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Whitby Fme Pres, Wednosday,- Deoember 6,1995,,Page 25 Long fieldIi R maniafor governiment seminiar By Miko Kowalokl Whitby counillor Judi L,.ongfleld bas once again been called upon to instruct foreign politicians in the finer points of runnlng a local goverrnment., Longfield is in Rumania taking part in a symposium on municipal government under the auspices of the Washington-based National Democratic Instituté for International Affaira (NDI). The west ward representative left for the eastern European nation last Sunday and returns home Dec. 20. Except for the five NDI staff members, Longfield la the only North American on a. panel that will conduct seminars on ývanous subjet pertainlng to municipal government. The other four 'politician-instructors' hail from different parts of eastern Europe. "Generally, we're tallng about developing community plans and plans of action relatinig ta communications ... getting the message out ta the public," sald Longfield. IWell try ta identify methods of improving communications and how ta increase public involvement in local decisîon-mnaking." This month's excursion is the second NDI endeavour Longfield bas partlcipated in. thls year. Last Auguat, she was the only Canadian on an international panel which, taught similar skills to municipal officiais in Guyana. However, this experience will lastslightly longer than the three days Longfield spent in, South America. 'The first three days are dedicated ta briefings on the political limats and customs," of the former communist dictatorship, she said. - "They (NDI) sent 200 pages o briefing notes and newspaper articles. I expect the firt tbree days to be pretty Intensive." Following the, orientation sessions, seminars will be held in two Rumanian locales - Constanta on the Black Sea and Baia Mare near the border with Ukramne. "The idea 1. to bring municipal officiais from those two areas," Longfield explained. 'Theyre fhcing general elections at the local level next year, so they're anxious to get started." Âlthough Longfield will not know until after she arrives what subjects she will be instructing, the former teacher is flot worried. Nor does the fact that she cannot ospeak Runan faze ber. ,I,,l be asslgned niy own translatar. This wlll be a new experience for me, Fm looking forward ta it."l Whule ln Rumania, Laongfield will. have three days between sessions ta travel around ýthe country. Skie is hoping to meet wlth some Ontario Hydro employees from the area who are *now in Rumania. 'There's a woman ini Oshawa rm being put in tauch with. She's been there and rm tald that Whltby and Oshawa residents are over there working on a project." Ouidingo -Scouting, awards, activity LONOTIME Scout leader Steve Simmons holds a national award presented recently ta recognize his good service ta, scouting Simmons has been a leader for 15 years -- hes currently a Rover advisor, working with those aged 18 ta 26 --and was aScout forl10years. NICOLE VANDENBURG of the 24th Whety Pathfinders displays the Canada Cord she received recently. JOYCE MARSHALL of Innushare shows (background) pictures she took on a recent Brownies, from left, Kalie Gutzman, Julia trp ta Davis Inlet The Brownies were help<ng Carroll, Ashley Voelkel and Nicole ta sort clothes donated ta Innushare by 'Ifs Neshevich and leader Wendy Voekel Worth Repeating. THREE MEMBERS of the 2nd WIiitby Pathflnders received Canada Cords recently: front ta back) Katy Snaith, Heather McClure and Melissa Blazier. Photos by Mark Reesor ..... ....