July 25, 2012
25/07/2012 04:09
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Not from St. Albert? Not to worry, there's plenty for you too.
A great way to put a smile on your face before you begin your day.
Have an opinion, gripe or grin to share? Use our Live Chat feature below to share it with other readers. Try our frequent recipes. Give our puzzles a whirl or a game of hangman. Check out our outstanding linked photos. Got a story or photo to share? Want to wish someone happy birthday or anniversary? We love your stuff from any location. Go ahead, send it in. We dare you!
Best of all, it's all free thanks to our advertisers. Enjoy and please, tell your friends. And be sure to check back often each day as the site can be updated as events occur. Follow @mybirdietweets
"Who Ya Gonna Believe?"
Dear Editor:
This is further to the St. Albert Gazette editorial (July 21st) which begins with headline "Surveys are like bikinis" and concludes, "so it's best to take it all with a grain of salt."
I hope all your readers will take this to heart. The subject, of course, is the city's "community satisfaction survey" released a week ago, conducted by Banister Research, Edmonton.
"The devil is in the details," is unhappily true. That's often where truth is hidden. So in this complex life, one has to winnow hard to sort a few grains of truth from a lot of chaff. Slogging through a hundred-page document appeals to very few of us civilians. Which I think explains why only very few taxpayers have read the Downtown Area Revitalization Plan (DARP) document, and so have only a vague understanding of what DARP is about. The devil is in those details.
Similarly, few taxpayers will wade through Banister's document. While that's understandable, it's also a shame. For it's very professionally produced, and very clearly reveals chapter-and-verse of the survey process. In past surveys, I don't recall such an exhaustive description of the process.
Banister's "2012 Community Satisfaction Survey Report" is here.
Mr. Editor, I think your readers will want to look at page three in particular.
There they'll find the breakdown of the total number of Banister call-outs (7,099). Of those:
-800 completed the survey and were counted,
-3881 didn't answer,
-2075 refused.
Taking those three as 100%:
-11.8% completed,
-57.5% didn't answer,
-30.7% refused (to participate).
I suggest for readers' consideration that a large portion of the 57.5% had call-display, and seeing Banister's name displayed, they didn't pick up, constituting refusal. So, something well beyond 30.7% refused to participate, reaching as high as 88.2%!
One may ask: why refuse? I suggest that that number has a negative attitude towards city hall, and chose not to dignify the survey process by participating.
(Some) taxpayers will know that I (and others) published an independent "citizens' satisfaction survey" in May to which 271 citizens responded, and whose results expressed deep dissatisfaction with city hall (published in the Gazette June 27th & 30th).
In my view, given the percentages cited above, both surveys are correct! The Bannister survey finding high satisfaction represents the views of 11.8% of households, plus an indeterminate further number. The "citizens' satisfaction survey" finding high dissatisfaction is represented by the 271 respondents, plus an inestimable further number as high as 88.2%.
Which, Mr. Editor, leaves your readers to decide: "Who ya gonna believe?"
Deane Doucette,
Grandin
SINC SAYS:
An interesting take on the survey scene Deane. You have obviously given it much more thought than most. One thing is for sure and that is that you cannot believe that city commissioned survey. In a letter to the editor, Robert Patrick of the city details his response to the city of St. Albert's survey in today's St. Albert Gazette entitled, "Survey not worth paper it's written on".
Capturing Ma Nature's Own On BLESS Cam
Elke Blodgett of the city captured these deer on the BLESS cam and wrote, "down by the river for breakfast after the storm."
__________________________________________________________________
BBC News Feed:
Welcome To St. Albert's Place Live Chat
Links To Other Stories In The News:
Cars impounded after Vancouver speeders hit 160 km/h - CBC
YouTube wants commenters to use real names - CNN
Sherman Hemsley of 'The Jeffersons' dies at 74 - CTV
Warning issued as pilgrims gather at Lac Ste. Anne - Edmonton Journal
More police headed to highway 63 - Edmonton Sun
__________________________________________________________________
The Things That People Send Us
SAP reader George Proulx thought this would remind you of city council . . .
