Ron Wassink Classification
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Jamie Tripp introduced Ron, saying that we had all had a chance to meet him as he had been a guest for several meetings. Ron has transferred from Alliston and before that Kincarding, where he was President. He currently lives in Walkerton and commutes but is hoping to move soon because his new job is as GM of the Mirror.
Ron said he'd been preparing his talk since 10:30 that morning. His parents moved from the Netherlands in the 50's, leaving the family home that had been built in the 1300's. He was born in Newmarket and raised on a dairy farm. He took a newspaper job in HS and has stayed with it ever since.
He has 3 kids - he drove the oldest to North Bay last weekend for his second year at Teacher's College and will be driving the middle one, his daughter to Fanshawe this weekend so she can start studies in special education. Zach is leaning towards automotive mechanics - doesn't much care for academics.
He's worked in Palmerston, Seaforth, Walkerton, Kincardine, Alliston and now Midland. The paper in Walkerton suffered three owners, going from an independent to being part of a chain which introduced micromanagement. He went with Metroland to Alliston but has moved to Osprey here. He loves being back near the water and enjoys Midland.
He's served on the Board of the Ontario Directors of Newspapers and was President 2 years ago.
He has belonged to Rotary for a while, and was President once, in the Centennial year, an experience he has no wish to repeat. Their project was a picnic shelter by the lake and they are now working towards a playground. In Alliston he served on the Tsunami Committee which held a gala dinner and the proceeds are funding a village school and Library in Thailand.
Ron's interests are cycling, flying and WW II history - he's travelled to Europe several times, both as a reporter covering the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, for instance, and as a private visitor.
The Mirror will celebrate 15 years in October and is moving its offices downtown. The paper has grown and is doing very well in the flyer distribution business. People really study those. The Friday paper circulates to 20,000 and the Wed. one to about 13,000 and it is starting to get some flyers too. He cited some stats from an industry survey which showed that 93% of the population reads both papers and 88% study the flyers.
There are statistics which indicate what kind of major purchase people are planning and what other activities they engage in. This kind of information helps them guide their advertisers and their content.
Joyce thanked Ron for joining the Club and, especially, for filling in on such short notice with his Classification talk.
He has 3 kids - he drove the oldest to North Bay last weekend for his second year at Teacher's College and will be driving the middle one, his daughter to Fanshawe this weekend so she can start studies in special education. Zach is leaning towards automotive mechanics - doesn't much care for academics.
He's worked in Palmerston, Seaforth, Walkerton, Kincardine, Alliston and now Midland. The paper in Walkerton suffered three owners, going from an independent to being part of a chain which introduced micromanagement. He went with Metroland to Alliston but has moved to Osprey here. He loves being back near the water and enjoys Midland.
He's served on the Board of the Ontario Directors of Newspapers and was President 2 years ago.
He has belonged to Rotary for a while, and was President once, in the Centennial year, an experience he has no wish to repeat. Their project was a picnic shelter by the lake and they are now working towards a playground. In Alliston he served on the Tsunami Committee which held a gala dinner and the proceeds are funding a village school and Library in Thailand.
Ron's interests are cycling, flying and WW II history - he's travelled to Europe several times, both as a reporter covering the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, for instance, and as a private visitor.
The Mirror will celebrate 15 years in October and is moving its offices downtown. The paper has grown and is doing very well in the flyer distribution business. People really study those. The Friday paper circulates to 20,000 and the Wed. one to about 13,000 and it is starting to get some flyers too. He cited some stats from an industry survey which showed that 93% of the population reads both papers and 88% study the flyers.
There are statistics which indicate what kind of major purchase people are planning and what other activities they engage in. This kind of information helps them guide their advertisers and their content.
Joyce thanked Ron for joining the Club and, especially, for filling in on such short notice with his Classification talk.