Herongate Outing Offers Play With Lots of Double Entendres

Times
R E TIR EME N T
Herongate Outing Offers Play
With Lots of Double Entendres
by Sheila Sidlo
Thirty-seven Club members and
guests travelled to the Herongate
Barn Theatre March 1 for a buffet
lu nc h a nd a t heat r ic a l
performance.
During an excellent buffet
lunch, the group was entertained
by a pianist who was later joined
by a guitar player.
Then it was on to the theatre
where the group occupied the
front three rows to watch “Skin
Flick”.
The amusing play,
involving five actors, concerned
three recently unemployed friends
who came up with the idea to
make a sex pornographic movie,
convinced they would make
thousands of dollars to get them
out of their financial problems.
Throughout the comedy, almost
every sentence spoken had a
double meaning, most of them
quite risqué and very amusing.
At the end of the event, several
members who had not previously
visited Herongate commented on
what an excellent outing it was.
(Editor’s Note: Sheila not only
provided the write-up for this
event, she was also the convener
and made all the arrangements.
Your editor, who had to miss the
event to attend a memorial
service in Montreal, is most
grateful.)
Attending the event were:
Wally and Anne Wagner,
Marilyn and Jim Koval, Audrey
Dean and Kaye Bradford, Albert
and Ruth Lenz, Erwin and Erna
Roscheng, Robert and Linda
Thoms, Tamas and Judith Vepy,
Jean M. and Jean E. MacRae,
Bill and Gloria Seeley, Sean and
Olive Carey, Keith and Barbara
Cribb, Sheila Sidlo and Eileen
and John Archer, Bill and Enid
Wilson, Chris and Jackie Street,
Nives Re, Ben and Pat
Greenaway, Helen Bartlett and
guest Judy, Dave and Kathryn
Raybould, and Mary Williams.
A Letter From The
President
Recent ly, I passed t he
fourteenth anniversary of my
retirement from Honeywell. For
most of you reading this, you’re
probably thinking I’m still a
relative newcomer to the ranks
of retirees.
But 14 years!
Where did they go?
ADDRESS LETTERS AND COMMENTS TO:
Honeywell Retiree Club, 85 Enterprise Boulevard, Suite 100,
Markham, ON L6G 0B5. Or phone 289-333-1214 or e-mail us at
[email protected]
A Newsletter for Honeywell Alumni
Volume 26 Number 3, March, 2015
In my previous life as a factory
manager, the days were hectic
dealing with deadlines, reports,
emails, voice mails, meetings
bloody meetings, teleconferences,
problem-solving, management-bywander ing-around, business
travel, the list goes on. Then on
the home front, there were the
usual home maintenance and
family activities. Where did we
find the time to do it all?
Needless to say, the days flew
by and there never seemed to be
enough time to do everything.
That’s why Honeywell, in their
great wisdom, sent us to Time
Management courses.
As we ventured into retirement,
we imagined things would be
different. Time would pass in a
more leisurely fashion. Hah! We
used to have an adage in the
factory that inventory will expand
to meet the space available for
storing it. It’s analogous to the
clutter in your home and it’s the
same with time. The more time
we have on our hands, the more
stuff we do with it and, before you
know it, another day has gone.
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
suggested, among other things,
that time would pass more slowly
depending on how fast we move.
Now he was talking about speeds
that approach the speed of light
(beam me up Scottie!) but for
(see President’s Letter on Page 2)
Make your newsletter more fun by
sending your contributions. Don’t
worry about writing ability. Just send
your stuff. We’ll do the rest.
P ag e 2
(President’s Letter from Page1)
mere mortals such as us, time is,
in fact, constant, neither fast nor
slow. I suppose it all depends on
what we use it for.
I remember an old saying “we
should learn from the Past, plan
for the Future and live in the
Present”. At our age, there is
probably not much we can do
about the first two but we can
certainly emphasize the third. Or,
as the late Robin Williams said in
the movie Dead Poets’ Society,
“Carpe Diem...seize the day!”
As for me, I’m still trying to
figure out where the past 14 years
went!
We Heard From...
WALLY
and ANNE
WAGNER sent the following
note:
“Thanks for 25 years of wellplanned, interesting outings.
There were so many places we
would never have seen.
“We really appr ec iat e
everything you have done! Now,
enjoy your retirement.”