What's The
Hold Up?
4-Year-Old's Hidden Camera Prank
A little girl has some big fun with her Dad.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Playing Tomorrow Night At LB's Pub
Songwriters Showcase with Rob Heath at 9:00 p.m.
I'll be back on stage for this one for sure. I would like to thank "Rocko" for filling in for me the past little while. Rob Heath is awesome, starting at 9:00 to 10:00 at LB's Pub. There is a jam to follow as always with Shaved Posse. MGD is on special for $4.25, good food, and Bonnie and Nicole will take good care of you. See you all there. Support live music. Keep it alive.
Rob Heath's Bio
“Our audience was thrilled with Rob. He had us laughing and rapt in the very human stories his songs conveyed. The guitar players loved his playing, the songwriters loved his songs, and everyone thought his performance was top-notch.” - George Campbell, Music for the Wild Concert Series
Rich melodies and lyrics, delivered in a voice haunting in its simplicity, Rob's guitar style is diverse melodically and rhythmically. A storyteller in the tradition of Harry Chapin, John Prine and Steve Earle, Rob Heath’s original songs are a well-conceived intelligent and lyric-driven blend of Americana.
This past Spring, Rob won the Calgary Folk Music Festival’s songwriting contest. This is one of the many accolades that Rob’s songwriting has received over the years. He is also a past “New Folk” winner at the highly regarded Kerrville Folk Festival and winner of a Canadian Radio Music Award for songwriting.
Rob has written for Glen Campbell Music, Don Goodman Music, and Criterion/Atlantic Music and has had cuts with various artists as well as top forty songs of his own. His music is being played on over 200 stations on six continents around the world.
Rob’s recent Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) Official Showcase went great! Not only did he get to visit Niagara Falls, he was asked to perform in May at the Bluebird North in Toronto, ON.
Currently in the studio, Rob is also looking forward to completing his soon-to-be-released fifth album.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ROB HEATH
“The ‘discovery’ of the conference for me was Rob Heath, an artist I was unfamiliar with. An understated performer, Rob puts across his powerfully moving songs, without histrionics, in a pleasing natural tone. The songs can be about very serious stuff, but Rob obviously feels no need for vocal or physical dramatics.” - Steve Dulson, President, FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West)
“His singing, guitar work and between song banter were great and his stellar songwriting really hooked our crowd, earning him an easy encore.” - Vic Bell (Artistic Director, Nickelodeon Music Club)
“His songs stir the soul and bring the emotions of the listener to the top of the pot and when Rob Heath sings, you pay attention to those songs because you just know that it's coming from deep within his own soul.” - Bill Werthmann, Northern Lights Folk Club
“Rob Heath not only writes emotionally powerful songs, he performs them live with an impeccable honesty that grabs the audiences attention form start to finish. He never disappoints. - Mike Bradford, Producer, Central Music Festival
"One of Alberta's most respected songwriters..” - Terry Wickham, Edmonton Folk Music Festival
"Rob is the perfect performer for a house concert – warm, engaging, and full of stories that he makes relevant to his audience. His great guitar work and unique song style had us in the palm of his hand all evening!" – Rose Brooks, Just Milton Folks
“Rob crafts his songs with uncanny insight and clever wordsmithing. When he sings, his hand-built guitar delivers intense rhythmical structure for his powerful voice to grab hold of your soul. His legacy is assured by his selfless support of young people learning the songwriting art.” – Harold Wollin, Blue Chair Café
"Rob Heath is a very gifted songwriter who brings both experience and freshness to his performances." - Jolayne Motiuk, Producer Big Valley Jamboree Axe Songwriter's Workshop
Solid singer-songwriter fare from one of music’s craftsmen. Warm, welcoming and comfortable.
hot coffee and spend 10 minutes to start your day with St. Albert's only daily news site.
