For years Clarissa’s husband denied that he was an aggressive driver.  That changed one day when they were out for a drive with their three-year old son, Matthew.  Seeing an opportunity, Clarissa asked Matthew about traffic lights.
“What does a red light mean?” she asked.
“Stop.”
“Good.  How about green?”
“Go.”
“And yellow?” she continued.
In his best deep-voice impression of Daddy, Matthew bellowed ... “Hang on!”

When the little boy came home from Sunday school, he asked his father, “Why does the Bible talk so much about the children of Israel?  Didn’t the grown-ups ever do anything?”

As advised in our last newsletter, we said we would give more info on West Nile.  The West Nile virus is carried by such birds as ravens, crows, magpies and jays.  If the corvids of such listed birds are found be very careful in handling them,
To help Northern Health with WNv testing, advise them and do not handle the bird carcass with bare hands.  Here are some pointers on how to carry out such a project.
Bird carcasses, like other animal remains, shouldn’t be left to rot on the ground or handled with bare hands.  When you’re disposing of a bird carcass:
* Make sure your hands and clothing do not touch the bird or its blood, secretions or droppings.
* Use heavy-duty, leak-proof rubber gloves like those used for house-cleaning.
* If you don’t have rubber gloves, use leak-proof plastic bags as a glove.
* Carefully pick up the bird with your hand protected by at least two layers of leak-proof plastic bags.  Then turn the bags inside out over the bird so it ends up inside the bags, with your hand on the outside.
* Handle the bird so that the beak or claws do not puncture the bag or gloves.
* Tightly close the plastic bag containing the bird, place it in another clean plastic bag, and tightly close that one as well.
* Wash your gloved hands, and then wash your bare hands after handling any dead animal.
* Dispose of your bird according to local garbage bylaws.
Now that you’ve learned more, remember...
* The risk of becoming seriously ill from West Nile virus is very low.
* Many species of mosquito do not carry the virus.  The greatest risk from being bitten is later in the season, from July to September.
* Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will show no symptoms.
* 20 per cent of infected patients will have mild, flu-like symptoms.
* In rare cases, the illness may be serious.
* Personal protection for yourself and your family is the most important protective measure for West Nile virus.
* Take personal steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites, including wearing long clothing, applying DEET-based repellents, and draining sources of standing water around your home.
* Handle dead birds with care, and report dead corvids (ravens, crows, magpies and jays) to your local Environmental Health office or on-line at www.bccdc.org

Saskatchewan Wheat Pool 2006 Annual Report Highlights

* SWP handled more grain, made more money on each tonne it handled, sold more inputs and processed more products and lowered interest costs by converting a large part of its debt to equity.
* A stronger balance sheet has positioned SWP for growth.  Capital spending of $40 million is planned for next year, up 33% from this year.
* Grain prices are rising, export forecast is strong and farmers’ income should improve this year.
* The grain handling sector needs consolidation.  Excess capacity exceeds 25%.
* Agriproduct sales rose 5% to $540 million.  Fertilizer accounted for 62% of that and pesticides 25%.
Did you get to attend the 62^nd Annual General Meeting held April 23, 2007?  Usually I would have reported on this matter in the Newsletter of May, however some how I overlooked this until this date.  So better late than never.
If you did attend, you will already know your Co-op had another great year and in case you didn’t I’ll let you in on some of the top points;
* Net earnings were $9.0 million compared to $5.8 million in 2006.
* Note that petro sales represent 87% of total sales.  The Board does not intend to ignore other services provided to our members.  Through decor enhancements, product selection, display and promotion, we intend to ensure our facilities remain second to none as a preferred place to shop.
* One area of emphasis over the next few years will be an expansion/renovation of our outside building supply/agro center.  Our objective is to have indoor storage and display of all products susceptible to outdoor elements such as windows, door, plywood and other products.  This will be a significant project and will take time to properly plan and implement.
* We have purchased the property east and adjacent to our card lock facility.  By fall we should have all lube storage and our truck fleet moved to this site.  This will free congestion at the C-store and provide for future expansion there.
* Despite our aggressive petro agenda, we were pleased to be able to offer assistance to a sister Co-operative.  Last fall we entered into a management with Fort St. John to manage their petroleum business.  Thanks.  Due to the management capabilities of Clifford and his staff, we were able to undertake this project, without detriment to services provided here.  Fort St. John’s Board of Directors are totally satisfied with the service provided.
Director Rene Jones presented the report on behalf of the Member Relations.  Some of the highlights from Rene’s report;
In the year 2006 some 856 new members were signed up, welcome aboard to our new members.  With the extended membership we were able to give out a total of 10 scholarships, we also supported the YES camp, 4-H, and many other youth oriented activities.
Once again we have donated over $35,000 in financial or in-kind to a variety of groups from Prince George to terrace communities we operate in.
(Thank you, Rene, for your kind remarks concerning the Newsletter, they are much appreciated.)
Two new cardlocks were opened in 2006; one at Canfor at Isle Pierre and one at McBride Forest Products at McBride, and a cardlock is currently under construction at Valemount.
Staff Service Awards were presented to;
  5 Year Award to Joyce Silver and Tricia Turcotte
10 Year Award to Dawn-Elise Mountifield and Mark Hurring
15 Year Award to Len Wall and Suzy Provencher
20 Year Award to Lora-Lee Hunsaker
The book bin donated another $1,140.43 to the Nechako View Seniors Home Society.