Here is part of an e-mail sent by
MAUREEN TELFORD:
“Very sad to read that the
Retiree Club is wrapping up. I
was just getting used to the trips,
all of which I enjoyed and looked
forward to.”
memories of Honeywell when
those who ran it were people
people...Hank Evans, Jim
Binger, Ed Spencer, Tom
McDonald...all of whom I met or
knew.
“What sad news. But then all
good things must come to an end.
It has been a great run and you
should all be complimented on
your hard and faithful work.”
BRENDA PENFORD writes:
“All good things come to an
end. Regardless, I’m grateful to
have had the opportunity to
have worked with so many fine
people.
I couldn’t possibly
name them all and an omission
would be inexcusable.
“Thank you Honeywell for so
many good people who made it a
place to work and have fun at the
same time.”
GUNTER JACKSCH sent
the following:
“With heavy heart I read that
the committee has decided to
close the Club. I have attended
as much as possible, but the
morning traffic to the pick-up
point was one of the major
reasons not to come on the trips.
“But we never missed the two
banquets because they were the
most social. And the Thousand
Trip was a very happy outing.
“Maybe the Club could
consider keeping the two
banquets and moving them to a
location where you pay your
own way and it doesn’t matter
how many arrive.
From Langley, BC, comes the
following e-mail from JIM
FINDLAY:
“I will not be attending
anything for a few months. I
had a knee replacement and I’m
not allowed to drive for six
weeks. All the best.”
“Sorry to hear about the end of
the Club. I have so many great
An e-mail from MARY
WILLIAMS reads as follows:
“I am so sorry the Retiree Club
newsletter will be gone after this
year. I have not participated in
the social events but I do enjoy
reading the newsletter.
“It is correct as stated that
Honeywell is a different company
now than it was back in the 70s,
80s and 90s. I always enjoyed
working for Honeywell until my
last five years. For me, that was
when everything changed.”
JIM HARPER makes
following correction:
the
“John MacMillan’s article
mentioned me as one of the
founders of the Club. I was still
working when Jim Raycroft and
others put it together. HELEN
BARTLETT was one of the
group.”
Br ian Tear ne
following e-mail:
sends
t he
“I was told this could be the last
year of the Retiree Club. The
Club’s explanation of why was
right on with the demographics of
today’s Honeywell contracting
divisions and disbanding or
farming out production.
“I was a Honeywell employee
for almost 25 years and survived
many of the changes before being
displaced in 2004. I went on to
have a productive career with two
other companies but Honeywell
(see We Heard From on Page 3)
Page 3
(We Heard From from Page 2)
was my first career and one I will
never forget.
“The Sensing and Control
Division where I started my career
in 1980 was a small division and a
close-knit family. When we had
yearly meetings it was like getting
together with old friends.
“I created my ‘Honeywell
Canada’ Facebook group page so I
could reconnect with those friends
whom I had lost touch with after
leaving Honeywell. The group
currently has only 30 members
from that division and the
Residential Division where a few
of us ended up after Micro Switch
was disbanded.
“With the Retiree Club winding
down, I invite any Honeywell
retirees who would like to join us
to look us up on Facebook and
join in. Search at the very top of
Facebook and type in Honeywell
Canada and we should come up.”
After the January outing to the
Best Western Cobourg Dinner
Theatre, participant DAVE
RAYBOULD sent this e-mail:
“BILL
(WILSON)
co ng r at u la t io ns a g a in o n
organizing another outstanding
event for the Retiree Club. The
weather (always a concern in
January) was perfect, the Best
Western buffet was one of the best
KATHRYN and I have enjoyed
in ages and the play was
something quite unique for Norm
Foster.
“After a filling meal (actually I
should confess to closer to two
meals when you include return
trips to the buffet) I expected to
mellow out and maybe even
catch a few winks in the
darkened theatre, always wary of
a sharp elbow from Kathryn to
startle me back to reality.
“Not this time. The five actors
brought reality to the stage with
the varied and dysfunctional
lives they portrayed. Listening
to comments at intermission and
the end of the play, I feel that
most of the audience could put a
name of a relative or friend to
one or more of the characters we
were watching.
“The audience was very
somber as they filed out of the
theatre and Kathryn and I
actually discussed the play and
people we ‘knew’ within the
roles we had watched. Usually
we discuss the outing in general
but this time you (and Norm)
really caught our attention.”
