james brings home award of excellencensgeu77.dal.ca/pdf/vol37no5.pdf · centre recently won the...

December 2007Volume 37 • Number 5

In This Issue…Award of Excellence....................President’s Report…….….….…... Chief Steward’s Report…...…..... New Members…………..……...... From the Front Lines…..…….…... Long Term Employee................... Bargaining Update ......................A Day with a Colleague..............Take a Break........………..…….....Technology 101............................And in Other News.......................Contest....................………..….....What’s Cooking?..………..….......General Meeting Highlights....... Anti-Strike Rally.............................Strike Legislation..........................

JAMES BRINGS HOME AWARD OF EXCELLENCENSGEU Local 77 member James Boxall has a smile on his

face. His unit, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Centre recently won the 2007 Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Award of Excellence.

James, the Director of the GIS Centre, was presented the award on November 1 by ESRI Canada’s president Alex Miller at the annual ESRI Regional User Conference. The 2007 conference was held in Dartmouth.

Said Mr. Miller, “Dalhousie has become one of the leading universities in Canada for the campus-wide implementation of GIS technology—I applaud their efforts.”

ESRI Canada is a Canadian owned company specializing in geographic information systems solutions. It has worked with Dalhousie for over 15 years, providing software and support services.

James was informed about the award a month ago and was invited to the conference. In accepting the award on behalf of the university, James explained that:

Cantley photo

Abriel photo

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“The technology is being used for research and teaching purposes giving the students and faculty access to the most advanced GIS tools available. Having access to these tools allows for enhanced analysis and results in conducting research projects throughout the various university departments. It also provides a real-world learning environment for students and better prepares the students for the workplace.”

December 2007 Vol. 37 No. 5

News & Views

STATISTICS, ANYONE? by Shannon Kelly

2007-2009 Executive Committee

Shannon Kelly President 494-2132vacant Vice-President Tammy Zinck Vice-President 494-7070Kevin MacDougall Vice-President 494-6505Cherilyn MacIntosh Vice-President 494-1639Darryl Warren Interim Treasurer 494-2370Dawn Ferris Secretary/Chief Steward 494-6268Zita Hildebrandt Past President 494-1622

When originally I was asked for my contribution for the upcoming December News & Views, I had lots of notice. However, like many people I know, no matter how much advance notice one is given it is never enough. Therefore, when my deadline was passed, and I was once again reminded to “get something submitted” I resorted to a personal favourite… statistics.The word statistics can immediately put a number of folks to sleep. However, if

the statistic is brief and of personal interest, it can induce thought and discussion, and when stated during an opportune moment, it can make one appear to be “oh, so knowledgeable...so intelligent!” We can fool some of the people some of the time! Try it… browse the web, find whatever topic is of interest to you… and the

next time you are seated at the dinner table, or having drinks with friends, or networking for whatever cause… rattle off a statistic or two (Did you know……?). Others will be impressed by your vast knowledge and you’ll be surprised at the discussion that will follow.Demographic specialists state that by 2016 the unemployment rate in Nova

Scotia will be below the natural rate of unemployment and wage pressures will be felt.In 2006, just over one-quarter (27.8%) of Canadian farm operators were women;

nearly half (48.4%) of all farm operators reported an off-farm job or business.Nova Scotia has a decreasing rate of population growth and that its population

is “older” than the Canadian average.In 2005, Canadian movie theatres and drive-ins combined sold 120.3 million

tickets. Residents of Alberta continued to be Canada’s most avid movie-goers.Statistics Canada 2001 stated 17% of Nova Scotians lived with some form of

disability; this is the highest percent of any province; national average is 12%.Demographic specialists state that by 2026 HRM will host 50% of the population

of Nova Scotia; add the 90-minute commutes from Lunenburg, Kings, Hants, and Colchester Counties, it will total 70% of the province’s population.Lawn/garden care is a booming industry in Canada. Sales of related

products and equipment hit more than $2 billion in 2006. Two-thirds of Canadian households with lawns/gardens owned a gas-powered lawn mower in 2006. In one year, the average gas-powered mower can emit the same amount of a key smog pollutant as the average car travelling about 3,300 kilometres.Canadian residents spent $31.6 billion within the country during 2005 on

domestic travel. More than three-quarters ($24.4 billion) of these travel expenditures occurred within the province of residence of the traveller.Canada’s police services reported 605 homicides in 2006, 58 fewer than

the previous year.In 2005, about 36% of Nova Scotians

(250,000 people) were unpaid caregivers.In 2006, on average, Canadians tuned

in to their radios for 18.6 hours per week. Residents of Nova Scotia were the most avid listeners, tuning in for 20.4 hours a week.

