Leduc West Antique Society

THE IGNITOR NEWSLETTER

VOL.19 No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 2008

Living the Past for Future Generations

Your 2007 Executive:
www.leducwestantique.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

From the Attendance Centre of the Alberta Justice Corrective Services workers are booked for the following dates:

May: 7,8,9, 16, 17, 18,23,24,25
June: 13, 14, 15,24,25,26
July: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 15, 16,23,24,25,26,27,28,29
August: 5,6,7, 15, 16, 17
September: 1 1, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28
October: 3, 4, 5

We are hoping some LWAS members will come out on these days and help with supervision. We are able to get more done if extra bodies are available to show them what has to be done. Also, equipment such as lawn mowers, trimmers, etc. must be kept serviced so they are ready for use. Phone (780) 986-0054 a week in advance if you can help. Perhaps some would like to bake cookies or a cake for snack time.

A special wish to all members for good health in 2008. 1 know that there have been a lot of members who have had surgery in the past few months. A speedy recovery to all. Hope to see you all at the meeting on March 8, 2008.

Other important dates to remember:

March 25: Bingo at the Rapid Bingo Hall in Leduc
May 24: Country Swap Meet
May 26: Bingo at the Rapid Bingo Hall in Leduc
May 31: Annual Picnic at the Park
July 07: Bingo at the Rapid Bingo Hall in Leduc
July 26 & 27: Annual Exposition
September 13: Country Harvest

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Walter Burak

Let me begin by wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2008. After spending some time in Florida & the Caribbean during November and December, I think Marg and I chose the wrong time to be away as opposed to this past month's cold snap, or perhaps we came home too early.

Our last Society function for 2007, "Appreciation Night," was a huge success. We had a 10-piece live band for entertainment. A big thank you to the individuals for their time and effort - some individuals are not LWAS members. We received requests for more social nights in the Hooper Building, however, to find appropriate dates is hard. Our Annual Meeting, plus General Meeting, with a potluck dinner is a full evening and therefore, a social event - on top of it would just be too much. The Annual Picnic in June is usually an afternoon function and people like to be outdoors. Any ideas - bring them up at the Annual Meeting in March.

The latest news at the Park regarding projects:

1) We signed an agreement with Edmonton Power Historical Foundation (EPHF) for them to occupy the whole engine building for the next 10 years. They are paying monthly lease fees for the next 10-year period. EPHF has interesting plans and requires more room for expansion. They helped renovate the whole interior of the building complete with the cement floor. They have provided interesting displays for the past 6 years. They have already started moving displays from the Edmonton Rossdale Power Station.

2) Ron Bodnar's replica service station grade beam is poured with structure work to continue when the weather warms up. Public washrooms, First Aide Station and Information Center will be incorporated into the Service Station. The Calmar Historical Society has donated funds towards the public washrooms. The Lion's Breakfast Club is donating funds for the First Aide Station.

3) Harvey Richards, from Calgary, who is involved with the sawmill displays at the Park, donated funds at our Appreciation Night, dedicated for a Sawmill Building. Plans have been completed to construct a 60' x 104' straight wall building on a grade beam. Work is projected to begin within the next month if the weather co- operates. The majority of the space will be occupied by Harvey's equipment with some dedicated to the Society's wishes.

4) Del Henkelman had a huge stone on his farm and he didn't want to bury it. A company called Stone Writer picked up the stone. It weighed in at 39,000 pounds and has already been cut into 4 pieces. The company will be polishing and engraving the stone to Del's request. Two pieces will be coming to the Society's grounds for permanent display. This is a total donation on behalf of Del and Dorothy. We hope to have both stones in place by the Annual Show. Go to www.stonewriter.net to see the type of work this company does with emphasis on "Stone Signs" and "Photo Pages".

5) There are other smaller projects that will be done this spring: the stove has to be made operational in the log house, shrub beds planted on the south side of the Founder's Building, clean-up of some of the railroad artifacts, etc.

-WB

KOLLECTOR'S KORNER - Bill Smith

How true you learn to read and then you read to learn. Some great things happen and get missed by these 10-second shots on T.V. news. I must confess I probably spent 10 years of my life reading. For instance, French car manufacturer, Renault, made the first tanks for use in battle by U.S. troops in the last year ofWWI. Or, Edgar Allan Poe, famous for his tales of the macabre, only lived to the age of 40. What a great invention — the key ring, such a handy gadget that allows you to lose all your keys at once. Or the number of consecutive days that were needed to break the record held by the Social Credit Party: 13,157 days, that number expressed in years is 36 years. In 14th century Europe, people attempted word of hail by ringing church bells and firing cannons. The loud noise was to scare away bad spirits.

Along with being interesting and awe-inspiring, one facet of reading that is always popular is the infamous joke! Enjoy!

