Archive for 'SI-DAF Events'
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!!
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.
May 8 2013 under SI-DAF Events
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!
March 27 2013 under SI-DAF Events
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.
March 24 2013 under SI-DAF Events
Soroptimist International of Dundas Ancaster Flamborough has been serving our community for over 25 years. We are inviting the community to join us on March 27th, 6-9 pm at Amica on Dundas.
We delighted to be joined by Denise Doyle from the YWCA who will share with us about the Encore program and women’s health. We are also looking forward to hearing from Karen DeSilva, a past winner of the Women’s Opportunity Award and co-founder of WISDOM: Women, Inspiring, Strength, Determination, Optimism, and Motivation to women in addictions and need. We look forward to hearing how her education has positively impacted her life.
We are also honoured to introduce Jennifer Lucking representing Walk With Me who will be speaking on Education and Awareness of Human Trafficking. It is also hoped that one of her Board Directors, Lepa Jankovic of the RCMP, will also be in attendance. You will hear Jennifer tell us how Timea Nagy, herself a survivor of trafficking , started the organisation and is now considered to be a leading authority on human trafficking. So much so that she was awarded The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her services to victims and the authorities. Human trafficking or trafficking in persons is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, often described as a modern day form of slavery. It happens right here in the Hamilton area! Walk With Me Canada Victim Services is a survivor led organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing education on issues of slavery, delivering and coordinating services supporting “victims to become survivors,” and advocating action for change.
This is a free event. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be provided.
RSVP online: http://soroptimistdaf-awareness.eventbrite.ca/
February 27 2013 under SI-DAF Events
This year, Soroptimist International of Dundas~Ancaster~Flamborough (SIDAF) celebrates its 25th anniversary, having been chartered in May 1987. We are women at their best helping other women achieve their best, and we have been doing so locally for a quarter of a century!
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization for women in management and professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. With almost 90,000 members in over 125 countries and territories, it is the world’s largest classified service organization for executive and professional women. It was our great pleasure to welcome our newest member, Christine, at our anniversary dinner.
Soroptimists work together with groups and individuals to help women and girls in our local communities of Dundas, Ancaster & Flamborough, and throughout the world. Together, we focus on issues such as domestic violence, poverty, lack of adequate child care, sexual harassment, inequities in the workplace, and other challenges unique to today’s women. Through our major fundraisers such as our Christmas Loonie Toonie Auction in November, our service work with local organizations such as Wesley Urban Ministries, the YWCA, and Drummond House, our support of initiatives such as Christmas hampers through the Salvation Army and Hamilton Basketeers, and participating in the Ancaster Food Drive and the Alzheimer Walk for Memories, we strive to raise awareness and serve the needs of women and girls.
In the attached photo are our award winners, from left to right: Crystal Dainard, Samantha Pirrera, Tambu Kahari, Jasmin Goldstein; Club President Shirley Eden, Cathy Braden
This year our anniversary celebration was held jointly with our annual Awards Night at Copetown Woods Golf & Country Club. Our amazing award-winning women are:
Ruby Award – Cathy Braden
Women’s Opportunity Award (WOA) – Samantha Pirrera
WOA Runners-up – Tambu Kahari; Crystal Dainard
Violet Richardson Award – Jasmin Goldstein
Congratulations to our winners, and to all our applicants and the wonderful women in our communities.
Our 3rd Annual Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader: Trivia Night took place at the Waterdown Legion on April 18th. This wonderful venue hosted over 120 persons who were all there with their “Mensa” hats on to show off their trivia knowledge! The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams went away with prizes and happy egos! The 50/50 draw was popular this year, and was won by Karen Dolyniuk, a SIDAF friend. The fundraising aspect of the night was a great success, as over $6,000 was raised to go toward local programs for women and girls. The major prizes were a “Basket of Booze” (won by a YWCA staff person) and a Gourmet Chef Dinner, An Evening with Chef Guerin Sykes (won by Denise Doyle of the YWCA).
The funds raised for those prizes will be going directly to the YWCA Hamilton Encore Program, a post- breast cancer surgery exercise program. The YWCA Hamilton Encore program received seed funding from SIDAF and we continue to support it through events such as this. Thanks to everyone who attended, and our wonderful sponsors, for a fun and rewarding evening.
