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Cancer Society workers up in arms over office closure By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Special to The Champion Prepare for change. That's the message Canadian Cancer Society's (CCS) head office representatives had for more than 200 residents protesting the imminent dlo- sure of the Georgetown office at a public meeting August 10 in Halton His. "In anticipation of the board changing their minds, my advice to you is no - start the change," said Brent Chambers, an Ontario division board of directors vice- president. Barry Timieck, Georgetown campaign treasurer, said the north Halton unit has the unique distinction of raising the most money per unit for many years mun- ning - altisougis that assertion was chalienged by the regional reps. In 1999, the unit raised $450,000 - $ 189,000 (Georgetown), $203,000 (Milton) and $57,000 (Acton). Mr. Timleck eatimated the Georgetown branch alone raiaed about $250.000 in tisis year'a cam- paign. Statistically, tise north Halton unit raisea $6.11l per capita (compas'ed to Toronto's 18 cents per capi- ta). The coat of running the Georgetown office is $17,000, hie said, but tisat docan't include tise salary of the part-time staff person. "This is not a cost-cutting exerciae, tisis is a service improvemnent exercise," Mr. Cisambers taid to sus- tainedjeers. The Ontario diviaion board ordered ail part-time officea to close by November 30 and be consoiidated into bigger regional offices to provide fuli-timie week- day service. Tise noith Halton unit wili be amalgamat- ed witis Oakviile. The decision-makers iooked at geograpisy, population growtis and transportation routes and consuited 100,000 Ontasio volunteera. However, none seemed to be from tise nortis Halton unit. "We're insuited that we were not even consid- ered in tisis 'wise' decision," said Loirie Kelly-Quinn. Georgetown Cancer Society patient and community servicea co-ordinator. "Our 'wise' local decision is to stay juat as we are." Dianne Penrice, Georgetown bianch president, aaid 1,100 people have signcd a petition requesting a deci- sion reversai and they expeet that numnber to grow to 9,000. "It cornes down to this, the Canadian Cancer Society is withdrawing our support staff, angeiing oui volunteers and demoralizing oui community and we wili not accept this decision quietly," sajqd Ms Penrice. That attitude angered Peter Vaudry, wiso chaired the Single Staffed Unit Task Force. Expecting to meet with oniy a few volunteers to discuas details of the closure, hie and the foui other reps were shocked to face an angry capacity crowd. Self-described as "the viliain of the piece," Mr. Vaudry antagonized the audience by stating tise local community was "ciose-minded." 'You formed your opinion before 1 even got here," hie sisouted. "If you're not close-minded, tisan neither amIL" Ms. Vaudiy said in 1997 the CCS piaced foui staff memnbers in single-staffed offices for a two-year pilot program. "We came out of that witis the realization that a single-staffed unit doesn't deliver tise quality service tisat a doubie-staffed unit can," lie said. "If we are going witis our mission to eradicate can- .cei and enisance tise quaiity of life, do we bave to have a building for tisice days a week to do that?" He got a deafening yes from tise audience. "But you haven't proven tisat to mie," hie iespondcd. Many audi- ence membeit left after tisat comment. "Tie unit is tnt just a building. It is tise first place patients and famiiy members look to for reassurance and information whcn faced with a cancer diagnosis," said Catisy Gerrow, Acton biancis preaident. "It providea an important place for patients, volun- tecis and staff to meet in order to acceas information and piovide support. An office in Oakville will not be visible or accessible to tise 70,000 residents of nortis Halton." Volunteer driver Rita Bairstow pointed out there's no public transportation to and from Oakviile. "If the office is cioscd in Georgetown, what peison- al contact will tise patients have," asked Ms Bairstow. "Thsis is reaily tise big fear that thia wisole meeting is about tonight is tise lack of personal contact for tise patients." Howevcr, regional director Sharie Mulkewich point- cd out provincialiy more people are using tise 1-800 telephone services ratiser than support groupa. "Maybc tise culture of Georgetown is a little differ- cnt. We need to look at tisat," Ms Mulkewich. - ' A50GESRAU -9 IOR SCR [ - '99SNIE 1 9 R -ER b- '99 SATURN SLI 4 DR '97 GRAND AM GT 1 ý '98 MERCURY MYSTIQUE GS