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December 2007 Vol. 37 No. 5News & Views

HOLIDAYS, GIVING, ANNIVERSARIES, & HARASSMENT by Dawn Ferris

Whether we like it or not, Christmas is right around the corner. I write this article on the day that a coworker has excitedly written 36 more days till Xmas on her little chalkboard (she started counting down at the 110 day mark!!!). 36 more days till Christmas is fairly scary for those of us who’ve not yet started BUT it’s even scarier for those who work here at Dalhousie, because there’s only 1 more pay day until Christmas!!! Yes, I know—you want to remind me that the December pay will be in the bank before Christmas—but I’ve long since learned my lesson and I refuse to touch that money until the 27th of December, I’ve had one or two very long January’s to live through!!

This time of year always makes me think of those less fortunate and I would love to see our Local get more involved in a philanthropic way. Perhaps we could adopt a family in need or consider a food drive at our December meeting for Feed Nova Scotia. As I sit on our Social Committee, maybe we will consider doing something like this in the future. If any of you are interested in going forward with something this year, please contact me. I estimate if we get 20 people on board to adopt a family, we could do it. 20 people willing to commit around $50 each will give a needy family a great Christmas with food and gifts.

The Social Committee is meeting on November 21st to plan a celebratory event to mark our 15th Anniversary of being NSGEU members. Please keep an eye on our Local 77 website for news of the event and for sign up information.

On to Union type issues…

I hope that by now you have all read Dalhousie’s newest policy, the Personal Harassment Policy. If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you do. It can be found on the Dal website at http://humanresources.dal.ca/files/harassment.pdf

One of the things I am called about the most is harassment issues. Now that Dalhousie has outlined what personal harassment is and how to address it, everyone who is dealing with this now has a course of action to take. Your President, Shannon Kelly, and I have decided that it might not be enough for our members to have options outlined–they might also need tools, skills and some practice in addressing situations. So, with this in mind we are working with the Harassment Officer, Gaye Wishart, to offer our members a workshop in the New Year. I am hoping to have a session where there can be some role playing if people want to participate. Keep an eye open for news on this—notice will be listed on our website when a date has been secured for this workshop.

I hope to see you all at our next General Meeting on December 6th!!

2006-2008 Stewards CommitteeDawn Ferris [email protected] 494-6268Shanna Balogh [email protected] 494-2453Linda Dehmel [email protected] 494-3656Shannon Kelly [email protected] 494-2132Jo-Anne Landsburg [email protected] 494-3791Chris Maxwell [email protected] 494-1369Judie Pepper [email protected] 494-6725Carole Poirier [email protected] 494-2407Darryl Warren [email protected] 494-2370Arron Wight [email protected] 494-3941Tammy Zinck [email protected] 494-7070

Miller photo


News & Views

HELLO . . . and Good-bye Members coming & going between August 21 and November 21, 2007

ERATA: News & Views said farewell to Judie Pepper in the October issue, however, Judie has not left us, she just switched departments! Congratulations on your new position with Graduate Studies, Judie!

NEW MEMBERSJoseph Coade, PhysiotherapyJudy MacDonald, Academic Computing ServicesTracy MacKenzie, PsychiatryKate Millar, Computer ScienceJoanne Moores, Facilities ManagementKaren Arsenault, International Student & Exchange ServicesGraham Brown, Personal Computer Purchase CentreJulia Creaser, Financial ServicesCrystal Miligan, Carleton Animal Care FacilityJoann Wolfe, Networks & Systems

DEPARTING MEMBERSMelissa Allen Vivian Husbands Jan McEachernCaroline Sequeira Lorna Sweeney Chris YeatsJuliana Serroul left for a DPMG position in Research Services. Congratulations, Juliana!

There will be a Dalhousie Pension Plan presentation on January 24th from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm in the Tupper Building, Theatre A.

The presenatation is open to all Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union members employed at Dalhousie, who are contributing members to the Dalhousie Pension Plan.

All members and their spouses/partners are urged to attend, especially those members who will be retiring in the next fifteen years.

Lee Crowell, the plan’s administrator, and Peter Hayes, the Actuary for the Pension Plan, have, with the assistance of the Pension Plan Advisory Committee, put together an interesting and informative power point presentation.

There will be ample opportunity after the presentation to ask questions.

Mark this important date in your 2008 calendar!

PENSION PLAN PRESENTATION: January 24, 2008


FROM THE FRONT LINES: NUPGE Week-Long Schoolby Zita Hildebrandt (Learning and Teaching)

I had the good fortune to be selected as a participant at the 2007 National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) Atlantic Week-Long School, which I attended this past October.

The School was held at the Digby Pines Resort, and you really couldn’t ask for better service or a more beautiful location.

Classes were divided into four streams: Advanced Steward, Communications, Leadership, and Political Action. Activists from all four Atlantic provinces participated.

I attended the Communications classes, where we learned how to write a letter to the editor,

how to write a speech—and how to give one, how to present issues to different audiences, and about the vast variety of communications tools available to us. We even learned how to organize a rally!

