Huron Expositor, 2016-10-05, Page 7Huron East held BBQ in support of United Way
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
The municipality of Huron
East hosted their fourth
annual BBQ to help raise
money and awareness for
the United Way.
Some members of council
tended the grill stacked with
hamburgers and hot dogs at
the front of the Huron East
town hall on September 23.
The speaker of the event,
Shelley Groenestege, a vol-
unteer at the United Way for
the last 17 years considers
what the municipality has
done for her organization to
be an influential act of
kindness.
"It's important to have the
leaders in the community
understand what our needs
are, they help mobilize eve-
ryone around us," stated
Groenestege just before her
speech.
The money donated will
go to a variety of programs
targeting children and pov-
erty, which will aid in build-
ing stronger communities,
said Groenestege.
"One it helps raise dollars
and we need to raise the
dollars to support these
smaller agencies," she
added, "Two it builds aware-
ness on what we are doing."
"I've been doing this for a
long time, it's exciting
because I've seen the
changes and the difference it
can make?'
The BBQ raised close to
$900, the entire amount is
slated for the United Way.
Syrian refugees arrive in Egmondville
The Al Massad family of Syria were greeted by members of the Tuckersmith Refugee Project at Toronto International Airport
early September 19. Pictured here are volunteers with the family. From left to right is Joe Laurie, Jack McLachlan, Sharif Al
Massad, Abir Elias, Wedad Alhadad, Willi Laurie, and front are Joseph and George Al Massad. The Tuckersmith Refugee Project
is supported by Brucefield Community United, Egmondville United, Clinton United and Vanastra Community Christian Reformed
churches.
Contributed photos
Abir and Sharif in their new home. Abir's mother, Wedad, in
the background.
The family at their new home in Egmondville. Left to right is
Sharif, Abir, Wedad, George and Joseph. The family was very
pleased with their new home.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 • Huron Expositor 7
Women in Business of Huron East
Imagine the sound of an old treadle sewing machine, clicking out a
comforting rhythm as your mother works on a dress for you. That's
the earliest memory Liz Moir of the Seaforth Sewing Centre has
of anyone sewing. Her mother sewed a lot of dresses for her five
daughters, and Liz loved to watch and learn. She remembers the
excitement in the home when they brought home the first electric
sewing machine. Now they could add embroidery and fancy stitching
to their clothes!
It was in Home Ec class in high school where Liz sewed her first
garment. From then on, Liz enjoyed sewing, and she got so good at it
that she was hired by Image Cleaners which took over from Flannery
Cleaners to do repairs and alterations. They occupied the building
where the Huron Expositor is located today, and not only did dry
cleaning, but they had a picture -framing side to the business as well.
The Seaforth Sewing Centre came up for sale in 1988, and Liz
jumped at the chance to own a small business in this community.
When asked why she decided to buy the business, Liz declared, "I
knew that I loved it! Sewing, repairs, alterations, fabric, notions — all
of it! It wasn't something I planned on, but I knew it was a great fit."
When Liz bought the Seaforth Sewing Centre from Helen Garrick,
it was a fabric store with all sorts of fabric and patterns for the
seamstress to use. After a few years, Liz decided to discontinue the
fabric and patterns, and concentrate on repairs and alterations. She
does stock a few pillows, mattress pads and duvets, and she has
plenty of thread and notions available.
Liz is not only self-employed, but she's the sole employee of her
business. When pressed to admit the drawbacks, she said she has
a hard time saying no, and sometimes that gets her into a stressful
situation. Spring and summer are her busiest times, with prom,
graduation and lots of weddings, and that's when she simply has to
decline some work, or at least defer it a month or two.
She doesn't always say no, though. I remember very clearly being
panic stricken when I was rushed to the hospital in London by
ambulance the night before my daughter's wedding. I was panic
stricken because the vest I was sewing for my husband to wear while
walking his daughter down the aisle was not quite finished — it was
missing the buttons, and the buttonholes!
I phoned home the next morning and told my husband to take the
vest and the buttons to Liz. When he sheepishly walked into the store
a couple of hours before the wedding, Liz dropped everything and
finished the vest. That's customer service for you!
Liz worked many years without a holiday, because that's what you
do when you love your customers. She worried that if she took time
off, someone would not get their dry cleaning for an important event.
She always tries to call her customers if she's going away, so they
can get in and pick up their items. Liz loves working in Seaforth,
and works closely with other businesses in town, doing repairs or
alterations for Anna's Dress Shop, Diva, and Pete's Paper Clip.
Liz commented that she's never going to be rich, and she may not
ever retire, but after 28 years, she said, "I still love it!"
What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Are there obstacles
to overcome, especially if you're a woman going into business
for yourself? Janet Billson is writing a series of articles about
business women of Huron East, focusing on sole proprietors and
entrepreneurs. Janet is the owner of a small business, Add Some
Flair, and is passionate about using non-toxic, Canadian -made
paint to transform ordinary objects in the home into extraordinary
treasures that you love.
An entrepreneur is a person who starts and runs a business or
organization. An entrepreneur is also called a founder. He or she
develops a business plan, obtains financing and hires employees
necessary to run the business. The entrepreneur starts with a good
idea for a new business.i'i While the business grows, the entrepreneur
is the central person in the business.i2i
-https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneur
Here is a video of a person operating and explaining a treadle sewing
machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8lUBJry6Ro