Saturday, October 18, 2014

Ladies ~ Come On In!



LADIES ~ COME ON IN!

Continuous Effort...not strength or intelligence
is the key to unlocking the potential.
(Winston Churchill)

Scotland Got it Right!

Not only did this country  recently vote to remain with the British Commonwealth,
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews has voted overwhelmingly
to admit female members for the first time!

The club, exclusively for men since it was founded in Scotland 260 years ago, released a statement  on Thursday saying 85% of those who took part in the ballot voted in favour of allowing female members. The club has a world-wide membership of  2,500.  Peter Dawson, secretary of the R&A  says, “The membership has also acted to fast-track a significant initial number of women to become members in the coming months.”

High School “Tackle Football” Team Welcomes Girl

She's always been adventurous both at home and at school. Graduating with honours in Grade 8 and recognized for her pursued participation in various school activities, she was elected to be Valedictorian at her graduating class ceremony.  My grand daughter was thrilled to be attending High School. Why should I be surprised when she “tried out” for the  “tackle football team”? She's tall  with a strong build.  A few other girls quit during the try-outs, concluding they couldn't physically handle it.

The coach welcomed her...and the boys, though a bit leery at first, accepted this girl on their team.  They discovered she was an asset...often patting her on the back and would check if she had any injuries when knocked down.  To them, she was awesome!

The team players all became “good friends”. The coach had encouraged her and commended her play throughout the season.  Yes, she had bruises and bumps...but no injuries except for a few broken fingernails. And now, this year, the boys are asking if she's playing again with them.

She tells me, “I was proud of myself in being able to withstand the “tackle drills” and becoming able physically to play. I was proud that I was not tempted to quit after the try-outs!”

And...Yes...the coach and the boys welcome her for the second year.
(See Post Script at end of this article)

Think like a Queen; a Queen is not afraid to fail.
Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.
(Oprah Winfrey)

Dr. Emily Howard Stowe (May 1, 1831...
was the first female doctor to practise in Canada and an activist for women's rights and suffrage.  Stowe helped found the women's suffrage movement in Canada and campaigned to initiate the first Medical   College for Women.

Canada's First Female Catholic Priest
(from the Nanaimo's Daily News...October 29, 2012)

As the first woman in Canada  to be ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, Nanaimo resident, Michele Birch-Conery's perspective on the church is nothing, if not unique.  At a time when a Vancouver church is appealing to Catholics that have abandoned their faith with a series of television ads set to air on the mainland Vancouver Island, Birch-Conery feels that in an era of upheaval  for the church, it is time for the clergy to abandon its rigid exclusion of women from the priestly ranks and usher in a new era of inclusivity.

"With  opportunities, given or self-created,
women are capable to take the initiative and accomplish outstanding feats."

Marilyn Bell was the first (male or female) to swim across Lake Ontario in 1954.  At age 16 she swam from Queens Beach at Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario to Toronto.  Later, she swam the English Channel and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Vicki Keith was the first person to swim across all 5 Great Lakes, achieving this feat in1988.  She was also the only person to accomplish the 104 km double crossing of Lake Ontario.  Vicki's dream has always been to make a difference in other people's live.  She became a coach and met the needs for  children having  disabilities with diabetes in Kingston, Ontario.

Ladies Golf Club of Toronto
(7859 Yonge Street)

Celebrating 90 years, from 1924-2014, it is North America's only remaining private golf club for women exclusively.  Founded by Ada MacKenzie (a world-class golfer herself), it has provided a place  for women to play, learn and enjoy a lifelong involvement with golf in a private setting.  An isolated location in 1924, she set about designing the many acres golf play by hiring legend Canadian golf architect, Stanley Thomson of Banff Springs and Jasper Park  fame to design the layout.

Wise Perspective from Eleanor Roosevelt
A woman is like a teabag ~
you can't tell how strong she is
until you put her in hot water.

Post Script:  In the Spectator’s ‘Readers Write’ September 30th issue, Abbie Boyko, a 1982 Hamilton Graduate of Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School wrote:  As a proud graduate, I was a part of the football crew, which was on the field at Ivor Wynne Stadium at our home games.  We had two people who took care of the measuring sticks and I was the one with the down stick.  I watched every game for four years; the Chiefs played hard and proud.  I have followed them over the years as they struggled.  I am so happy that someone has stepped up to help the Chiefs.  Thanks to Nissan and the Canadian Football League for saving this wonderful secondary school’s football team…and to John Williams, the coordinator of community development for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, for choosing this school and helping all those kids who now play for the Chiefs and the players of the future.  GO CHIEFS!!!

Merle Baird-Kerr...written September 20, 2014
Your comments are welcome...e-mail to:

No comments:

Post a Comment