SLC Retirees Association
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‘There’s no place like home

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Yes, even now these 5 words ring truer than ever before. Home is not only where the ❤️ heart is, it’s where safety is. It’s where we can re-examine our values, old books, past hobbies and interests.

I think of our Association a lot these days and place blessings of relief on not having to work at home with toddlers running around, just cats purring happily beside my keyboard, or perhaps worse, flipping up pieces of my unfinished jigsaw puzzle.

As alone as we think or feel we might be, we aren’t. Stay connected with each other. Turn up the music. Stay focused. Be vigilant. Be kind, and smile behind that mask as you dance in your kitchen,

Our fair city is in good shape, Spring is on the horizon as the groundhog nears his coming out party, and oh, what a party it will be.

With sincere hope, and my best regards, to each and every one.

​Nancy Sudak, President

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Gwyn Williams — February 15, 2021

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Passed away peacefully at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KGH) on Monday, February 15, 2021, just shy of his 87th birthday. Predeceased by his first wife and soul-mate Mair. Gwyn will be sadly missed by his wife Tara-Lee, daughter Susan (Kevin), granddaughter Megan, son Robert (Michelle), sisters Enfys and Glesny and brother Howard. Fondly remembered by his extended family and many friends.

"We will always remember your special smile, your caring heart and the warm embrace that you always gave us."

There will be no funeral service or viewing due to restrictions related to Covid-19. For those desiring, memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society would be appreciated by the family.


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Think, before you send or share

Dick Tindal
The common experience of Association members is having worked for an educational institution. How distressing it is, therefore, to find that today’s population seems so ill-informed on many subjects and quick to embrace extreme and unfounded views. One tragic consequence was the recent invasion of Congress carried out by American citizens convinced – against all evidence – that Trump had actually won the recent election.

In earlier times, we had prominent broadcasters who were respected and believed when they presented the news of the day. You will doubtless recall Walter Cronkite (to include the best known American example) Earl Cameron, Stanley Burke, and Peter Mansbridge.

Today, however, we are inundated with sources of information, thanks particularly to the proliferation of social media outlets on the Internet. While consulting and considering varied sources could lead to a well-informed population, the opposite has been the case. People increasingly turn to specific sources that tell them what they want to hear, while ignoring or rejecting all other perspectives on an issue. The result is increasing division and distrust.

Our best defense is to inform ourselves, to reflect, and to come to our own conclusions about issues. Thirty years ago, we would not have automatically accepted some comment scrawled on the bathroom stall of a public washroom, so why do we accept uncritically comments posted on the Internet? We need to check on the source and possible validity of any such comments, especially before we share them. We need to consider alternative points of view on the subject in question, judge the merits of the different perspectives, and decide for ourselves what to believe. By so doing, we can help to neutralize the potential danger inherent in the Internet and especially the various forms of social media. 

I hope fellow retirees will join the conversation with their views on this issue and what they are doing to keep some balance and moderation in their reading and responding.

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Do You Remember ​?

Contest for SLC Retirees!
​
take a trip down memory lane

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Your mission, should you choose to accept it – to quote the opening line from that old TV series “Mission Impossible” – is to visit this website regularly, read the latest scenario, and then post the name of the individual being described. 
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It's really easy for you to participate in this contest, go to the link in the yellow box below. 

Scenario #12

Do You Remember...​
Click Here to answer
To reach this contest, and other contests,
​just go to the Contest link in the Navigation Bar at the top of the page.
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SLC Retirees
have had lots to say
about our contests!

Our Do You Remember contest continues and while our COVID contest has long since passed, the pesky pandemic perseveres and retirees are still responding to our invitation to tell how they are managing these days
...like this response from Cathy TeKamp in Brockville:

I'm quite well and trying to make myself more attractive medically speaking  to the Nova Scotian premier so that he and his border patrol will not hassle me as I attempt to visit my grandson in NS. I hate to sing " Farewell to Nova Scotia '' until I get there one more time.
 
To that end, I have submitted to a Covid test (negative), stood in line in pouring rain for 2 hours to have bloodwork done, and propelled myself into the 21st century by learning how to read my results online. All that Latin and Greek from 55 years ago came in handy as I assessed my results and decided I would live to fight again another day.
 
I have a phone appointment with my doc sometime in November to assess the results but by then I will have treated myself with beetroot and elderberry tea or something from my great-grandmother's prairie cure diary.

