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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
AfterWords: Volume 3, Issue 1
Fall 2004
Table of ContentsPlease click on any of the items in the Table of Contents to go to that item. |
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Winston George Schell |
Smile! Your Credit Card is on
Candid Camera |
Winston George Schell
This issue of AfterWords is dedicated to the memory of Winston
George Schell who died suddenly just before the Labour Day Weekend. This
issue is his last gift to ARM. The contents of this issue are his work. He
will be missed. Susan Cassan will be attempting to follow in Win’s footsteps
as editor of this publication.
For many teachers, retired and otherwise, the end of the Labour Day Weekend
took on a different mood this year. On September 6, friends, family and
colleagues gathered to honour the life of Win Schell. Win will be greatly
missed. Because his funeral occurred on the first day of school, many people
were unable to attend. Win’s friends and family are planning to hold a
celebration of his life in the new year to allow everyone to come together
to remember. We are seeking remembrances of Win from all who knew him. He
belonged in so many different worlds. Win was a brilliant teacher, a
gardener, an able administrator, a musician, a cook, a song writer, a
championship golfer, an editor, a professional radio announcer, an author, a
record producer, a political activist, a loyal friend, a devoted husband, a
proud father and grandfather, a brother, a scholar, an important local
publisher, a cat lover, and most of all, a person given to spontaneous acts
of generosity and kindness.
Please share your favourite memories of Win. Long or short, we welcome them all. A selection will appear in later editions of this newsletter and/or at his memorial in the spring. Send them to: AfterWords Editor, Susan Cassan or (R.R. 1 Lucan, Ont. NOM 2J0). Stay tuned for information on when and where we will gather to remember and celebrate a wonderful friend.
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
Taking a few minutes (hours?) of your valuable time to contribute an item to AfterWords is very much appreciated.
In this FALL 2004 Issue, we wanted to recognize, and remind you all of, those who have contributed to AfterWords this past year or so. You would not have this newsletter in your hands without them. Bless ‘em all!
| Walter Rowse John Stewart Patricia Cole Don Santor, June Pinkney Hunter |
Katherine Donaldson, Eleanor Fidlin Dan Colfax Heather Walkom Brian Carrier |
Jim Mile Mike Moir Joe Wilson Debbie Schell |
Charlie Walters Don Wright Keith Kindree Freda Crunden |
Quite simply, AfterWords depends on your submissions. What’s on your mind? Where have you been? What books have you enjoyed reading lately? Gardening tips? Pet Peeves? Favorite Jokes? Personal Poems? Teaching Memoirs? Bouts with Bureaucracy?
We WELCOME ALL submissions. This is your newsletter. Please use it.
Something’s Fishy Down There
The respected journal Nature reported recently on an American study which looked at how fish are labelled in fish markets across the USA.
Surprise! People may not be getting the type of fish that they thought they were buying. Looking forward to an expensive, but delicious, Swordfish steak? You may just have bought Mako Shark, a much lower grade (and cheaper) fish at Swordfish prices.
And don’t you just love Red Snapper? The study found that 77% of fish
sold in many US markets as Red Snapper were some other type. Mystery fish.
According to another news report, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
just doesn’t have enough inspectors to check on labelling of fish in a major
way. So people south of the border are mainly on their own
Of course, it would help at the fish market if your son or daughter (or grandson or granddaughter) happens to be a Marine Biologist. But how many are that lucky?
As far as we know, there are no ongoing studies of accurate labelling at Canadian fish markets. Perhaps some of our Canadian fish-knowledgeable academics could pursue a similar (and ongoing) study here.
So far, there have been no reports of “Mad Fish” in our markets. However, there are probably more than a few “Mad Fish-buyers” south of the border.
