President's Message - September 2012

There’s a feeling of fall in the air this morning; however, we cannot complain after the lovely, warm summer we experienced. The lobster luncheon was a great success, the caterer did a fantastic job of providing succulent lobster, steaks grilled to our liking, tasty salads, and delicious strawberry short cake. Lily and I arrived back home last evening, after taking 44 people on a two-week walking, site-seeing bus tour of both Newfoundland and Labrador. What a spectacular place to visit! By chance, we even met up with Ann McAleese in Port aux  Choix, National Historic Site, where we also saw three caribou. You probably heard on the news that Marine Atlantic was having mechanical problems with its new ferry purchased in Europe. Instead of leaving North Sydney at 6:30 pm we shipped out at 1:30 am. Not much sleep that night for most of our group. Briefly, we visited Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbed Gros Morne Mountain, took a boat ride in the Western Brook Pond freshwater fjord, walked to Baker Brook Falls, visited Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse where we were entertained by the life story of Louise Decker, Louise was featured in Saltscapes magazine July/August, 2011. Also visited Broom Point fishing exhibit depicting life of a family of shore fishermen, and were entertained by talented Newfoundland artists, all performers with the Gros Morne Theatre festival. After that, we drove up the Great Northern Peninsula and crossed over the Strait of Belle Isle to Quebec and Labrador. We found a 2 kilometre boardwalk in the English speaking community of St. Paul’s, QC and also a rugged photo opt at Brador Falls. Visited historic whaling community of Red Bay, a National Historic Site and Interpretative Centre and found fabulous trails all along the southern Labrador coast. We returned to Newfoundland and visited L’Anse aux Meadows (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The reconstructions of three Norse buildings are the focal point of this archaeological site, the earliest known European settlement in the New World. We had a Viking Feast in a reconstructed sod hut where we were served traditional Newfoundland food such as Moose Stew, Fish and Brews, Cod Tongues, Grilled Salmon, etc. Visited St. Anthony, home of renowned Dr. Wilfred Grenfell. Took a charter boat off the rugged northern coast and met up with a large pod of humpback whales. Moose were quite plentiful in this area and everyone enjoyed seeing them along the highway. Near St. Anthony we visited the Burnt Cape Botanical Ecological Reserve where a local guide took us on a tour of one of the most important botanical sites of Newfoundland. The peninsula of Burnt Cape has some of the most arctic conditions on the Island but it is exactly this cold climate, together with a unique landscape and calcium- rich soil that allows northern plant species to grow there in rich and rare varieties. We visited the Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre in Hawke's Bay where we saw Atlantic salmon as they migrate to their spawning grounds. There is also a four kilometre John Hogan trail along the Torrent River, one of Newfoundland’s famous salmon fishing rivers. We came down the peninsula to Corner Brook for three days where we explored the beautiful Bay of Islands, walked some of the Appalachian Trail, Blow-Me-Down-Mountain, and visited Captain James Cook’s Monument. The last evening in Newfoundland we went to a local yacht club for a lobster dinner and were entertained for three hours by a talented local band called Swigaway. While there, we all joined the Royal Order of Screechers by consuming some of Newfoundland’s Golden Elizir. To sum up, western Newfoundland and southern Labrador are very beautiful and rugged, and the people were very friendly. The food and accommodation were perfect for 46 outdoor type people. I highly recommend you take a vacation to this land where there are almost as many moose as there are people.

 

Lake Banook Lobster/Steak Lunch 2012

Lake Banook Lobster/Steak Lunch 2012

President's Message - February 2012

Recently, a club member, who shall remain nameless (Sandy), said to me, “You should feel wonderful about becoming president of the Esso Annuitant Club, especially since so many other members were clamouring for the position”. Yaaaaaa, right!

Back in 1995, when I was still in my 50’s, I served a double term as your club president and never expected to be called upon again; however, I do hope to carry on the rewarding work of leading the club while in my now mid 70’s. Certainly, Ben Weeks, the previous president, and the board members did a great job of carrying out the mandate of the annuitant club. Everything was carried out very professionally and we all owe our thanks to Ben and his board members. A hard act to follow, for sure!

The Christmas Party at Ashburn Golf Club was well attended with 75 present. A big thank you goes to Judy Rafuse for organizing the event with Ashburn, the caterers, and the musical entertainment. The small band was lively and made enjoyable listening. Unfortunately, we do not have a “volunteer” to feature in this newsletter; hopefully, we’ll be able to encourage someone for the next newsletter in the spring.

