By Elaine Hennessy, Contributor
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 June 2019.
Greenwood: Members met at Dineamics for their dinner meeting on June 18, 2019. A short business meeting was held before dinner was served, with the President Sheila Kenny presiding.
The meeting opened with the Mary Stewart Collect. The Secretary Kathy Bennett read minutes from the previous meeting.
Roll Call was “What is your favourite annual flower”? Motto “Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature”. Gail Fletcher gave her Treasurer’s Report. She advised that a donation had been given by the branch in memory of Randy Neff. Members signed two cards, one for Sharon Neff, and one for Bob & Sharon Cotnam. Both ladies are members of the Greenwood W.I.
A Work Sheet Schedule was passed around for members to sign up to work at the Greenwood W.I. Memory Garden this summer. The Fair List was discussed and some changes about items were noted.
Elaine Hennessy requested 7 dozen cupcakes from members as the branch will be hosting the Birthday Party at Miramchi Lodge on Aug. 21, 2019. Charlotte Cotnam-Isea gave an update on her Dad Bob Cotnam who is recovering from a heart attack.
Members have been donating food to assist Sharon & Bob. The Door Prize was won by Kathy Bennett. Following the Institute Grace, everyone enjoyed their delicious meal at Dineamics, and the social time together.
Forester’s Falls: Seven members of the branch met at noon onJune19, 2019 for lunch at the Bonnechere Bakery & Bistro in Renfrew. Following a delicious lunch, we moved to the home of Shirley Bennett at Quail Creek Retirement Residence for the business portion of the meeting.
President, Betty Black welcomed everyone and thanked Shirley for having the group to her home. The meeting opened with the singing of the Ode and repeating the Mary Stewart Collect in unison. Roll Call “A favourite memory of your Mother”.
Our Mothers taught us how to swim, to waltz, always had snacks when we came home from school, sewed our clothes, made skating costumes. They taught us to be kind to others, to be positive, the importance of being on time, checked on us even when we were grown up and some left this earth far too soon.
The minutes of the April meeting were read and approved. The correspondence was read. FWIO is having a contest to design a slogan that will describe the W.I. and encourage women to join.
The deadline is Nov. 3, 2019. The District Annual we hosted on May 16, 2019 was discussed. 26 members attended and we felt the meeting went well.
Our branch will plan to sell tickets at the Cobden Farmers’ Market and the Cobden Fair in August, and also at the Plowing Match and at the Christmas Market. Ticket books were handed out for the members to sell. The Fair List was discussed and changes noted for both fairs when the fair books were printed.
Beachburg Fair book has been received. Alisa Page, Betty Black and Marion Horner plan to set up the display, and Eleanor Waite and Alisa Page will bring it home. Volunteer sheets were completed. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. Shirley served drinks and treats and a time of visiting was enjoyed.