At the opening ceremony, the presidents of the four provinical public service unions each gave a short speech. It just so happens that all four leaders at this time are women. This is a first in the history of unions in Atlantic Canada!

All in all it was a fabulous learning experience and I highly recommend it to everyone. If you should have the opportunity to attend, please do so! You won’t regret it.

Hildebrandt photos

Atlantic Provinces Public Service Union Presidents 2007 (L-R):

Joan Jessome - Nova Scotia - NSGEUCarol Furlong - Newfoundland - NAPEShelley Ward - Prince Edward Island - UPSEDebbie Lacelle - New Brunswick - NBU


News & Views

FROM THE FRONT LINES: Tae Kwon Do Champion by Kim Lake (Anesthesia)

Kim Lake’s son Seth competed in the Canadian Junior National Tae Kwon Do Championships in Saint John on June 30, 2007. The 9-year old black belt won gold in sparring and silver in forms at the national event. He was the only member of Team Nova Scotia to bring home two medals. This is Seth’s third win at the national level but the first time as a black belt.

Seth “The Rock” Lake began tae kwon do at the early age of 5 and achieved his black belt at age 8. Seth has competed in over 45 tournaments and has won 75 trophies and medals. His goal is to win a competition in every province and has already won in all four Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Seth has also won gold at the Maine Open. His next province to conquer is Alberta next April.

Seth trains 4 to 5 days a week at Woo Yong’s Tae Kwon Do Academy on Hood Street in Halifax with Olympic Medalist Master Woo Yong Jung.

To see more of Seth’s accomplishments, visit his webpage at: www.SethLake.com Lake photos

FROM THE FRONT LINES: No Death Penalty by Amir Feridooni (Killam Library)

On 10 October, the World Day against the Death Penalty, activists and campaigners around the world made a concerted stand against this most final and irrevocable of punishments. The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, organized a day of local actions along the theme of “a failure of justice.” The campaign focused on child executions in Iran, discriminatory application of the death penalty on foreign nationals in

Saudi Arabia, executions of the innocent in China, executions of the mentally ill in USA, and unfair trials in Nigeria.

Amir Feridooni and Siroos Memarzadeh (left photo) staged a rally outside the Killam. Feridooni photos


LONG TERM EMPLOYEE: Roddy Campbell (Medicine)by Cindy Miller (Kellogg Library)

I want you to meet Roddy Campbell. Roddy has been working at Dalhousie University since 1975. He’s a friendly face you will see walking between the Life Sciences Printing Centre & the Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building.

Roddy works for building services and he delivers mail, printing orders and other packages on campus, to local hospitals, and sometimes to places as far as Barrington Street.

He tells me his most memorable moment at Dalhousie was when the Faculty of Medicine presented him with

a Dalhousie University watch for 25 years service. In contrast, the worse thing about his job is being out in the cold or rainy weather.

Roddy is a familiar face in the Tupper Link always willing to share a story or two with you about the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Blue Jays. You will often find him wearing some paraphernalia advertising such!

There haven’t been too many changes to his job over the years except for a few bosses. He stated that he really likes his current boss Greg McNutt, “He’s a really nice guy to work for.” says Roddy.

Roddy doesn’t plan to retire for another 7-12 years and when he does, he’ll sit back and relax while watching his favorite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, win the Stanley Cup! Good luck in the future, Roddy!

Miller photo

BARGAINING UPDATE by Robin MacLean, Chief Negotiator

The Union met with the Employer on November 23rd to exchange proposals for collective bargaining. The parties are scheduled to negotiate on December 3, 5, 13, and 17, with further dates to be scheduled in January.

The Union’s bargaining proposals will be mailed to each Local 77 member shortly. If anyone has any questions about bargaining, please contact a member of your Bargaining Committee as follows:

Robin MacLean - 424-4063 Jo-Anne Landsburg - 494-3791 Cherilyn MacIntosh - 494-1639 John Pyke - 494-6101Darryl Warren - 494-2370


News & Views

HOLIDAY HERB TREEA rosemary ‘tree’ makes a savoury centrepiece. Trim rosemary sprigs to desired height. Place in glass vase. Wrap bow around the vase, securing with tape or glue. Scatter fresh cranberries or pinecones around vase.

Announcing New Columns. . .The Exit InterviewIt has long been the practice of business to interview employees as they leave the job so that the organisation might gain from their insight. Dalhousie has a wealth of insight to gain from the large number of employees who have recently retired or will soon be. We would like to invite you to participate in an Exit Interview. Discuss your career at Dalhousie with us, the positive things you experienced and the things that you felt could be worked on by us all to make for a better workplace. Let us learn from your experience. Drop us a line and we will set up an Exit Interview with you.