To All of the Hard Workers of
the Honeywell Retiree Club was
the heading of a note from JOY
FRANCIS:
“Retirement Times arrived and
reminded me that I still hadn’t
written a short note as intended.
So here I am!
“I wish to thank everyone who
worked so hard over all the years
to make the outings so
successful. A big hand-shake,
pat-on-the-back and best wished
to all.
“John and I attended the first
outing, a tour of the nuclear
power plant in the East end
followed by lunch at a lovely
spot at the Scarborough Bluffs
(the Guild Inn). Unfortunately,
the night before we had a
horrendous ice storm and couldn’t
get to the tour but we did enjoy
the lunch.
“But what I wanted to mention
was that there were 14 of us there
that day which shows what a
success the Club came to be.
Quite remarkable I would say.
“I am still in the same house
John and I bought when we were
first married in 1949. As people
would say ‘You don’t move much
do you?’ But now I am on
borrowed time.”
My First Day On The
Job At Honeywell
In the January issue of the
newsletter, Club President JOHN
MACMILLAN wrote about his
first day at Honeywell and
suggested, since this is the Club’s
last year, that it would be a good
time to reminisce about our
working lives. He invited others
to share their stories. Here are
some of these remembrances:
by Joe Baker
“My first day at Honeywell was
at the Bowmanville plant and it is
clear as a bell. It was the end of
July, 1970. It was my first day in
a civilian job after being in the
Canadian Navy for eight years.
“After being in the service for
eight years, I did not have suitable
office-type business clothes. My
brother-in-law, who was/is a
dapper guy, told me he would take
me down to his Yonge Street
men’s store where he bought his
clothes. He also informed me his
‘assigned’salesman there would
(see First Day on Page 4)
Page 4
(First Day from Page 3)
pick out the best items that would
suit me, as he does for him. That
was why he dealt t here
exclusively. If I recall the name
of the store it was Studio 261 or
something like that. There were
no flies on him. (Editor’s Note:
Close, Joe. It was actually Studio
267 where I bought my clothes for
many years).
It was quite an experience. I
wasn’t crazy about some of the
items recommended, especially
the shirt and tie combos, but they
both told me the combos were
sharp and I looked great, so what
do I know, right? I was just an ex
-sailor who had accumulated a
limited supply of civilian clothes
over the years from K-Mart.
“Now I was all set for the
coming Monday, my first day at
Honeywell, and I wore what I was
told was the sharpest shirt and tie
combo.
A dark chocolatecoloured shirt and the tie they said
went best with it. What I, as a
recent sailor, wasn’t crazy about
was the tie had a lot of pink in it!
“Jack Shaughnessy, better
known as ‘Shag’ and I never did
find out why they called him that,
was the Bowmanville plant
manager and he hired me. I was
going into the engineering group
headed by Ted Rolf von den
Baumen.
“Ted assigned me to a young
guy in his group to show me
around. His name was Ralph
Batt. So it was also the first day
Ralph and I met. After taking me
around to different departments
and the factory floor, young Mr.
Batt was paged over the intercom
and had to leave but would be
back. He told me to just wander
around and introduce myself and
talk to the various employees I
would run into in my travels. So
I did that for about another half
an hour, then it happened.
“I am in the middle of the
factory floor and over the
LOUD intercom comes ‘Would
the new guy in the brown shirt
and pink tie call extension suchand-such’. I thought I would die
right there on the factory floor
with this stupid-looking tie on as
everyone had turned to look at
me and they all had grins on
their faces. It seems young Mr.
Batt forgot my name, or at least
thats what he always said over
the years...with a grin!
“Needless to say, I never wore
that stupid pink tie again, or
anything else pink over my next
34 years at Honeywell...just in
case someone had forgotten my
name and paged me.”
*******
by Gord Riding
“In the summer of ‘49, I was a
high school drop-out working in
downtown Toronto and not
enjoying it.
“My good friend Lee Brown
worked at Honeywell and said it
was a good place to work. Lee
got me an application which I
filled out and sent in.
“Doc Savage, the Personnel
Manager, phoned me to come in
for an interview. When I asked
if I could come after 4:30 pm
because I didn’t want to take
time off work, he said my house
was on his way home.
