Aviation Memorabilia Newsletter

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_| TCA |_        B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_              N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<           for Air Canada retirees
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Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/

Co-pilot     - Terry Baker         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between

number 347   date Mar 13th, 1999  1st Published in October 1995

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. We welcome Tom and Rose Woodhouse, Tom retired in 1983, living in Montreal.
email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marion Sweeney retired Operation Supervisor and lives in Calgary, AB
email for Marion is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



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. News from the districts.
Sheila Moscoe, who organises the T2 Coffee Klatch in YYZ sends this -
Well, just wanted you to know that we had "standing room" only on
Tuesday Feb 2nd at our get-together. 
The wx was foggy and overcast..terrible day..and we had a record turnout!!
Go figure.  The management at Golden Griddle is very pleased that we are
using their restaurant for our venue, that they are going to offer us a $25
voucher for dining.   So, we're going to have a draw once a month and the
lucky person will be able to use the voucher at any GG restaurants. Nice, eh?
I'll be away for March 2nd's coffee klatch so someone else will hostess
it for me.
So,that's it for now,
Take care,  Sheila  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Larry O'Brien sends this for your information -
Subject: Travel Privledges.

Here is a copy of a letter I recently sent to Mr. Paul Garrett, VP Human
Resources.
Perhaps my fellow Air Canada retires would like to read it and send their
opinions about business class pass travel along.

Mr. Garrett did reply and state that Air Canada will wait to see what
experience Canadian Airlines have with their program. One area obviously
where Air Canada does not lead the way.

January 15, 1999
Mr. Paul R. Garratt
Vice President Human Resources
Air Canada
PO Box 14000, Station Airport
Dorval, PQ  H4Y 1H4
Dear Mr. Garratt:
As a retired employee and long time shareholder I would like to present
you with the following suggestion for your consideration.

Having served Air Canada for more than twenty-six years on the flight
deck, first as a Navigator and then as a Pilot, I find it somewhat
difficult even after seven years of retirement to accept the fact that I
am not good enough to fly in Business Class when travelling on an
employee pass. As I walk through the Business Class section and proceed
to the Economy section I am always reminded of November 1971.

During a short period of time in that era Air Canada decided that
employees including Flight Crew were not good enough to fly in First
Class. On November 12, 1971 I arrived in Winnipeg as a crew member of
Flt 853 from London, England. Immediately upon arrival I was informed
that Flight 812 had been hijacked and the hijacker was a member of the
IRA and wanted to be flown to Ireland. I was informed that the hijacker
was carrying a sawed-off shot-gun that he had already fired once in the
aircraft, he had six sticks of dynamite tied around his waist and
claimed to have a suitcase full of dynamite in his checked luggage. I
was then asked if I would volunteer to operate the hijacked flight to
Ireland. I was informed that the aircraft was on the ground in Great
Falls, USA and was waiting there until a navigator could be provided.
The hijacked agreed to permit the flight to proceed to pick me up in
Regina but not to Winnipeg because there would be too many police in
Winnipeg. I asked if the passengers were still on board and when advised
that they were I volunteered to operate the hijacked flight from Regina
to Dublin, Ireland. Fortunately for me I never had to get on that
aircraft due to the fact the Captain and crew was able to surprise the
hijacker and subdue him on their way to pick me up in Regina.

Interestingly Air Canada decided that I would warrant a "First Class
Confirmed Space" pass to go from Winnipeg to Regina and I was able to
enjoy that privilege on the short flight to Regina. By some amazing
justification the next day when I was to proceed to my home base in
Vancouver I was only good enough to travel standby economy.

So my memory will never let me forget when I see empty business class
seats and must walk by them to the economy section.

I recently travelled on a United Airlines flight from Hong Kong to San
Francisco and spoke to a United Captain and his wife who had been on the
same cruise as myself. He and his wife were able to upgrade to First
Class for a fee of $50.00. I understand that this is the policy of
United Airlines as well as American Airlines and some other of our
competitors.

Will Air Canada consider providing this privileged to its active and
retired employees? I believe it would be a great moral booster and could
be a no cost item as a sufficient service charge could be applied to
cover the additional expense to the company.

I would like to suggest the following rules could apply.

1. Service charge would be a minimum of $25.00 and at the rate of $10.00
per scheduled   hour for flights of three or more hours.

2. When registering for a flight employees would be required to indicate
their desire for an   upgrade if available.

3. Upgrading to Business Class would be on the basis of the employees
normal seniority   with the exception that junior employees requesting
upgrade would take precedence   over senior employees who did not
request an upgrade.

4. Upgrade service charges would be deducted from employees pay or
pension cheques.

Thank you for your consideration of my suggestion.

Yours truly,
Larry O'Brien <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
(Recall at the beginning this statement -
Quote -   ' Mr. Garrett did reply and state that Air Canada will wait
to see what experience Canadian Airlines have with their program.
One area obviously   where Air Canada does not lead the way.' Unquote
Don't get confused, this is NOT company policy - yet!  But could be
the start of some changes - the AGM is coming up! be heard - eds)

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. More info from Brian Dunn in Toronto -
....and you think YOU had a bad day!  The news media were quick to
report President Boris Yeltsin leaving the funeral of King Hussein in a
hurry to return to Moscow due to his ailing health.  What the western
media did not report was that his IL-96 aircraft was taxiing at Moscow's
Vnukono-2 airport when it collided with the DC-9 waiting to fly Italian
Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema home to Italy.  Apparently, the IL-96
took the tailplane off the parked Italian DC-9.  Another plane had to be
flown in to take home Signor D'Alema.  Neither leader knew about the
incident until later because the collision was so gentle.