A Day in the Life of Dalhousie UniversityIt is no secret that the Union keeps Dal working. But some of the best kept secrets at Dalhousie are the important contribution that each union member makes to the success of Dalhousie on a day to day basis. We would like to discuss a day in your job. If you would like to give us a peek into your corner of Dalhousie University, please drop us a line.

What would you like to see?Give us your ideas for new columns for News and Views. What sort of things would you find interesting to read about? Would you like to tell us about your hobby? Recent travels? The finer points of debate and public speaking? Film and photography? How to rebuild a two-stroke engine? The sky’s the limit! Drop us a line at [email protected].


The Audio Visual Department provides equipment and support for professors who wish to use multimedia presentations in their classes. With almost all professors doing this now, some days can be quite busy for the Audio Visual Department. The following summarizes a typical day for the Audio Visual Office in the McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, which is staffed by two technicians; myself and my colleague, Spencer Cantley, along with various student employees throughout the day. Depending on the day, one of us will start later in the morning and stay into the evening to cover the evening classes.

Our office operates from 8:30am until 9pm daily (4:30pm on Fridays) when classes are in session.

On a typical day, we do a fair amount of troubleshooting. Our assistance is usually requested by way of either a visit or a phone call from a panicking prof. or presenter. We typically have to be quick with the troubleshooting as the problems usually occur just before or during a class. The most frequent problems are related to the data projectors and sound systems. Specifically, the problems are people not able to see or hear what they are trying to show in the classroom. Both are quick fixes in most cases. Besides troubleshooting, we also take equipment bookings, assist with presentation setups, answer technical questions and show faculty and students how to perform tasks on various pieces of equipment. Quite frequently, we will have someone with a big presentation come in a few days before they have to present and want a run through on the setup procedure, so on the day of the presentation, they can just come in and get things going themselves. This is easier to do now as a lot of our equipment is installed in the classrooms in the FASS Building.

When classes are not in session, like in the summer or before Christmas, we spend a lot of time performing preventative maintenance on our equipment so it is all ready to go when classes resume. When needed, we also assist our colleagues with new equipment installations in various rooms across campus. In addition, the summer months usually bring various conferences.

That’s pretty much our office’s day- to-day operations in a nutshell. Overall, I enjoy working in the Audio Visual office. It is always very interesting and is a constant learning experience for me. I enjoy working with the wide range of technologies in use on a daily basis and I enjoy seeing the positive influence the technology has on the learning process.

Graham Denman (Cantley photo)

A DAY IN THE AUDIO VISUAL OFFICE by Graham Denman (Instructional Media Services)


News & Views

Internet

While the stars have been the fascination of astrologists for thousands of years with their zodiac signs being a measure for the characteristics of people born under them, Celtic peoples have used a more down to earth method. Instead of the stars guiding your fate, they were concerned with what tree you were born under. As the maritime trees give their famous fall show, stop and ask yourself, What tree am I ?

Dec 23 to Jan 01..........Apple Tree

Jan 01 to Jan 11 ..........Fir Tree

Jan 12 to Jan 24 ......... Elm Tree

Jan 25 to Feb 03 ........ Cypress Tree

Feb 04 to Feb 08 .........Poplar Tree

Feb 09 to Feb 18 ........ Cedar Tree

Feb 19 to Feb 28 ........ Pine Tree

Mar 01 to Mar 10 ........ Willow Tree

Mar 11 to Mar 20 ....... Lime Tree

Mar 21 (only) .............. Oak Tree

Mar 22 to Mar 31 ....... Hazelnut Tree

Apr 01 to Apr 10 ........ Rowan Tree

Apr 11 to Apr 20 ........ Maple Tree

Apr 21 to Apr 30 ........ Walnut Tree

May 01 to May 14 ...... Poplar Tree

May 15 to May 24 .......Chestnut Tree

May 25 to Jun 03 ....... Ash Tree

Jun 04 to Jun 13 ........ Hornbeam Tree

Jun 14 to Jun 23 ........ Fig Tree

YOUR TREE ...

APPLE (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

ASH (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

BEECH (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

BIRCH (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

CEDAR (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

CHESNUT (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

TAKE A BREAK • What Tree Are You?

Jun 24 (only) .............. Birch Tree

Jun 25 to Jul 04 .......... Apple Tree

Jul 05 to Jul 14 ........... Fir Tree

Jul 15 to Jul 25 ........... Elm Tree

Jul 26 to Aug 04 ........ Cypress Tree

Aug 05 to Aug 13 ...... Poplar Tree

Aug 14 to Aug 23 ...... Cedar Tree

Aug 24 to Sep 02 ....... Pine Tree

Sep 03 to Sep 12 ....... Willow Tree

Sep 13 to Sep 22 ....... Lime Tree

Sep 23 (only) .............. Olive Tree

Sep 24 to Oct 03 ....... Hazelnut Tree

Oct 04 to Oct 13 ........ Rowan Tree

Oct 14 to Oct 23 ......... Maple Tree

Oct 24 to Nov 11 ........ Walnut Tree

Nov 12 to Nov 21 ....... Chestnut Tree

Nov 22 to Dec 01 ....... Ash Tree

Dec 02 to Dec 11 ....... Hornbeam Tree

Dec 12 to Dec 21 ....... Fig Tree

Dec 22 (only) ............. Beech Tree


CYPRESS (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn’t necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

ELM (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humour, practical.