Not from St. Albert? Not to worry, there's plenty for you too.
A great way to put a smile on your face before you begin your day.
Have an opinion, gripe or grin to share? Use our Live Chat feature below to share it with other readers. Try our frequent recipes. Give our puzzles a whirl or a game of hangman. Check out our outstanding linked photos. Got a story or photo to share? Want to wish someone happy birthday or anniversary? We love your stuff from any location. Go ahead, send it in. We dare you!
Best of all, it's all free thanks to our advertisers. Enjoy and please, tell your friends. And be sure to check back often each day as the site can be updated as events occur. Follow @mybirdietweets
"Who Ya Gonna Believe?"
This is further to the St. Albert Gazette editorial (July 21st) which begins with headline "Surveys are like bikinis" and concludes, "so it's best to take it all with a grain of salt."
I hope all your readers will take this to heart. The subject, of course, is the city's "community satisfaction survey" released a week ago, conducted by Banister Research, Edmonton.
"The devil is in the details," is unhappily true. That's often where truth is hidden. So in this complex life, one has to winnow hard to sort a few grains of truth from a lot of chaff. Slogging through a hundred-page document appeals to very few of us civilians. Which I think explains why only very few taxpayers have read the Downtown Area Revitalization Plan (DARP) document, and so have only a vague understanding of what DARP is about. The devil is in those details.
Similarly, few taxpayers will wade through Banister's document. While that's understandable, it's also a shame. For it's very professionally produced, and very clearly reveals chapter-and-verse of the survey process. In past surveys, I don't recall such an exhaustive description of the process.
Banister's "2012 Community Satisfaction Survey Report" is here.
Mr. Editor, I think your readers will want to look at page three in particular.
There they'll find the breakdown of the total number of Banister call-outs (7,099). Of those:
-800 completed the survey and were counted,
-3881 didn't answer,
-2075 refused.
Taking those three as 100%:
-11.8% completed,
-57.5% didn't answer,
-30.7% refused (to participate).
I suggest for readers' consideration that a large portion of the 57.5% had call-display, and seeing Banister's name displayed, they didn't pick up, constituting refusal. So, something well beyond 30.7% refused to participate, reaching as high as 88.2%!
One may ask: why refuse? I suggest that that number has a negative attitude towards city hall, and chose not to dignify the survey process by participating.
(Some) taxpayers will know that I (and others) published an independent "citizens' satisfaction survey" in May to which 271 citizens responded, and whose results expressed deep dissatisfaction with city hall (published in the Gazette June 27th & 30th).
In my view, given the percentages cited above, both surveys are correct! The Bannister survey finding high satisfaction represents the views of 11.8% of households, plus an indeterminate further number. The "citizens' satisfaction survey" finding high dissatisfaction is represented by the 271 respondents, plus an inestimable further number as high as 88.2%.
Which, Mr. Editor, leaves your readers to decide: "Who ya gonna believe?"
Deane Doucette,
Grandin
SINC SAYS:
An interesting take on the survey scene Deane. You have obviously given it much more thought than most. One thing is for sure and that is that you cannot believe that city commissioned survey. In a letter to the editor, Robert Patrick of the city details his response to the city of St. Albert's survey in today's St. Albert Gazette entitled, "Survey not worth paper it's written on".
Capturing Ma Nature's Own On BLESS Cam
Elke Blodgett of the city captured these deer on the BLESS cam and wrote, "down by the river for breakfast after the storm."
__________________________________________________________________
BBC News Feed:
Welcome To St. Albert's Place Live Chat
Links To Other Stories In The News:
Cars impounded after Vancouver speeders hit 160 km/h - CBC
YouTube wants commenters to use real names - CNN
Sherman Hemsley of 'The Jeffersons' dies at 74 - CTV
Warning issued as pilgrims gather at Lac Ste. Anne - Edmonton Journal
More police headed to highway 63 - Edmonton Sun
__________________________________________________________________
The Things That People Send Us
SAP reader George Proulx thought this would remind you of city council . . .