When In Doubt, Buy a Goat
Jane Roy is indeed a local treasure. Formerly a student at Banting, Jane
Roy graduated in zoology. An active and vigorous worker at a local food
bank, Jane used her vacations to volunteer overseas. Outside of the eyes of
the media, Sudan suffered from hunger and, worse still,
government-sanctioned slavery. Despite all the efforts of Jane and her
husband Glen Pearson to get governments involved in stopping the slave
trade, they found it impossible to get decisive action. Jane explained her
difficult decision: “We have been criticized for getting involved with
ransoming slaves because there were concerns that we would be supporting a
swinging door, where one slave would be freed and another would take his or
her place.” Jane and Glen went ahead and gathered support and money for the
effort. Raids have decreased since Jane and Glen raised the money to bring
journalists and MP Joe Fontana to the Sudan. Jane and Glen have heard the
Sudanese ask for help in creating a better future. Schools are their
priority, buildings that will serve children, especially girls, and perhaps
one day, adults, and the child soldiers who need special classes and
counselling. Donations, large and small, are welcome at
CANADIAN AID FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA, 35
Bruce St., London, ON N6C 1G5. Contributions will go towards schools, and
rehabilitation programs for slaves/child soldiers. $30.00 will buy a goat,
for ABUK’S HERD (named for their adopted daughter), to be donated to
families in need.
By Sue Cassan in the Cassan O Gram
Up, Up, and Away!!
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. After descending a bit more, he shouted, “Excuse me! Can you give me some help? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but right now, I don’t know where I am.”
The woman below replied, “ You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 50 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees North latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees West longitude.”
“You must be an engineer,” said the balloonist.
“I am,” replied the woman. “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the ballonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is, I am still lost. Frankly, you have been of no help at all. Useless!”
The woman below responded, “You must be a senior bureaucrat or CEO.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist, “but how did you know that?”
“Well,” said the woman, “you don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You have risen to where you are because of a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it’s my fault. Happy Landing!”
A Failure to Communicate
A Judge was questioning a woman regarding her pending divorce. He asked her, “What are the grounds?”
She replied, “About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property, with a stream running by.”
“No,” he said. “I mean what is the foundation?”
“It is made of concrete blocks, brick and mortar,” she replied.
“I mean,” he continued, “what about your relations?”
“I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband’s parents.”
Becoming a bit agitated, the Judge asked, very slowly, “Do you have a grudge?”
“No,” she replied. “We have a carport and have found that we never really needed one.”
“Please let me try this again,” said the Judge. “Is there any infidelity in your marriage?”
“Oh yes. Both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don’t necessarily like the music they play. But the answer to your question is yes.”
“Madam,” growled the Judge. “does your husband ever beat you up?”
“Oh Yes,” she said. “About twice a week he gets up at least a half hour earlier than I do.”
In frustration, the Judge finally asked, “Madam, why do you want a divorce?”
“Oh, I don’t want a divorce,” she answered. “I’ve never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He says he can’t communicate with me.”
Smile! Your Credit Card is on Candid Camera
A friend of ours sent a recent email which relayed a hint from a friend of his who is with the RCMP. This relates to those new picture phones and your security.
It seems that with these new phones, strangers may shadow you at the checkout of a retail store, restaurant, or grocery store. Guess what? Their cell phone may just take a picture of your credit card as you pass it over to the clerk or use it at a machine.
Pretty sneaky. However, the secret picture might just give the sleazeball a picture of your credit card which contains your name, card number, expiration date, etc. This is often the first step to Identification Theft.
Of course, most of us guard against PIN number theft. Now we have to be alert while using any credit card. Anywhere.
Hasn’t technology made the world so much easier?
How To Give A Pill To A Cat
 | Step 1: Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if it were a baby. Position forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. |
| Step 2: Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. |
| Step 3: Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away. |
| Step 4: Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. |
| Step 5: Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden. |
| Step 6: Kneel on floor with cat firmly wedged between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously. |
| Step 7: Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy a new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figurines from hearth and set to one side for future glueing. |
| Step 8: Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with a pencil, and blow down the drinking straw. |
| Step 9: Check label to see if pills are harmful to humans. Drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. |
| Step 10: Retrieve cat from neighbour’s shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with an elastic band. |
| Step 11: Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw tee-shirt away and get a new one from the shirt drawer in the bedroom. |
| Step 12: Call Fire Department or Animal Control to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into his fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap. |
| Step 13: Tie cat’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table. Get heavy-duty pruning gloves from garden shed. Force cat’s mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet mignon. Hold head vertically and pour pint of water to wash everything down. |
| Step 14: Get spouse to drive you to Emergency Room of local hospital. Sit quietly and try not to whimper while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes remnants of pill from right eye. |
| Step 15: Arrange for Humane Society to collect cat. Call pet shop to
see if they have any hamsters.
