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Several local residents pitching in at Olympics Continued from pg. 1 3 Catch The Flame Thursday, February 11, 2010 Joanne Mletzko After retiring from teaching last year, Joanne Mletzko was looking for a big project that would put her organizational skills to work. An advertisement seeking volunteers for the 2010 Winter Olympics in B.C. seemed like the ultimate challenge and Mletzko asked good friend Sally Plackett if she'd like to join her. Mletzko submitted an application and resume last March, then was subjected to thorough phone and in-person interviews, as well as an RCMP background check, before learning she'd been chosen to be a team event leader at the alpine skiing venue at Whistler. "We got through all of the approval process and it's been quite an interesting journey already just getting this far," she said. At Whistler, Mletzko will be in charge of a crew of over a dozen volunteers scattered amongst the race fans for crowd control and security concerns, while also ensuring that the logos of non-OlympicJOANNE sponsoring comMLETZKO panies or organizations are not prominently displayed. "We have to make sure all the spectators are happy and look after any problems on the hill, checking that everyone's got the right credentials, that kind of stuff," explained Mletzko, 55. "We're going to be on the hill all day, so I'm hoping for nice, sunny warm weather, but I don't think that's going to happen. It will probably rain or snow most of the time." Lori Gysel An avid hockey fan who loves to cook, the 44-year-old Gysel admits she's already "freaking out" about the prospects of living out her own sort of Olympic dream. And she's even getting paid for it. Co-ordinator of Georgetown's Real Canadian Superstore Cooking School, Gysel is one of five head chefs who've been LORI selected to work GYSEL in the Molson Canadian Hockey House, an 81,000-square-foot pavilion beside GM Place that will serve as hockey headquarters for the much-anticipated men's and women's tournaments. "The whole reason I'm going is for the kitchen experience, to step out of the box and do something different," she said. "Sure, I want to be there for the Olympic experience too, maybe not so much for the individual sports, but to be involved in my sport, which is cooking. This is a world event and the idea is to meet people in the front end of our profession and share our passion." Gysel has been assigned to oversee the kitchen operations for the Family Fun Zone at the Hockey House, which can seat about 500 people in the 3,500person-capacity pavilion. Items on the menu include macaroni and cheese, Kobe beef sliders, Japanese salad and homemade cookies. Hockey House will serve as an entertainment centre and home base for Hockey Canada, VIPs, along with national team members and their families. "We've been told to expect to be working 10- to 12-hour days and I would say that's a conservative estimate," added Gysel, who has 30 years experience in off-premise catering. "When we get there they'll probably lock the door behind us and keep us there for a few days." I'm excited about being part of a world event, but I'm sure it will be pretty draining, too." She will also prepare ETalk and Much on Demand hosts and expects to work 12-hour days for most of the month, taking in some decompressing yoga sessions whenever possible. Annette Graydon Graydon will be stationed in the athletes' village at Whistler, serving as a concierge/troubleshooter for the competitors and their support staff, answering questions and attending to a wide range of visitors' needs. She figures that the website babblefish.com will come in handy to communicate in the many foreign languages. "We're there for the hospitality side of it and to help out with things might come up where the athletes live. They might need to have their toilet fixed or want to go out for dinner somewhere. We'll try to help them with whatever queries they have." Graydon has worked extensively with the Anglican Church in its Mother's Union and as a member of the organization's worldwide council in London, England. Her marketing, administrative and arbitration background were skills that Games organizers favoured during the lengthy interview process. "I'm not a very sporty person, but I'm an Olympic junkie," she said. "I don't watch sports on TV but when the OlymANNETTE pics come around GRAYDON I leave the TV on all day." The 52-year-old from Terra Cotta had hoped to watch her nephew, skier Trevor Conroy of Truro, N.S., compete in person, but an injury has forced him to serve as a cheerleader to his teammates. See AREA, pg. 6 Christine Conte, left, a freelance makeup artist, will be tasked with making TV hosts like TSN's Jennifer Hedger, and guests look their best. Submitted photo The Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium hired the 45-year-old mother of two to prep the hosts, athletes and guests who'll appear on a number of network channels broadcasting around the clock, with the wide-ranging Whistler weather posing some possible malfunctions. For someone who has gone on road trips with World Wrestling Entertainment performers and applied pancake to the likes of Microsoft gazillionaire Bill Gates, the Olympics promises to be her most intense work experience in 14 years as a freelancer. "Hair could be more of a disaster if they're outside in certain weather," said Conte, who expects to be doing strictly makeup, but is bringing three suitcases to be prepared for anything. "It's going to be almost a 24-hour operation with Canada AM doing their show at 6 a.m., meaning that they'll have to start getting ready at 3 a.m., and I don't expect there'll be a lot of down time. Everybody thinks it's glamourous and it's not. Yes, we'll have some fun and Christine Conte Making The Sports Network personalities in Whistler such as Michael Landsberg and Jennifer Hedger look good outdoors for the cameras will be Georgetown South hair and makeup artist Christine Conte. haltonhealthcare.com Thursday, February 18, 2010 The Positivity Training Plan: Strategies for Increasing Positivity at Work and Home Louisa Nedkov HHS Staff Wellness Coordinator and The Energy Coach Georgetown Hospital Activity Room 1 Princess Ann Drive, Georgetown, L7G 2B8 Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Celebrating Food for Healthy & Active Children Partnering with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Sandra Saville Registered Dietitian Karen Skyba Fitness Supervisor Milton District Hospital Classroom 7030 Derry Road, Milton, L9T 7H6 $ 7INTER SALE FA OP MI EN LY DA Y 129 $ SALE 109 $ SALE 199 UP TO FREE SEMINARS start at 7 pm For more information or to register call 905-878-2383 (4379) or healthpromotion@haltonhealthcare.on.ca ON ALL LEATHER, SHEARLING & WOOL COATS