Clinton News-Record, 1985-07-10, Page 66Ip'
BY DAVE SYKES •
Gerry. Ginn has trbuhle refusing ,a
challenge•
And more often than not, when there's a
challenge to be met the fernier Goderich
Township reeve and Huron County warden
is asked to help.
That's probably more of a tribute to lits
leadership and organizational capabilities
than anything else. Gerry Ginn can get the
job done.
And when Goderich Township began to
formulate plans to .celebrate its 150th an-
niversary during 1985, it was Ginn who was
asked to act as chairman.
"Council called a meeting to see if there
was any interest in the 150th celebration and
appointed a committee.from the old school
sections," he recalled. "That established a
committee of about 16 people but they had
no chairman. They asked me to take the
job."
He took time to think about the propostion
but realized that he would first and
foremost require a group of people who
were willing to work and secondly, the com-
mittee would have to more managable. A
sixteen -member committee was simply un-
managable.
"I phoned 30 people and they said they
would help me so I took on the job," he ex-
plained. "But I then changed the format and
formed a core committee of six people."
That core became the Goderich Township
1-5-0 Executive Committee and consists of
chairman Ginn, secretary Pat Rivett,
treasurer Bev Orr and members Grant
Stirling, township reeve, Garnet Wright of
the township recreation conimittee and
Abson Lobb wino•spearheaddd the produ
do a of the, fustvolume Lot the t4'nbip
history busk_
The planning of the Sesquicentennial goes
back a few years and once the township
council ilad first determined there was a ge-
nuine interest in celebrating the 150th an-
niversary, they proceeded to formulate
plans. As Ginn explains,. the comnoittee'ain-
itial concern and focuS of attention was to
produce a history book on the township.
"We started out thinking weld produce a
$10, book with 200 pages and we ended up
with a $20 hard cover book," .he said. -"It
took more time than we anticipated but it
has been well received by everyone. Alison
(Lobb) and the authors deserve a lot of
credit for that book."
Planning a major celebration years in ad-
vance is a difficult task. And, of course, the
plans have a habit of changing several times
before the final arrangements are made.
It was no different with the 1-5-0 commit-
tee and its task.
"We started planning for a weekend,"
Gerry explained. "Then we ended up with a
year-long celebration. The trouble through
all the planning has been maintaining in-
terest in the celebrations. But now en-
thusiasm is starting to peak again. The big-
gest problem has probably been trying to ar-
range events that will satisfy all the dif-
ferent interests in the township."
"There has been thousands of ideas ex-
pressed over the years but not thousands of
people to help with them. We've had a good
response, though, and anyone who has been
asked to help, has."
Planning a major year-long celebration is
a tall task and one that has required the
talents, work and dedicated effort of a host
of the township's 2,300 residents—But, as
Ginn suggests, his township is laden with
talent, the task is simply to find..it and use it
properly:
"One of my biggest assets is that.I know
people and their interests. The problem was
to find the talent and harness it into a
workable team," he said. "Everybody has
something that they do well."
• The population of a township is more
stable than an urban area and there is less
turnover. That stability can translate into
more enthusiasm for a project of this
magnitude.
While Ginn has been spending the bulk of
bis time between the family farm now
managed by or Jim and the Sesquicenten-
nial celebrations, his involvement in other
community affairs has suffered.
"Phoning people is the biggest problem.
'I'm really only available at meal time," he
said.
While he has attended regular executive
and committee meetings over the past two
years, the planning stages have progressed
more smoothly than he really anticipated.
And that is a credit to the talented people
who have helped him.
The Goderich Township Sesquicentennial
officially began January 1 and there have
been 'several events leading up to the 1-5-0
week.
"The events so far have gone above ex-
pectations and there have been few events
that we've been disappointed with," he ex-
plained. "For the Easter service we set up
500 chairs and they were filled a half hour
1�.
before't geeridee- We had to�go atld d %.
inarechidrs
It takes a. healthy budget to prodduee such
an ambitious. program 01 -events- and
one never really a ipects to tarn a buck on a
municipal celebration, Ginn is confident the
township will break even atworst.
"I. hope we ,can break even," he satd. "I'd
to -say wewill make a profi .b.ot our goal,
is to show residents and, former residents a
good time."
The response to the township's events PO
far this year has been remarkable and there
is every indication that many former
residents of the township will be returning in
July.for the 1-5-0 week. In fact,<campground
operators suggest they have had bookings
from former residents who plan to spend
their holidays in the area.
"We sent out brochures with Christmas
cards and it seems that we have reached the
people we wanted to," Ginn said: "I know
there are people coming from as far away
as Texas, British Columbia, California and
all over Ontario. We anticipate a lot of
visitors."
Ginn estimates that more than 250 will
have helped with the Sesquicentennial
celebrations in one way or another by the
time • its finished and he suggests that
estimate may lay be conservative.
And while the chairman is quick to point
out that the success of Goderich Township's
celebration. is due to the talented and en-
thusiastic assistance he has recieved;
Ginn's leadership will be much in evidence.
The Township of Goderich
welcomes everyone to
our Sesquicentennial!
Have a great time --we're
glad you're here!
Council of the Township of Goderich
REEVE: Grant Stirling
DEPUTY REEVE: Pat Osborn
COUNCILLORS: Case Brand, Laurie Cox, John Rodges
CLERK: Robin Thompson
TREASURER: Ben Whitely
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