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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-18, Page 24PAGE 2A-GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978 The first impressions..... • from page 1A like`a business, sponsored by the merchants in town. It is based on that pioneer tradition of carrying baskets of food to newcomers. The hostess does carry a basket (decorated with flowers) but instead of containing food, the basket contains literature on the town, letters of welcome and small gifts and coupons from local merchants. These merchants ate the hostesses' sponsors. They are billed by Welcome Wagon° and the hostess gets 45 percent of the billings plus five percent of any assistants' billings. In turn, she is advertising for the sponsor, on a one to one basis with newcomers, by bringing them gifts and coupons and talking about what the sponsor has to offer. Mrs. Stiles says she thinks this method of advertising is very effective and she knows Elva Bedard has been the Hi Neighbour hostess in Goderich for about two and a half years now. She welcomes newcomers to the town and presents them with this folder full of coupons from town merchants and also containing literature about the town. She answers numerous questions from newcomers and says she really enjoys meeting them all. (Photo by Joanne Walters) of one sponsor (merchant) who gets a 90 percent return from this type of promotion. PROMOTES TOWN Mrs. Stiles feels that Welcome Wagon is good also in that it promotes the town and provides good public relations. A lot of people, she feels, would be disappointed if the service did not exist. People appreciate visits from the Welcome'Wagon hostess, she says, and older people especially like to receive the reading material which she carries. The town is very co- operative, says Mrs. Stiles, as Welcome Wagon stresses civic activities. When she runs out of letters •or pam- phlets from town officials, she simply phones for more which she receives promptly. She also has information on the county and is glad to carry any information about clubs if the members get in touch with her. She often look through magazines to see if she can send for any free recipes or booklets on various subjects to include in her Welcome Wagon basket. NEW BABIES WELCOME Mrs. Stiles also welcomes new babies born in Goderich hospital or born in London hospital and coming home to Goderich. She makes a short visit to the hospital to give the mother a baby pack which includes pamphlets from the health unit and various baby gifts and coupons from merchants specializing in baby things. Many new mothers ask her for advice since she has three young children herself, she says. Welcome Wagon also has various other programs, many of which just operate in cities. For instance, there is a change of residence call in the city because sometimes if a person is moving from one end of the city to the other, it's just like moving to a new town. There's also a new executives' welcome in the city in which instance the hostess carries a brief case instead of a basket. There are also Welcome Wagon Clubs in the city which are set up so newcomers can get together once in awhile., to form new friendships and share common newcomer problems. In cities where universities and ,colleges are located, there are also campus Area artists featured at big Blyth show High quality antiques and crafts will be on display and for sale at the first Antique and Craft Show at the Blyth and District Community Centre on May 20. The event, sponsored by Blyth Centre for the Arts, will bring together 50 of the top exhibitors from across the province. Linda Lentz, exhibition co-ordinator, said the emphasis of the show has been getting top quality exhibitors and the work of all those involved has been carefully screened. The art work and crafts of several Goderich area people will be: among those on display at Blyth. Featured will be handweaving by Evelyn Hardy, toys by Edith A. Craven, oil paintings by Arie VanDer Ende and silk screening by Mabel E. Fells. Many of the craftspeople present will also be demonstrating their work for visitors at the show to see. There will also be very little overlapping. Terry Crowley GODERICH 544-9075 representing London Life One well-known exhibitor will be Blanche Pownall - Garrett, a successful Canadian author, whose books on using 'and preser- ving wild fruits and herbs. have become popular in Canadian kitchens. Other antique dealers and craftspersons will be present from as far away as Wellartd, Mississauga, London and Campbellville as well as many centres in Huron, Bruce and Perth Counties. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ad- mission charge of 50 cents for adults and free admission to children under 12 is designed to make it easy for the whole family to enjoy the outing. There will also be a refresh- ment and bake sale. All proceeds from the event go to help support the Blyth Summer Festival, a unique professional summer theatre presenting all Canadian _ plays. It's spring and once again our beautiful MONEY TREE has blossomed Come In and see it. Smell the fragrance of fresh money. Open a °50.00 chequing or °100.00 savings account before May 31. 