Dr. Lee Fairchild recalls the story of a village priest who told his congregation, “Next Sunday I propose to give a sermon about liars, I suggest that before then you all read Chapter Seventeen of St. Mark’s.”  Came the following Sunday, and the priest began, “Will all those who obliged me by reading Chapter Seventeen of St. Mark’s please raise their hands.”  Every right hand in the congregation shot up.  Observed the priest, “There are only sixteen chapters in St. Mark’s.  I will now deliver my sermon on liars.”
The archbishop had preached a rousing sermon on the beauties of married life.  Two buxom ladies from Bray left the church feeling uplifted and contented.  “Twas a fine sermon His Reverence gave us this morning,” observed one.
“That it was,” agreed the other, “and I wish I knew as little about the matter as he does.”

Then there is the story of the two Cub Scouts whose younger sister fell into the lake.  The two Cubs rushed home with tears streaming down their countenances.  “We tried to give her artificial respiration,” sobbed one to their mother, “but she kept getting up and walking away.”

One time, Art Link letter entertained a little girl named Ellen, and a boy of the same age she obviously adored named Stevie.  "When I grow up,” confided Ellen (all of five) “I’m going to marry Stevie.”
 “That’s great,” enthused Link letter. “Do you feel the same way about Ellen, Stevie?”
“Nah,” scowled Stevie. “Never as long as I live,”
“Why not?” persisted Mr. L
 “Because,” explained Stevie with some dignity, “every time I turn around school, she paints my nose.”

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n a letter sent to all retails in District B - 19 dated July 9, 2007, by Keith Corbould,  Director of said District, he advised that after seven months of operation in the current fiscal year (to 31 May), FCL had sales of $2.96 billion ($169 million over budget and $27 million better than last year).  The decrease in average selling prices of petroleum fuels did not occur to the extent forecast and food inflation was higher than anticipated.  Overall, a real sales growth of over 6.9% was reached versus a budget of 4.8%.  Keith further reported that in net savings, Crop Supplies and Food were ahead of budget; General Merchandise and Feed were right on.  Petroleum is ahead, at this point, $62 million.  TGP continues to do well with sales $10 million ahead of budget, most of which has gone to new savings.
Forest Products Division is well below budget in net savings for a total loss to this point of $9 million.  With depressed pricing and a lower quality log mix FCL decided to hold inventories until market conditions improve.  The annual spring maintenance shutdown (sawmill) was extended for over a month and will now start up on 23 July.
What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.
At the annual meeting The FCL Board will bring forward a recommendation that the number of districts (and therefore the number of directors) be reduced to a total of 15 from the current 19. With all the mergers and dissolutions we have seen over the past decade, the total number of retails has declined dramatically and we can easily forecast other moves in this direction over the next 5 years.
In order to address this we asked the directors from each province to look at their own situations, with the directors from BC and Alberta treating this as a single region.  The resulting recommended new distribution of districts would be Alberta/ BC 6 (down from 8), Sask. 6 (8), and Man 3 (4).  We feel that this reduced board size would work and we do not believe that it would be any less effective than the current number.
This would result in an average number of retails and total sales volume in each district of:
a.       BC/ Alberta            14*              $279.5 Million
b.      Sask.                       26                $217.1 Million
c.      Manitoba              15.3                $279.3 Million
   * with Calgary not counted as it is its own district.  Some might argue that the number should be further reduced but this is a very large company with a huge investment in your equity and it needs to be carefully monitored.  As well, the FCL Board is a “lay” board with no guarantee that its members will have the desired backgrounds to effectively oversee management-so there is a certain safety in numbers.  By the way, the resolution regarding number of districts would require only a simple majority to pass, and the results would be binding on the FCL Board.
The harder issue will be how we get to this new organization if it is approved.  Do we redraw the map, have the entire board resign and start all over, or do we accomplish this over a transition period as some directors will have only just been elected for a 3 -year term?  We have heard the odd concern expressed over the possibility of losing “our director”.  In the end, however, every retail co-op will continue to be represented on the FCL Board by a director whom they elect.
A full presentation on this issue will be made at the Fall Conference in November, which will give you time to form your opinion and give direction to your delegation.
Atlantic Panorama - The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) brought women managers from credit unions in developing countries to Canada this past July as part of the seventh running of its popular women’s Mentorship Program.  The fourteen women were hosted by Canadian credit unions from July 12 to 21 before flying to Calgary to attend the World Council of Credit Unions 2007 Conference.  In the past five years more than 100 Canadian credit unions have hosted and provided on-site mentoring/job shadowing opportunities to 87 women from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.  While in Canada, they will receive general leadership training and learn the ins-and-outs of managing a loans program.  CCA project officer Laurie Tennian.  Canadian Co-operative Association says.
“When tillage begins, other arts follow.  The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.” -Daniel Webster-
“Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest.” -Douglas William Jerrold-
Are you a member of your local Co-op?  If you are not perhaps it is time for you to look into the benefits of becoming one.
Here are some of the facts.
In 2006, members earned 5.0 cents per liter of fuel purchases at the Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op.  That’s how it works! Supporting Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op and using your member number is a good investment.  With each purchase at the Co-op, you build up equity and each year a percentage is paid back to members... in cash!
The more you buy the more you earn!
$10.00 buys you Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op Membership.  You immediately begin sharing in the company’s success.  At the end of the year, if our financial statement shows a profit, you share in that profit according to your purchases.
In 2006, the equity allocation rate 6.1% for all locations which include. -Bulk Petroleum -Gas Bar and Convenience Store -All Cardlock locations -Food Center -Home and Agro Center.
Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op Members Put Cash in Their Pockets!
Each year, the Board of Directors decides how much cash be paid to Co-op Members.  The actual General Cash Repayment is calculated as a percentage of equity allocation.  The percentage that applies depends on how much equity you have accumulated
Equity                                            General
Before Allocation                  Cash Repayment
$10 to $1500                           25% of Allocation
$1501 to 2500                        50% of Allocation
Over $2501                            75% of Allocation
If you have over $2,500.00 in equity before the allocation, your cash repayment would be 75% of the equity allocated to you this year.
This year equals a cash repayment of 75% of 5.0 cents per liter or 3.75 cents per liter in CASH paid to members.  With over 5.2 million being paid out in Equity and Cash Back, you can’t afford to miss out on next year’s earnings!
REAL EVERYDAY VALUE... Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op offers you a broad selection of food, hardware, agro, lumber and automotive products at competitive prices.  For exceptional on a wide variety of popular items, watch for the Value-Priced Every Day logo when you shop at Co-op.
Plus weekly savings... Every week, Vanderhoof & Districts Co-op grocery flyers advertise a selection of products at special promotional prices, so you can SAVE every time you shop.  Watch for the Home Center promotions for savings on hardware, lumber and housewares several times a year.  The Argo Center has “Rural Routes” sales for farmers and acreage owners in your area.
SERVICE... Whatever the weather, when you fill up at Co-op Gas Bar, the friendly staff will pump your fuel, clean your windows and ask to check your oil - while you stay comfortable in your vehicle.  It’s just part of Co-op’s commitment to providing High-Performance Service all year around.

