File - RAP Dufferin-Peel (Retired Administrative Personnel)

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D E C E M B E R
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RAP goodbye
NEWSLETTER
tension • hello pension
R AP Ex e c utive
President
• Jeff Wild
Vice President
• Kim McNamara
Past President
• Marilynn Childerhose
Secretary/Treasurer
• Brendan Barnet
Communications Officer
AS TO ALL
MERRY CHRISTM
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?
code=2007134554829&source=jl999
• Judy Leeney
Ev e nt Co o r din ato r
Click On
This Link
Mes sa ge f ro m t h e p r e s i d e nt
Greetings Everyone,
It seems hard to believe that Christmas is fast approaching with the pleasant weather we have
experienced. Believe it or not, I was still playing golf three times a week up to the end of
November. Who said there is no climate change?
There was also some change at the last A.G.M. in October, as far as the executive is concerned.
After serving as secretary/treasurer for the past four years, Claude Arseneau decided to step
down. On behalf of R.A.P., I would like to thank Claude for the tremendous job he has done
during this time.
In his place, Brendan Barnet was acclaimed to the above
position. The executive members look forward to working
with Brendan and all the expertise he brings with him. The
remaining executive were also acclaimed to their positions:
- President: Jeff Wild
- Vice President: Kim McNamara
- Communications Officer: Judy Leeney
- Past President: Marilyn Childerhose
Prior to the A.G.M., we had our annual Memorial Mass,
when we acknowledge all of our colleagues who have
passed away. This year felt particularly special because Al
Risavy’s wife, Linda and two of her daughters were
present. Al’s funeral had taken place the week before and
therefore it was a more emotional occasion than normal
but at the same time there was a beautiful atmosphere.
Thank you to Mary Ryan McCullagh and Kim McNamara,
for organizing the Mass, and to Maureen Lanois for reading the names of the deceased so
appropriately.
Finally, on behalf of the executive, I would like to wish you and your family a joyous and holy
Christmas and the very best of health for the New Year.
Jeff Wild
Breakfasts/Lunch
• Moira Costello
Mohawk
• Doug Swailes
Golf
• Mike Harding
Walks/Hikes
• Judy Leeney
Florida Breakfasts
• Bob Fisher
• Denise Panunte
AGM Mass
• Mary McCullough
Secondary PR
• Marion Speziale
Board Liaison
• John McAllister
Newsletter
• Mike Astolfo
R.A.P. REACHES OUT
On Thursday December 1st Jeff Wild and Kim McNamara went to the Brampton
Civic Hospital to make a $500 donation to the Diabetes Centre for Paediatric
Care and Education.
The Diabetes Education Centre provides diabetes education and counselling to
adults and children with diabetes. The Diabetes Education team helps the child
and the family manage his/her diabetes through education by empowering the
child/individual to be self-directed in learning the skills and behaviours needed
for successful self-management. The Diabetes Education team is multidisciplinary
consisting of diabetes nurse educators, dieticians, endocrinologists, paediatricians,
family physicians and social workers. Instruction is available in several
languages. Individuals learn about diabetes and how to control and manage the
disease for healthy living. Instruction is given on how to test blood sugar levels,
administer insulin, take pills, make healthy food choices and include regular
exercise into their lifestyle.
The William Osler Health System Foundation was very pleased to receive our
generous donation.
Kim McNamara
R.A.P. members
and many spouses
ventured out to
visit the sights,
sounds, wines and
culinary arts of
Italy.
October 2011
Which RAP member does
this remind you of?
R.A.P. • A.G.M. • C.E.C.
10 • 18 • 11
R.A.P. GENERAL MEETING
18TH, OCTOBER, 2011
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
1. Welcome by Jeff Wild
2. Agenda approval
- Renaud Courchesne, seconded by Rina Berlingieri
3. Minutes approval
- Tom Reilly, seconded by Gerrie Khalid
4. Reports
a) President Jeff Wild
!
- thanks to members and executive
- praised the Mohawk races event
- thanks to Judy Leeney for up-to-date communications
- thanks to Mike Astolfo for the newsletters
- stressed importance for members to pass on suggestions to exec.
Bernie Kane First Recipient Of
b) Treasurer/Secretary Claude Arseneau
The 25 Year Retirement Award
- bank balance - $4,185.65
- Donations
- CNIB $500
- Various charities in $25 intervals - $175
- decision made by the committee to give out two $500 donations this year because of the large bank balance.
c) Communications Judy Leeney
- reported that there are currently 215 members
- requested that members contact her with information on members who have passed away or who are ill.
d) Entertainment Moira Costello
- Breakfast at Bobbyʼs in Streetsville would take place on the first Tuesday of every third month (Oct., Dec., Apr., June)
- note: Bob Fisher reminded members of a breakfast to be held in Ft. Myres on Tuesday, February 7
e) Golf Mike Harding
- there were approximately 80 golfers this past September
f) Mohawk Doug Swailes
- reported that 44 participated in the annual race track event
- mentioned that a $5.00 voucher is generally given out to participants
g) Annual Memorial Liturgy Mary McCullough
- thanks to all members who assisted this years mass
h) Newsletter Mike Astolfo
- encouraged members to provide him with info. and pictures for the newsletter.
