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THE HERALD Wednesday December It im Community Chamber News Entitled to opinion Working for a public service organization like the Chamber of Commerce for the most part is a rewarding experience On other days I feel there must be a better way Today is one of thosetlays A number of Directors of the Chamber attended the recent R A I meeting and after the meeting sent an article to the local papers explaining some of the concerns as seen by the business community We ted comments from the public and of course seeing as I answer the phone I was the one who received an angry call from a local rest dent You might say I was verbal ly assaulted by the caller which is fine however lost on the caller was the fact that we are all entitl to our own opinion The caller stated in no incer tain terms that she did not agree with the Chamber position and then went on to state that she m boycott local firms to show her spleasure and would en courage other residents to follow her lead Comments like that are very discouraging for me it over shadows all the positive things that the Chamber of Commerce accomplishes in this town Perhaps the caller will take the time to read this article I t tell her on the phone of the many contributions that the Chamber makes to this Town The Chamber does not receive any funds or grants from any level of government to run our programs The Chamber operates a business and tounsm office in the lobby of the Gordon Alcott Arena and from this modest location answers over 3 written and telephone enquiries per year in a positive cheerful manner Many times the first contact that poen residents have of our Town is through the Chamber We also help local consumers who are looking for information about local businesses or services and help in the event of complaints The Chamber has a policy of not making direct donations to charitable organizations however our Directors work on specific projects where the funds go directly to charity In the last three years the Chamber has helped to raise over for community groups and charities In addition to money we have pro vided office services and supplies to groups such as the United Way the Cancer Society Acton firefighters etc The Chamber was an active proponent of the Town purchasing the abandoned rail line north of Georgetown and in fact offered to provide the to make the purchase This certainly t sound like an irresponsible tion that the caller accused the Chamber of being The Chamber has been generally supportive of new development in the Halton Hills area and has encouraged Council to seriously at all new developments This was true of the Georgetown South develop ment At that time the Georgetown Area Ratepayers had many concerns about the development and were actively involved in either stopping future growth or limiting it Their tion was the opposite of the Chamber however it should be noted while we disagreed with the Georgetown Area Ratepayers some of our goals were the same The Chamber and the Ratepayers cooperated to run a program called I Love Georgetown one of the most successful public relations pro grams this area has ever seen One last point any lobby group the Chamber included must state quite clearly who they represent and how many people The Chamber w 11 continue to put our point of view forward in a clear public manner and we will never resort to actions that would undermine our credibility in the community A Christmas past The photograph above depicts a concert group would be most appreciated Information can be Photo of a primary class at Georgetown Public directed to the Society Box School taken around 1897 Not all members of the Georgetown Ont or by telephoning group are able to be identified Any information the either or 2803 Photo submitted by Es public can provide In identifying the members of the quesing Society Alzheimer chapter proposed for Halton Region Those directly affected with Alzheimer s disease are not the only ones who need support Families and friends who must care for these victims also need support says Andy Hams a spokesperson for the Halton Wentworth Chapter of the Cana dian Alzheimer Society Mr Harris is one of several people trying to establish a chapter that would service only The chapter like all chapters across Canada would offer educational programs and family support services for those who care for someone afflicted with the incurable disease According to a Regional report there are approximately 1 500 people in Halton with Alzheimer s disease and this number doesn t include family friends neighbors and the com Laser transmits voices Georgetown District High School Grade display pat on by the schools Technology and Elec students left to right David Chambers and Jason Ironies Department The laser transmitter uses laser Sober showed off their laser transmitter during a light to transmit voices said Jason munity at large who are also af fected by this devastating disease Alzheimer s disease slowly nibbles away at a persons brain deteriorating the per son s personality and memory a process that goes on for 10 to 15 years said Mr Hams Its difficult on families and friends he emphasized Although Mr Hams said the Hamilton Wentworth chapter is adequately servicing both com Halton is spread out in such a way better service could be provided to its residents with the disease if the Region had its own chapter said Mr Harris The existing chapter is more research oriented because of its location in Hamilton said Mr Hams McMaster University is a leader in Alzheimer s research and therefore the chapter focuses a lot of attention on that aspect of the disease he explained Since is more communityoriented and rural its focus isn t in research As well Halton relative ruralness compared to Hamilton means support programs would achieve maximum results if they were geared specifically to the Region s geography In Hamilton a day support pro gram could be set up in one because of the availability of public transportation but this isn t true for especially in the North said Mr Harris A day support program offers families who have a member af flicted with the disease the chance to come together and share each others experience People need to know there are others like them said Mr Har The lack of public transports tion especially in the north part of the Region means a more suitable program would have to have someone from the chapter visit the family suggested Mr Hams Mr Harris couldn t emphasize enough the importance of support groups The other group most likely af fected by an Alzheimer victim is that person children said Mr Harris The children are usually in their 40 or 50 when the disease afflicts a parent The children therefore not on ly must deal with the parent but also their teenage children said Mr Harris This group is refer red to as the sandwich genera tion be added Mr Harris said Halton wouldn t get its own chapter until a steering committee is establish ed to organize the chapter This committee is just being set up now and once that is done the committee will aply for the grant money necessary to operate it he explained Duignan announces handicapped group to receive funds Noel Duignan MPP for North announced in grants and annual funding to the North Halton Association for the tally Handicapped The money will enable the agency to expand to serve additional adults with developmental disabilities in the Georgetown and Milton com The announcement was made on behalf of Zanana Akande On tario Minister of Community and Social Services Mr Duignan said that the fun ding includes annually to provide residential and day pro- grams for people with developmental disabilities The funding will also enable the association to serve a further adults with developmental disabilities in the Supported In dependent Living program A start up grant of will pay for renovations to jo residences to accommodate needs of the individuals who ill be moving in from homes This grant will also ay for minor renovations to day pro grams as well as new furnishings and equipment for residential and day programs In addition four vans will be purchased to provide transportation for the in in the association residential and other programs I am very pleased to an this worthwhile assistance from Mrs Akande ministry to the North Halton said Mr It will allow individuals with developmental disabilities to par at their own levels in their communities and at the same time gain a greater sense of independence