Remembering Our Roots going strong

Times Contributor

 

My wife, Anne, and I moved to Strathmore from Calgary in 2000. Anne retired after working for RBC for 26 years, and I worked in the life insurance industry for 32 years, before retiring in 2002.

The next four years, I spent much of my time playing cards at The Happy Gang, before deciding there had to be something better to do in my retirement years, Our summers were busy, as we campground hosted for Parks Canada and the USFS in Montana.

Following a discussion with the editor of the Standard early in 2010, I wrote articles bi-weekly for them from May 2010 to May 2011. That month, town council invited me to write a couple of articles for the Centennial Magazine. However, it was being published by the Strathmore Times and I felt it would be in my best interest to move to the Strathmore Times, and starting in December 2011 I have been writing bi-weekly for this paper. 

Early in 2013, I was approached by a number of my early clients, asking if I could compile a book of all the articles. They felt it would be easier to hand a grandchild a book of the articles, than a shoebox of newspaper cuttings!

I discussed the book concept with Mario Prusina, editor of the Times, members of his staff, and Grace Schouten, owner of Assist Business Centre. They all agreed this was a route I should follow. Brenda Duffield at Assist Business Centre compiled the book, which included scanning and inserting old time photos, obtained from George Comstock at the Rosebud Museum, into the book, and retyping all the articles in extra large print, so older folks could read without glasses! 

The next step was to find a publisher, and through printing business friends in Calgary, I was introduced to Blitzprint in Calgary, who specialized in this type of book. Following this I designed, printed and delivered 35 personalized letters to people, organizations and companies in and around Strathmore, seeking funding. 

Thirteen of them agreed to sponsor me, and as a result 100 books entitled “Remembering Our Roots” by John Godsman, were ordered. This version is Volume 1 and contains 53 articles written between May 2010 and December 2012. They arrived on June 5, and I was sold out by June 10! A second 100 books were ordered, and at time of writing, I have sold over 80 of these. Each book can be purchased for $40. Proceeds from the first 100, provided income to pay for the second 100 and proceeds from the second 100 provided income to pay for expenses and additional copies.

I am still writing articles which are published in the Times on a bi-weekly basis. To date I have written almost 80 articles in total. My goal is to write and publish 26 articles per year, which would give me 52 articles for publishing in Volume 2 in the Spring of 2015.

Many of you may have noticed my posters around town, with a special note advising 25 per cent of proceeds from the book will be donated to the Siksika Outreach School in Gleichen. On Dec. 19, I presented Principal Bruce Dobbin with $1,000 cheque for the school.

I thank you all for your interest and support of this project. I work from referrals, and I need introductions to more people living in Wheatland County.

Season’s Greetings.