Jokes from Helen Atkinson

PERKS OF BEING OVER 50

Now you will have to come to our Annual get together and hear more jokes about our progress and plans. No seriously, we had a super year in 2007 and it looks like 2008 will be the year of construction. See you all!

-BS

A VERY QUICK LETTER FROM THE EDITOR - Jennifer Bodnar

If you have any interesting hobbies, experiences or events that you would like to write about and include in Leduc West Antique Society's premier newsletter "The Ignitor" please contact me at:

JENNIFER BODNAR
428 TWIN BROOKS CRESCENT
EDMONTON, ALBERTA
T6J 6V2
PHONE: (780) 465-4041
FAX: (780) 465-4041
E-MAIL: JENBODNAR@HOTMAIL.COM

Please note that all articles are subject to an editing process.

Letters to the Editor are more than welcome, also appreciated are
comments and criticism (and praise)!

Antique Tractor and Engine Events

Alberta 2008

Calendar of Events

Sunday, May 25 ....................... Yoho Museum Annual Day, Peers

Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8 ..... Westlock Antique Tractor and Machinery Club Show

Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15 ............... Olds Antique Tractor Days

Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15 .............. Lacombe Antique Tractor Show

Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22 ....... Lac La Biche Pioneer Days Tractor Pull

Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29 .................. Markerville Pioneer Days

Tuesday, July 1 ............................. Lloydminster Canada Day Fair

Tuesday, July 1 ...............................Blackie Antique Tractor Pull

Tuesday, July 1 ............................. Delburne Antique Tractor Pull

Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6 ........... Edgerton Tractor Show and Tractor Pull

Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6 ....... Vintage Antique Tractor Pull: Calgary Stampede

Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13 .................... The Three Hills Tractor Pull

Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20 ........ South Peace Pioneer Days (Beaverlodge)

Friday, July 25 ............................ Antique Tractor Pull in Vermillion

Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27........... Leduc West Antique Society's Annual Exposition

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 1-3 ......Heritage Acres Annual Show, Pincher Creek

Saturday and Sunday, August 2-3 ........... Leslieville Antique Days

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 8-10 .......... Irricana Annual Reunion and Show

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 15-17 .... Prairie Tractor Club Threshing Show, Picture Butte

Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17 ......... Sunnybrook Farm Museum Annual Pioneer Days

Sunday, August 17 .............................. The Didsbury Tractor Pull

Sunday, August 24 ....................... Fort Edmonton Park Harvest Fair

Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31 ...... Reynolds-Alberta Museum Harvest Festival

Saturday, September 13 ........ Leduc West Antique Society's Annual Fall Harvest Fair

Sunday, September 21 ........ Camrose Machinery and Old Fashioned Day

For further information check out the Alberta Antique Tractor and Engine Events page.

Community Spirit Program Press Release

As part of the Community Spirit Program Press Release on February 01, 2008 by Ed Stelmach the following details regarding the Donation Grant Program have been established:

• Donor-driven program. Funding details to be announced as part of Budget 2008.
• The program will be available to all eligible non-profit organizations and Canada Revenue Agency-registered charities that provide direct services to Albertans and Alberta communities for philanthropic purposes.
• Grants will be calculated on a proportional basis and based on cash donations received by the eligible organization.
• The maximum grant is $25,000 per year, with total grants not to exceed $50,000 over three-years.
• Grants can be used for operations, projects, programming and small capital projects.
• Program guidelines will be available April 1. The annual grant submission deadline will be in October.

Membership and Raffle Report - Marg Burak

I have been working on updating the membership list this past month. There have been quite a number of changes in the past 18 years, not only in addresses and phone numbers; but also in our capabilities where we can volunteer our services at the Park. A new form, compliments of Marja and Jeff Allen, is included in this newsletter to update your information. Each family must complete a form no matter if you completed one a year ago or 18 years ago. Please complete the form and return it to LWAS @ #6 Bienert Court, Leduc, AB, T9E 5K8 as soon as possible. Where it asks for your birth date just indicate what decade you were born in (eg: late 20s, or early 40s, etc.) Where it asks if you are interested in volunteering, please indicate what area you wish to be part of. Also, some members indicated they would prefer to have their newsletter e-mailed. This will be possible for the next newsletter if you provide your e-mail address.

Mike Dobko wanted to have another raffle. This was approved by the Executive. Jennifer is including a book of 20 tickets in this newsletter mailout. Please have the ticket stubs and cheques returned by the Annual Show in July. Let's all work together and we can raise another $8,000 for the Society to help pay for the additional gravel we will require at the Park.

All Annual Members should have their membership dues paid by the Annual Meeting.

-MB

Announcements

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gerald Knoll - Nov 7, 1932-Jan 17, 2008

From all of us at Leduc West Antique Society, Our thoughts and prayers are extended to Knoll family at this time.