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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1987-07-15, Page 3Genesco employees participate in Genesee employees arebeing helped to Help themselves find job in a series of workshops designed to boost confidence and educate the workers on .the makings of a resume. The workshops are being held at the Seaforth Legion and led by Greg Bullock, Canadian Director of the, transition ' team. • Mr. Bullock was assigned by Genesco and the Plant Closure Review and Adjustment Branch of the Ministry of Labor, sponsors of the program, and according to some employees has done a. very good job of help- ing the workers, Mr. Bullock has his M, A, in counselling with the University of Western Ontario and is, regarded an authority on plant closings throughout . Canada. A leading instructor and counsellor in the Plant Closing Seminar Series, which Genesco employee§ • are in- volved in, n-volved.in, Mr, Bullock is noted for redesign- ing and -upgrading the Provincial Govern- ment's Employee. Adjustment course. The first workshop trained workers to sell themselves to perspective employers,' be confident, and to set 'downlife goals for themselves and their families. ' The workshop: began with each person telling the others a story about their special accomplishments. Mr, Bullock 'was able to determine what kind of person he or she was from their story. Words that describe the person were writ- ten down and were eventually written on the workers' resume. The employees also played a games to find outwhat kind of per- son they were and what kind of ' jobs they were interested in. The first game, called the, Party Game, had six choices with each choice describing a particular type of person, Types were numbered and included realistic, social, in- vestigative, enterprising, conventional and artistic; A similar tester was also placed before the workers and they chose the Walton theme that best related to themselves. If the letters of these two games matched, the per- sonality and job described, was what that person is and. wants -to work at, A third tester was also given, and if the score added up, so they got the same letters as in the previous two games, then the job described was definitely the job they wanted. . Mr.Bullock said the Genesco workers are a "proud workforce" and added they have a positive attitude, are well-equiped to sell themselves and are supported with a strong community bond. He said -the Ministry of Labor'fully sup- ports these programs and added the believe there is a real need for them, Olga Smith, a 12 -year employee, has coma pleted the first workshop and said it was, "fabulous". She added Mr, Bullock was a very good teacher. Mrs. Smith said' the workshop made her feel better about herself, gave her more con- fidence, and gave her -more of a sense she, was heading in the right direction with he,r .life, She was especially happy when she was able to convince some workers, who were ' negative about the program, to join, She got tremendous satisfaction when they came back to thank her: Mrs, Smith added one person has already taken steps toward getting her Grade 12 diploma. She noticed the program also helped her - family when her husband. changed his mind about the program being '''useless", She saw the turn -around in him when they' had visitors and he suggested they try the. Party Game. Mrs. Smith praised. the program saying everyone should take the course because they are "bound to learn something", She plans to apply for a creative job where she could give ideas' to customers about - decorating their home with furniture of uni- quewallpaper or a home care services job. THE ,HURON EXPOSITOR, JULY 15, 1987 -- A3' skids workshop operator. The committee also, encouraged Marg Smale, secretary, to call the job hotline every day fpr a list of possible, jobs, ,The list is posted on a bulletin board. There is also a list of jobs posted at the post office, Mrs, Smith said. The closure has both helped and hurt employees. It has helped those who•weren't happy with their job, but needed it because they needed the money, to find a better more interesting job. It has hurt those who have both husband and wife working in the plant and who now must find two jobs and'• those whose whole life was dedicated to the tont Mrs, Smith said the symptoms of the closure are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then'finally acceptance and added she believes every employee has gone through those stages. Mrs, Smith said the goal of the committee and of the workshop is to help the employees how to find'a job, "We can show them how to find a job, but 'We can't get them the job," she said. The workshop is very helpful with 55 per cent of the employees participating. The re- maining employees are retiring, going back to school or are reluctant to take the course, saying it's a waste of time. • The transition team began in 1979 in Michigan and'now has branches in Canada. Counsellors and ex -counsellors visit cities and towns with closing plants to help the employees learn how to find themselves a new job. Mr, Bullock said the team has helped over 100 closing plants in Canada. The team's staff have all•experienced the challenges and satisfaction associated' with -changing careers. The Plant Closing Seminar Series of workshops started June 30 and will end,. August •13.. Eleven people will be par- ticipating in each of three or four workshops. HELPING THEMSELVES -A series of workshops designedeto'boost confidence and • help Genesco employees find Jobs is being held at the Seaforth. Legion. The workshops •started June 30 and will run until August 13. Wanda Moran, left, Gwen Dalton and Betty