Air Canada took delivery of their 10th A340-300 on February 11th
when C-GDVV (FLN908) flew from Toulouse to Montreal.  It is expected to
go into revenue service by February 23rd approximately.

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. Ken Day sends this memory -
Subject: Royal Flight
Thursday, June 7, 1962 was a Red Letter Day in at least two respects.
London, Eng. was hot, very hot with the temperature pushing  30 degrees C.
plus. Secondly, Trans-Canada Airlines Flt. 857, A DC-8, carried Her
Majesty, The Queen Mother, together with the Royal Party  and 29 (regular)
passengers. (plus Norm Batten, TCA rep.)       
This set a major precedent for the Royal Family when the Queen Mother
arrived in Montreal on a regularly scheduled airliner with other passengers
on board.
This, the first of several subsequent Royal Flights, as you may well
imagine, was of no little import to all those people directly and
indirectly involved in the planning and preparation for a particularly
special first flight.  It would not be an exaggeration to say that every
branch/department in the Company was involved in one way or another.
Protocol, seating configurations, the provision of dressing areas, trunk
storage, amenities, white glove service and equipment all ranked highly in
the planning process. Route planning and timing of A- "To the minute"
Arrival at Dorval for the welcoming ceremonies was a major consideration.
The possibility of any odious comparisons to B.O.A.C. in the aftermath was
an incentive in itself!
In all of this- the planning, the purchasing, the checking, the double
checking, Frank Salverda, the executive chef probably said it best to the
cabin crew that "When the door closes, you're on your own!"
A lesson in preparedness was not lost on Frank St. Hilaire. When , in
passing a crew meal on the flight deck, the tray contents were spilled on
him!  Frank had the foresight to carry spare trousers so the day was not
lost.
The flight itself was uneventful with a  beautiful clear day over the ice
cap.  At one point, the Queen Mum, unannounced, walked slowly through the
economy cabin chatting with a number of passengers.
Regarding the temperature in London, prior to boarding the flight, Her
Majesty had stepped in heat-softened tar on the London Tarmac. What with
welcoming ceremonies, a walk about, TV cameras, etc. and with no matching
spares readily available, what could we do?  What indeed, without making an
unsightly situation worse?  After some thought and with some trepidation on
the possible result, Isopropyl Alcohol was removed from the medical kit and
put to an unintended use - successfully!
And, I would note, it was an "on the Minute" Arrival.
The Crew for this flight were:Capt. Bob Smith, Capt. Ab Freeman, Capt. John
Crosby, Navigator Bill Bridgeford,Chief Purser Frank St. Hilaire, Pursers
Chuck Smith, Ken Day, Stewardesses Marcelle Paulin, Marise Bowley, Barb
Forbes, Sylvia Cooper.
Cheers, Ken Day  <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

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. Report of trip to Portugal by your co-pilot.
Our trip started Jan 27th with a two hour ferry trip from Vancouver Island
to the Mainland, and a 40 minute taxi ride to YVR. We had no trouble plussing
on AC to LHR arriving on Friday, too late to catch the T.A.P. flight to
Faro in Portugal's Algarve region. We overnighted at the Heathrow Lodge
Hotel for GPB40.00 per room double includes breakfast. The T.A.P. flight
leaves LHR at 06:10, so it was an early start on Saturday, too early for the
free shuttle operated by the hotel, also breakfast starts at 07:00! We made
the T.A.P. flight with our ID90, Z fares not applicable, at a cost of
GBP67.00 which, plus all the taxes and conversion, comes to CA$234.20. The
breakfast on board was excellent.
Upon checking the aircraft after disembarking at Faro, I noticed that the
Airbus320 was owned by Air Macau.
The taxi to Quartiera was CA$40.00. We had reserved a one bedroom efficiency
apartment for CA$600 for the month, but this was unavailable and we were
installed into a 2 bedroomed one. Well with just the two of us rattling
around in the apartment, it was kind of cool, what with the tiles floors and
completely tiled bathroom, and the sun not shining into the apartment until
late in the day due to the highrise next door. So after a week we moved to
another 1 bedroom apartment right on the beach, whereas the former was 2
blocks from the beach. The aspect was great, sunshine all day, and  we
were    lulled to sleep by the waves each night.
We walked the beach and sea front many times, meeting with other vacationers,
many from the UK, and still more from Continental Europe. We took the bus
into Albufiera for CA$9.00 return, a 40 minute ride, and another into
Faro for the same price and distance. On the way to Faro, we passed the
hull of the Lockheed Constellation, adorned with lots of graffiti, and just
2 of the 3 fins still intact. No wings or engines were visable.
Food prices were akin to prices back home, interestingly the basics, bread,
potatoes, milk were taxed 5% and everything else 17% included in the
price,    but broken down on the bill. The money is in Escudos, and the
smallest coin     was 5 escudos, therefor if the bill ended in 1 or 2
escudos you were not
charged for it, but if it ended in 3 or 4 escudos you paid 5 escudos.
Isn't it time we got rid of that stupid 1c coin?
The weather was sunny, temperature in the early 60's and only 1 days rain
for the whole of February.
Our flight back was on GBAir, with our Z fare of US$66.00 plus taxes and
exchange comes to CA$145.00. The flight left at 11:55, and, as a backup, the
T.A.P. flight left at 18:00. We chose to travel to and from LHR for
convenience, although GBAir operates into Gatwick. When I checked the
aircraft, a B737, I noticed it was operated by British Airways - no wonder
the public gets confused.
Our return on Air Canada was pleasant enough, including the old aged
standby    of strawberry jam and Devonshire cream for tea - surely this will
not be the
offering into the 21st?
I noticed that the movie on Air Canada gave hints on keeping fit during
the wait between connecting flights, as the actors were in their mid 30's
I can only assume that we retirees are fit enough and made of sterner stuff!
Incidentally, the person who dreamed up the breakfast we have had on the
last several flights into LHR, must have quite a sense of humour - try to
spread solid butter onto a crumbly muffin for laughs.
We look forward to another session in the Algarve next century.