“He came to my house and
interviewed me in my own living
room. My parents were in the
kitchen trying to hear every word.
“Two weeks later I reported to
Dick Morgan in the Order
Department. Honeywell, under
the leadership of Hank Evans, was
very strong on internal training
and promotion. I took advantage
of every training course available
and the rest is history.
“Forty-one years later I retired
after a very successful career in
field sales and customer training
for the Residential Division.”
Two of the upcoming social
event s have r egist r at io n/
cancellation deadlines which are
fast approaching. The Toronto
Northern Lights concert has a
deadline of March 17, just a few
days away. The deadline for
“Sweet Charity” at the Shaw
Festival is March 31. If you have
not already signed up for those
two events and wish to
participate, you should sign up
imme d iat e ly t o avo id
disappointment.
In Memoriam
The Board of Directors,
members of the Social Committee
and Club members offer sincere
condolences to the families and
friends of the following:
JEAN LADOUCEUR of the
Industrial Service Division in
Montreal.
JOHN DUVAL.
Sharon Maher, formerly of
Corporate Field Administration.
Ray Willis.
Pat Junop.
The Honeywell Retiree Club Presents
The World Champion
Toronto Northern Lights
Saturday, March 28, 2015
$53 per person includes the bus, lunch, the concert and all taxes and gratuities
Convener—Bill Seeley (416) 730-0572 Cell (416) 508-8604
Toronto Northern Lights is a not-for-profit A Cappella chorus of approximately 60 men
who specialize in barbershop harmony and also enjoy singing music from a wide range of
musical styles and genres. The group produces two of its own shows each year, and
performs in many other concerts, music festivals, business conferences and fundraising
and community events. Competing against other choruses both in Ontario and
throughout the world, Toronto Northern Lights is proud to be ranked among the top
choruses in the world, having won five consecutive second place medals and two third
place bronze in the last nine years. Two years ago they finally won the first place Gold
Medal. Much of their music is in the style of the old songs (circa 1890-1920) but many
contemporary songs, from swing to jazz to pop, have been arranged to create an exciting
blend of old and new.
Our bus will leave the Honeywell Enterprise parking lot at 11:00 am sharp for a short trip
to Frankie Tomatto’s on Woodbine. Lunch will be at 11:30 am. After a leisurely lunch,
we’ll re-board the bus for the trip to the George Weston Recital Hall on Yonge Street.
Registration/Cancellation Deadline is Tuesday, March 17, 2015
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Please reserve a space for me/us for Toronto Northern Lights, Saturday, March 28, 2015
SURNAME_________________________FIRST NAME________________________
PHONE (
)______________SPOUSE/GUEST_______________________________
CHEQUE ENCLOSED FOR ____TICKETS AT $53 EACH. TOTAL $__________
If you need assistance (wheelchair, special seating, transportation, etc) check here □
Don’t forget to mark the name of the event on your cheque and please don’t postdate
If you plan to self-drive please check here □
Mail to: Honeywell Retiree Club, 85 Enterprise Blvd., Suite 100,
Markham, ON L6G 0B5
The Honeywell Retiree Club Presents
“Sweet Charity”
At the Shaw Festival Theatre, Wednesday April 22, 2015
$115 per person includes Deluxe motor coach, lunch at Betty’s Restaurant,
orchestra seats and all taxes and gratuities.
Convener: Bill Wilson—416 519-0863 Cell 416 580-3602
Our luxury coach will leave the Honeywell parking lot at 85 Enterprise Blvd.
at 9:15 am sharp. We’ll have a nice comfortable, no-hassle ride to Chippawa
arriving at Betty’s Restaurant for our lunch at 11:30 am.
Showtime at the Shaw Festival Theatre is 2:00 pm for “Sweet Charity”. Experience the bold and colorful world of 1960’s New York through the eyes of
Charity Hope Valentine. The dancehall hostess dreams of a brighter future
but she can’t help but give her heart to all the wrong guys.
Then she meets the meek but sweet Oscar Lindquist when they get trapped in
an elevator. Could he be the man to change Charity’s luck and take her off
the market as a heart-for-hire? Cy Coleman and Dorothy Field’s bright music and dance numbers like “Big Spender” and “If My Friends Could See Me
Now” paired with a book by Neil Simon made this a Broadway hit when it
premiered in 1966. Approximate return home time is 7:15 pm.
