaking of the said works. Any ratepayer may, within twenty-one days after the first publication of this notice, serve personally or by registered mail on the Clerk of the Town of Goderich, at the address given below, a notice in writing stating hiS objection and that if a public hearing" is held, he or his agent will attend such hearing to support .such 'objection. ' 3. The Ontario Municipal Board may order pursuant to the statute that the assent of the electors shall not be required" and may approve of the said works, but before doing so it may appoint a time and place for a public hearing when any objections will be considered, but notice of such hearing will be given only to those persons Who have given notice of objection as provided for above. DATED at the Town of Goderich, this"`9th day of June, 1978. Larry J. McCabe, Clerk -Treasurer Corporation of the Town of Goderich 57 West Street, Goderich , Ontario (Name of Clerk with address where notices may be sent) SCHEDULE "A" East Side Neighbourhood Recreational Program 1. Water tower Parkefte - Fencing and Play equip- ment 2. Maitland River Toboggan & Ski Run - Drawings and levelling - Grading, landscaping, picnic areas, walk- ways and access 3. Judith Gooderham' Feasibility Study and Layout - Pool Enclosure East Side Neighbourhood Redevelopment flab - Servicing Program 4. Storm sewer( East side only) on Victoria Street from .' Brock Street to East Street 5. Storm sewers, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat asphalt on Nelson Street from Vic- toria to Albert Street 6. Storm sewers, drainage, granular base, curb: and gutter, base coat asphalt on Cambria Road from Nelson Street to Anglesea Street. 9. Storm sewer on Victoria Street from Nelson Street to Wolfe Street 10. Top lift of asphalt on Nelson Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street 11. Top lift of asphalt on Cambria Road from Elgin Street to Nelson Street. • 12. Top lift of asphalt on Cambria Road to Nelson Street to Anglesea Street 13. Storm sewer, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat paving on Anglesea Street from Victoria Street to Cambria Road 14. Storm sewers, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat paving on East Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street. 15. Storm sewers, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat paving on Newgate Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street 16. Watermain, storm sewer, dinage, granular base, curb and'gutter, base coat asphalt on Wolfe Street from Victoria Street to Cambria Road 17. Storm sewer, drainage, base, curb and gutter, base coat asphalt, watermain on Bruce Street from Cam- bria Road to Albert Street 18. Top lift asphalt on East Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street 19. Top lift asphalt on Newgate Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street. 20. Top.lift asphalt on Anglesea Street from Victoria Street to Cambria Road 21. Top lift asphalt on Wolfe Street from Victoria Street to Cambria Road 22. Watermain, storm sewer,ss," drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat.asphalt on Park Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street 23. Storm sewers, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base cost asphalt on $t. David Street from Victoria Street to Albert Street 24. Storm sewer on Victoria Street from Elgin Street to St. David Street 25. Drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat asphalt on Trafalgar Street from Cambria Road to Albert Street 26. Storm sewer, drainage, granular base, curb and gutter, base coat asphalt on Picton Street from Huron Road to Park Street