In the first photo, Ann Marie Collingwood is seen accepting the Gourmet Dinner prize from SIDAF President Shirley Eden on behalf of the winner Denise Doyle. In the second photo, Karen Dolyniuk is seen accepting her 50/50 prize from SIDAF president Shirley Eden. Thank you to Kim at Vitality Source Fitness for posting on FaceBook about how much the Encore participants enjoyed the event.
In the next 3 photos can be seen the top three placing teams, Team Jane Oulton (1st place), Team Watson (2nd place) and Team Unseen Academicals (3rd Place).
Soroptimists and their Soroptimisters took part in the 2nd annual Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre fundraiser at Waterdown District High School on Sunday September 25. Walking as Evelyn’s Angels, they wore red shoes, slippers and shirts to raise funds and awareness in the hope of ending violence against women.
As a program of Interval House of Hamilton, the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre provides support services for all women in the Flamborough community. Women living in rural areas of Hamilton (Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Glanbrook) have less access to immediate supports (police, transportation, shelter, etc). Their broad range of services need our support. Join us next year and let’s increase our pledges.
Photos are coming soon!
A group of our Soroptimists held a resource-based seminar on May 26. Topics covered a wide breadth, based on our personal careers and experiences. We have assembled some tips & links that you may find helpful:
Preparing a Resume
The most important things about writing a resume and cover letter are the small details (like spelling and grammar) and aligning the information you share with the job posting requirements. The Government of Canada has a great site to explain how you can tell about your experiences, skills and interest areas on your resume, even if you don’t have a lot of work experience.
http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/resume.shtml
http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/cover.shtml
Junior Legal Assistant
There are many other schools that have either a law clerk program or legal administration program, but these are some in the local area:
Fitness and Instruction:
http://www.canadianfitness.net/pro.html (How to get certified in fitness at home)
http://www.canfitpro.com/ (How to get certified by the largest fitness training company)
http://www.ywcahamilton.org/programs-and-services/adult-fitness-and-aquatics (How to get fitness leadership training locally)
Nutrition & Recipes
www.dietitians.ca
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide
Health Field
http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/calendar/otapa.html (OTA/PTA course, Mohawk)
http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/calendar/personalSupportWorker.html (PSW Course, Mohawk)
http://www.stcharles.ca/psw.html (PSW Course, St. Charles)
Early Childhood Education
http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/calendar/ece.html
http://www.aeceo.ca/ (Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario
Book keeping & Admin
http://c-b-a.ca/ (Canadian Book keepers Association);
http://www.cma-ontario.org/index.cfm?ci_id=4798&la_id=1 (Certified Management Accountant);
http://www.cga-ontario.org/Prospective_Students/Becoming_a_CGA.aspx (Certified General Accountant)
www.simpleplanning.net (budgeting)
http://office.microsoft.com
http://community.alchemex.com (various Microsoft office training)
General References
www.cara.com (Swiss Chalet, Kelsey’s, Milestone’s, Montana’s, Harvey’s)
www.insuranceinstitute.ca (courses at Mohawk College or apply direct to insurance companies as they will ocassionally employ new staff and pay for their training)
www.liaisoncollege.com 1047 Main St E, Hamilton (train to become a chef or cook)
We are pleased to announce our club’s 2nd Annual “Are You Smarter that a 5th Grader: Trivia Night” that will take place at St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas on Wednesday April 20, 2011. Tickets are $25 and includes the games, a light dinner, munchies and tons of fun! Tickets are available from any Soroptimist member.
The evening features four rounds of trivia questions which to challenge the knowledge base of teams of 6 players. There will be prizes for the team members from each round as well as Grand Prize team with the highest score. We will also be offering a raffle table of gifts to be won, a 50/50 draw and a cash bar. We will sell out at 24 teams of 6, so get your friends together and get your tickets early!
Of course we hope to have lots of fun at this event but the real reason for our fundraising is to help women and girls in our community that need a hand up. All the money we raise goes back to our women and girls in our community and throughout the world.
February 16 2011 under SI-DAF Events