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The Times-Advocate, 2002-10-30, Page 5Set the right example to our kids Dear Editor: I am writing as a Hensall Minor Hockey parent and past executive member in regards to the issue of whether Jeff Smale should be released or not to play hockey in Zurich. I attended the meeting when John Coleman did his election speech to become president. He went on and on that he was for the kids and would do his best for the kids of Hensall Minor Hockey. I have been at meetings since where again John and the executive have voiced how minor hockey is for the kids. What happened? I was at the Oct. 15 meeting as a parent and hockey mom of my son’s team. I could not believe this executive voted not to let a child play hockey when they knew there was never going to be a midget team in Hensall. I was at previous meet- ings where the midget team was discussed and it was obvious to all there was never going to be a team. I know the Smales did not fill out a registration form on time but are we punishing Jeff or his par- ents? Parents are busy, we make mistakes, we get misinformed as I believe the Smales were about whether there would be a team or not and if they needed to sign Jeff up. I know the Smales would not purposely not sign Jeff up if they knew they needed to. They would not deprive their son of playing hockey for a year and I don’t think the executive should either. I have a ten year old son who plays on the Hensall Pee Wee team and he has heard about this issue at school and the arena and he is asking me “Why can’t Jeff play hockey?” I ask the executive, what would you like me to tell him? Jeff’s parents made a mistake and Jeff is paying for it which teaches him never make mistakes as you will be punished for it or should I tell him that Hensall Minor Hockey really doesn’t have the kids’ best interests at heart as they say they do which teach- es him adults say things but don’t mean them or stand by them. Either way what are you teaching the children about the minor hockey system! In closing I would like to say I admire secretary Tracy Moir for standing up to the executive, admitting she made a mistake and doing every- thing she can to reverse it. Maybe the rest of the executive should take their cue from her. It’s not too late to fix their mistake. I implore the Hensall Minor Hockey executive to let Jeff Smale play hockey and set the right exam- ple for the rest of the kids in our system. Sincerely, MICHELLE MEIKLE Let’s age with respect and dignity Dear Editor: In response to the VON Volunteer Programs in Middlesex County, announcing the budget deficit of $94,000 and thus service reduction, we have received many calls and letters of support from the community. Individuals are writing letters and signing petitions in an effort to educate our political leaders of how important these grass root services are to their choice to remain living inde- pendently in their homes. I encourage your read- ers to continue to do so. There also have been questions as to how a Volunteer Program could possibly cost so much and some ( as in a letter written to the Strathroy Age last week) questioned the expectation of services for those choosing to live in rural communities as they age or require community services. Let me begin by addressing the cost to provide services to a rural community. VON Volunteer Programs in Middlesex County pay all volunteers for out of pocket expenses, based on the recom- mendations of Volunteer Canada. By doing so, we attach value to the contribution of a volunteer’s time. We also maximize resources, as many dedi- cated volunteers could not contribute without financial re-imbursement. The option (but not the expectation) to donate the money back has always been there. The primary volunteer cost in a rural community is transportation. In Middlesex County, VON reimburses volunteers based on .25 Wednesday, October 30, 2002 5Exeter Times–Advocate Editorial&Opinion 10 YEARS AGO October 28, 1992 - Russell and Verona Snider of Exeter recently received a certificate from the Huron Children’s Aid Society for providing 25 years of service to foster children. Winners of individual awards by members of the Exeter Centennial soccer club were Peter Hakvoort, Pat Donnelly and George McEwan. 25 YEARS AGO October 27, 1977 - Joan Ducharme of R.R. 2, Zurich has been appointed clerk-treasurer for the township of Hay. She succeeds Wayne Horner who has accepted a position as clerk- administrator in St. Paul, Alberta. OHA president Hugh McLean of London, a for- mer referee dropped the puck for the first hockey game at the new South Huron Rec Centre. Taking the face-off were Hawks coach Ron Bogart and Exeter’s Mr. Hockey Derry Boyle. Watching were captains Randy Kraul of Lucan and Steve Jennison of the Exeter Hawks. 40 YEARS AGO October 30, 1962 - Miss Alice Claypole, Mrs. M. Learn, Mrs. Don Graham, Mrs. J.G. Dunlop and Mrs. R.C. Dinney left Sunday to attend the Hospital convention in Toronto this week. Members of all of the Women’s Institutes in South Huron had a small glimpse of the past when they attended a special meeting hosted by the Hurondale WI at the Exeter Legion Hall Tuesday. One member of each of the visiting groups was dressed in clothes from “grandmoth- er’s time”. The stage was suitably set off with antique chairs, lamps, pictures and even a baby buggy. 45 YEARS AGO October 31, 1957 - Elizabeth and Mary Knox, twin daughters of Rev. and Mrs. N.D. Knox won first prize by submitting the best essay on “The Queen and I” in a competition sponsored by a Toronto daily newspaper. They won a desk set containing a scarlet and gold licence plate used on a car in the royal procession. Their essay was the best in Canada. With ice in at the Exeter arena, winter activi- ties are getting into full swing. Exeter Mohawks will be a homebrew club this year and many local players are aspiring for positions on the club. Exeter branch of the Canadian Legion will be holding its annual Poppy Day on Saturday assist- ed by the Legion Auxiliary with past president Mrs. Gerald Lawson and president Mrs. Eugene Beaver assisting. 