Car Wash for FWRC

Congratulations Christine Aarlat on your successful car wash in aid of Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre!  Christine and her crew of faithful friends did the honours in washing while DAF’ers Brooke (along with x-DAF’er Councillor Judi Partridge) waved at and flagged down cars, while Sandy manned the donation bin.

We raised $600  (up from $440 last year) on Saturday.

Boston Pizza fed the volunteers again, KX94.7 stopped in to do a radio spot for us and they mentioned CT&G Automotive, Soroptimist DAF, and the Women’s Resource Centre.  Sandy donated the wash buckets and soap, as well has her time and expertise, Brooke helped out all day at the event, Shirley lent us the drying towels again this year.  Thank you thank you 🙂

CT&G Car Wash

Thank you Cable 14

Soroptimist International of Dundas Ancaster Flamborough would like to extend our thanks to Linda Rourke and the team at Cable 14 for hosting our President on Hamilton Life this morning. Brooke was the first guest of the morning, and the show airs at noon today.

If you’d like to find out more about Soroptimist and the work we do in the community to improve the lives of women and girls, come to our next meeting on Thursday June 6. The meeting starts at 7pm in the Community Room upstairs in the Fortino’s on Main Street West( at Rifle Range Rd).

Not from the west end of Hamilton? Not to worry! We have three sister clubs in the Hamilton area:

Soroptimist International of Hamilton-Burlington:
http://soroptimisthamiltonburlington.blogspot.ca/

Soroptimist International of Stoney Creek-Niagara:
http://www.sistoneycreek-niagara.ca/

Soroptimist International of Haldimand-Norfolk:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~soroptimist/

Top Ten Things Every Woman Should Know About Their Car

Thank you to Christine from CT&G Automotive Specialists and Sandra from the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre for hosting the Car Care Clinic tonight. It was an excellent learning opportunity for women to feel more confident talking to their mechanic.

If you weren’t able to make it, these are the top 10 things every woman should know about their car.

10. The hype about nitrogen in tires.

As of 2008, the government required all light duty vehicles sold to be equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems.  This created chaos at dealerships every time the weather changed.  Air expands and contracts with temperature changes, causing tire pressure monitor lights to illuminate and customers to panic.  Nitrogen does not change pressure as the temperature varies, solving this seasonal problem.  There will be no harm done to your vehicle if regular air is added to tires previously filled with nitrogen.  Tires filled with air can be easily adjusted with the seasons if you don’t want to shell out the extra money for nitrogen, this could cost over $50.00!!

9.  Don’t leave your pre-trip inspection to the last minute!

Driving up north for a couple weeks?  Going down south for the winter?  Don’t leave your pre-trip inspection to the last minute; you may have to delay your vacation because of vehicle repairs!  When you bring your vehicle to a shop for a pre-trip inspection, a good technician will test all the safety features of your vehicle.   Also, they should thoroughly look at maintenance items to make certain they will last the length of your trip; spark plugs, belts, and fluids.  Unless you are incredibly detail oriented when it comes to the maintenance of your vehicle, it is likely that you will need a repair done to your vehicle before you leave.  This may take up to a day or two, depending on the availability of your vehicle parts, so plan ahead.

8.  YouTube and Google are very useful tools!

Ever had a mechanic or service writer tell you that your car needed something that you had no idea existed?  Ever feared that they were just making up a word and attaching a rather large price tag to said word?  Look it up!!!  Over the past 8-10 years, the internet has exploded with consumers sharing their experiences with all sorts of products, including vehicles and repairs.  Search the recommended repair and see what comes up.  Keep in mind, not everything on the Internet is true, therefore take the time to read numerous write ups before you make your final decision.

7.  Your owners’ manual contains a lot of practical information!

Every manufacturer has a different idea as to when maintenance should be performed.   Each manufacturer is unique with what type of oil, fuel, coolant, etc. they endorse in their vehicles as well.  Use your owners’ manual to help you prepare for expenses related to your vehicle.  Timing belts, transmission services and tune ups are among the more expensive items you will be faced with down the road.