FIG (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humour, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

FIR (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well,loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

HAZELNUT (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humour, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

HOMBEAM (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

LIME (Doubt) -- intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

MAPLE (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

OAK (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

OLIVE (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

PINE (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally SOFT, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

POPLAR (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

ROWAN (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

WALNUT (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

WILLOW -- Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.


News & Views

TECHNOLOGY 101: Must-Know Info on MP3 Playersby Richard Payne

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Richard is an A/V Electronics Technician working in the Instructional Media Services Unit and a member of the News & Views Committee.

If you are about to purchase your first MP3 player, or plan to buy one as a gift, there are a few key things you should be aware of before you go shopping. MP3 players are rapidly evolving in form and function, and online music retailers vary in which MP3 brands they support. Popular accessories for MP3 players are not widely available for all brands. The following information will help you make an informed MP3 player purchase.

Before you go shopping, there are two issues you should consider. The first is your computer and its ability to work with an MP3 player, the second is high-speed internet access. If you are buying a gift for someone else, make sure you know their computer’s specifications, and what type of internet access they have. An MP3 player will require a minimum operating system version (Windows or Macintosh), a minimum processor speed, and a minimum amount of memory. Commit your computer’s specifications to memory, or write them down to take shopping with you. Before you purchase, make sure to compare your chosen MP3 player’s requirements with the specifications of the computer that will manage the player. For downloading music, high-speed internet access is a must. Dial-up service is just too slow to enjoy most internet multimedia content, and downloading music is very time consuming without high-speed internet access.

The choice of MP3 players is huge. You can buy an audio only unit, or go big with a video-capable unit that allows you to play back movies, music videos, and TV shows downloaded from the Web. Some top-notch models can even share content wirelessly via a WiFi connection! If you like all-in-one gadgets, you can purchase a cell phone with MP3 capability, or an upscale PDA. It’s a good idea to think about the type of MP3 player you want before you go shopping. If you shop without considering the choices in advance, you might get excited watching a demonstration of a high end model, and in the moment buy something that is far more advanced than you need.

Apple’s iPod MP3 players account for more than three out of every four MP3 players sold. Apple created a self-contained digital entertainment system, and the masses have responded overwhelmingly. The iPod players are high quality, and very easy to use. The iTunes content management software is straight forward and seamless with any iPod unit. The online iTunes store offers a huge amount of audio & video content for the iPod players, including exclusive podcasts. In fact, the iTunes store offers the largest selection of legal digital content on the web, including most of the downloadable major TV shows.

If you want accessories for your MP3 player, iPod leads the pack again. Pictured above are three of the many accessories available for iPod players, including two speaker systems and a clock radio. The Apple iPod family ranges in price from about $85 for a 1 GB iPod Shuffle to $450 for the high-end 16 GB iPod Touch (the Touch is WiFi enabled).

The iPod MP3 players will cost a little more than similar MP3 players with the same capacity, and other MP3 players might have features that iPods do not, including an FM radio or a voice recorder. An iPod MP3 player will require you to use the iTunes management software to transfer music, whereas competing MP3 players often allow you to drag and drop music files without opening music management software. These are small issues when compared to the benefits of owning an iPod MP3 player.

Unless you specifically want something in your MP3 player that Apple’s iPod series doesn’t offer, the best choice is an iPod. Great product design and reliability, a wide assortment of accessories, and Apple’s online iTunes store is fully stocked to keep you entertained. Happy Holidays everyone!

Altec Lansing Speaker System

MStation Speaker System iHome iPod Alarm Clock


AND IN OTHER NEWS . . .

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAYCCPA Monitor/CCPA/CALM

When your mom told you to go outside and play, she really did know what was best for you.

Just being outdoors or having access to the natural world has physical and mental health benefits. And new research has now found that the more diverse and vibrant an ecosystem is, the healthier it is for us.

People gravitate to these kinds of places, they usually say, because they are beautiful, peaceful, or relaxing. Sometimes they will venture as far as calling experiences with these ecosystems uplifting, moving—even spiritual. For others, it’s a feeling that’s difficult to describe in words, but being in nature just somehow makes them feel better.