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. Found on the internet.
ASIA READY FOR 2000
Most Asian airlines are confident they will be airborne at the turn of
the New Year despite the threat of the "millennium bug", according
to a recent survey. Fourteen out of 20 respondents, or 70% of the
carriers, said they would "definitely" be flying on January 1, 2000,
another 20% answered "probably", one airline "maybe" and
Indonesia's Garuda replied "probably not".

AIRCRAFT ORDERS
Northwest Airlines (NW) has placed the largest order ever for
Bombardier's CL-65 Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ). Bombardier and
Northwest reached an agreement for a firm order of 54 CRJ series
200LR aircraft, the largest order ever received by the Canadian
manufacturer for its 50-seat regional aircraft.

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. Smilie.
SHORT FINAL...
Recently, US Presidential VP Al Gore's delayed departure from Albany
snarled air traffic in the Northeast.  After yet another revised
EFC, ATC queried one hardy soul on his status:
ALB Approach:
"Commuter 5678, can you hold out for another half hour or so?"
Commuter 5678: "Yes sir, fuel is not a problem.  But I should advise you
that about half my passengers have now turned Republican."

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.  That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.


/------------------------\               |--\_____/--\__  |
|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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|\^/|
_| TCA |_        B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_              N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<           for Air Canada retirees
|

Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/

Co-pilot     - Terry Baker         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between

number 346   date Mar 11th, 1999  1st Published in October 1995

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The "A-Crew" WWW Site
**************************
A-Crew stands for "Air Canada Retired Employees Website".  You no
longer have to be a "Pionair" to access the "members" area, but we do
require you to be an AC retiree. This web site is filled with news,
pictures and events pertaining to all retirees.
It will be sure to bring back many fond memories.
Your Webmasters are Tom Grant and his wife Julie.
supported with input from the 'NetLetter' and Alan Rust.
See: http://www.acra.ca/acrew

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. We welcome  Sam Gilmour retired in Dec 1995 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John McKee retired Manager Maintenance Contracts lives in Hudson, QC
email for John is  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John A. Kingston retired Technican living in Abbotsford, BC
try This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mike Rose retired Captain lioves in Langley, BC
email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Captain Sask Wilford Retired email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Captain Earl Cummings Soon to retire May 31 1999
email for Earl is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patricia Korol retired Flight Attendant lievs in  High River AB
email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Benny Blotnicky retired Cat 1 Aircraft mechanic
resides in Dartmouth, NS email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Michael (Mickey) Garagan, Mickey joined AC in Halifax in 1973 as
Airport Customer Service and left the Company in 1994 from
Saint John, N.B. as Manager, Customer Service and is now living in
Halifax, he may be reached at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Where are they now.
Lois North has a new email, try her at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patricia McGilligan-Maggs now up and running This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lost track of
Eldon Dimond, Norman Margison and Bill Willows - anyone in touch to give
us a new email?

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. Need to know.
Following up on the timely advice from Don Demeza re hanging onto pass
coupons.
To get refunds on unused ID90, ID50, ID80 and various Z fares, you must
send the unused coupons and any boarding passes to prove departure within 24
hours to avoid airport departure fees to
Air Canada Refunds,
355   Portage Ave,
Winnipeg, R3B 2C3
and could take from 6 to 8 weeks to process according to the Winnipeg Call
Centre. A far cry from the several seconds it takes to pay for them with a
swipe of your credit card!
It might also be advisable to take a photocopy of the documents
juuust in case!

And while I have your attention, the 1999 Family Affair program information
is Online for members at: http://www.acra.ca/member/affair/affair.asp
You can also print a text page of the Fare Grid for you or your family
members.

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. News from the districts.
From the Calgary Pionairs Press newsletter -
from Adele Wallace.
Cape Breton is a new district and the District Director is Murray Wadden.
I had the pleasure of working with Murray in Ottawa and I wish Murray all
the best in Cape Breton.  For all golf lovers Cape Breton has put together
a wonderful Gold Tournament June 21st and 22nd.
All of you have received your entry form by now.

