lris takes on the media : VICTORIA — Every media type covering the legislative beat in Victoria has incurred the gentle wrath of Iris Bakken, free enterpriser, Socred party member and fierce Vander Zalm loyalist. When you answer the phone, “Press Gallery,” and the voice at the other end asks “are you wilting something nice about our premier these days?” you can safely assume that it’s Iris Bakken. Like few other rank-and-file Socreds, Iris monitors the media, assessing reporters, commen- tators, open-liners and columnists from her pas- sionately pro- Vander Zalm point of view. Iris lives in Salmo where she and her husband run a rock shop which is the headquarters of her lay-off-the-premier campaign. And while some of my colleagues look upon her occasional phone call with some annoyance and impatience, I enjoy chatting with Iris. And while her answers to the problems that plague the Socreds in general and Vander Zalm in particular may, indeed, be a little simplistic and inspired more by wishful thinking than real Strategy, they make at least as much sense, if not more, than the tactics Vander Zalm’s image- makers have come up with. To put it in a nutshell, Iris’ untiring promotion of her ideas and beliefs deserve an airing. Hence this column. Fed up with the never-ending criticism of Vander Zalm, Iris recently began sending letters to all Socred constituency associations, urging their members to forget about their differences and Start concentrating on the next election. But if she expected full co-operation, she was in for a rude awakening. Her request that her letters be distributed to the membership was flatly refused by some constituency association execu- tives, particularly those who were preparing for leadership review meetings. Operation Inform, her plan to get the party back into the good books of the public, would be a contest. Iris wants as many people as possible, presumably Socreds, to write down 100 good things the government has done, 10 of which must have happened in the local constituency. The constituency association would make avail- able prizes for the best entries. If cash is too hard to come by, she says, the associations should lobby local businesses for donations of goods and SEIVICES. The winner, she suggests, should get a trip for two to Victoria where they would have “Dinner with Premier Bill and Lillian.” And that’s it. That and Iris’ own version of the Fantasy Gardens saga was what some local Socred constituency associ- ations refused to refer to their members. Aside from the 100-good-things-our- government-did campaign, Iris has some other ideas to spread the good news about Vander Zalm and the Socred government. “We can use every chance to get on TV, the Tadio, write letters to the editor, have coffee parties, show videos, start a computer network or any other way that will get our message to the people,” she says. Simplistic? Perhaps, but no more so than ie insultingly good-news-oriented B.C. News that is published at the taxpayers expense. I prefer Iris’ scheme. It’s based on personal enthusiasm and initiative, not on the conniving machinations of some lackey who wants to protect his own job. I wish Iris luck. I hope she won’t let the party hacks discourage her from doing what she thinks is right. And she can bend my ear any time she wants to, although I won’t promise her a column every time. Butt Out, i's Weedless Wednesday IE ER a PLEDGING TO GO Cold Turkey isn’t as hard as. it seems, the Saanich Peninsula unit of the Canadian Cancer Society is reminding smokers. A survival tip pamphlet is part of a Quit Kit available at'the unit’s office at 9790-Second St. in Sidney. Designed to wrap around your package of - cigarettes, the survival tips recognizes that quit- ting is an individual project every person does his or her own way. But, to help, they suggest you list your reasons for quitting, keep carrots, celery, sugarless gum, toothpicks, fruit and juice handy. Also, ask someone to be your buddy and stay away from coffee, tea and alcohol, “common triggers to smoke.” Try deep breathing or other relaxation techniques when cravings come, avoid smoking situations by going to non-smoking places, get rid of smoking-related material and practice saying “I don’t want that cigarette.” With the package is Guidance for Buddies, a reminder badge, a pledge form and an award for those who succeed. Meanwhile, the Town of Sidney pro- claimed this week, Jan. 21-25, to be National Non-Smoking Week and in so doing urged all residents to demonstrate to themselves and their friends that they can take control, quit smoking and contribute to the development of a Tobacco Free Capital Regional District 2000. KOK OK APPLICATIONS FOR NEW members are being accepted by the Central Saanich Volun- teer Fire Department, a press release said. Prospective applicants must qualify to the follow- ing criteria. Resident of Central Saanich, physi- cally fit, 19 years of age and holding a valid B.C. driver’s licence. Applications must be received before Jan. 31 and forms can be picked up at the fire hall at 1903-Mt. Newton Crossroad from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. * kK . AMATEUR MUSIC GROUPS interested in performing to new audiences can get involved with the Music °91 Community ShowCase program. Between may and September, venues will vary from hundreds of community events and touriSt attractions to major RoadShow weekends, two-day multi-stage events that will dedicate one stage to amateur programming. To get involved write, phone or fax Music 91 for an entry form at Community ShowCase, 201-1110 Hamilton St. Vancouver, V6B 2S2, 689-1991, 689-3977 (fax). xk O* PREMIER BILL Vander Zalm will be the target of phone-in questions tonight starting at 7 p.m. on Shaw Cable 11, in a program picked up from Rogers. The Social Credit leadership is expected to be one of the questions asked by phone-in callers and Victoria newspaper columnist Jim Hume, the host of Voice of the Province. * * OK NEW OFFICERS WERE inducted into the B.C. Old Age Pensioners Organization, Sidney branch Number 25, recently. Its new president is Stan Watling, first vice-president is Betty Escott, second vice-president Stan Escott, with directors Grace Clark, Hilda Haworth, Edna Currey, Mable Sheppard and Betty Vickers. Secretary is long-time member Edith Smith and the treasurer is Richard Smith. * OK OK A DISMAL Christmas Eve visiting her hus- band in Saanich Peninsula Hospital was made brighter for a Pender Island woman with the generous donation of a free room at the Super 8 motel on Mt. Newton Crossroad. The newest addition to the Peninsula accommodation family provided complimentary rooms to people who were visiting patients at the hospital during the cold weather, our source said. * ok TheReview Wednesday, January 23,1991 — A7 Peninsula Video Productions Complete S-VHS and VHS Production Facilities Corporate, Educational and Personal Projects Custom Transfers - Movies, Slides and Tapes WEDDINGS AND SEMINARS a specialty Audio Dubbing and Editing Suite for rent Bellina WINTER CLEARANCE ON NOW FURTHER REDUCTIONS! 2392 BEACON AVE. SIDNEY, B.C. 655-1232 136 FORT ST. DOWNTOWN VICTORIA (600 BLOCK FORT AT BROAD) DR. W. DAVID ROBB wm.p.c.m. Announces the opening of his GENERAL PRACTICE & MATERNITY in the Saanichton Centre 7819 E. SAANICH ROAD SAANICHTON, B.C. PHONE: 652-5228 HOURS: MON. - FRI. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM a SUPERBOWL SUNDAY JAN 27th CLUB. BEAR PUB IMAGES PRESENTS THE PRESENTS ANNUAL SUPER BOWL PARTY LADIES NIGHT PUB OPEN AT 11:00 am OPENS AT 7:00 pm TICKETS ON SALE AT HOTEL FRONT DESK THE LATCH RESTAURANT’S Sundown Menu Continues .. . Now In It’s 4th Year A Complete 4 Course Meal Soup & Salad with Your Choice of 6 Different Entrees and Dessert with Coffee or Tea $12.95 AVAILABLE EVERYDAY EXCEPT SATURDAY From 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Luncheon from 12 Noon 2328 Harbour Rad., Sidney 656- 6622 ase DINING 7 NIGHTS A WEEK a