Registration/Cancellation Deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2015
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Please reserve space for me/us for “Sweet Charity”, Wednesday, April 22, 2015
SURNAME_________________________________FIRST NAME_____________________
PHONE______________SECOND PERSON______________________________________
If you need assistance (wheelchair, transportation, special seating etc.) check here
□
Cheque enclosed for ________tickets at $115 each = Total $_______
Return to Honeywell Retiree Club, 85 Enterprise Blvd., Suite 100, Markham, L6G 0B5
Remember to mark the name of the event on your cheque and please don’t postdate
The Honeywell Retiree Club Presents
“Spamalot”
At the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge
$110 per person includes luxury motor coach, lunch, theatre seats and all
taxes and gratuities
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Convener: Bill Wilson 416 519-0863 Cell 416 580-3602
The luxury coach will leave the Honeywell parking lot at 85 Enterprise
Boulevard at 9:30 am sharp. We will enjoy a leisurely ride to Brantford
arriving at The Olde School Restaurant for lunch. Lunch will consist of
soup, choice of chicken supreme or tilapia with lemon garlic butter, potatoes,
fresh vegetables, dessert, coffee or tea. Please indicate your choice of entrée
in the appropriate box below.
Showtime at the Dunfield Theatre is 2:00 pm. “Spamalot” is the Tony award
-winning musical comedy phenomenon that raises silliness to an art form.
Monty Python’s tongue-in-cheek retelling of the classic tale of “Camelot”
follows King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table and their infamous
quest for the Holy Grail. This clever parody is packed with such
unforgettable musical numbers as “Always Look On The Bright Side Of
Life”, “The Song That Goes Like This” and “The Diva’s Lament”. A
sensation on Broadway and London’s West End, “Spamalot” is gloriously
irresistible entertainment.
Approximate return home time is 6:30 pm.
Registration/Cancellation Deadline is Friday, April 24
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Please reserve a space for me/us for “Spamalot”, Wednesday, May 13, 2015
SURNAME_____________________________FIRST NAME___________chicken □ fish□
PHONE__________________SECOND PERSON____________________chicken□ fish□
If you need assistance (wheelchair, special seating, transportation, etc.) check here □
Cheque enclosed for ________tickets at $110 each = $___________
Send to Honeywell Retiree Club, 85 Enterprise Blvd., Suite 100, Markham ON L6G 0B5
Please remember to mark the name of the event on your cheque and please don’t postdate
THE HONEYWELL RETIREE CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS
THE ANNUAL SPRING
ROUNDUP
Monday, May 25, 2015
Members $25 —Guests $30 taxes and gratuities included
Convener Adel Shearer 416 291-4750 Cell 416 427-6507
Join us for our final Spring event in the beautiful surroundings of the
Donalda Club situated in the picturesque Don Valley. Come and enjoy an
evening with old friends and an opportunity to meet new ones. We will have
a cocktail hour followed by a sumptuous barbeque featuring chicken, salmon
and steak (choice of two) with vegetables, salads and desserts, including
coffee and tea. There will be a cash bar before dinner and for wine during
dinner. The bar will open again after dinner for those who wish to linger.
The evening begins at 5:00 pm with the cash bar. Dinner is at 6:00 pm. If
anyone would like to share old photos, please bring them with you.
Dress is smart casual, but we have to remind you that jeans are not
acceptable. Sign up right now for this popular event (the most popular of the
year). Don’t be disappointed. Registration is limited. Donalda is wheelchair
accessible.
NOTE: Registration/Cancellation Deadline Is Wednesday, May 20
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _cut here _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _cut here _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Please reserve a space for me/us at the Spring Roundup, Monday, May 25, 2015
SURNAME___________________________FIRST NAME___________________________
PHONE (
)_________________SECOND PERSON_____________________________
CHEQUE ENCLOSED FOR_____TICKETS @ $25 AND/OR______TICKETS @$30.
TOTAL: $__________
(Don’t forget to write the name of the event on your cheque and please don’t postdate)
If you need assistance (wheelchair, special seating, transportation, etc.) check here □
Mail To: Honeywell Retiree Club, 85 Enterprise Blvd., Suite 100, Markham, ON L6G 0B5