Watson fill out one of the games to determine what kind of person they are and what they want to do. Blake photo, - , Altheugh'she wasn't deeply affected- by committee which helped the company set up the closure of the plant because her husband the workshop for their employees. works and her children are grown-up, Mrs, Genesco and. the Ministry of Labor corn - 'Smith admitted she doesn't know how she missioned the transition team to conduct • will feel in September when the plant is dos-, workshops and asked Susan Worsel of , the ed for good. Canadian Employment Centre in Goderich, "It's kind of like someone dying of cancer, to talk to almost 20 employees on July 7, 8 you're never really ,ready," said Mrs, and 9 about going back to school. Ms. Worsel Smith. - • mentioned job skills ,shortages that are A floor person in the cutting room, Mrs. available through courses, like millright, Smith, is also on the Genesco Adjustment welder,- truch mechanic and computer area family enjoys sport of hunting racoons and foxes Hunting racoons and foxes is a family sport when it comes to a Walton family and their five hound dogs. , Doug Elliott, his wife Joy and their three children Shawn, Kimberly and Pamela are all involved in breeding, hunting and show- ing the dogs. Seaforth P • Mr. Elliott grew up in a family of dog lovers and at age 12 or; 13 'bought his first dog, a Walker and black and tan crossbreed, He has been raising dogs since he was 15 -years -old and said he enjoys it very much. • "It's a good sport to get into," said Mr, Elliott. the nature of the dog. He lets the pups play Now, Mr. Elliott has five clogs, two Walker with a rag that smells like a racoon, because hounds and three Blue Tick hounds ranging a live racoon will scare the pup into not hun- in age between seven years and three ting, he said. . months. An older, experienced dog will accomp- Mr. Elliott begins in the summer training nay the pup on a hunt to show the pup how to pups between the ages of seven or eight find and tree a racoon or fox.. Mr: Elliott months and two years to hunt, depending on said sometimes the first hunt doesn't always `• produce-a—good hunting dog. It often -takes UC signs agreement with B r u s e l s PUC many hunts before the dog is comfortable with the racoon, he said. The best dog for hunting racoon, said Mr. Elliott is the Blue Tick hound because it is calm, good-natured and easy to handle. For hunting fox, the. Walkerhound is used because its high-strung manner is excellent for chasing fast foxes. He added pure-bred dogs are best' for hunting. A winnerof approximately 25 trophies The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission (FCC) has recently signed an agreemtn with the Brussels PUC to provide man- power., equipment and material whenever requested. According to Seaforth PUC Manager Tom Phillips the agreement can be terminated 11. with 30 days notice. It was drawn up because of Brussels lack of trucks and qualified employees to handle jobs like put- ting in poles and working with high voltages. Seaforth has some experience in these situations because of their contracts with St. Columban, Dublin and Staffa, Mr. Philips said the Seaforth PUC will 'probably be doing jobs for Brussels 'for , about three weeks out of a year. So far they have trimmed trees and installed poles, wire and a transformer for the village. 'rurn.to page 9A • Summer student finds research A real sense of pride in her hometown is making Jane Morton's summer job„ a pleasure rather than a chore. Jane was hired through the government's Experience '87 program to research the architectural history of Seaforth's Main Street buildings. She is doing that by studying old newspapers, assessment roles, tax records, building recordings and most importantly old photographs. She hopes to have the en- tire history of each of the town's Main Street buildings compiled by the end of the sum- mer, complete with details about the changes in the store fronts and signage over the years. A daughter of Don and Sheila Morton, 23 -year-old Jane graduated in June with an honors degree in Canadian history and politics from the University of Guelph. She plans to attend teacher's college in North Bay this fall. As part of her studies Jane completed a thesis on the history and evolution of Seaforth..Not only will will this summer job give her the opportunity to further her research of the town's history and improve her skills as a historian, but the research will be used by Seaforth's Local ArchItec- tural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) to help restore store fronts and municipal buildings that have fallen Into disrepair. "It's really interesting to research and find out more about Seaforth, how ft evolv- , RESEARCH INTERESTING - Seaforth native Jane Morton is 'finding het summer Job intriguing. Jane has been hired to do extensive research of Seaforth'$ main street which the Local Architect'ural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) can use for future renovations of Main Street stores and?or buildings. Part of Seaforth's original streetscape can be seen behind Jane. Mcilwraith photo. job intriguing ed," she said. .. -• "For instance, 4 foiled it interesting that when the mainstrdet was rebuilt there .was no planningcommittee whatsoever. The on- ly direction came in an editorial in The Ex- positor which said the buildings should be In harmony with one another, As you can see the the mein street is very harmonious." Another point of interest to Jane was the fact that Seaforth should never have , become a town in the first place, "Harpurhey and Egmondvllle were towns, and Seaforth was a swamp. But there were enough agressive businessmen who