From Sheila Moscoe regarding the T2 coffee meetings at YYZ
T2 went well, about 20 showed up.   They found out apparently that day
that one of our former colleagues Ken Eibbett, Sr had passed away.  And
the gal who wrote me said if it hadn't been for the T2 CK no one would
have known about Ken.  so, even if it's a social get-together, we also
hear news of former colleagues.  We're going to set up a phone network
to pass this kind of info around. Next meeting in April 6th
Sheila Moscoe  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Frank Jones, who is with the newly formed Pionair group in Cape Breton,
has sent us this bio -
Joined AC on 06May65 as a Passenger Agent and like many others in that
year was sent to Montreal for three weeks of REServec training.
Having had the experience of eight different jobs in a two year span I
remember the Reservations Mngr (Peter McCarthy) asking me if I were hired
would I stay a least two years before going on to something else, I agreed.
Upon returning to Sydney NS I was placed in the reservations office where I
stayed until Oct /67 when I took a transfer to the Sydney Airport.
It was a different experience than the res office as it was a 24 hour
operation and as like all small airports you did everything, including
baggage tracing.
During my time there I had the pleasure of training part time workers as well
as Travel Agents. In Jun/89 AC departed Sydney and I was one of three
agents left to man the downtown ticket office. In 1991 the Sales Mngr
retired and was  not replaced and I was asked under the LOU program if I
would be the sales rep for Cape Breton of which I agreed. As there was
no local Management I was given the authority to pay all bills as well
as procure anything that was required for the operation of the office.
During this time I helped procure and design a new Ticket office of
which we occupied for three years. Being sales rep was
an enjoyable time with company as it gave me the opportunity to meet and
talk to many people throughout the company. In 1996 the LOU agreement as
sales rep ended and I was then asked to pilot a program to see
if it was worth the companies time and money to have a local contact for
the Atlantic Travel Agencies. An office
was set up in the Air Nova Office Building at Halifax Airport and I
commuted to Halifax for six months. After that
I returned to the ticket office until Apr30/98 when the Ticket Office
was closed and at that  time after 33 years
I chose to retire.
Regards Frank  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. A tid Bit from John Hayes -
Trying to make the air travel experience smell better, BA is pumping the
aromas of fresh-cut grass and the ocean into LHR Terminal 4 from beneath
the floor. The fragrances were chosen from 100 options that did not
include jet fuel.      This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Brian Dunn in Toronto sends us this update -
Air Canada will dry-leasing one of their A319s to Airbus Industrie
from February 6th to 9th for a sales demo tour of Mexico.  The aircraft
in question is C-GBIA (FLN280).  Airbus crews will fly the aircraft and
it will use their call-sign.
The aircraft was due to leave YYZ at 1400hrs February 6th, and be
returned before 2359hrs on February 9th.   Air Canada announced their
1998 financial results on February 3rd.  A net loss of $16million was
incurred....blamed mostly on the pilot's strike of last September.  The
airline estimates that it would have recorded a $107million net profit
if there had been no strike.  However, to cut costs this year the
airline has already retired all six of its older model 747s, and is
reducing the DC-9 fleet to a total of sixteen aircraft.  Two of four
A330-300s due for delivery in 2000 will be postponed until 2001, and the
decision on the final phase of the Airbus widebody renewal program has
been postponed.  Another DC-9-32 was flown to Marana Arizona
with C-FTLZ (FLN725) ferrying from YUL via MCI to MZJ on 03Feb for
long-term storage.
Air Canada ferried another DC-9-32 to Marana AZ Feb 8th with FLN722 C-FTLW
flying from Montreal via Kansas City to Marana.  It made its last revenue
flight back on 16 December from YYZ to YUL.

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. For you golfing nuts!
Sam Gilmour sends this information -
There is a web site which may be of interest to golfing members.
It is called the IAGA (International Airline Golf Association) and their
web address is "www.iaga.net"
My wife and I enjoyed the golf event in Hawaii in May 98 and are looking
forward to the May 99 event in Reno.   This is a wonderful worldwide
collection of various airline employees and friends.
At the Hawaiian event it appeared to me to be an equal mixture of retired
and active.
I encourage you to have a look at the site and hopefully it may interest
some of your members.
With best wishes and thanks,  RJ (Sam) Gilmour This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Found on the internet.
Airlines serving New Zealand are cashing in on the country's
attraction for many year 2000 revellers. The New Zealand Press
Association (NZPA) has discovered that Air New Zealand has hiked
its price for a round-trip ticket between the UK and New Zealand
over the 2000 New Year by 22% compared to this holiday season's
price. Other airlines, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific and
Qantas have adopted similar fare increases. A spokesman for Air
New Zealand defended the carrier against accusations of ripping off
passengers, justifying the fare hike by passengers' willingness to
pay more.

