Greetings from the Women’s Institute for the District of North Renfrew. The following branch is reporting on their meetings and activities for the months of Nov. and Dec. 2022.
Greenwood: Elaine Hennessy introduced the two guest speakers for the Nov. meeting, Anya Gansterer & Maureen MacMillan. Anya is the co-artistic director for the Ottawa Valley Arts Open Studio. She is also the Culture & Tourism Co-ordinator for the Township of Madawaska Valley. Maureen MacMillan is the head photographer at Gal Capone Photography. She had a diverse background and is now an instructor at Algonquin College.
Maureen spent time with 62 seniors in the western Ottawa Valley during 2020 and 2021 to create portraits that offer a glimpse into their diverse lives and experiences. Those portraits are featured in the new exhibition called “Honoring Seniors”. Anya was one of the Artistic Directors and Project Co-ordinators for the book. They showed slides to W.I. members and some of the seniors in the slides talked about their life experiences which was very interesting. The oldest lady they interviewed was 102. There are three Pop Up Art places namely Petawawa, Arnprior and Pembroke. Irene Kumli thanked the guests and presented them with gifts in appreciation for their presentation and talk.
Following the Institute Grace, refreshments were provided by convenors Irene Kumli & Elaine Hennessy.
The business portion of the meeting then took place with President Bev Smith presiding. The Secretary Charlotte Cotnam-Isea read the minutes from the previous meeting. Roll Call was “What is your favorite kind of art? Do you like nature scenes, abstracts or portraits”? Motto was “Beauty is everywhere. You only have to look to see it”. (Rob Ross). Gail Fletcher gave the Treasurer’s Report. Bev Smith presented Sheila Kenny with a Past President’s Pin. Sharon Cotnam reported that two truckloads of winter clothing was collected for the people in Ukraine and that members had donated this clothing. Kathy Bennett advised she would inquire about getting the name of a needy family and she would purchase items for them for Christmas. A motion was passed to donate $100.00 to Tinus de Haan for providing water for the W.I. Memory Garden during the summer months.
December Meeting: Members met for their Christmas dinner meeting in the Greenwood United Church. Jane Haley did an excellent job of decorating the chairs and tables for this event. Following the Institute Grace, members enjoyed a delicious dinner that was catered by Schmidt’s Catering. The convenors Sharon Cotnam, Charlotte Cotnam-Isea, and Melanie McClelland put on a skit. Santa arrived and passed out presents to members and they found out who their Secret Friends had been during the year. Names were given out again for next year. Carole Whitmore advised she had received a Thank You note for the branch from Tinus de Haan for the $100.00 donation given to him by the branch. Kathy Bennett talked about all the items she was able to purchase for the three teenage boys of a needy family. She had bought clothing, toys, and sports equipment. Members had also purchased some items and others had given Kathy money to buy items along with $200.00 from the branch account. The meetings concluded with a Sing-A-Long of Christmas Carols
Submitted by Elaine Hennessy..