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Get The Ball Rolling
Many ARM members already know through personal experience what it is like to have a constant ache in a major joint. Most of us have heard friends and relatives recount their experiences navigating a lengthy and somewhat complicated voyage through Ontario’s health care system in search of a solution to shoulder, hip or knee problems. As a passenger near the end of the voyage, please let me share a few bits of wisdom I have acquired from the process.
If pain-relief medications available without a prescription will not alleviate your joint pain over a significant period of time, it is time to see your doctor. He or she will help you determine if you would benefit from seeing a specialist. Apparently, some of us hesitate to make this first step because of negative perceptions concerning joint-replacement surgery, for fear that that is the procedure the specialist (frequently an orthopaedic surgeon) will recommend. For many of us, the real issue is the perceived lengthy waiting period before surgery, during which time the condition of the joint deteriorates and pain increases. There are some options for you, which you and your surgeon might explore.
Your first major decision is where to have the procedure done. That may seem a little absurd, given London’s excellent reputation for medical procedures of all sorts. However, the waiting lists for the initial consultation with orthopaedic surgeons in London are quite lengthy, as is the subsequent waiting period before surgery. Requesting a referral to a surgeon in one of the smaller communities in the London area (from Chatham to Cambridge) will usually result in sharply reduced waiting periods, which more than offset the inconvenience of travel time for appointments.
You may be very pleasantly surprised to learn that joint-replacement surgery is not appropriate for you at this time. Your condition may be alleviated with less invasive procedures such as arthroscopic surgery (essentially microrobotic surgery) and injections of artificial cartilage replacement material.
If you do undergo surgery, you will have follow-up physiotherapy. At this point, I am suggesting that you put the cart ahead of the horse, if at all possible. Build up the strength and flexibility of the muscles and tendons on either side of the suffering joint, in order to reduce the stress on that joint. If full knee-replacement surgery is preceded by an arthroscopic investigation of the joint, you will have physiotherapy as part of the recovery process from arthroscopy. You will be encouraged to maintain the regime of physio exercises after discharge from the physio clinic for at least two reasons. The first is the reason just mentioned: relieving stress on the knee, which has already lost most or all of its buffer layer of cartilage. The second reason is that the increased strength and flexibility above and below the suffering knee will reduce the recovery period and general discomfort level following knee-replacement surgery. In spite of these two powerful reasons for doing the exercises faithfully, many of us will not do them, because they require a significant time investment of up to an hour a session at least four times a week. Let me stress that doing the physio exercises as part of the run-up to full joint replacement surgery is time extremely well spent. Think of it as lavishing some time on you because you are worth it.
If this article has spoken to you or about one of your friends or loved ones, don’t hesitate to get the ball rolling. The physical discomfort during the process and the loss of time devoted to physio are worth the benefits.
By John Stewart
ARM Council: A Backgrounder
Our last issue included a summer quiz about ARM, our history, structure, size and programs. This piece attempts to begin looking at these facets with slightly more detail and to remind us of why ARM was created and how we benefit from ARM membership.
The provincial executive of OSSTF appointed a work group in 1996 to study the question of whether a retiree organization would be beneficial to both retirees and to OSSTF. When the group reported to the PE it recommended the establishing of an active retired members’ (ARM) organization. The PE then appointed five councillors to found our first ARM Council.
Councillors are now elected for two year terms at our biennial meetings in Toronto.
Next issue: What does ARM Council do? How do councillors work with chapters? How do OSSTF retirees benefit from ARM programs? What are the challenges to ARM?
ARM Preferred Businesses
Click here for a full listing of local businesses where your ARM Chapter 11 membership card will get you a discount.