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. Vesta sends this piece of info -
A friend in Scotland sent me this.
Is this the policy of Air Canada as well?
quote:
Subject: News in Brief from the British Sunday Times
Second-hand cabin air blamed for the rise of passenger flight rage.
Passengers who suffer from air rage may not always be to blame for
their behaviour. A new study suggests their aggression could be caused by
airlines skimping on cabin ventilation.
It found that airlines are increasingly supplying air that has been
breathed several times, building up potentially dangerous levels of carbon
dioxide.
Such high levels, evidence suggests, are associated with mood changes and
aggression, especially when compounded with alcohol.
The airlines have switched to recirculating air, rather than providing fresh
supplies, because it cuts their fuel bills by 2%, a significant saving on
long haul flights.
"The practice of recirculating cabin air to cut costs is being increasingly
blamed for passengers' agitated states" said Conor Whelan of Cranfield
College of Aeronautics in Bedfordshire. In some cases airlines are pushing
the amount of recycled air to 60%, but it does have an effect on the
passengers.
Air rage has increased by 400% worldwide since 1995.......unquote

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. Terry's travel tips.
We recently told you of the special bus deal with National in the UK,
Ron Barber sends you his recent experience -
I was just in England and went from Terminal 3 to the bus depot
outside termminals 1 & 2 .  Yes there is a discount, and they have them
now and again, and yes I could leave from there to my destination for
GBP9.99 if I bought  the discount card for GBP8.00 - so far still a saving
as I was going up to Birmingham normally GBP27.00 return.
The only problem was that I had to book the return at the same time as the
outbound - an unknown for me at this time so I couldn't take advantage
of the better price.   Another thing with the National is that if you do
book an open return you have to pay GBP1.50 booking fee when you do decide
to return.
Regards  Ron Barber  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Smilie.
Brian Dunn supplied this -
The German air traffic controllers at Frankfurt airport were a short
tempered lot.  They not only expected you to know your parking location
but how to get there without any assistance from them.  So it was with
some amusement that we listened to the following exchange between
Frankfurt ground and a British Airways 747(radio call 'Speedbird 206')
after landing.
Speedbird 206:  "Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the
active."
Ground: "Guten morgen, taxi to your gate."
The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and stops.
Ground:  "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"
Speedbird 206: "Stand by, ground, I'm looking up the gate location now."
Ground (with typical impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you NEVER flown
to Frankfurt before?"
Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944.  But I didn't stop".

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.  That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.


/------------------------\               |--\_____/--\__  |
|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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===============================================================

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_| TCA |_        B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_              N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<           for Air Canada retirees
|

Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/

Co-pilot     - Terry Baker         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between

number 345   date Mar 8th, 1999  1st Published in October 1995

=====================================================================

. We welcome -
Walter Jacyk retired A.M.E. (Avionics) lives in Toronto, On
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Gerald Knodel retired pilot lives in Taipei, Taiwan
email for Gerald is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Anita Taylor retired as In-charge Flight Attendant lives in Delta, BC
email is  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Don H Verran email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. retired Certified Aircraft Tech.
and lives in Calgary, AB.
Ronald Peel retired 747 S/O Supvr YVR living in Surrey, BC
email for Ronald is  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aggie Kukulowicz retired National Sports Manager living on
Gabriola Island, BC. email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Peter Sparkes retired Station Attendant lives in North York, On
can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Roy Hall retired Baggage Supervisor lives in Georgetown, On
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joseph Fournier retired as Cat 1 mechanic lives in Blainville, QC
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Norm Bridges retired from Customer Sales lives in Etobicoke, On,
email for Norm is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


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. Where are they now?
Norm Stoddart has a new email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. David Williams sends us his bio -
I joined TCA in Aug'60 and retired May'95
I started my career in records moved into telephone sales. In telephone sales
I enjoyed working in Commercial accounts, Agency accounts and then into Groups
and Charters. I then joined RESII project in 1969 and after a short period in
the Computer Room, I joined Jim Currie/Bill Robar/Lena McIntyre and Marie
Hansen to look after Air Canada Schedule Changes. This developed into a major
area looking after several Hosted/Virtual Hosts and Participating carriers
schedules, fares and displays. Air Canada then decided to move the computer
system to Winnipeg where I commuted for several years. I ended my career
working on the RESIII project for Phyllis Black in Montreal to ensure good
availability displays were shown, this was a most exciting project.
I would like to thank all those retirees whom I came in contact with;
throughout my career in TCA/Air Canada; these experiences I treasured and will
always treasure.  Thanks    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. News from Tom Grant - editor of the ACRA web site -

To Registered A-CREW website members:

We are pleased to announce in association with ACRA and A-CREW the complete
remake of the the AVIA Aviation Links website.
After almost three months of work we have reorganized this Canadian
aviation links/directory commerical aviation website. Almost 300 links have
been checked, verified, deleted from and added to as of Feburary 24, 1999.
Most have been annotated.
There are five "Gates" with listing to Manufacturers, Airlines, Airports,
Exhibits , Museums, History, News, Art, Literature, online Videos, Related
sites and Airshows, and the All-Canadian Aircraft Photo Gallery - all
proudly with a CANADIAN bias.
We are particularly pleased with the new "Gate" title photos, as well as
the many new websites by enthusiastic web authors.
As always the viewer's comments and submissions are invited. This site will
be updated every five weeks or sooner.
Enjoy your visit,
Tom Grant, Editor From: Editior AVIA <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
http://www.acra.ca/aviation

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. Found on the internet.
Y2-KANADA
Finally, some news that shouldn't drive you buggy.  Nav Canada recently
completed its Y2K renovations at the Mirabel ATC facility in Montreal
and decided to give the system a real test.  Technicians set the clock
at Mirabel ahead to December 1999, took a deep breath, and watched it
advance to January 1, 2000 ... with "no changes in the system's
functionality."  Meanwhile, other clocks are ticking, the Y2K
consultants are kicking and we might take a licking.  Or we might not.

