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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 24, 2008 - 19 Working together can make a difference H ello from Halla! In my last column I mentioned that elephants can count, and I have been trying very hard to count to 72, but so far I cannot. My sister is doing better, she can count to 36, but I get lost after 20. We are learning to count because we are supporting the next $Millions Or More Oakville ($MOMO)event Metres or More. The challenge is to fill a metre of red ribbon with 36 toonies between now and the end of October, which would add up to $72 for each metre of ribbon. Folks are being asked to save one or two toonies a day to reach the target. I asked my grandmother to explain to me what $72 would buy in Africa. She said that it does vary across the whole of Africa, but with inflation and scarce food supplies in some areas a 25 kilogram bag of rice, which cost $15 last November, now costs $25 in United States dollars. That means that $72 will buy about three bags of rice, a basic ingredient for meals in many areas. My grandmother said there were riots in some African cities recently because people cannot afford to buy rice. Many people are now only getting one meal a day, and small portions at that. You know, we elephants eat leaves and brush, but I cannot imagine only having the chance to eat one time each day. I would be very hungry indeed. Even if a family has a bag of rice, some have no wood, or no pot, or no water, or maybe no home for that matter, so it doesn't necessarily mean they can eat. And, if a person is on antiretroviral drugs, food is vital to help them tolerate their medicine. The Stephen Lewis Foundation attempts to provide stable funding to grassroots organizations working at the frontline of the AIDS pandemic to help them support women, orphans and grandmothers. These grassroots organizations do incredible work: they build community gardens, provide schoolchildren with hot meals, provide livestock for families to raise, and much, much more. So your 36 toonies will provide a lot of help. So, that is why I hope everyone will support the Stephen Lewis Foundation. If you haven't already done so, you can pick up your one or more metres of red ribbon at the Courtesy Desk at Oakville Place. I also wanted you to know that there has been danger in the country where our herd is travelling these past few weeks. Soldiers have been fighting, and we saw a village on fire. Our herd ran quickly away, but I heard many women and children crying as they ran into the bush from their homes. We elephants feel badly for the victims of war, and wish we could help the humans. I told my grandmother I cannot understand why anyone would fight when everyone should be working together to make sure that families can build a better future for their children. I hope peace returns soon, and I am very glad we were able to move quickly away from the fighting to a more peaceful Savannah grassland. Halla is a 12-year-old female African Savannah Elephant working with $Millions or More Oakville ($MOMO) to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the fight against AIDS in Africa. For information, visit www.millionormoreslf.ca, or phone 905-469-6415. -- Submitted by the $Million or More Oakville campaign To our Valued Customers, At Oakville Glass and Mirror Limited, we pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service. Recently, many of you have been disappointed by excessively long delivery times for your special, out-sourced orders. Due to circumstances beyond our control, several of our suppliers have been extremely behind in their production of your items. We, at Oakville Glass would like to sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and please be sure that this situation is being rectified. Sincerely, Your OGM team Metres or More event, and visit Oakville Place on Saturday, Oct. 25 with their ribbons filled with toonies. An entire kilometre of ribbon would generate a $72,000 donation to the $Million or More Oakville campaign target of $1 million, for the Makes it Clear with Clean Face Fireplaces 550 Bronte Rd., Oakville Halton District School Board invites members of the public to apply for a position on its AUDIT COMMITTEE The Audit Committee of the Halton District School Board has three community members and three trustees as members. The committee currently has a vacancy for one member from the community to fill a term from the date of appointment to November 30, 2012. The Audit Committee meets approximately two times each year. Its role includes reviewing the external audit function, serving as a communication link between the auditors and the Board of Trustees and reviewing the annual audited financial statements. The community representative on this committee is a volunteer role and does not receive any remuneration. A community member will be selected by the Audit Committee and recommended for Board approval. Qualifications of applicants: Appropriate academic qualifications in accounting and/or business management. Relevant financial or business management experience in an institution other than a school board. Must be governed by the Conflict of Interest legislation. 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