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Times were really tough for those men who joined the navy and served their country in 1848.  A law listed various infractions and the punishment to be meted out to the guilty parties. Here are a few:
VIOLATION/STRIKE OF THE WHIP
Stealing a major’s wig/10                                    Making unnecessary noise/6
Not bathing regularly/12                                      Caught not wearing clothes/9
Wearing dirty clothes/12

Gaelic Sayings to live by:
Latha math (laah mah) means “Good Day”
Tha i breagha an-diugh! (he ee breeyah a jeeoo) means “It’s a beautiful today!”
Moran taling (moran tank) means “Thank You”

A fellow bought a new Mercedes and was out for a nice evening drive.  The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what was left of his hair and he decided to open her up.  As the needle jumped to 120 MPH he suddenly saw flashing red and blue lights behind him.
There’s no way they can catch a Mercedes, he thought to himself and he opened her up further. The needle hit 130, 140, 150, 160, before the reality of the situation hit him. “What the hell am I doing?” he thought and pulled over.
The cop came to him, took his license without a word and examined it and the car.
“It’s been a long day, this is the end of my shift and I don’t feel like more paper work, so if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven’t heard before you can go.”
The guy thinks for a second and says, “Last week my wife ran off with a cop, I was afraid you were trying to give her back.”
“Have a nice weekend;” said the officer.

Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet.
If you cross the road with a chicken, would you get the answer we’ve all been looking for?
Mind what you say, or you might say whatever comes to mind.
I’ll say my adieu, and hopefully be back you way next month around the same time.

Doug Smith, Member at Large