Y2K IN CHINA
Meanwhile, the Chinese have reportedly adopted a novel policy to help
ensure that all of its ATC systems and airlines are Y2K-compliant.  "All
the heads of the airlines have got to be in the air on January 1, 2000,"
the Financial Times quoted Zhao Bo as saying.  Zhao is the lucky soul in
charge of dealing with the Y2K problem at the Chinese Ministry of
Information Industries.


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. Brian Dunn sends us this information -
Air Canada flew its last "classic" 747-200 to Marana AZ on Friday
the 29th Jan when C-GAGC departed at 0730 for Tuscon (to clear U.S.
Customs), then up to Marana for long-term storage.  That leaves the
three 747-400 combis as the only Boeing 747s in the fleet.  However,
another A340-300 arrived on February 12th and two more by June.  The first
of the new A330-300s will arrive in October.  Two more DC-9-32s are due
to be flown from Montreal to Marana for long-term
storage.

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. Terry's travel tips.
Recently travelled using our UK passports, but my wife forgot to take her
Canadian citizenship card. When we were interviewed by the Immigration/Customs
person, my wife was instructed to proceed to the Immigration office to have her
status checked. Well .... the clerk asked my wife when she entered Canada,
and  was told 1965. The computer did not have records that far back! 'When
did you   become a Canadian citizen?' she was asked - 1972, 'Oh no our
records don't go
back  that far either.' she was informed. Upon production of her drivers
license,  she  was admitted into the country. See it's as easy as that, don't
have to  drift on  the coast in a leaky boat to get into Canada.
However, make sure you have your citizenship card if travelling with other
than a Canadian passport.

Dargal sends us these deals -
A YACHTSMAN'S DREAM ~ Windstar ~ 14 Day Trans-Atlantics!
April 4 ~ Wind Spirit ~ St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands to Lisbon, Portugal
April 10 ~ Wind Song ~ Bridgetown, Barbados to Lisbon, Portugal
April 16 ~ Wind Surf ~ Bridgetown, Barbados to Lisbon, Portugal
All meals, all beverages, no tipping required policy 
$895
EXPLORE THE MYSTERIES OF THE ORIENT
March 29 ~ 14 Days ~ Nieuw Amsterdam
Hong Kong, Shanghai/China, Cruise Yangtze River, Xingang/China,
Dalian/China, Pusan/S. Korea, Kagoshima/Japan
Cruise Inland Sea of Japan, Osaka/Japan
Inside $1004, Outside $1204

All rates US$ pp/dbl, subject to availability. New Bookings Only.
Port charges/Gov't fees additional. PLEASE QUOTE EM # 020299

For more information on this and other specials - contact us at:
DARGAL Interline 1-800-690-3223 

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. Smilie.
From: "J.GORDON DALZIEL" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
To: "VESTA STEVENSON" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>,
"TERRY & DAWN BAKER" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Subject: HERE IS ONE YOU MAY WISH TO USE......
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 20:12:41 -0500
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3

Hello  Terry  //  Vesta :

This one was just passed  along to me,  maybe you can use it
if you havn't  seen it  before...........


So you want to fly eh.... sent in by J.GORDON DALZIEL" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
------------------------------------
The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to get photos of
a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene was too thick to get any good
shots, so he frantically called his home office to hire a plane.
"It will be waiting for you at the airport!" he was assured by his
editor.
As soon as he got to the small, rural airport, sure enough, a plane
was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and
yelled, "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind
and soon they were in the air.
"Fly over the north side of the fire," said the photographer, "and
make three or four low level passes."
"Why?" asked the pilot.
"Because I'm going to take pictures!   I'm a photographer, and
photographers take pictures!"   said the photographer with great
exasperation and impatience.
After a long pause the pilot said,   "You mean you're not the
instructor?"






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.  That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.


/------------------------\               |--\_____/--\__  |
|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

===============================================================

|\^/|
_| TCA |_        B E T W E E N   Y O U R S E L V E S
_|\| AIR |/|_              N E T L E T T E R
>  CANADA   <
>_./|\._<           for Air Canada retirees
|

Chief Pilot  - Vesta Stevenson   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between/vesta/

Co-pilot     - Terry Baker         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.acra.ca/between

number 344   date Mar 4th,1999  1st Published in October 1995

=====================================================================

. We welcome
Ken Slack pilot living in Sidney, BC. Email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jay Downard retired pilot living in Orangeville, Ont.
email for Jay is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
H. Barry Ward retired Manager, Banking Controls & Admin. living in
Winnipeh, Mantioba email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John Polgar retired Shop Inspector email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John lives in Grand Metis, Que.
Joe Gulyes retired Captain email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joe lives in Burlington Ontario
Alan MacLeod, retired B767 supervisory pilot
email for Alan is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elizabeth  G. Pasche retired Flight Attendant lives in Toronto, On.
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Marguerite Henley retired Flight Attendant living in North Delta, BC
email for Marguerite is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fred Romanauskas living in St. Hubert, P Que retired Engineer
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Walter Chopp email Brenda_This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. retired
Manager Warranties and Guarantees lives in Alexandria On.

