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 December 2019.
Foresters Falls
Six members of the branch met at the home of Margaret Curry at 1:00 p.m. on December 20, 2019. President Betty Black welcomed everyone, thanked Margaret for hosting the meeting and then opened the meeting with the singing of the Ode and repeating the Mary Stewart Collect in unison. Roll Call was, “an experience with a Christmas tree”. Experiences included a young child spinning into and upsetting the tree, dogs and cats tearing open the gifts under the tree, cats who climbed and refused to leave the tree, family excursions to cut the perfect tree and the frustration untangling the string of lights. The minutes of the November meeting were read and approved. There was no correspondence. Our branch sold tickets on the District Quilt at the Cobden Farmers Christmas Market. The winner was Carole Whitmore, a member of the Greenwood branch. Marion Horner reported that she had purchased and delivered Christmas gifts for the members in Nursing Homes. Eleanor Waite will deliver the items collected for the Cobden Food Bank and Marion Horner will deliver 18 calendars collected for the rooms of residents at Caressant Care Nursing Home in Cobden. Volunteer sheets were completed. Alisa Page was program convenor. She had three humorous Christmas readings, “Try Before You Buy”, “Season Tickets”, and “An Amazing Turkey Story.” A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. Everyone enjoyed the ice cream log and a variety of Christmas goodies.
Greenwood
Members met at the French Cultural Centre in Pembroke for their Christmas dinner meeting. The convenors were Sharon Cotnam and Charlotte Cotnam-Isea. Charlotte said Grace and everyone enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Wilkie’s Bakery of Pembroke . Following dinner, Kathy Bennett had clothes and toys on display that she had purchased for a needy family. The branch received a generous donation from the County of Renfrew, so Kathy was able to buy for an additional family. Members also brought clothes, toys, and purses filled with toiletries for teenagers living at Bernadette McCann House. Santa Claus then arrived and distributed gifts to members when they found out who their unknown friends had been in 2019. Names were also drawn for 2020. As there was food left over from the dinner, a motion was passed to donate it to the Bernadette McCann House. Members enjoyed a sing-a-long of Christmas carols before heading home.
