Thursday, October 30, 2008

Winding Down ,What Say you ?

As we wind down VerdunConnections and it's almost 6 year run,...We would like to hear from all of you Members,on what you like or dislike or wish the Next Group would contain,
Or some of the ideas & maybe stories & photos you wish you would have shared with us............We would appreciate hearing
any of your thoughts,& How could we have done it better (in your opinion)..........We did strive to keep a common theme of
Verdun/Montreal/ or just how we all grew up......& a compilation of any photo's that seemed relevant to the overall theme..........but most of all We tried to Provide a Direct Link to
Our ( Collective) Past,....& a Place where we could all :
          Have Fun and Remember Verdun..........

29 comments:

the lad MSN said...

Les   Always thought it was a great place and hope the next one is as well. I figure it will. First thing that comes to mind I thought that when we joined we had to make ourselves known on our bios..I see that alot of newcomers don't. I think Cathy W. had  mentioned it before that it should be shown. Now I know some might want to do that but that is like I said first thing to come to mind.   Brother apart from that I really like the old pics of whatever it is..brings it all back and the stories make it feel just like yesterday....   Lad   and like you say Les HF&RV keep it going....

lindamac60 MSN said...

Hi Les:  I know I don't always comment too often, but there is not a day that goes by that I don't look forward to reading all the correspondence in Verdun Connection articles.  I love to read about the old days spent in Verdun, all the old photos and reading names we haven't heard in years.  I hope you keep it up.  You are all doing a terrific job.  I realize it can become time consuming, but you do bring a little ray of sunshine in my life.   I am Linda, Arthur Ayotte's sister.  I lived at 663 Third Ave., and married Robert (Bob) MacPherson who lived at 728 Third Ave.  We married in 1968.  Bob died in 1999 and in 2001, I moved to Courtice Ontario.  It is a small town between Oshawa and Bowmanville.  I have a daughter, Kelly-Anne who is 30 now and lives in Dorval.  No grandchildren yet!  My brother, Arthur still lives in Verdun.  He has a daughter living in Nova Scotia and has 2 grandsons.  My Mom is living with me right now and my Dad died in 2004.  All is good.  I just wanted to take a moment to pat you on the back for a job well done.  Keep up the good work!     Linda

les__f MSN said...

Thank You Linda,                                                      HF&RV

metalman108 MSN said...

no one can succed and remain successful without he freindly cooperation of others. as a pioneer on this site, we are all better off to have the pick or joining other groups RULE#1 if you don't take care of the customer somebody else will this way it will keep the managers on there toes to please there members.    

gary8403 MSN said...

Les,

In this complex world it is a great refuge to each day reflect back on our childhood and teenage years and remember the experiences, good times and appreciation we had for our family and friends growing up in Verdun. Just to receive e.g. a snow shovel for Christmas to use making our snow forts or earn $0.50 to clear a sidewalk was a big deal. Just read the comments form the members and it becomes abundantly clear that the service provided within Verdun Connections has been and will continue to be worth more than money can buy.

Thanks for the continual dedication and service of the few members that provide so much to many.

Merci and bonne chance!

Gary
North Carolina

les__f MSN said...

Glad you like it, Thanks Gary...... and you are absolutely rught ,it's a great escape of normal life's trials & tribulations............I hadn't thought of it like that before.                                                                                     hf&rv

biking2006 MSN said...

Les our site managers have been totally responsible for the success of this group and I appreciate your dedication. I only wish I could post more Verdun pertinent stories, but I have run out of my particular recollections after the first few years of becoming a V.C. member. All said, I really enjoy reading others' stories of the streets, avenues and lanes of Verdun. On occasion even today a post will trigger a sweet memory of long long ago and far far away, and for that this group is priceless.
Bill (Second Avenue)

les__f MSN said...

Those are exactly the thoughts & recollections that make for an interesting post,.......& I Remember one of your posts where you told of a local store or something like that & your recall was fantastic,......I wish I could remember the story,it explained in detail ( at least in my mind ,it was like walking thorugh the place).......and all info is pertinent to the site,Thanks Bill ,for the vote of confidence as well as your participation over the many years .............................................................HF&RV So Remember if something triggers a good memory & you want to share it,.then by all means do so.....that's what keeps us going, I believe we have a lrage amount of members who like to read the posts & look at the pics,.....and sometimes post as well, but even if they just Visit Here then that's all cool with us.                            Have Fun & Remember Verdun

bobb MSN said...