And these responses ...

Aubert Pereira wrote that “Phoebe and I are coping OK with the current situation.  Just waiting for the end of it, hopefully next year. I really like your advice to be kind to yourself and reduce the stresses in your life. – right on the mark! Take care, stay safe.”
 
Larry Gibbons told us that although he has “started marketing my novel and ^&*(hate doing it), he “will not be able to resist the [U.S. Election] debate. I can't resist watching the super con-man who in another life was handing out guns with bent sights to the suckers to use to shoot at little yellow ducks.” 
 
Anne Breault wrote to say that she “will not be watching the Gong Show” (the U.S. Election debate). “Battle of blades sounds much more interesting to me.”

Please get involved!

  • Share with us what you are doing to keep busy (and sane) during this “new normal.”
  • Send an email. It’s easy! Click on the CONTACT button in the navbar above and fill in the blanks!
  • Identify a former colleague in the “Do You Remember” challenge
  • Post your favourite recollection of the colleague identified in the challenge.
The “Do You Remember” series of scenarios are developed by 3M (our Mystery Memory Maven – aka Humble Scribe—aka Dick Tindal) and you can expect one to appear on our website at least once a week.

"Do You Remember" tests your memory
but how is your mental fitness?

Click here to find out
We are an organization dedicated to facilitating contact between former staff members of St. Lawrence College. Our focus is primarily on social activities but we also advocate on matters of interest to our members, including pensions.​
Members of Executive
(Elected at the 2019 AGM)
  • ​Nancy Sudak, President
  • Pennie Carr-Harris, Vice-President 
  • Thelma Mott, Treasurer and Membership
  • ​Dick Tindal, Social Convenor
  • Ron Kelly, Webmaster
  • Bill Kirby, Founder
  • John Anderson Immediate Past President

Nancy, Pennie, Thelma,  Dick, Ron, Bill and John

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Issue #11,  Dick Tindal's very latest, 
Retiree Reflections,
Ruminations, and Ramblings (R4)


Issue # 12
February 1, 2021

Enjoy!
To read other recent Reflections, Ruminations and Ramblings
​click on the links below.
Issue#11, January 3, 2021
Issue #10, November 24, 2020

Issue #9, July 7, 2020
Issue # 8, June 23, 3030
Issue #7, May 8, 2020
Issue #6, April 19, 2020

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​Have you renewed your membership this year?

In this most unusual year, we have not had the regular events at which many of the members normally renew.

It is gratifying that so many of you have done so, but this is a reminder to others that we would really appreciate your $10 renewal. Indeed, at this point in the year, why not send us $20 and be covered for 2021 as well.

Please forward your cheque, payable to St. Lawrence College Retirees’ Association, to:
St. Lawrence College Retirees’ Association
c/o Thelma Mott, Treasurer/Membership
100 Inverness Crescent, Kingston, ON, K7M 6N
7

If you know of a retiree who might be interesting in joining our Association, a membership form is available below.

Membership Application Form

If you are interested in joining us just Click the button below, print the PDF, fill in the information and mail it with your membership fee. Or join at any meeting of the Association.
​You're welcome!
Membership Application
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2019 in Review
2018 was also
​a good year

​ for our association. Here are some of the highlights​

2018 in Review

Ever wonder how a drone might view the Kingston Campus?

Here's a link to a fast 60-second video overview
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Click on the card above to read St. Lawrence College before IT
​
a Voyageur column by Dick Tindal

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 Root Cellar Memories

Dick Tindal's Retiree Association column in a recent issue of Voyageur  focused on the Root Cellar and its role in the rich social life of the college in the early decades. Dick  issued an invitation to our members to share their memories of this venerable site.  He is pleased to pass along this contribution from John Mason which illustrates the extensive volunteer activities of early Root Cellar members.

​Read Root Cellar Tales Here
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The Book of Memories

highlighting the first half century of SLC has been published! You can read an electronic copy HERE
Or order a printed copy with a click of this button
Book of Memories Order form
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No Rocking Chair Yet!
Volunteering
Many, many retirees are actively volunteering throughout the community. 
Here is Dick Tindal's surprising

REPORT
You can reach the Volunteer page anytime
by clicking on the drop-down tab Volunteers
under Bulletin Board
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