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.”
“Laugh and the world laughs with you; snore and you sleep alone.”
“Without enough sleep, we all become tall two-year olds.”

What is the safest way to drink from a soda can?

Through a straw, after wiping off the top.
WHY?  Studies have shown that most unwashed soda cans are spotted with mold and bacteria.  Usually, these bacteria are harmless or aren’t concentrated enough to make you sick; however, other diseases could be lurking.  If you don’t wipe off the top, the tab will transfer bacteria into the drink when it plunges into the liquid upon opening the can.  Sipping from a straw through a clean spout will keep you safe from anything that may be living on the surface of the can.
** WORDS OF CAUTION: There is a remote (but real) possibility that you could catch hantavirus, an often fatal respiratory pathogen spread by rodents, from the top of a soda can.  This could happen if the can were kept outside or in a garage and were exposed to rat or mouse droppings.

Once, many years ago, some boys were tormenting a dog and throwing stones at it, so one of its legs was broken.  Then a little girl came upon the scene, went to the animal and comforted it.  She bandaged the dog’s leg, and before long it had made an excellent recovery.  The dog was Florence Nightingale’s very first patient.

Facts on falls:
• Seniors age 65 and over account for 40% of all injury hospitalizations.  Falls account for 85% of seniors’ hospitalizations.
• The Fall-related injury rate is nine times greater among seniors than among those less than 65 years of age.
• Almost half of seniors who fall have a minor injury, and 5 to 25% sustain a serious injury such as a fracture or a sprain.
• Falls cause more than 90% of all hip fractures in seniors, and 20% die within a year.
• 40% of all nursing-home admissions occur as a result of falls.
• Even without an injury, a fall can cause loss in confidence and a curtailment of activities, which can lead to a decline in health and function, and contribute to future falls with more serious outcomes.
• A 20% reduction in falls would translate into an estimated 7,500 fewer hospitalizations and 1,800 fewer permanently disabled seniors.  The overall national savings could amount to $138 million annually.
(So let us seniors be more careful out there, it can be a cruel cruel world.)

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The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake.”
The five most important words: “You did a good job.”
The four most important words: “What is your opinion?”
The three most important words: “If you please.”
The two most important words: “Thank you.”
The least important word: “I.”

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Glen Tully was re-elected president of the Board of Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) at a meeting held on March 6, 2007.  The FCL board of directors consists of 19 members elected from 19 geographical regions in western Canada.  The president is primarily responsible for the functioning of the democratic decision making structure that guides the operation of FCL.  The FCL presidency is a full-time position, based at FCL’s home office in Saskatoon.  Herb Carlson, of Buchanan, Sk. was re-elected vice-chair of the board at the same meeting.

FCL provides central wholesaling, manufacturing, marketing and administrative services to member retail co-operatives located across western Canada.  These 281 autonomous retail co-operatives, representing an estimated 1,200,000 individual co-op members, own FCL.  Together, FCL and its member retail co-operatives form the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS).  Through FCL, co-ops share in the ownership of Consumers’ Co-operative Refineries Limited (CCRL) in Regina, a plywood plant and sawmill in Canoe, BC, feed plants in seven western Canadian locations, and the Grocery people, an Edmonton-based grocery wholesaler and fresh produce supplier serving independent food retailer in four western provinces, the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

President Hoover had a copy of this “Fisherman’s Prayer” framed and hung in his study at the Waldorf Towers:

And so may you and I be also justly found to be keepers when our time finally comes.

Bye Bye for now and until we meet once more.

Doug Smith, Member at Large