Huh? Winding down. Say it isn't so.

Five months ago I was in a local emergency room and good people were fighting to keep my heart beating. After a Pacemaker implant I returned home for a 2 month recovery. I probably didn't need the full 2 months, but I work contract and when they see you are ill, you are dropped like a hot potato. I am now back at work and taking in my usual concerts and living my life once again.

Every day I visited Verdun via this web site. I looked at pictures, read posts and enjoyed. I never told anyone what I had been through. But I need to tell you now what this place meant and means to me. Verdun Connections was therapeutic From Les's posts of pictures and stories to Bill's Books and music updates, to stories about "steamies" and local restaurants, schools, whatever. Guy's pictures. His history lessons.

This place was my refuge. It helped me to be here. I didn't have a lot to say during that time, but I soaked it all up. So, a big heartfelt thank you to everyone. Those who kept it running (a thankless job I'm sure) to those who posted stories and pictures and brightened my, and I am sure, many others' days.

BobB

les__f MSN said...

Wow incredible Bob,.I have seen many of my frieends go through the by-pass ops & many other things that seem to test our spirit's at these ages we are getting to,.but in Our minds we all have a common denominator that is Verdun,.and that does go a long way to keep us well,if only even to just revisit earlier times in Our upbringing,......Your courage to remain silent ( at least to us) is quite remarkable & admirable,& to let us in on it now ,even more telling of a Real Verdun Character,...... Thank You for your recount of what this site means to you:            Keep Well BobB , & Again Thanks You for your participation & sharing of this very personal story:                                      Have Fun & Remember Verdun

maggiemck MSN said...

Bob, MSN has made the choice to stop offering their "groups" feature. We will run here, at MSN, until February 2009. Next week we will make the migration to Multiply. Between then and February we will have the chance to become familiar with everything that Multiply has to offer in it's groups. Les and I are working to save as much of this site as possible. It is most important to update your email settings so that you will receive any group notices. Thanks for your post, confirmation that Verdun Connections has succeeded. That's all the thanks we need!

biking2006 MSN said...

Bob I'm glad your operations were very successful. I have some experience with serious medical issues, and always relied on my H.P. to guide me through the tough times. I now allow life to unfold as it will and am much happier because of it.
May I ask what has been your career choice? You seem to be an interesting person. And thank you for acknowledging my humble contributions to the site.
Bill (Second Avenue)

bobb MSN said...

Hi Les / Maggie / Bill

So, now I'm out of the "pacemaker closet". There wasn't really any reason back then to tell the story, which may have been slightly dark. But now, it takes on a positive tone to be able to tell you what this site means. So that's the reason for ending that silence.

It's good news to learn that Verdun Connections will carry on. In fact, I just noticed the message on the "splash screen" as I entered the site this morning. I usually just fly by that intro screen and go to the posts. I guess the lesson there is to stop and read. I'll make sure I check my email settings this weekend.

Thank you all for your good wishes. Bill, I have always enjoyed your "humble contributions" Truth told, I look for them. to answer your query, my chosen (or did it choose me) profession is Information Technology. I manage projects and initiatives for companies, sometimes I have taught for IBM. I came on that one late in life and loved it. I have been doing this in one form or another since 1972 (whew!). but, I am a contradiction, since I have an education in Liberal Arts and my real loves are music and literature. Back when I started working in technology (it was EDP then, not IT...names changed to protect the innocent I guess) it was an arena where you would meet some of the most interesting and creative people....real characters. Now days it is a little more corporate but still interesting.

Oh well, I ramble....makes me think of that wonderful character on the Mary Tyler Moore show...the news caster..."it all started in a 5000 watt station in Fresno, California"...well, you had to be there.

Be well. An Bill, yes my H.P. got me through the tough times too.

BobB

biking2006 MSN said...

I have never seen anything so inspiring in my 68 years of life on this beautiful planet.Bill (Second Avenue)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0DRk8dFjI

bobb MSN said...

Wow. Puts a lot of stuff into perspective doesn't it?

BobB

metalman108 MSN said...

walking the streets of verdun, noticed you can find a job in verdun, marche fortier is hiring, needs a good delivery person, must have people skills, speaking french, math skills, year round work, delivery bike supplied for only working hours.  

les__f MSN said...