6.  Winter tires actually do make a difference.

I’m sure that most of us have been stuck in a snow bank or even some deep snow, some of us have hit a patch of black ice and had the sin scared out of us (if we were lucky!) and we have all watched on as other drivers plowed through as though there was no snow.  Snow tires have come a very long way over the past decade.  They are engineered to stick to the road, keep your car going in the right direction on ice, and muscle through small snow banks.  Snow tires are made of a softer rubber compound than all season or summer tires, this helps when the temperatures drop to bone chilling cold.  Summer tires become hard, much like a hockey puck, while winter tires will remain softer.  Winter tires also have siping in their tread.  This is just small cuts all over the tread to allow the tire to stick to ice and snow.  Think of it this way, you are on a slab of ice, one foot is bare, while the other has a sock on it.  The foot with the sock will stick to the ice, while the foot with no sock will be sliding all over the place.  This is very similar to winter tires (socked foot) and summer tires (bare foot).

5. Your car should not squeak, clunk, shimmy or grind!!!

Pay attention to the noises that your car is making, as well as any sort of vibrations that happen at different times.  These are all signs that something is not quite right with your car.  Paying attention to these issues and having them addressed could save your life and the lives of other motorists as well as pedestrians.   Make sure you know when the noise occurs.  Is it at a certain speed?  When you’re braking?  When the car is idling, going over bumps, cornering or reversing?  This will help your mechanic pin-point the issue to repair it more efficiently.

4. Tires should be rotated.

Tire manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every 10,000km, which works out to roughly every second oil change.  By rotating your tires, you are increasing the-life span of your tires.  Tires are expensive, so maintain them!

3.   The lights on your dash board mean something!!!!

The lights on your dashboard are there for an important reason: to keep you safe while on the road!!  Pay close attention to these lights.  Even that pesky check engine light that “has been on ever since I bought the car” is now more important than before.  If a vehicle has a check engine light on, it will no longer pass the emission test in Ontario.   If your ABS (anti-locking brake system) or air bag warning light(s) are on, this means that these systems will no longer function.  It’s critical because if you are in an accident, your air bags will not deploy, and if you have to slam on your brakes, your ABS system will not kick in.  Be aware of the light show on your dashboard and check your owners’ manual to see what those lights mean!

2.  Cars require maintenance.

A vehicle is the second biggest purchase the average household will make, second to their home, so consider your car a significant investment.  Even though you may be driving a brand new car, it will still require timely maintenance.  Vehicles have hundreds of thousands of moving parts, all wearing little by little every time you start your vehicle.  Minor maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations should happen every 3-6 months depending on the manufacturer.  Your owners’ manual will give you a better idea of what is recommended for your vehicle.  This will help to keep your investment in good shape and avoid costly repairs in the long run.

1. Know your rights.

Know what is and is not legal going into a repair shop.  Whether it’s the small shop in town or the big dealership in the heart of the city, your rights are always the same.  They are not allowed to make any repairs to your vehicle without your consent.  They are not allowed to hold your vehicle if repairs have been done that you did not authorize.  And even though it is not technically a law, they are not allowed to bully you into repairing your vehicle.  It is YOUR vehicle, and it is YOUR decision whether or not you want that repair done and where you want that repair done.  Take your time to make the right decisions for you, and for your vehicle!!

Car Care Clinic

This year’s first annual Car Care Clinic has been rescheduled and will be held on May 16th, starting at 7:00pm, ending around 8:30pm.

You never know where you may get stranded, North or South! The goal of this course is to help women feel more comfortable taking their vehicle in for repairs. Christine from CT&G will be teaching your rights at a repair shop, as well as a basic understanding of what is under the hood of your car.

“Talking to your Mechanic: a clinic to help women feel more confident at the garage” is being held at CT&G Automotive Sepcialists at 941 Centre Rd (Flamborough Centre).

Please pass this information on to anyone you know that might be interested in this seminar. Everyone is welcome!