What's The
Hold Up?
4-Year-Old's Hidden Camera Prank
A little girl has some big fun with her Dad.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Playing Tomorrow Night At LB's Pub
Songwriters Showcase with Rob Heath at 9:00 p.m.
I'll be back on stage for this one for sure. I would like to thank "Rocko" for filling in for me the past little while. Rob Heath is awesome, starting at 9:00 to 10:00 at LB's Pub. There is a jam to follow as always with Shaved Posse. MGD is on special for $4.25, good food, and Bonnie and Nicole will take good care of you. See you all there. Support live music. Keep it alive.
Rob Heath's Bio
“Our audience was thrilled with Rob. He had us laughing and rapt in the very human stories his songs conveyed. The guitar players loved his playing, the songwriters loved his songs, and everyone thought his performance was top-notch.” - George Campbell, Music for the Wild Concert Series
Rich melodies and lyrics, delivered in a voice haunting in its simplicity, Rob's guitar style is diverse melodically and rhythmically. A storyteller in the tradition of Harry Chapin, John Prine and Steve Earle, Rob Heath’s original songs are a well-conceived intelligent and lyric-driven blend of Americana.
This past Spring, Rob won the Calgary Folk Music Festival’s songwriting contest. This is one of the many accolades that Rob’s songwriting has received over the years. He is also a past “New Folk” winner at the highly regarded Kerrville Folk Festival and winner of a Canadian Radio Music Award for songwriting.
Rob has written for Glen Campbell Music, Don Goodman Music, and Criterion/Atlantic Music and has had cuts with various artists as well as top forty songs of his own. His music is being played on over 200 stations on six continents around the world.
Rob’s recent Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) Official Showcase went great! Not only did he get to visit Niagara Falls, he was asked to perform in May at the Bluebird North in Toronto, ON.
Currently in the studio, Rob is also looking forward to completing his soon-to-be-released fifth album.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ROB HEATH
“The ‘discovery’ of the conference for me was Rob Heath, an artist I was unfamiliar with. An understated performer, Rob puts across his powerfully moving songs, without histrionics, in a pleasing natural tone. The songs can be about very serious stuff, but Rob obviously feels no need for vocal or physical dramatics.” - Steve Dulson, President, FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region - West)
“His singing, guitar work and between song banter were great and his stellar songwriting really hooked our crowd, earning him an easy encore.” - Vic Bell (Artistic Director, Nickelodeon Music Club)
“His songs stir the soul and bring the emotions of the listener to the top of the pot and when Rob Heath sings, you pay attention to those songs because you just know that it's coming from deep within his own soul.” - Bill Werthmann, Northern Lights Folk Club
“Rob Heath not only writes emotionally powerful songs, he performs them live with an impeccable honesty that grabs the audiences attention form start to finish. He never disappoints. - Mike Bradford, Producer, Central Music Festival
"One of Alberta's most respected songwriters..” - Terry Wickham, Edmonton Folk Music Festival
"Rob is the perfect performer for a house concert – warm, engaging, and full of stories that he makes relevant to his audience. His great guitar work and unique song style had us in the palm of his hand all evening!" – Rose Brooks, Just Milton Folks
“Rob crafts his songs with uncanny insight and clever wordsmithing. When he sings, his hand-built guitar delivers intense rhythmical structure for his powerful voice to grab hold of your soul. His legacy is assured by his selfless support of young people learning the songwriting art.” – Harold Wollin, Blue Chair Café
"Rob Heath is a very gifted songwriter who brings both experience and freshness to his performances." - Jolayne Motiuk, Producer Big Valley Jamboree Axe Songwriter's Workshop
Solid singer-songwriter fare from one of music’s craftsmen. Warm, welcoming and comfortable.
