Submitted by
Elaine Hennessy
W.I. News
Greetings from the Women’s Institute for the District of North Renfrew. The following branches have reported on their meetings and activities for the month of October 2018.
Forester’s Falls: Five members of the Forester’s Falls Women’s Institute travelled to Shawville, Quebec for lunch at Café 349 at noon on Oct. 17. After a delicious lunch of Chicken a la king, turnip apple and fennel soup, dessert and a trip to Giant Tiger, we moved to the home of Marion Horner in Foresters Falls for the business portion of the meeting. President Alisa Page welcomed everyone and opened the meeting with the singing of the Ode and repeating the Mary Stewart Collect in unison. The Roll Call “Your favorite vacation”. Answers showed our members love to travel. They enjoyed a two-week Mediterranean cruise, visited the Greek islands, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Austria, many parts of Canada and the United States including Branson, Missouri. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. There was no correspondence. The Eastern Area Convention held in Cobden on Oct. 15 was discussed. 106 members registered, and five members from our branch attended. Forester’s Falls and Queen’s Line branches were responsible for the flag ceremony. Forester’s Falls entered a Christmas table runner in the Bernice Noblitt Competition and received $15 for a second-place finish. Congratulations were extended to Margaret Curry as her granddaughter Brittany Curry received one of two Women’s Institute $500 scholarships sponsored by the Area. Brittany is attending university in Windsor and plans to become a doctor. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, the student must have completed at least one year of University or College. Alisa Page volunteered to lay a wreath from our branch at the Remembrance Day Service in Cobden. Plans for the November meeting were discussed as well as the District Annual we are hosting in May 2019. Suggestions were made for Christmas gifts for our members in Nursing Homes. Members were reminded to bring their sold tickets for the District Quilt raffle to the next meeting. Volunteer sheets were completed. Margaret Curry moved the meeting be adjourned.
Greenwood: President Charlotte Cotnam-Isea welcomed everyone to the meeting, followed by the Ode and Mary Stewart Collect. Secretary Mareielle McLaughlin read the minutes from the previous meeting, and Treasurer Gail Fletcher gave her report. Roll Call was “October 1st. is National Homemade Cookie Day. What is your favorite homemade cookie”? Motto “Autumn—the year’s last, loveliest smile”. Cathy Green introduced guest speaker Cindy McConnell, the Care Co-ordinator for the Local Health Integration Network. Her topic was Making Aging Easy, and how home assessments are done for seniors living in their own homes. It is important to try and keep people in their homes as long as possible. Respite is available for Caregivers. There is a Hospital to Home Program where patients receive care by PSWs , RNs, and RPNS. There are Day Programs available, and social times are important as many seniors living alone feel very isolated. When a person is assessed there are Retirement Home Options if required. Cindy said there is an abundance of paperwork involved with her job. The LHIN are now seeing much younger people with Dementia. Frozen meals are also available from Carefor. There is a backlog for services throughout the large region. LHIN works with many different Agencies and some are based out of Ottawa which means a long drive for workers. The area covers as far up as Deux Rivieres, Combermere, Lanark and Cornwall. If a person needs to go into Long Term Care, they can choose from five different places and if one is available that is not their first choice, they can eventually move into their first choice when a bed is available. Alanna Morris thanked Cindy and presented her with a gift. Sheila Kenny advised that she had hygiene products delivered for the Time For Girls project. Charlotte reported that mulch had been spread in the Memory Garden and it is looking better, and a new flag had been put up at the garden. Elaine Hennessy gave highlights from the Eastern Area Convention held in the Cobden Legion on Oct. 15. Jane Haley advised she had done research into a Recovery Center for women that can hopefully be opened in Pembroke in 2020. Tom Carroll said a 9,000 square foot home had been purchased in Pembroke for this Center. They are looking for funds for this project from the Ministry of Health. This would be a Women’s Addiction Facility as none is available at the present time. The Mackay Manor for men with addictions has been open for several years in Renfrew. This facility would be in partnership with the Bernadette McCann House. Jane reported that 160 women from the County of Renfrew needed help. The Greenwood W.I. members signed a Petition asking that this project go ahead and that funds are required. Marielle McLaughlin read out the Fair List for 2019. The Theme next year is Think Snow. Items required are as follows: Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament; snow painting no larger than 8×10; snow door hanging; crocheted snow flake, snowman themed plastic canvas item; 3 cookies resembling snowballs; 4×6 snapshot of children enjoying snow (past or present); homemade greeting card showing snowflake or snowman in theme; snow poem 8 lines—maximum 12. Sharron Jansen who had returned from a trip to Scotland had a beautiful tea towel showing pictures of places in Wales. One picture was showing the town of Llanfair Wales with a Summer House surrounded by a garden. This house was where the first Women’s Institute was formed in that village in 1915. Following the Institute Grace, refreshments were provided by conveners Cathy Green, Trudi Nieman and Alanna Morris.