had confidence, got the railway rights, then built the town. Even after Main Street burnt, the fact that it was rebuilt within 20 years speaks of the confidence of the businessmen, because it would have cost a lot because there was little insurance then," she said. ,. But despite the fact Seaforth has been thrown many curves since its formation it has never ceased to exist. ven e econo c s agna on which should have destroyed the town, helped it instead. "Although the shops have changed somewhat over the years, the buildings themselves haven't. The buildings were never torn down because nobody could af- ford to tear them down and build whole new ones. As a result, Seaforth still has its • original Main Street, while other towns don't." It is that Main Street that the town is try- ing to refurbish and revitalize through the Main Street Canada program. Jane ie enthusiastic about the town's par- ticipation in that program. "If the Main Street is restored proPerly it should induce economic rejuvenation because it indicates a sense of confidence," she said, adding she'd like to see the main street building owners work with the raw materials that are already present, rather than introducing shopping malt type. material. "I think the Main Street today lacks color and harmony. I don't want conformity or ar- tificial prettiness, just that everything be kept in harmony with the buildings. Before ft was all different, yet it all tied backin together. We have to work on the positive aspeets. Seaforth has a lot to offer," she said. Jane commented that through the ages Seaforth businessmen have shown a lot of confidence in the town - and Wanting to make it work. She cited the more recent ex - Whole ple of the time and money Ken Cardno invested in restoration of Cardiio's Hall. "I'd like to see more of that kind of eon- fidence in the town," she said. In the meantime she can only contribute to the town through research and her enthusiasm, It's a challenge and I'm still pretty over- whelmed with all I'm finding: out. A lot of people don't see the connection between the type of building and what it says about society," she said, adding the Post Office, for instance, was built as a large and iiispos- ing building because the government of the day wanted to prove its stability, "The way buildings are built are not isolated things that happened. There Was a reason for it. It reflected the taste of the titlses." "And when f find something that makes a lot of• sense then I get really exdited with it. This job isfun that was," over the past eight years, Mr. Elliott has. competed in breeding and hunting competi- tions. He has won the Ontario Racoon Hunters Breeders Association trophy, the Southern Ontario Coon Hunters Association, trophy and the Regular Nite Hunt trophy all in 1982, to name a few. Mr. Elliott said about once or twice a year a dog will tear the racoon apart when he gets excited but cautioned giving the dog punishment will spoil him and he won't hunt the next time. Mr. Elliott said, "If they tear one or two racoons a year, it's better for them if they do:" He stretches and tans his own racoon pelts to sell. Racoon season begins October 15 and goes until December 3, said Mr. Elliott and added a licence for hunting racoon and for keeping and training dogs is needed from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the On- tarlo Breeders Association(OBA). He has been a member of the OBA for 10 years. Mr. Elliott feeds his, dogs dog food and feeds milk replacer to the puppies and sick dogs to build up their appetite. TREED RACOON -Doug Elliott and his family love hunting with dogs and have turned if into a family sport. Amy, a seven- year-old Blue Tick hound, trees a' captured racoon.. Blake photo. HUNTING TROPHIES -Hunting racoons has turned into a family sport in Doug Elliott's family with his wife and three children participating. Mr. Elliott has competed in many hunting and breeding competitions and is shown with some of his trophies and his dog, Amy. Biake photo" COMMUNITY CALENDAR If you're organizing a non=profit event of interest to other Seaforth' area residents, phone the recreation office at 527.0882 or the Expositor at 527.0244 or mail the information to Communi- ty Caldhderr, The Huron Expositor, Box 89. Sealonh, Ontario, N0K two well in advance of the scheduled date. Space for the Community Calendar is donated by The Huron Expositor. Wed., July 15 1:30 p.m. Senior .Shu July 1:30 • 4 p.m. Public Swimming 6:30 - 8 p.m. Mom's & Tots Roller Skating 7 p,rn. Creamery vs. Mainstreet 8:30 p.m. Topnotch v's, Turf Club (Lions Park) 8 p.m. Ladles Ball Hockey 8 - 9 p.m. Fitness Is Fut 6 - 8:30 p.m. Public Swirttming Thurs., July- 16 7:30 p.m. Cents vs. Brewers 8:30 p.m. Topnotch ve. Boil'ersmith 9:30 p.m.,Beachwood vs. Komakozy 7 p.m. Wroxeteer at Walton Pee Wee Boys 9 p.m. Stratford Henry's at Walton Fri., July 17 7 - 10:30 p.m. Roller Skating Sat.„ Jul�/ St. Thoma18 r _, 7s Ang i i can Church new and 10 a.m: Used Sale at Parish Nall Ladiet.Provinclal Playdown, Seafeeth P0:00.04.q.9.0. Sun., July 19 7 p.m. Bears vs. Turf Club 8:30 p.m. Queens vs. Creamery (Lions Park) 7 p.m. Atwood at Walton Mite Girls 7 p,m. Watton at Stonetown Chargers Mon., July 20 7 p.m. Mainstreet vs. Bears 8:30 p.m. Creamery vs. Topnotch (Optimist Park) 7 p.m. Winthrop at Walton Squirt Girls Tues., July 21 7. 8:30 p.m. Ladies Softball at Lions Park 6130 p.m. Walton at Winthrop Squirt Soya 7 p.m. Clinton at Walton Mite Boys Wed., July 22 7 p.m. Turf Club vs, ainstreet 8:30 p.m. Topnotch vs. Queens (Lions Park) • Ladies invitatlonal` Gott Tourney, Seaforth Gott and Country Club 7 p.m. Atwood at Walton Mite Girls 9 p.m. Bl'uevale at, Walton Bantam Girls 1