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6 Independent & Free Press, Thursday,April 14, 2011 OPINION Thank a volunteer This week-- April 10-16-- marks National Volunteer Week to draw attention to the 12.5 million people across Canada who lend their time and energy to making their communities better. Donating their time and their skills without expectation of monetary reward, volunteers are on the front lines of all our community services-- community health care, sports and recreation, heritage and arts, environmental protection and advocacy, disaster relief, international development, and volunteer firefighting-- to name only a few. You are never too young-- or in the case of Acton Citizen of the Year for 2011 Dorothy Rognvaldson-- too old, to volunteer. At the tender age of 93 (she celebrated her birthday yesterday), Rognvaldson is an inspiration to every Halton Hills resident. She volunteers at her church, drives for both the Wheels to Meals (traveling to Kitchener twice a month to take a shut-in out to a restaurant for lunch) and the Red Cross, is an active member of the Acton Seniors' Centre and also found time last week to help stuff 80,000 envelopes for the upcoming federal election. She is the eptiome of volunteerism. She makes a difference. She gives of herself and puts others first. Everyone has a different reason for volunteering. For Rognvaldson it is simply because she "enjoys helping people". An amazing lady to be sure. To Dorothy and the thousands of others in our community who give of their own time to make Halton Hills the great place it is, we thank you and want you to know that your efforts are both recognized and appreciated. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS Have the local candidates' efforts, so far, increased your interest in the federal election campaign? · Yes (17%) · No (83%) Steve Nease Somehow you kept the team of coaches, 21 boys and the large group of parents informed, organized and excited. And so, we thank you all. We don't say it enough. You embody community activism and we hope that it's contagious! Nathaly Hotte, Geoff Behm, Jackson Behm and Jaden Behm Georgetown Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Coaches thanked for great season Dear editor, Following a standout season, the Georgetown Novice AE Raiders clinched the OMHA Central Novice AE title in a three-game sweep. Brad Hale, Chris Bayley, Jeff McCloskey and Lisa Weisbrot (the Fantastic Four), this letter will in no way be enough to convey our immense gratitude for your hard work and dedication to this team. The time and energy that you have put into the team members over the past eight months deserves to be recognized and celebrated. Brad, Chris and Jeff, you each took the time to get to know each and every Raider player. To understand what made them tick and how to challenge them. You not only guided them to a championship, you provided them with the skills to be gracious to their opponents, be humble in their accomplishments and celebrate the victories. We saw a group of eightyear-old boys learn to work hard, take practice seriously and enjoy every opportunity and every game. Lisa, our hats are off to you. started getting close to the truth. I will not even bring up the cancellation of the military helicopter fiasco that our men and women in uniform are still paying for today. Thirdly, the corporate tax cuts were part of the previous budget which the Liberals voted for. It was the Liberals who said they would vote against the spring budget before it was even presented in Parliament. There were concessions made, but the NDP wanted more. Chrétien Liberal years of budget surpluses were made on the backs of the provinces in cuts to equal payments. The Liberals did not have to go through a global economy crash like we are going through now. It was the pressure of the opposition parties that wanted to spend even more but the Conservatives were the sound and responsible ones in Ottawa. I am sorry if Mr. Britton feels the economy is not an important issue during this election. I would prefer to have a fiscally responsible Michael Chong's Conservative government represent me in Ottawa and that is why I am voting and volunteering my time for Michael Chong. Peter Jonkman, Erin Chong gets his vote Dear editor, Re: April 7 letter Tories forced election. Mr. Britton should get his facts straight. First, Michael Chong was not stripped of his portfolio-- he stepped down on principle from the portfolio before the vote taking a pay cut in the process. It is principles like these that we want to have in our MP to represent us in Ottawa. Secondly, you would not have contempt during the Chrétien era because he had a majority and he would have crushed that vote. Remember, it was the Liberal majority which stopped the APAC inquiry and the "golf course" loan to his friend when the inquiries Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.