There’s biological value in having experiences with nature, value that is measurable and quantifiable. It’s long been established that general health, mental fatigue and physical injury all recover faster when patients have access to natural areas. Studies have shown, for example, that surgery patients recover more quickly when they have views of natural landscapes outside their windows, rather than views of bricks and concrete.

Famed Harvard ecologist E. O. Wilson calls this connection to the natural world biophilia. It’s a term he coined and it simply means that he believes humans have an innate kinship with other living things.


News & Views

OCTOBER COLOURING CONTEST WINNERSCongratulations to our three contest winners!

Faith Gilbert age 2 years,10 monthsTheresa Gilbert (School of Nursing)

Annabelle Lefebvre age 5 Abbygail Lefebvre age 7Leola Lefebvre (Multidisciplinary Centre)

“There are three things I have learned never

to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

-- Linus van Pelt in It’s the Great Pumpkin,

Charlie Brown


DECEMBER TRIVIA CONTEST Open to NSGEU Local 77 members only

Answer all 10 questions correctly to win one of these great prizes:

A voucher for a computer course from Computer Training @ Dal »An iPod Shuffle from PCPC »1,000 Air Miles from Johnson Insurance »A 1 gb datastick from Hardware Services »A fleece hooded sweatshirt and two travel mugs from the Dalhousie Bookstore »A fleece vest from NSGEU »A 1 month individual staff membership from Dalplex »Lunch for two from the University Club »Tim’s French Vanilla Cappuccino & travel mug gift pack from Sodexho Catering »A tin of cider, a tin of hot chocolate & a travel mug from the Killam Second Cup »A gift certificate from the Rebecca Cohn Box Office »A copy of “The Collection” by Susan Gibson Garvey, Michele Gallant, & Sandra Paikowsky (a »

184-page catalogue of the Dalhousie Art Collection, with 55 colour and 70 B & W illustrations and accompanying CD-ROM) and your choice of poster from the Art Gallery

Email your entry to [email protected]. Contest closes 4:00 pm, Monday, December 17.

Have you been reading the articles in the News & Views? Well, here’s your chance to prove it! The following questions have been taken from the articles in the October and December issues. We’ve gathered up some terrific prizes and are giving them to members who have answered all of the questions correctly. So get your “puzzler” warmed up and submit your answers by email to [email protected] before 4:00 pm Monday, December 17. Winners will be randomly selected from the correct entries. Prizes will be awarded randomly. Winners will be notified Tuesday, December 18.

What was important about September 30, 2007?1.

What legislation is Rodney MacDonald proposing?2.

Who was PEI “really” named after?3.

Where was the Metro “C” 2007 Camping Trip held?4.

Name a cycling tip.5.

Who’s son won gold at the 2007 Canadian Junior National Tae Kwon Do Championship?6.

What does ESRI stand for?7.

Who is our negotiator for the upcoming contract?8.

Who coined the term 9. biophilia?

Name the four streams of classes taught at the 2007 NUPGE Week-Long School.10.

Trivia Questions


News & Views

WHITE BEAN DIP1 can (19 fl oz/540 mL) white kidney beans, drained1/2 cup (1/2 of 250 g tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread1/2 cup sour cream2 Tbsp chopped mild green chillies1 pkg (200 g) KRAFT Tex Mex Shredded Cheese, divided1/3 cup finely chopped green onions

PREHEAT oven to 350. Mash beans in large bowl. Add cream cheese, sour cream and chilies; mix well. Remove 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese; regrigerate for later use. Stir remaining shredded cheese into bean mixture. Spread into lightly greased 8-inch casserole or baking dish.

BAKE 20 minutes; sprinkle with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Continue baking 5 minutes or until shredded cheese is melted.

SPRINKLE with onions. Serve with Triscuit Thin Chrisps Crackers and assorted cut-up vegetables, if desired.

** Make Ahead: Assemble as directed. Cover and regrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, uncover and bake as directed.

WHAT’S COOKING?

ROASTED PORK What you’ll need:

- low sided roasting pan, 2 inches larger than the meat you are roasting.

- Metal roasting rack.

- Ovenproof meat thermometer.

- Large cutting board, knife, carving fork aluminum foil.

How to prepare:

- Thaw in refrigerator 12-15 hr/lb.

- Trim excess fat, if desired, and tie the roast depending on the cut. It is important to roast the meat fat side up.

- Rub with desired seasonings, herbs and spices.

- Insert thermometer in thickest part of meat, away from any bone and not piercing the underside.

When it’s done:

- Pork is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160F.

- Remove from oven at 150F for large roasts and 155F for small roasts. Internal temperature will rise as the meat rests.

- Let roast rest on a cutting board for 10 to 20 minutes (the larger the roast, the longer the resting time), and cover with foil.

Steps for a Great Pork Roast

1. PREHEAT oven to 325 - Place prepared roast on roasting rack in pan.

2. COOK uncovered for 25 min/lb for bone-in roast, 30 min/lb for boneless.

Check internal temperature 30 minutes prior to estimated completion time, to see how it’s doing.

