4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 24, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OSO veteran at her best when challenged Continued from page 3 "I soon learned the rules," she added, proving once again that experience is a great teacher. "I think community orchestras like the OSO have a responsibility to provide that experience for young people, because they aren't likely to get it with the Toronto Symphony." The OSO, a genuine success story and fully subscribed for the past two sea- sons, was founded in 1967 with the first rehearsals in the spring of 1968. Jones says she was there at the second rehearsal with about 20 or 25 others. She was new to Oakville then with her husband and four small children. "Music is the colour in my life," she said. "When I need to relax, unwind, I listen to music. I love to play Mozart and Handel. I like to listen to Beethoven, but he is very difficult to play, a real endurance test that I'm not up to. "I'm not a great violinist, mediocre at best," she said modestly, adding, "But I am a good organizer. I've done a lot of organizing. I think I have a knack for committee work. One of my sons-in-law says if I'd been in charge of World War II it would have been over two years earlier." Well, we will never know that, however her 30 years of volunteer work with the Red "I learned from an early age that you need to do things for others, to contribute." Janet Jones, veteran OSO player and board member self Special This S Your easo ake n M Cross locally, and at the provincial and national levels, is well documented. Her volunteer work at St. John's United Church was just a natural progression. "I was brought up in the BRA FITTING EXPERT PETITE TO FULL FIGURE AA TO JJ church," Jones said. She was born Janet Swerdfager, in Ottawa, one of the middle children in a family of four kids. "I learned from an early age that you need to do things for others, to contribute." Her continuous involvement with the OSO has spanned 40 years as a player, 12 years as a board member, three of those years as chair. It has been a unifying theme in her life. "I love to have a project," she said. Her most significant achievements, she felt, were twofold: getting the Friends of the OSO off the ground a straightforward fundraising gambit that has netted the orchestra over $250,000 in the past decade and, developing a printed program that was attractive, informative and totally paid for by advertising. "Janet has an amazing ability to get to the core of an issue. If a challenge presents itself, she finds a way to fix it. She knows intuitively what is needed and she does it," said de Clara. "What is even more impressive is that she manages to do it in a warm and graceful way. She's an amazing person," he said. When asked to share her personal philosophy Jones said matter-of-factly, "I guess what I would say is I think it is important to try and give back. I know we've been fortunate. I have a wonderful husband who has looked after us very well, always had good jobs and been a great provider. "We have been blessed with four wonderful children who have done well in life, and 12 grandkids that we are very proud of. We are blessed in many ways. "Now I'm in a bad place with my health, but I'll deal with it," she said, quietly explaining that she has cancer and is trying to build up her strength to re-start chemotherapy. It's a bitter pill, she admitted, but added that her husband has been a rock through it all, along with her family and friends. "I feel surrounded by friends and family," Jones said, "I feel I need to get better for their sakes as well as mine." The Drape Lady: Customized design and service to suit your needs r wea Swimsuit eep ras, for Ever s, Sl ! B ybody H aving dressed thousands of windows over the past 20 years, Elisabeth knows the secrets of the trade and draws from a wealth of experience. Keeping looks and practicality in mind, Elisabeth will develop the perfect design for your window. She offers a wide variety of fabrics and stylish hardware to enhance the atmosphere of your living space. Be it traditional, formal, casually elegant, or updated traditional,Elisabeth will create the style that best enhances a well balanced flow throughout your home. · Sexy Silks · Elegant Robes · Cozy Cottons · Flannel PJ's The Drape Lady Gift Certificates Available Voted #1 Lingerie Store Once again Elisabeth would like to thank all of her loyal customers for working with her and passing "the word" on to friends and neighbours. 100 Bronte Road, Unit #3, Oakville 905-847-1512 South of Lakeshore Road www.goodnightgoodmorning.ca She can be reached at "The Drape Lady Interior" at 905-847-3287 www.drapelady.ca