September is the start of the Saugeen Shores Men’s PROBUS club New Year and, on the first Tuesday of each month, the club meets for a social time and the opportunity to hear a guest speaker who is an expert in his or her field.
Among the speakers recently heard have been Kathryn Forsyth in July and Terry Fitzgerald in August.
Forsyth, currently on the Health Promotion Team at Grey Bruce Public Health, is working to improve the food environment and create healthier communities where people live, work and play.
With a Bachelor of Science, Honours Home Economics degree from the University of Western Ontario and Dietetic Internship at Hamilton General Hospital in 1994, she has more than 25 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian.
She explained to the PROBUS members the value of reading labels on food products. “Food is your medicine and the first line of defence for your body.” She explained that the first Canadian Food Guide was established in 1942 during wartime to address the lack of nutrients during a food shortage. “It was then re-examined in 1977, 1992, 2007 and again in 2019. The last time it also introduced pictures of food on a plate to help people visualize what healthy food actually looks like.”
According to Forsyth, there are several habits that people should be following:
- Pay attention to your eating habits and eat every four hours
- Cook at home as often as possible
- Enjoy your food
- Eat meals with others including family members
She is a strong advocate when it comes to exercise. “Move it or lose it,” says Forsyth. “Staying active is a preventative when it comes to health.”
At the August meeting, guest speaker was Terry Fitzgerald, an expert when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). With his wry sense of humour, Fitzgerald ‘debunked’ many of the myths when it comes to EVs.
Former race car driver and, now a speaker and author of two books about EVs, he laid out both the pros and cons of purchasing an electric vehicle.
As a contracted Product Specialist for Plug’n Drive at the Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre (EVDC) in Toronto, he conducted 100s of interviews and test drives with potential EV buyers gaining invaluable insight into buyers needs and goals regarding EVs. Based on all his public engagements, he has published two books, his 2020 Book “What you really need to know about Electric Vehicles “ in 2020 and “Choosing the right EV” in 2024.
“One of the most prohibitive reasons against an EV purchase is, of course, the cost,” said Fitzgerald. “It is also very difficult for automative dealers right now as technicians have to be trained for EV maintenance and there is the issue of battery e-waste. The industry is working on trying to solve many of the problems that have resulted in developing and selling EVs.”
The next guest speaker on September 3rd is Angela Yenssen, Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic Staff Lawyer, Elder Law Project.
She will be speaking to PROBUS members, and those of the public who want to attend, about the sensitive issue of elder abuse.
The Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic is a law office that provides free legal information, advice and representation, as well as other services, to low income residents of Grey and Bruce Counties. It provides access to justice through legal representation, summary advice, public legal education, community development, and law reform.
The Clinic is a non-profit corporation staffed by lawyers, community legal workers and administrative staff and is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the community.
PROBUS welcomes new members who may be retired and simply want to get together once a month, hear a guest speaker and socialize over a coffee. The membership fee is a nominal $40 for the entire year that goes to the Legion for rental of the space.
The meetings take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. upstairs at the Port Elgin Legion and are over by 11:30 a.m.m when many members opt to continue their fellowship over lunch at one of the nearby eateries.
“It’s going to be a exciting year ahead with the speakers that have already been planned,” says member Gord Eagles. “Besides the speaker at each meeting, we have a 50/50 draw and, of course, coffee and treats. It’s a time just to get together and socialize and hear an expert in a field that many may not be familiar with.”