Please RSVP by May 14th to: Christine at 905-690-6660 (CT&G Automotive Specialist) or Sandra at 289-895-8580 (Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre) .

This event is sponsored by CT&G Automotive Specialists and Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre.

2013 Awards Gala

Please join us for our annual Awards Gala where we will be honouring local women and girls in our community and recognizing their achievements with three awards:

  • The Women’s Opportunity Award: Recognizing a woman who is the head of her household and actively enrolled in a further education program so she may provide a better life for her family.
  • The Violet Richardson Award: Recognizing a 13-17 year old female student who works tirelessly towards helping others in our community and celebrating her commitment to volunteerism.
  • The Ruby Award: Recognizing a local woman in the community who has made a difference in the live of women & girls in our community.

This evening is a proud event for us that is made possible through our continued fundraising to help women & girls in our community and throughout the world.

We invite you to join us in celebration and hear their inspiring stories on Wednesday May 22, 2013 at Copetown Woods Golf Course (directions). Doors open at 6pm and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are available in advance (not at the door) for $35 and include a delicious meal. Dress code is cocktail/semi formal (or as we like to say, your best party dress). Gentlemen are welcome.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, speak with one of our Soroptimist Members, or contact us directly at soroptimistdaf@gmail.com. Tickets must be reserved by May 15th. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Flamborough Chamber: Outstanding Business Awards, 2013

On Saturday March 2, 2013, Soroptimist International of Dundas~Ancaster~Flamborough celebrated the success of one of its members, Janet Barnard, at the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala, held at Flamborough Hills Golf & Country Club in Copetown. Janet, SI-DAF’s hard working treasurer, was presented with an Outstanding Business Achievement Award for her services to bookkeeping for the Flamborough Chamber over several years. Also present at the Awards celebration were the new Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, Ted McMeekin MPP, and Hamilton City Councillors Judy Partridge and Robert Pasuta . Janet and the other Soroptimist members had a chance to speak briefly with Premier Wynne, and though the Premier had not heard of Soroptimist International prior to that night, she expressed interest in our organization and promised to find out more about us. What a wonderful evening, and a special honour for Janet!

Pictured in the photo from left to right are Ted McMeekin MPP, SI-DAF members Christine Aarlaht, Pauline Hardcastle, Shirley Eden, Premier Kathleen Wynne, SI-DAF member and award winner Janet Barnard.

From left to right, SI-DAF members Christine Aarlaht and Pauline Hardcastle, Hamilton City Councillors Robert Pasuta and Judi Partidge (both valued supporters of SI-DAF), and SI-DAF members Maria Demkowich, Shirley Eden and Janet Barnard.

Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Are you smarter than a 5th grader??

Have fun testing your team’s knowledge (or lack there of). We will form teams of 6 or BYOT (Bring Your Own Team). Doors open at 6pm, Trivia from 7. There will be a light meal and cash bar, raffles, 50/50 and a feature draw for a $500 Entertainment Basket (winner need not attend).

Join us at the the Royal Canadian Legion 79 Hamilton Street North, Waterdown.Tickets are $25.

CSW57: Agreed Conclusions

“At the conclusion of the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women welcomes the outcome of the meeting. The Agreed Conclusions are a testimony to the commitment of Member States to do the right thing, to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. In the last two weeks during the meeting in New York, and in the lead-up to this session, we witnessed global engagement and mobilization, high-profile advocacy by civil society, and determined leadership by many Member States. Expectations of the world’s women and girls were extremely high for this session of the Commission.”

An excerpt from the UN Women press release, of March 15th, these words echo Executive Director Michelle Bachelet’s closing statement, where she expressed thanks and reflected on the purpose and outcomes of the Commission on the Status of Women:

It is a tribute to this Commission that since its first session 66 years ago, it has welcomed representatives of civil society, in a model of inclusion. I pay a special tribute to the thousands of civil society representatives who came here and raised their voices.

The interest and attendance at this 57th session of CSW reflects the importance in all of our countries of the urgency to end violence against women and girls. The world has been watching us. We came here two weeks ago with the opportunity, and the obligation, to do all we could to protect the rights of women and girls, the right to live in dignity, free of violence and discrimination. People expected action and we have no right to let down the world’s women. And we have not failed them. Yes, we did it!