55 YEARS AGO October 29, 1947 -Anna Brock won the speak- ing contest at the South Huron Junior Farmers meeting Wednesday evening. She spoke on “This Canada of Ours”. Mr. Harry Parsons, who has been an employee of the Times Advocate for several years leaves this week for Amherstburg. 60 YEARS AGO October 27, 1942 - Main winners in the recent South Huron track and field meet were Ron Heimrich, Frances Lostell, Bill O’Brien, Marjorie Hoffman, Ray Erb, Lenore Norminton and Ross Gascho. 80 YEARS AGO October 31, 1922 - A tap at the school used for filling the boiler was left running on Thursday evening last and before morning there was a couple of feet of water in the basement. Some of the water came up through the radiators and overflowed into the rooms. Brothers Clayton and Clarence Hoffman of Zurich who played hockey with the Exeter-Zurich team last season will play with Galt this coming winter. The Methodist people of Crediton served a fowl supper to about 1,000 persons in the church last Thursday evening. After the supper, many went to the town hall where Mr. Yager of Dashwood conducted a radio concert. The Hydro office has been moved to the build- ing they recently purchased from Mr. P. Frayne. Mr. W. Sims has rented the building vacated by the Hydro Commission and is moving the express office there. ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME The Turner Report THE SMELL OF RISK,OR THE WHIFF OF PROFIT? Does the stock market rally of late have any legs? Were those mutual fund investors rushing to cash in units worth more than $1 billion last month fools? Should reasonable investors be out shopping for reasonable stocks and mutual funds at reasonable prices? There is a huge debate on exactly this topic, and many frightened and disgusted investors continue to exit the markets and flow their money into assets that are safe, guaranteed and predictable -ˆ like GICs, Canada Savings Bonds and money market funds. And despite the fact many of these things pay you a negative return after inflation and taxes, they are attracting billions. I spoke with Jackie Orange the other day, the woman in charge of the savings bonds program (she expects to collect something more than $3 billion from bonds that pay 2%). She argues that people will give over their money not because of the interest the bonds pay (which is laughable), but simply because they are so afraid of losing their principal. Meanwhile, the stock market continues to swell in value, and many people argue that October the 10th was the low water mark - that moment in time when investors faced the least amount of risk and the greatest possible opportunity. However others, like Morningstar Canada analyst Rob Chang, still smell risk. He told me last week that the market is grow- ing on a false sense of security, and will likely suffer some ugly moments in the weeks to come - largely because of terrorist events like last week’s Moscow siege that show in this day and age, danger is every- where. So, does the opportunity now outweigh the risk? If you are not already wealthy, is this a moment in time to invest in growth assets that will give you a comfortable retirement? Or, should everyone play it safe until there is undeniable proof that we have turned a corner, the markets will resume their climb and the economy is rock solid? There is no simple answer, of course, and we should all invest according to our own tolerance for risk. However, the people that I most respect on Bay Street are suddenly, as of just a few days ago, saying almost precisely the same thing. Among those I lis- ten to are a deputy chief economist at one of the major banks, and a discretionary portfolio manager who caters only to high net worth clients who give him millions to look after. Here is what they are saying: The times have not been normal for years, now. In the late Nineties and into the new century there was far too much greed washing over the North American landscape. That was evidenced first in the wild speculation investors engaged in, pushing companies like Nortel to stock valuations 120 higher than book value, and paying the moon for dot-com companies with no earnings. Then the greed became evidenced in corporate mis- guidance, giving us WorldCom, Tycos, Enron and more. That excessive greed yielded inevitably to a period of excessive fear, which resulted in a collapse of financial markets, the technology bubble bursting, extreme volatility and an investor rush into cash and real estate. This was accelerated by the events of September the 11th, and the subsequent dangerous geopolitical environment. Then, my mentors say, the pendulum of fear swung simply too far. Confidence took a drubbing while the economic fundamentals were actually improving. Today we have positive economic growth in both Canada and the United States. Corporate profits are making a steady, plodding recovery. Interest rates are extremely low and very stimulative - in fact there is fiscal stimulus put into the US econ- omy a year ago by central banker Alan Greenspan that has yet to be felt. In short, they say the stock market recovery now occurring is very real, and is being built on a solid foundation. Volatility will remain, and there will be some bad days. The advice is that nobody should be “buying an index”, but those people who know how to find good companies at prices not seen now for a couple of decades will be handsomely rewarded. “Two years ago”, one of them said on Monday, “nothing made sense. Now I’m buying companies that last traded at these multiples in 1974.” GARTH TURNER THE TURNER REPORT