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1 > 2 Ij V ) - Z y I ; Orôhd Weekly Times - 3 Wednesday. March 10, 2004 ?V illi Outgoing Veridian director honoured South of 49° by Jeanne Burnside Spring break burns and bullets My niece/god-daughter called yesterday to let me know she and a few friends were heading south on their break from university.. Unlike my visits down south over February or March break, this seemed all too organized including plane and hotel reservations! My first experience was the year Disney world opened and my two roommates and I left upstate New York for sunny Florida in a beat-up Volkswagen Beetle and headed headed south. Our route was based on suggestions from other students and some old maps we were able to scrounge up at the area gas station - no internet access existed with detailed trip routes. We arrived in Orlando and had a 'magical time' at the park and only got into trouble trouble once that I can remember. While riding through the Haunted House there were many signs that strictly forbade forbade taking pictures. The signs were on almost all the other rides and along the way my roommates had snapped away with no consequences. I decided to snap a photo while inside and was quickly greeted with a bright light shining in my face. One of the ushers, who could have been part of the eerie display, said in a calm but direct voice, "NO PICTURES!" We spent the remainder of the break in Daytona doing the normal spring break things kids do - getting overserved overserved and frolicking at the beach. And of course we were staying at some dive motel full of kids from all over the US and Canada. Unfortunately, my tender Irish skin could not take the harsh rays of the sun especially especially after lathering up with baby oil to get that bronzed look we all were tying to achieve. While lying on our blanket at the beach an older gentlemen came over and tapped my shoulder and suggested suggested 1 step out of the sun. He told me to be careful because he had noticed blisters blisters forming on my stomach - in those days I could wear a bikini. After soaking in a vinegar bath, my level of enjoyment went down a few notches as 1 was forced to wear very loose fitting shifts for the duration of the trip. Driving home with the injury also proved to be a bit of a problem - being scrunched up with sunburn is not the I way to travel. The following . year, twelve of us decided to takè a friend's new Volkswagen Bus down to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The group consisted of both sexes and the first order of the day was sitting arrangements. The owner, my roommate's boyfriend, had invited most of his friends and I was asked to keep my roommate happy. The bus had the two front seats and the back was empty and we just all sat facing each other. Unfortunately, traveling with twenty- something something year old guys lost its luster after a day burping and other bodily functions! We arrived at Tulane University to stay in the dorms with some of my companions friends. There is nothing like New Orleans during Mardi , Gras and I for one can tell you that is true. No one plans on sleeping - you dance, drink and eat - and then pass out! Everyday for a week there are parades and the people on the floats throw beaded necklaces to all the people on the street. The highlight of, the trip was being asked to ride on one of the floats and throw the necklaces out dressed as a bird With feathers and mask with a bill - slightly more peacock than Bigbird! I did remember to send my folks a postcard from New Orleans just to say I was fine and having a grand time. I knew if I asked permission permission to go the answer would be no--so I went ahead and took a chance. When returning home after the semester, I was in a bit of trouble and was forced to spend the next spring break at home. I still keep one of the necklaces in my jewelry box to remind me of those decadent days! Years later my husband and I were in New Orleans for a business convention. While exiting a bar called the Famous Door a bullet flew by my head. My husband ever alert to save himself pushed me forward on a reflex. Thankfully, the bouncer of the establishment pushed me down and covered me. On returning inside the bar the owner explained the city had been having problems problems with rival gangs and we were probably innocent visitors visitors caught in the crossf ire. My husband piped up it was probably someone from my lurid past in New Orleans seeking revenge! Mrs. Pauline Storks of Newcastle was presented with an award named in her honour at the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA) annual business meeting on Monday March 1st at a gala diner at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Outgoing Veridian Director Storks, said she was dumfounded when her name was called put to receive this award. The Association has established The Pauline Storks Director Award, to pay tribute to local utility directors directors who demonstrate "the qualities of tireless dedication, dedication, leadership, passion and commitment to the association association and its mission." John Wiersma, the Chair of Veridian's Board of Directors, attended the presentation presentation and applauded the EDA for its tribute to Ms. Storks. "There is certainly no- one more deserving of recognition recognition than Pauline", says Wiersma. "She has been and continues to be a marvelous contributor to the electricity distribution business. Veridian Veridian has been very fortunate to have had her on its Board of Directors." Ms. Storks has been involved in the electricity business for over 16 years. She first served on the Clarington Hydro Commission Commission in 1988. She was soon elected to. the Board of the Municipal Electric Association, Association, the forerunner to the EDA. She went on to become the first woman to chair the industry association, and just recently celebrated an eleven- year tenure on its Board of Directors. Over the years, Ms. Storks has held many other important important posts in the electricity sector. She served as Chair of • the EDA's Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, Vice- Chair of the Clarington Hydro Commission and Chair of the EDA's Eastern Ontario District. She also held the position of Director on the Pauline Storks was the first recipient of the Director Award named in her honour. Boards of Veridian Corporation Corporation and Veridian Energy Inc. Storks continues to sit on the Board of MEARIE Management Inc., an organization organization that offers a range of services to Ontario's electricity electricity distributors. According to Wiersma, "It is extremely satisfying to see Pauline rewarded for years of dedicated work on the Board of our industry association. She has been a leader in our business during a time of unprecedented change, and has never diverted her attention attention from the interests of customers. customers. I am very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with her." Through its subsidiary Veridian Connections Inc., Veridian Corporation is responsible for distributing electricity to more than 90,000 customers in the cities of Pickering and Belleville, the Towns of Ajax and Port Hope, and the communities of Uxbridge, . Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, Beaverton, Sunderland and Cannington. The Corporation also owns Veridian Energy Inc., a Pickering, Ontario based company that provides busi- ness-to-business and fibre optic communications services. services. - happenings ~ Saturday! March ^ ri . i? lini iraiser Dance - 8:30 p.m. at Kendal Community 905-797-2962. Wednesday. March 12 Rehekah Centre Luncheon includes chili, * A.*.», -7,- J* » P" Tickets $20. Call Ann 905-983-5903 or Jeanne 905-983-5230. Saturday. March . 0rono Arcna . DJ - Mike's Music. Includes Ti^aH Tracks,er 905-983,125, An g e,a Lyndc-Sinclair 905-983-8253 or any Station #3 firefighter. Saturday. March 20 vi.-im-iim Tea - 2 to 4 p.tn. at 47 Temperance St., St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 4th * fl „d Children $5. For tickets call Bowmanville. Costumes, prizes, entertainment. Adults $8 and Children not McGill 905-983-9553.