Sixty-six years ago, the Commission on the Status of Women met for the first time with 15 member States in attendance. Since then, we have witnessed critical gains in ensuring that women enjoy the same human rights as men. Today 131 member States attended the 57th session of this Commission.

Since its inception, this Commission has moved forward, guided by the principle articulated in the UN Charter — the principle of the equal rights of men and women.

Today, 66 years later, the world is far different than it was then.

Last year the member states did not agree and no outcome document was completed. There was a time last week when it was thought it may be the case again this year, where it was better to maintain existing agreements than agree by consensus to a loss of rights. It is my joy to announce that on Saturday an agreement was reached.  Apparently there was a closed door session and sometime after that a cheer could be heard from behind closed doors. I understand that all the points Soroptimist International was lobbying for were accepted into the final document. It was a whirlwind week, and I am thankful that there was an outcome.

What happens next? We find ways to hold Canada accountable.

CSW: Opening Remarks

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the UN Celebrations for International Women’s Day in the North Lawn Building, Conference Room 2. I add that Conference Room 4 (overflow via telecast) was also full.

The morning consisted of remarks from the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, the Ambassador of France, and the Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, who made the following statement of power with a positive visualization:

“My message today is:

We cannot move backwards, we must keep moving forward. It is what we owe to millions of women fighting for their rights around the world. There can be no peace, no progress, no equality without women’s full and equal rights and participation.

And there can be no gender equality without women’s realization. Women’s realization of their full reproductive rights, their right to sexual and reproductive health, are essential to the empowerment of women and to gender equality.

I am pleased to announce that 50 governments and the European Commission have committed to take concrete action to end violence against girls and women… Together we must keep the promise so women and girls can, one day, in this century, live free of fear and violence.”

While not named explicitly in her speech, Canada is listed amongst that 50. A full list is available online: http://saynotoviolence.org/commit. More information about the UNITE campaign can be found online: http://endviolence.un.org/ however I was unable to find a copy of the video that was shown online.

The panel that followed was on the elderly and widowed; indigenous women; women living with HIV/AIDS, and immigrant women, followed by remarks on women with disabilities. It was an excellent discussion to draw attention to those groups who are often neglected in deliberations because they are not in the mainstream/normal category.

CSW: March in March

UN Women for Peace held their annual March in March on International Women’s Day. We marched from the gates of the UN to a platform. It was our pleasure to hear celebrities and dignitaries speak out against violence against women – all forms, zero tolerance. Kelly Rutherford was moved to tears but UN appointed Disney Actress and youth activist Monique Coleman spoke with pride about being a “Youth Champion” for the International Year of Youth in 2010 and the need to further address violence: sexual and physical.


Susan Sarandon. Photo Courtesy of: http://unwomenforpeace.org/wp-content/gallery/march-on-march-8-2013/susansarandonmarchmarch8nyc0uefgy8ijdwl.jpg

We were given hope for the insufferable plight of girls who wish to be educated when Susan Sarandon read a message from Malala Yousafzai. Even General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon attended to demonstrate his solidarity and support. What struck me most was  Lakshmi Puri’s call and response, which evoked such a strong emotion when she yelled out to the crowd:

Today and every day we say NO to discrimination and violence against women and girls.NO to domestic violence and abuse.

NO to rape and sexual violence.

NO to human trafficking and sexual slavery.

NO to female genital mutilation.

NO to child brides and child marriage.

NO to murders committed in the name of honour or passion.

NO to femicide.

NO to impunity.

And we say YES to peace, human rights, justice and equality.

The formal remarks were lead by Mrs. Ban Soon-Taek, followed by  Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women, and  Amb Rosemary A. DiCarlo, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.  The planned celebrity speakers included: Michael Bolton, Christy Turlington, Kelly Rutherford, Monique Coleman, Alexandra Richards, Alexis Bledel, and Linda Fairstein.