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. Where are they now?
Friends and creditors of John Rodger should try his new email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
John Hayes mas moved his ISP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joan and Len Brittain now are on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Heather and Kal Kalinowski are now at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Need to know!

Travel Guide
Don Demeza sends us this update -
You will be pleased to know that this morning I received an advance draft
copy of the Travel Guide. It will probably be distributed this month to
all     retirees.  It has been a long wait, however I am sure that all
involved will   be more than pleased with the results. Doug Lovat, Director,
Pensions and 
Employee  Benefits, has made sure that the communications consultants
involved   in the  re-write followed the format and content of what we
distributed last    May.   Essentially the guide is coming out as we
envisaged it but with many 
improvements as to format and presentation - I think it's great, but the
proof   will come when it is read from 12,000 different points of view -
thanks to all   involved.
Don Demeza, February 3, 1999.

Don Demeza provides the following concerning Pass Travel:

Previously I have made a number of suggestions concerning the completion of
the  audit coupon in order to provide better information to Accounting for their
application of taxes.  The suggestions were valid, but there are several
instances where pass travelers should retain all travel documents on a per
trip  basis (tickets, boarding passes etc.)  The following three exception
type  
situations should be noted because the current automated systems will  
automatically overcharge. You will need support information when you apply
to   Accounting for a refund.

1. Surface travel to or from the U.S. - When your travel leg, either to or
from  the U.S. is by surface transportation rather than the usual round trip
by air   then the system will likely charge you both the U.S. arrival and
departure  
taxes. 

2. U.K. Intransit Within 24 Hours - The U.K. departure tax amounts to
$50.00    Canadian, however you are considered to be intransit if your
departure from the  U.K. is within a 24 hour period.  A refund will be made
if you support your  
request with proof of arrival and departure.

3. A Change of Plan or Unable to Board - If you complete your first flight
leg  within Canada and then are unable to continue with planned international  
travel, the audit coupon detailing your planned itinerary will already be
in    the system waiting for your final flight leg.  If all of the unused
coupons  
were not returned with the final coupon then the system will make
deductions    based on the original audit coupon

Accounting process thousands of audit coupons each month and the above  
situations are some of the exceptions which the systems do not always
catch.    They serve to further emphasize the need for all of us to retain
flights  
records on a per trip basis until we are satisfied that the cheque
deductions   are correct.

All the best - Don  Don/June Demeza <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Vesta heard on the news early February that the Victoria BC
Air Canada ticket office is due to close.

Having trouble getting through to the Winnpeg Call Centre?
If you just want to register for a flight and have access to a fax
send details to (204) 941-2231. Include your employee number,
service date, names travelling, flights, destinations and
dates.

Following information from Diane Carignan Managing editor of Horizons -
- New Passenger Service Charge.
Effective Feb 1st, 1999 all tickets issued on Air Canada for travel on
or after April 1st will have a UK passenger service charge added.
Known as the PSC (amongst other names!)
For international departures from Heathrow   GBP8.50
Glasgow    GBP10.50
Manchester GBP5.10
Many exemptions apply, including active and retired employees travelling
for business or pleasure.
- Flights to New Delhi suspended: Air Canada will suspend service to
New Delhi from June 1-September 30. We will work closely with our Star
Alliance carriers to provide interline service to the Indian capital.
- ZED fares: Industry Travel recently announced slight reductions on some
Zonal Employee Discount fares.
- Double ZED fares: Parents of active or retired employees can now take
advantage of double ZED fares when travelling with Air Canada, the
Regional Carriers®, Alberta Citylink, First Air, Central Mountain Air,
and Canadian Airlines.
- Family Affair news: The maximum stay provision for eligible Family Affair
members has increased from 30 to 60 days for all destinations except
Florida, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. New Employee Family Travel Plan
Validation Forms (PM002, 1997-10) will be printed upon depletion of
current stock.
- Y2K crazy: Had enough of the bug? Well, rest assured that RESIII is
ready to accept bookings for January 1, 2000.