In place of a write up covering the interesting life of one of our annuitants, Lily has done a write-up that is included along with some pictures we had taken during a wonderful walking tour in Turkey. Lily and I have been involved in organized hiking and walking for the past 30 years. Every weekend during this time, and most of our vacations, we have been involved in hiking and walking and we have been very fortunate to see so much of the world on foot. We have now hiked on five continents;

Australia is next on our “bucket list”.

Take care and stay active.

Social Calendar - 2012

June 27 - Lobster or Steak Lunch - Lake Banook

September 19 - Lunch at the Casino, Halifax

December 5 - Christmas Party - Location to be determined.

Executive - 2012 - 2013

Lionel Conrod - President - 466-4421 Email: benview@eastlink.ca

Lily Conrod - Vice President - 466-4421

Gerry Tilley - Secretary - 462-5841

Marie Rose - Treasurer - 209-5629

Judy Rafuse - Outreach - 454-0721

Anne McAleese - Director - 445-2261

Carl Brown - Director - 464-4040

Ben Weeks - Past President - 850-2340

President's Message - November 2011

The next social will be the annual Christmas Party at Ashburn Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.  This will be my final event as your President.  Working with our very enthusiastic Board over the past two years has been very special with great cooperation and teamwork.  We had very well attended socials, increased our membership and made improved use of the electronic world.  At this time we say farewell to Gary Upham as a member of the Board and welcome the return of Lionel and Lily Conrod.

I will continue as your Past President for the next two years. Lionel will assume the President role and Lily will handle the Vice President’s role.  Gerry Tilley and Marie Rose will continue as Secretary and Treasurer.  Ann McAleese will provide Outreach services.  Carl Brown and Judy Rafuse will continue on the Board as Directors.  I wish all the Board well in the future and I know that the club remains in good hands with the leadership provided by Lionel.

 My Special Feature this Newsletter is Hedley Myers.  I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the Newsletter preparation.

Sincerely

Ben Weeks - President

Special Feature - Hedley Myers

On July 21, 1947, 17 and just out of Grade 12, I began as an Office Boy in the Stock Controls Dept. of the Maritime Division.  The Wharf office was where the Historic Properties now stand.  I did various gopher jobs and ran the mail there and the Main Office, now known as O’Carroll’s Restaurant

In the mid 50’s our new four story office opened on Barrington Street and I moved up the ladder to stock Control Clerk.  After 15 years in the Accounting Office,  I was transferred to the Sales Dept.  and began my field experience as a domestic Heat Representative out of Dartmouth, supervising Agencies in the area.

In 1962 I went to P.E.I, becoming the General Sales Rep for the western half of the island, residing in Summerside.  Five years later I was transferred to Charlottetown, as the Consumer Rep. for all of P.E.I and the Magdalene Islands. A year later it was back to my home area in the Retail Sales Dept.  with responsibility for the service stations in Dartmouth and area.  My office was in the Royal Bank Building Dartmouth, where a number of newly hired university students had their initial assignment working with me as part of their Sales Trainee Program.  Two trainees that come to mind are David Collins, now V.P. of Wilson’s Fuels and Carl Brown, who stayed with me for almost a year, looking after the home base while I was travelling the Maritimes on a special assignment.

I went with The Comptrollers’ Division in 1974, covering the Atlantic Region as Account Advisor to reduce the Capital tied up in Outstanding Receivables (credit).  After almost 40 years of service, I decided to take advantage of Imperial’s Early Retirement package and officially retired on Dec. 31, 1986.

Helen and I have been richly blessed, with almost 61 years of marriage, producing two sons and a daughter. We are also happy grandparents of seven and great grand-parents of one.  Working for Imperial Oil produced many family benefits. Important to us was the Scholarship program. It paid full tuition for each of our children to Acadia University. Randy and Cleve became professional accountants and now live in Alabama and P.E.I.  In addition, Laura also received the Walter Teagle Fellowship, after she was married and attending Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario.

Most of my life I have been involved in music, piano, organ and male vocal choirs, etc. At age 70 I took fiddle lessons and I am now a member of the Dartmouth Fiddlers.  Helen and I enjoyed the music and exercise of Ballroom dancing for many years. Bowling and Curling brought fun into my life, as well. The highlight of mu Curling career was being a member of the rink I 1981 that won the Atlantic Oilmen’s Bonspiel, where a hundred rinks participated.  Other members on the team were my friends Dieter Schroeder, Don Appleby and Eldon Champion. It has been a great life and Imperial was a big part of it.

Christmas Party - December 7,2011

Christmas Party, December 7,2011 - Photographer Ron Miller
Judy Rafuse, Marlene Clyke, Dorothy Trenholm, Jane Weeks.

Ben and Jane Weeks

Jamie and Betty Mackay

Dieter and Anne Schroeder