Back to USCO Homepage
The Voice Newsletter
USCO Events Page
About The United Senior Citizen's
Info From The Roots & Shoots Publication
Contact Us
Information Regarding Membership View The USCO Photo Gallery Past Presidents Main Page USCO Website Links Benefits of being a USCO Member

Your zone spring rally is an important part of your club's fellowship. I enjoy the hospitality and the welcome I receive. Please make everyone feel good about attending the rally and they'll be sure to return and take an interesting report back to their club. Encourage as many as possible to attend these educational sessions.

The Building Capacity Workshop for seniors on March 29th and 30th was very thought-provoking. It was suggested we need to know where we are going and plot a path to the final area. Ask people if they will join you as a personal contact is very important and show your passion and enthusiasm for what you are doing. Ask what would attract them to your club as most people want the opportunity to grow and meet other adults. Let them feed into your dream for your organization.

One speaker said seniors, immigrants and native people are going to play a large part in the future of Ontario. What part do you want to play? Who would benefit from your club? What are you offering new members? These are questions we need to think about.

Here are a few sobering statistics from the Canadian Heart Health Survey and the Canadian Community Health Survey.

  • Fifty two percent of boomers lead a sedentary lifestyle today versus 43 per cent a decade ago; 30 per cent are obese versus 19 per cent
  • In comparison, 50 per cent of Canadians aged 65 to 74 are inactive and only 24 per cent are obese.
  • On a brighter note, 21 per cent of boomers smoke today - down from 29 per cent a decade earlier. This is still higher that the 11 per cent of seniors surveyed.
  • Nearly 1.3 million Canadian boomers aged 45 to 59 have already been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure. This is something for all of us to think about.

Seniors also have special rights with their telephone.

  • If you're 65 or over, you have the right to free directory assistance; all you have to do is call your phone company so they can add your age to your file.
  • If you're registered with the phone company as having a disability, you may be entitled to certain services or discounts including: a) message relay service available 24/7 at no charge, b) 50% discount on long-distance charges on calls within Canada using a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) or c) free directory assistance.
  • A customer with a visual impairment has the right to receive bills and other information in an appropriate format such as Braille, large print electronic, or other mutually agreeable format. Your phone company may also have service equipment specially adapted for persons with disabilities.

To find out more about your phone rights or to register a complaint, contact CRTC at the following:

Telephone: 1.877.249.CRTC (2782)
TDD users (toll free): 1.877.909.2782
Fax: 1.819.994.0218
Internet: www.crtc.gc.ca
Mail: CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2

I would like to wish every mother a very happy, healthy Mother's Day and I hope everyone has an enjoyable, healthy spring.


The United Senior Citizens Of Ontario Inc.
3033 Lakeshore Blvd. W.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M8V 1K5