3. REMOVE roast from oven, place on cutting board and allow to rest. Carve and enjoy!


VEGETABLE TOSS1 lb (500g) broccoli florets1 lb (500g) cauliflower florets1/2 lb (250g) grean beans, trimmed1 large red pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips1/2 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing1/3 cup KRAFT 100% Parmesan Shredded CheeseADD broccoli, cauliflower and beans to large saucepan of boiling water; cook 2 minutes or until vegetables are bright in colour and crisp-tender. (Do not overcook) Drain immediately; rinse with very cold water. Drain well/ Place in large serving bowl.ADD peppers, dressing and cheese; toss to coat.

YULE LOG Take: 4 eggs1 cup plain yogurt1/2 cup oil1 tub (250g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese Spread1/2 cup plus 3 Tbsp icing sugar3 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Toppingand mix and match your recipe from these options...

Then follow our simple steps:PREHEAT oven to 350F. Line a greased 15x10x3/4-inch jelly roll pan with parchment or wax paper. Grease and flour paper; set aside. Place 1 pkg (2-layer size) cake mix, eggs, yogurt, and oil in large bowl; beat with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes or until well blended. Spread 3 cups of batter into prepared baking pan; tap gently on counter to remove any air bubbles. Pour remaining batter into 4 to 6 medium lined muffin cups. Bake 15 minutes.MEANWHILE, place a large sheet of parchment paper on top of a clean kitchen towel; sprinkle evenly with 3 Tbsp icing sugar. Invert cake onto prepared towel; remove pan and top sheet of parchment paper. Starting at one of the short ends, roll up cake with paper and towel. Cool on wire rack 30 minutes.MEANWHILE, gradually add 1/2 cup icing sugar to cream cheese in small bowl, beating with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Stir in filling. Unroll cake, remove paper and towel. Spread cake with cream cheese mixture; roll up and refrigerate 30 minutes. Place on serving plate. Stir flavouring into whipped topping; spread onto log. Add garnish as desired. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices to serve. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.


News & Views

Around 500 supporters showed up at Province House to protest Premier Rodney MacDonald’s proposed anti-strike legislation at the opening of the legislature on Thursday, November 22.

Representatives from the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, the Canadian Auto Workers; Service Employees International Union, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers were on-hand to let the Premier know that taking away workers rights is unacceptable to Nova Scotians.

“[Nurses are] tired of all the work, tired of the overtime, tired of their vacations being cancelled, they’re just tired. Instead of Rodney talking to us about how are we going to fix the fact that they’re tired, how are we going to fix the fact that they’re leaving this province and going elsewhere, he wants to talk about legislation to remove our right to strike,” Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union said.

While opposition leaders have agreed to stop this legislation from passing, Premier MacDonald has promised to push the bill forward regardless.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said he doesn’t hear Nova Scotians pleading for anti-strike legislation. He said his party wants to co-operate with health workers, not take away their rights, asking “Where’s the crisis? I have yet to understand why the premier and the government are hanging their hats on this issue.”

”We’re pleased the opposition will defeat this bill,” said Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. “But it can come back again and again. We need to make our point strong and clear enough to put this to rest.”

NSGEU Local 77General Meeting HighlightsThursday, October 4th, 2007

Shannon Kelly introduced our Executive to the membership in attendance.

The minutes from the April 2007 meeting were approved as was the agenda for the current meeting.

Reports were given by the Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Steward. Decisions were made regarding Local General Meetings and food. The membership was updated on the training that had taken place in September for our Executive, Regional Councilors, Occupational Councilors, and Committee Pool members. Notice was given to the membership regarding the vacant Treasurer position.

Robin MacLean was introduced to the membership; she will be handling our negotiations with Dalhousie on our Contract. The membership in attendance were given an update as to where we are with the Contract negotiations.

Our next meeting will be held on December 6th, 2007.

See you at the next meeting!!

ANTI-STRIKE LEGISLATION RALLY: November 22, 2007

A coalition of workers from a variety of health-care unions demonstrate yesterday outside Province House. (Daily News/Sabrena MacKenzie)


Health care strike ban will mean less warning of troubleNUPGE

Halifax (23 Nov. 2007) - Legislation proposed by the Conservative government of Premier Rodney MacDonald to outlaw health care strikes could make the situation worse rather than better, suggests a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

Banning strikes would remove a key mechanism that allows workers to warn the public that system failures are imminent, the report says. Entitled Health Care Strikes: Pulling the Red Cord, the assessment looks at the impact of strikes and strike threats on health care.

The authors, Judy and Larry Haiven, associate professors at Saint Mary’s University, conclude that the existing situation is far from intolerable or unmanageable.