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. News from the districts.
Air Canada Pionairs BurlOak Coffee Klatch

Because of the closure of the "Pig and Whistle Pub" the group will
hold its' monthly (every third Wednesday) get-together at :-
Mother Tucker's Market Place, QEW  South Service Road
(Between Walker's and Guelph Lines)
Burlington, Ontario
Next meeting  March 17, 1999 at 10:30 AM

Calgary Pionairs from their  Newsletter January 1999.
New National Executive committee from Victoria, BC !!!
The new committee will take over in September 1999
President:             Saville Hambleton
1st Vice President:    Bill Fisher
2nd Vice President :   Kay Napolitano
Treasurer:             Norman L. Stoddart
Secretary:             Barbara Hambleton.
Calender of events for 1999 -
Apr 8th    City tour is being planned.
May 13th   Luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion at 11.30
Topic 'Living Wills' guest speaker Monique Rigole.
Jun 29th   Stampede BBQ at Elks Lodge, 2502-6th Street NE
Time 17:00 for cocktails cash bar, 18:00 BBQ dinner
Cost $25.00 pp.
Come dressed in your best western clothes, you may
win the door prize!
Deadline for bookings is June 14th to
Jan Papworth (403) 251-1473
Sep 16th    Discover tour of Glenbow museum on 130 - 9th Ave SE
Time: 10:00 Cost: $10.00pp($8.00 for seniors over 64)
Call Jan Papworth (403) 251-1473 to register.
Oct 14th    Lunch and General Meeting start at 11:00
Dec 2nd     Christmas light tour
Start 18:30 fro the bus tour/ Cost $8.50 pp.
Bus capacity 45 so book early with Jan Papworth.
Dec 8th     The last Christmas Dinner of the century for YYC Pionairs!
at the SAIT (Highwood dinning room)
Time: 18:00 for cocktails, 18:30 for dinner.
Cost $25.00 pp. Deadline Nov 19th.
Call Jan Papworth (403) 251-1473 for details.

From the Montreal District -
Subject: Montreal Sentinel
We are looking for a couple of people to translate articles for the
Sentinel (the Montreal Pionairs newsletter) from English to French?
We have a few retirees who do this for us but only one is on the internet
and the others fax their translations to us, necessitating retyping for
publication. Besides, the greater the number of translators, the less each
will need to do!
If anyone can offer their services please email John.
Thank you.
John Gomes This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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. Found on the internet.
YOU DIRTY RAT!  A Malaysia Airlines captain aborted a flight to Perth
and returned to Kuala Lumpur after a rat was spotted on board.  A real,
first-class rat.  "The aircraft had to return to KL International
Airport Sepang half an hour later when a rodent was sighted on board," a
statement from MAS said.  Apparently the rat had a penchant for the good
life, as a MAS spokeswoman said it was seen in the first-class cabin.

BLESS YOU, MY PASSENGER: Compared to other recent incidents of air rage,
this one was almost downright saintly.  A man who called himself Jesus
and blessed fellow airline passengers by tapping them on the head with a
pillow was convicted last week of assaulting a flight attendant when he
was ordered to take his seat on a USAirways flight.  Dean Trammel was
found guilty in a non-jury trial and could get up to 20 years in prison.

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. Terry's travel tips.
Following WACA events -
Hosted by the Vancouver Interline Club -
Cariboo Gold Rush Trail & Apple Blossom
7 day 6 night tour of BC from YVR via train & bus.
Start May 23rd. Price CA$599.00 ppdbl, or US$390.00 or GBP233.00
Includes welcome reception, breakfast on the train, 5 lunches,
5 suppers and 6 nights accommodation.
Canadian Airlines will provide service charge passes on flights
operated by Canadian aircraft costing CA$75.00 for domestic including
USA, and CA$150.00 plus tax for international.
DEADLINE is March 15th.
Contact your nearest interline club for more details.

Dodo's nest 1999 at Le Coco Beach Hotel is being hosted by
Paille en Queue Interline Club of Mauritius.
Date: 07 - 12 June. Cost is approx US$650 pp dbl
Air Mauritius has offered FOC tickets to those attending.
DEADLINE is March 15th.
Contact your nearest interline club for more details.

Dargal invites you to sail with NCL Norwegian Wind through the Panama Canal.
The Wind is a magnificent ship built in 1993 offering comfort and luxury,
fine cuisine and an intense dedication to excellence - there is no better
way to discover some of the world's greatest wonders, both natural and
man-made.
April 11 ~ 16 Days
Miami, Georgetown/Grand Cayman, Cartagena/Columbia, Transit Panama Canal,
Puntarenas/Costa Rica, Acapulco/Manzanillo/Puerto Vallarta/Mexico,
San Diego, Los Angeles
Inside $899, Outside $949, Deluxe Outside $1049
All rates US$ pp/dbl, subject to availability. New Bookings Only.
Port charges/Gov't fees additional. PLEASE QUOTE EM # 012299
For more information on this and other specials - contact us at:
DARGAL Interline 1-800-690-3223 Canada (250) 861-3223 Fax (250) 861-3283
Or visit the Dargal website at www.dargal.com for uptodate deals.
Dargal also has a short, sweet email club that sends out their lastest
good deals "hot off the press". Your can join the club by emailing to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 


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. Smilie.
Tom Grant sends us this one -
News Item:
Bill Gates, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation, announced  today
that the latest version of their Windows operating system, Windows 2000,
would be delayed until the second quarter of 1901. No reason was given.

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.  That's it for this time, please we need your input, send
comments and email addresses of any others who may be
interested to Vesta with a copy to Terry.


/------------------------\               |--\_____/--\__  |
|  Between Yourselves     |______________ \______====== )-+
|       NetLetter         |                      ---|/--  |
\------------------------/                         ()

~Between Yourselves-Netletter~
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.