1978 and you could win It! VG Member Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation VICTORIA and GREY . TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 Manager A.A. Weatherby 0ODE1ZICH 524.7381 welcomes. And there are such things as vacationers' welcomes which could be carried on in Goderich except that Mrs. Stiles says she and her assistant would probably then be run off their feet. GODERICH IS BUSY Being a hostess for Welcome Wagon is a full-time job for Mrs. Stiles. Goderich is a busy spot for newcomers and Mrs. o Stiles says her assistant strives for 10 newcomers to visit each month while she herself tries to keep all the new babies up to date along with some newcomers, Between the two of them, she says, they visit about 30 newcomers in a busy month. A good call takes from 45 minutes to an hour says Mrs. Stiles. In that time, she is able to give a precis of each business she represents as well as carrying on a pleasant conversation and answering 'questions. She makes her calls whenever it is most convenient for the newcomer, usually in afternoons or evenings. She is supposed to make the calls within 48 hours after a newcomer's arrival but this is often impossible she says and she'd rather make appointments. She finds out about newcomers through confidential sources, by keeping her eyes open on houses with For Sale signs or through the newcomers calling her themselves after seeing the Welcome Wagon number in the paper. All newcomers are called on, no matter what their religion, race, income status, etc. and the hostess carries something of interest for every member of the family. Mrs. Stiles says she generally meets with a good response. yV FRIENDLY AND OUTGOING To be a good hostess, one has to be friendly and outgoing. It's not everyone who can just walk into a house, introduce themselves and start a conversation.. But Mrs. Stiles says she enjoys meeting people. Most of them are very nice and she has met several her own age, with similar interests. Many of the people Mrs. Stiles visits are, in their 30s and 40s. If she can, she likes to talk to married newcomers as a couple but in the Turn to page 3A • FOR THE BEST IN * Parts * Service * Accessories * Rentals IT'S kkiLL y GULL SPORTS & RECREATION LIMITED I VARNA 262-5809 ----------------------------------------------------------------- What's your opinion of your hometown paper? Reviewing the content of The Goderich Signal -Star is an ongoing process, one which is necessary if you are to receive the best possible community newspaper in this area. It is absolutely essential that the Signal -Star staff knows your opinion. At the present time, an intensive readership survey is underway in the community conducted in a professional manner by telephone. You may already have been contac- ted, or you may be called soon. Whether you have been called or not, the staff of Signal -Star would be appreciative if you would complete this mini -survey and return it to: Shirley J. Keller, Editor, The Goderich Signal -Star, Box 220, Industrial Park, - Goderich, N7A 4B6. Thanks for your help. The News: 1. How would you rate coverage of local news events? very good goodfair poor 2. Would you like to see more coverage given to: Goderich Town Council, municipal news Colborne Township Goderich Township Ashfield Township West Wawanosh Township Auburn Dungannon Kingsbridge County government School board and education Police work Court news Politics Hospitals and Health Farm Business and Industry Conservation Yes The Sports: 1. How would you rate coverage of the district sports events? very good good fair poor 2. Keeping in mind that the Signal -Star is a community newspaper, what else would you like to read about in the sports section? • 3. Name your favorite"participation sport 4. Name your favorite spectator sport What is Missing? 1. Would you enjoy? Yes No a horoscope column a crossword puzzle a cooking column Bill Smiley's Sugar and Spice More on cultural activities (Music, Art, Theatre, Books etc.)? a do-it-yourself corner a garden column . 2. Would you like to see more features on? (check no more than three) sports people fashion farm foods artists theatre education Health_ kids municipal figures church community affairs 3. If you could add anthing to the Signal -Star, what would it be? 4. If you could take anything out of the Signal -Star, what would it be? In General: 1. How often do you read The Goderich Signal -Star? every week every other week once a month 2. What do you turn to first? 3. Can you always find it easily? Yes No Sometimes 4. Do you believe what you read in The Signal -Star? Yes No Sometimes The Editorial Page 1. Do you read? Regularly Sometimes Never Editorials Dear Readers Looking Back Dear Editor Provincial Points Canada in Seven Worldweek 2. Have you utilized the Letters to the Editor space to express your opinion on matters of concern to you in the last year? Yes No 3. Do you like the editorial page picture? Always Sometimes Never People in Particular: 1. Do you read? Regularly Sometimes Never Weddings Bridge scores Church news Club news Theatre news 2. What feature stories you have read recently in the Signal -Star did you enjoy most? 3. Does anyone in your family enjoy Captain Comet's page? Yes No How many What ages are they The Columns: 1. Do you read the columns written by the following? Regularly Sometimes Dave Sykes Jeff Seddon Joanne Walters Martha Rathburn 2. Do you read? Civic Corner Denim One Foot in the Furrow The Minister's Study Jack's Jottings Record Review Never„ Regularly Sometimes Never Business and Industry 1. How do you rate the coverage of Goderich and area businesses? very good good fair poor Why? 2. What business oriented columns would be of interest to you; THE FOLLOWING INFOitMATION IS REQUESTED ONLY FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES: N AlVIE ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER - AGE