The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Page 8 Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 Do you know someone who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, retirement or any other special event? If you do, why not place an AD in the G? Call 887-3583 for more info. the Intrepid Snowmobiler Craig Nicholson How toTakeA Friend by Craig Nicholson (©2007 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) Special to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs: So you’ve decided to Take A Friend Snowmobiling â€" preferably, a newbie or someone that hasn’t snowmobiled in years. How you shape the experience will determine if snowmobiling wins another convert, so please make their first ride enjoyable, safe, comfortable â€" and during daylight hours. We won’t get a second chance to make a good first impression! The first thing to remember is that your friend isn’t an experienced rider, even if he or she used to ride years ago. What you take for granted may be totally foreign to that person. So start with the three S’s - slow, simple and short... because chances are that your normal ride will seem like a marathon to an uninitiated friend. Remember, your goal is to make the person love snowmobiling, not be turned off it for life. Before the ride, feed your friend well so their body has the fuel to stay warm (take a few snacks along, just in case). Keep your friend hydrated before and during the ride with water, energy drinks or hot chocolate. No caffeine or booze! Many first-timers suffer cold because of regular outdoor or even ski clothing, or gear that didn’t fit properly. So dress your friend warmly in outerwear that fits, is layered and made especially for snowmobiling. Err on the side of being too warm; better to remove a layer than to wish for one you left behind. Be sure your friend wears a properly fitted helmet and has working hand and thumb warmers. Unless the temperature is positively balmy, put a chemical toe warmer in each of their boots and gloves. If your friend gets cold, that’s what he, or especially she, will remember most about your ride. Next, make sure your friend has the most comfortable sled available, even if that means yours. Putting the person on an old clunker or a high-powered performance sled is asking for trouble. To optimize their experience, you want to showcase snowmobiling with the smoothest riding, easiest handling, cleanest technology, and comfort-loaded sled available. Take the time to adjust the suspension and handlebars as necessary for your friend’s weight and size. Don’t start the ride without a thorough orientation. Knowledge equals confidence, so use a map to give your friend a complete briefing on your route, your intended stops (including potty breaks) and the proposed duration of the trip. Keep the person updated at each stop along the way. Be sure to plan a route that is beginner level easy, scenic, and above all, smooth. You want to make it fun and enjoyable, not fearful, uncertain or daunting. Whatever your choice, aim for under two hours, including several short breaks â€" and remember, you’ll be riding slower than usual, so plan accordingly. At the end of that time, you want to be back at your starting point or no more than half an hour away. Thus, if two hours is enough riding, you won’t be dragging a weary, cold and increasingly annoyed friend the long way back. The other alternative is to go an hour and a half, then stop for a leisurely lunch and ride an hour return. Remember, overdoing distance or duration could spoil their ride. Before departing, walk your friend around the sled to demonstrate controls and operation. Let the person ride around an open area to get the hang of it. Discuss what to expect, trail etiquette, hand signals and what to do if your friend is having a problem or discomfort. Arrange frequent breaks so that he or she will never have to ride for too long if something needs attention or fixing. Always ride with a rear view mirror to keep a constant eye on their progress and, in a group, ensure that your friend rides second, preferably with an experienced rider(s) behind who can also watch out and assist. Finally, you’ve had years of practice, so don’t show off, push the envelope or challenge your friend beyond their capabilities or comfort zone. Also, don’t be afraid to rein the person in if he or she seems to be taking unnecessary risks or trying too hard. After all, your goal with Take A Friend Snowmobiling is to deliver a fun experience that leaves them wanting more! Until next time, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs invites you to Go Snowmobiling this winter. Check out trail status reports at ofsc.on.ca Craig Nicholson is the author of “Canada’s Best Snowmobiling: Your Ultimate Ride Guide” (order at: www.snowgoercanada.com) and the National Touring Editor for Snow Goer Canada Magazine. As “The Intrepid Snowmobiler", he also pens a syndicated newspaper column and hosts a radio program, while appearing regularly on Snowmobiler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. For more info, click on www.intrepidsnowmobiler.com What’s the Difference with High Definition TV? Not too long ago, gadget fanatics and sports-aficionados were the only ones really excited about High Definition TV (HDTV or High Def). With the volume of new coverage and marketing effort in the past year, HDTV has moved into the mainstream and is gaining increasing recognition among the general public. The 2007 Holiday period is expected to see the highest sales yet of HDTV-compatible televisions in Canada, but many people are still unclear about the real differences between HDTV and their current TV image, and whether the upgrade will be worth it. Now is the perfect time to brush up on your knowledge of the HD market and make sure you know what to look for in the ultimate home entertainment gift. First, the basics. Until High Def entered the picture, TV typically involved analog signals and cathode ray tube (CRT) sets. Analog signals reach your TV as fluctuating waves of information, with carried throughout the air (regular broadcast or satellite) or directly through your old cable box. Standard definition analog signals are prone to static, interference and ghost images. Perhaps the biggest difference between older analog TV and the new HDTV digital formats, put simply, is that HDTV signals carry much more information than analog in a way that is error-resistant and more efficient. The more information your TV signal can carry; the better the picture will look (richer, more natural colours, sharper images) and the clearer the audio will sound. Another key difference in the quality of HDTV is the way in which the picture is created on screen. A traditional TV signal is Continued on Page 9 CEP Labour Adjustment Committee (CEPLAC) Client Programs Coordinator Full-time, fixed term The CEPLAC was formed to assist laid-off, forest-sector workers within a 100km radius of Thunder Bay. We are seeking a dynamic individual for a fixed term (6 months to 1 year) to fill our Client Programs Coordinator (CPC) position. DUTIES: - Plan, develop and implement individual and group counselling and crisis intervention sessions for a diverse group of forest-sector workers and their families, committee members and action centre staff. - Train CEPLAC action centre staff, peer helpers, and committee members in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. - Respond appropriately to crises, such as suicide threats - Refer program participants to appropriate community services - Establish and carry out outreach strategies QUALIFICATIONS/CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT - Bachelor of social work degree, or a college social services diploma -A Life Skills Coach certificate would be an asset - 3-5 years experience in individual and group counselling - A combination of related education and work experience will be considered - The use of a vehicle is required, as the CPC will provide services to 3 different locations - 2 in Thunder Bay and 1 in Red Rock - Might be required to counsel workers and families in their homes A detailed job description is available on the CEPLAC website at www.ceplac.ca/careers Deadline: Applications must be received by Wednesday. January 16. 2008 @ 4:00 p.m. Please send your resume to: Selection Committee, CEPLAC c/o CEP, Local 39 516 South High Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 3M3 or Email your resume to careers@ceplac.ca. Only .pdf and MS Word file formats will be accepted. We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.