“Strikes in health care are not the unacceptable events that government and employers portray them to be. Strikes and strike threats are part of the continuum of human resource management,” they argue.

“This study shows that the proposal to ban strikes in health care and community services could make matters worse in an already stretched system,” adds Larry Haiven. “Front-line workers know best when the system is being pushed beyond tolerable limits and they can signal this by threatening a legal strike. If they don’t have the strike option the rest of us may not find out about the strained system until it is too late.”

‘Management by stress’ wrong approach

Government and health employers claim that the health care system has such “tight tolerances” that strikes are unacceptable.

However, this amounts to ‘management by stress,’ an approach that jeopardizes our ability to effectively manage health care and cope with the uncertainties that are an inevitable part of health care delivery,” the authors argue.

Proponents of the strike ban assume that strikes are total withdrawals of labour.

“All strikes include the provision of emergency services by the unions involved as was the case in the IWK dispute last April,” adds Judy Haiven. “When a strike is illegal, the two sides often do not cooperate on critical issues that ensure the provision of emergency services, protocols that are clearly outlined during a legal strike.”

The report also questions how disruptive labour disputes are to the health care system. As Larry Haiven notes, “It’s far better for governments to acknowledge that strikes in health care are a fact of life and to use that as a basis for cooperation between unions and employers. This will help ensure that these events are not only manageable but well-managed and limit disruptions for patients.”

Collective bargaining best solution

The authors recommend that Nova Scotia treat the problem of labour relations in health care with patience.

“In a province where health care resources are stretched,” says Larry Haiven, “there is no quick fix. There is no better alternative to free collective bargaining. And in the end, it contributes to less conflict and better outcomes.”

The study is the second of three reports.

The first report, “A Tale of Two Provinces” (October 18) compared Nova Scotia (where acute health care strikes are still legal) to Alberta (where they have been banned) over the past 24 years. It found that Alberta had fifteen times as much strike activity. The third report (forthcoming) evaluates binding arbitration as a solution.

NSGEU Local 77 Dalhousie Staff Association CommitteesChairs of Local Standing Committees 2006-2008

Award Zita Hildebrandt 494-1622 [email protected] Ian Thomson 494-6401 [email protected] Cherilyn MacIntosh 494-1639 [email protected] Fund Darryl Warren 494-2370 [email protected] Posting Watchdog Rosemary Benoit 494-6692 [email protected] Employee Orientation Chris Maxwell 494-1369 [email protected] Change Michelle Kehoe 424-4063 [email protected] Dawn Ferris 494-6268 [email protected]

Representatives on Joint Union/Employer Committees 2006-2008

Employment Equity Darryl Warren 494-1779 [email protected] Benefits Ian Thomson 494-6401 [email protected] Darryl Warren 494-2370 [email protected] Evaluation Angus Macpherson 494-3238 [email protected] and Safety Zita Hildebrandt 494-1622 [email protected] Advisory Ian Thomson 494-6401 [email protected] Ian Blair 494-3310 Ian [email protected] and Parking Diane Oram 494-6153 [email protected] Harassment Zita Hildebrandt 494-1622 [email protected] Environment Judie Pepper 494-6725 [email protected]

Representatives on NSGEU Committees 2007-2009

Occupational Council Regional Council Provincial Council Shannon Kelly Cherilyn MacIntosh Ian Blair Tammy Zinck Dawn Ferris Tammi Hayne Ian Thomson Chris Maxwell Cherilyn MacIntosh Ian Thomson Ian Thomson

News and Views is produced by the NSGEU Local 77 News & Views Committee. The purpose of this publication is to provide NSGEU Local 77 Dalhousie Staff Association (DSA) members with notice of local meetings, copies of general meeting minutes, and to pass on information of general interest. All items will be published with editing in the case of grammatical errors, language, bad taste, libel, space limitation, or breach of DSA policy. Signed submissions should be sent to the editor. In order to provide unfragmented information to readers, the editor may ask other knowledgeable parties to respond to concerns raised by members in their written submissions to the newsletter.Responses are for clarification purposes and not to debate issues. Views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor or of the DSA. Issues are produced in February, April, June, October, and December. The deadline for each issue is the first Friday of the preceding month.

Graphics and ‘Labour News’ are supplied by

CALM (Canadian Association of Labour Media)

2006-2008News & Views

CommitteeGraham Denman • 494-2981

Amir Feridooni • 494-6004

Pauline Fitzgerald • 494-6351

Shannon Kelly • 494-2132

Terry MacLean • 494-3206

Susanna Morash-Kent • 494-3971

Diane Oram • 494-6153

Richard Payne • 494-3693

Photographers Cindy Miller • 494-2469

Spencer Cantley • 494-8387

EditorZita Hildebrandt • 494-1622

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See us at:www.dal.ca/nsgeu77

News & Views Vol. 37 No. 5

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