The Retirees' Newsletter Page 9

The Faculty and Librarian Retirees' Association, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada

Vol VII, Issue No.2 -- April, 1997

SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR

by Joan Hackett

SATURDAY AFTERNOON -- GUESTS COMING TO DINNER -- A CLOGGED SINK IN THE KITCHEN. That *#**#! thing rejected repeated plungings and liberal doses of magic potions poured down its choked gullet. The sink had become a boiling cauldron of smelly gunk. Frantic calls to local plumbers were futile, either they had gone fishing or were going fishing.

"Better phone the guests and tell them not to come"

"No wait!! The yellow pages!"

On page 583 of the current Windsor phone book, the following appears:

ROTO-ROOTER

and away go troubles down the drain

COMPLETE PLUMBING

SEWER AND DRAIN

CLEANING SERVICE

NO EXTRA CHARGE NIGHTS/WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS

SERVICE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY

SERVICE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE..

FAST

EMERGENCY SERVICE

253-6001

The promise of our "troubles going down the drain" was irresistible. We called 253-6001. A sympathetic lady answered, promised to contact a plumber and call back. We waited for a century but no call. "Better phone the guests and tell then not to... No! I'll call Roto-Rooter back." The lady answered, had tried to get us, plumber ready to come but unable to find Harrow on his map. In the middle of detailed directions on how to get here, she interrupted, "Just how far areyou from Winnipeg?" "Winnipeg? You mean Windsor." No, she meant Winnipeg. Confusion at both ends of the line. She wished us luck and hung up.

We asked the operator to check 253-6001. "All the calls to that number are automatically transferred to Winnipeg." I picked up the phone and called the guests.

Editor's Note: For the curious, I already tried it. It does take you to Roto-Rooter in Winnipeg. Don't ask me why... Phone companies do strange things these days! Or maybe it's the influence of the Hale-Bopp Comet, or even (who knows) the coming millenium.

OUR SISTER OGRANIZATION

UNI-COM REPORTS PLANS

Stuart Nease, a member of the Retirees' Association and currently President of the UNI-COM Senior Resource Centre, reports that they: 1) Are planning an Elderhostel program from June 22 to 28. The theme is to be Windsor as an international port on the Detroit River.

2) Have completed two semesters of their Academy of Learning in Retirement, with about 70 in each. Fifteen study sessions were held, most on campus. 3) Have become involved in leadership roles in a number of other organizations in Windsor.

4) Have held several general-meeting luncheons.

A substantial number of our Association members are also members of UNI-COM.

A Few Random Facts About our Association

1) If you want a copy of the Association's Constitution, a special copy was included in Issue No. 17, which you can find on the Web. The URL for The Newsletter is:

http://www.uwindsor.ca/newsstnd/uwflra/news.htm

Alternatively, drop us a line with the usual SSAE and we'll send a copy along

2) Don't forget that the Fall Meeting in October is election time for officers of the Association. Give it some careful thought.

3) It matters what officers you elect, because they are the ones who communicate with the University Administration on your behalf on matters that are important to you.

4) And whenever you want to honour a deceased friend or relative, there's no better way to do it than to give to the Retirees' Bursary Fund for Needy Students in that friend's name.

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