Ok Metalman,..what's the point ? Usually you have a direct question & in this post of yours , I don;t really get it......but I'm not that brite (indcluding the spelling of the word brite)........... hahahahahha          I really like your messages ,but I sometimes think you need to elaborate........because sometimes the message is hard to follow,..........and I mean that with all Due Respect  What is your Message.........if you don't mind me asking                                                                     HF&RV

country girl MSN said...

I'm glad to hear that VC will be migrating to Multiply and hope that we will all continue to contribute our stories, memories, joys and sorrows living and growing up in Verdun.....we may have been poor in the material sense of the word, but we were rich beyond measure in our relationships and how we grew up -- strong, confident, capable of great things!   Thank you to Les & Maggie (and many others) for all the hard work you have put into this site and the hard work yet to come to move it all over to it's new home on Multiply.   A Verdun girl at heart.... Pam    

les__f MSN said...

Well Thank You countrygirl ( Pam)..........I hope the move is relatively easy,but I suspect there's some work to be done..Yikes!  hahahahaha   Oh Well ,..We will do what we can,..........HF&RV

claroleca0 MSN said...

Hi Maggie,   Where on the right is our email settings?  Either I'm half blind or stupid because I can't see it and I want to make sure my email and info ins correct.     Thanks!   Carole

bogwone MSN said...

Winding down?  Say it ain't so. Are there any plans afoot to create a new page?   Dean

fresco750 MSN said...

Les, It's been a fantastic six years. My vote is to continue the new Verdun Connections in the same successful format that has been in place for the last six years-Fresco

maggiemck MSN said...

to check your email settings: Go to the opening page of VC (What's new) Make sure you are signed in Go to the far right of the top of the page (you may have to scroll over) Look in the box of "member tools" Click on "My E-mail Settings" Make sure that there is an email address in the highlighted (yellow) rectangle and that it is a valid one. The email notification will be automated so don't leave any extra "dots" or protective words in the address.

les__f MSN said...

Hello fresco, we are working on it all the time,..but the 'same format' would be this one,.& that's not going to happen...at least I doubt it,...but a similar venue will be provided for us, Magiie.is always working & thinking of new stuff..... I've had a laugh or two over the years & was has happy to try & be a contributor,......I am very happy with all the real 'Connections ' that were made,.many people found each other through this venue,and have continued their acquaintences aside from here.....That is pretty cool stuff that Verdun Connections could be such good coduit for others ,including the other groups it spawned as well,...certainly a positive reflection on Maggie's creation ( along with her original friends,who had a part in this).........So to MaggieMck.....Merci Beaucoup, & to you Fresco thanks for your enklightenment on some of the photo's & story's that have appeared over the years,...You sir have great recall,and a very good ability to convey sentiment of said pics..........Thank You,.......Absolutely everyone's participation was indeed a large integral part of this Verdun Connections site's success........& We will need everyone's participation on the next Pt.2 or sequel if you will of this spot.  We also have experienced more than just photos & story's of Verdun but We have also been there for many 'life changing' events in many of Our Members lives,who chose to share some things with us,....(considering few of us knew ,or know each other personally,I think that's quite amazing)......You know why We seem to Trust  each other unconditionally (for the most part of course) is because We all were looking for something when We 'collectively' sought out (by Googling or whatever)a link to all of Our Collective Pasts,.....    VERDUN, and so I think most of us also Had Fun doing it,...........& so I still say.                               Have Fun & Remember Verdun                       Verdun Connections

les__f MSN said...

Hi MaggieMck,.I think ( at least on my computer) the members tools is over on my far left,at the bottom of the options menu, that has all the links, pictures , 'In Memoriam' and other sections......                                         HF&RV

les__f MSN said...

Oh I'm sorry Maggie, I see it is listed over on the far right as well............ I will now write 500 times that I will never question MaggieMcks instructions,.........Ok here I go:     "I will now write 500 times,that I will never Question MaggieMcks Instructions"      Ok there you have it I wrote it.............hahahaha     HF&RV

the lad MSN said...

Les   This new site we are migrating too. Do you know how it looks or works. I have no idea at all..Is it similar to this one and easy to use.Stuff like that..   Techo-challenged Lad

claroleca0 MSN said...

Thanks Maggie, got it.     Carole

stephenfredmond MSN said...

Multiply is not like MSN or even close.We all had our beefs with MSN but MSN was easy to learn and get around on it. Steve