- newsletter coming out in December
Election of officers
!
All members acclaimed
!
!
Jeff Wild, Kim McNamarra, Judy Leeney, Brendan Barnett
- moved by Tom Reilly, seconded by Carl Dillon
New Business
Draw for charitable donations won by Gerri Allen and Don Pirrie (each of these winners will be given the receipt for $500 to
use as a tax receipt to the charities as chosen by the committee)
- Motion 1- that RAP expand their charitable donations beyond the borders of Dufferin-Peel (presented by Christine
Macewan seconded by Rosemary Keenan) vote - 43 for, 7 opposed. Results, motion passed.
- Motion 2 - that any RAP member who has reached 25 years of retirement be presented with the book featuring DufferinPeel (passed unanimously)
- Bernie Kane is the first recipient of the 25 year award. He received a new book about the history of Dufferin Peel.
Adjournment
WHAT I AM DOING IN MY RETIREMENT - CATHY ASTOLFO
Before I retired, I attended a P/VP presentation (don’t ask me the topic),
where the speaker said at one point, “Everyone thinks they are going to retire to
write a book.” Since I was sitting at the back, it was pretty obvious when a whole
bunch of heads turned to look at me. I never could keep a secret.
However—as many of you already know—I did retire to write a book. Four
of them so far, actually. The Emily Taylor Mystery series revolves around an unusual
heroine—the principal of an elementary school. (Write about what you know, as
they say.) In her late forties, Emily Taylor becomes a reluctant sleuth through a
variety of external events. Some of her decisions, however, are based on a fear of
discovery, for she has a mysterious past that involves her husband. Readers do not
find out the details of this past life until Book 4.
Thus by day, I am a mild-mannered middle-aged retired elementary school
Principal. By night, I am the writer of crime and mystery that often involve gruesome murders and twisted psyches. When people read my
books, they usually look at me (or my mild-mannered middle-aged picture) and ask me where on earth I get the disgusting ideas for my crime
novels. I often respond (somewhat sarcastically) have you read the newspaper lately? Or else I say, Well, I was a teacher.
I love writing crime and mystery. I love the fact that there is a puzzle or a problem, and almost always, a good solution. Most of the
time, justice is served. The problem is solved, the good are rewarded and the bad are punished. Therefore any social issue can be explored.
There’s no place I won’t go if the story calls for me to go there.
The hidden evil in some people—the ability to wear a mask of nice while seething with twisted thoughts underneath—is fascinating
to me. This was a major theme for “The Bridgeman,” my first mystery novel. “I deserve no more smiles, no friendship, no pity, no love, no
feather or silk or fur, no soft skin.” My character had some self-recrimination, and turned out to be capable of love, so he was not completely
savage, but he was close.
The story explores the man’s ability, however, to wear a mask on a daily basis, while he couldn’t seem to resist abusing the innocent.
“If anyone guessed my secret, saw into my dark perverted heart, they would loathe me even more than I despise myself.” His words belie that
fact that he went about his life, an ordinary life on the surface, yet was consumed with the thrill, the power of the destruction of another being.
“I sliced and cut out the pieces of what had been a living, breathing, laughing, jumping, warm creature. I was its skin, its movement, its shape,
its god, its creator, its destroyer.” And you thought Dexter was bad.
From my experiences in schools, or from the newspapers, where kids shot and killed other kids, burned down a house (with their
families inside), tortured and maimed animals, my character, The Bridgeman, is not so far-fetched. Nor are the other diabolical characters in
the ensuing novels of my series very far from reality. They are scary, but these people do exist.
My next book, Victim, explored the violence that can result from greed. The book reviewer
for The Hamilton Spectator, Don Graves, said this about Victim: “Greed, pain and murder are
timeless storylines, and Astolfo weaves them into a novel highlighted with ancient oral
traditions that show us that obsession is as unquenchable today as it was when the land was
filled with primeval beliefs and ceremonies.
Victim reaches into the hauntingly beautiful Ojibwa folklore, offering it here in story and
poetry. An enduring feature of a good story is the author's capacity to spin not only a tale but
also a vision -- a surrounding where good and evil play out their parts. The plot leads you to a
conclusion with skillfully planted clues, employs a sense of the setting so real that the reader
feels a part of the place and uses dialogue that reveals the minds and souls of the characters in
it.”
What I love about the world of fiction—everything turns out all right in the end.
Recently, I was lucky enough to get a four-book contract for the e-versions of my books from
a traditional publisher, Imajin Books. I’m running a contest until December 21, so if you buy
one, let me know, and I’ll put your name in the draw. See—I’m not just writing books in
retirement, I’m selling them too!
Cathy (Catherine) Astolfo
[email protected]
http://www.amazon.com/Bridgeman-Emily-Taylor-Mystery-ebook/dp/B005Z5IM28
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98348
http://www.youtube.com/user/imajinbooks
www.imajinbooks.com
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Remember
If you haven't got a smile on your face
And laughter in your heart,
Then you are just a sour old fart!