Elaine Hennessey, WI
The District Annual for the North Renfrew District Women’s Institute was held in the Greenwood United Church on June 7, 2022, and was hosted by the Greenwood branch.
Bev Smith President of the Greenwood branch chaired the meeting and welcomed everyone including the guests Ruth Thomas President of Renfrew South District, Gail Reid Secretary of Renfrew South District and Christine Reaburn ACWW Secretary from North Renfrew District. The Institute Grace was repeated followed by supper.
The business portion of the meeting began with the Institute Ode and Mary Stewart Collect. The Ratification of the District Directors was conducted by Ruth Thomas, President of the South Renfrew District. Pennies for Friendship, Branch Officers List as well as names, addresses and phone numbers were handed in and the Roll Call was “Add up the number of years you have been a W.I. member, including all members of your branch”.
The In Memoriam Service was conducted by Judy Bohn. Members who had passed away were Audrey Gutz and Ethel Dagg of Zion Line/Beachburg, Lola Byce and Shirley Bennett of Forester’s Falls, and Sheila Wallace from Queen’s Line. A reading entitled The Remembrance and the Legacy were read.
Ruth Douma gave an update on the minutes from the District Annual in 2019. The District Treasurer Iris Biggs presented her report.
Reports:
The New Members Plaque was won by Zion Line/Beachburg with 2 new members.
Registration of Numbers: Carole Whitmore advised 33 members had registered.
Nomination Report:
The installation of Officers was conducted by Ruth Thomas President of the South Renfrew District. They are as follows: Past President Juliana Coulas; President—Vacant; 1st. Vice President—Vacant; Secretary Ruth Douma; Treasurer Iris Biggs; Public Relations and Newspaper Liaison Elaine Hennessy; Financial Reviewers Teuna Cotnam and Jill Laverdure.
Iris Bigg presented Juliana Coulas with the Past President Pin.
Entertainment: Elaine Hennessy performed a humorous monologue.
Old Business: Marion Horner advised that the Forester’s Falls branch will be looking after the Quilt Raffle, but the selling of tickets will not commence until 2023 and will continue all year.
New Business: A discussion was held of a District Branch. Some branches have very few members and are finding it difficult to continue, and perhaps could consider amalgamating with another branch, or perhaps there could be just one large branch in the district. Christine Reaburn spoke about how important it is to keep the Women’s Institute going in the District, and how can we try and get new members interested in this important organization. Several options were discussed. Members are to decide what they want to do and report back to the District Directors before their meeting in September.
Jane Mottershead of the Queen’s Line branch invited members to the District Annual in 2023. Betty Black from the Forester’s Falls branch thanked the Greenwood branch for hosting the District Annual this year. Gail Reid from South Renfrew also thanked the Greenwood branch for the invitation. The Nominating Committee for 2022 will be the Alice/Locksley Rankin, and Greenwood branches.
The meeting closed with the singing of O Canada.
