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Fro 0 rfiatnhow Count’z _7 By Elsie Stephenson Good day from Rainbow Country! The fall foliage of red, orange and yellow was spectacular Snow has now covered the barren trees and ground. The Federated Women‘s Institutes of Canada (FWlC) Board Meeting was held from iuly 9 to 12 in Brantford At the meeting, 1 suggested a national proiect to help people in Northern Canada At the FWlC Board Meeting in November the Executive members chose to adopt a northern community and the title of the proiect is "FWlC â€" Into the North " The project will be launched early in 2005 The FWlC Convention will be held in Red Deer. Alberta. from lune 14 to 17. 2006 The "ROSES are Blooming" Forum on .Sugust 20 to 2! at Georgian College in arrie was well planned by lulie Wheeler. the ROSE Program Manager, and her ROSE team At the opening ceremonies the Provincial Board challenged the members to become "Blue Hatters forWl" and to wear their blue hats to every Wl functionThe Manitoba W! News reprinted from our Fall 2004 Home Country the "loin the Blue Hat Challenge“ article written by Rose Marie Smith Perhaps there will be blue hats from sea to sea to sea! Ontario â€" what a vast and beautiful province! 1 travelled to 12 Area Conventions from Bergland in the west to Huntsville in the north and from Ridgetown in the south to St Bernardin in the east. Programming ranged from prescription drugs to fashion accessories. from the Ombudsman to the movie “Calendar Girls." But one thing remained constant â€" "friendship," At the conventions. 1 announced that the Provincial Board had decided that open .Provincial Officers' positions will be ominated at Area Conventions in 2005 l“ 132%) “5' U "swimm‘t’" km; “1’ using a similarformat to the one currently used for the Provincial PresidentlElect. At the FWlO Provincial Conference in Oshawa the Ontario Historical Society presented the Scadding Award of Excellence to all past and present Needsmuir Coordinators. At the Area Conventions i had the privilege of presenting each Branch in the province with a copy of the Scadding Award and a letter of congratulations Keep up the good work ’lWeedsmuir Coordinators! During the Area Conventions, l was presented with cheques for "Focus High for W!” for the Erland Lee (Museum) Home Operating Fund Monies raised from March 1 to October 3! totalled $17,200 This money will be used to do much needed repairs to the Lee Home FWIO thanks and applauds the members for their overwhelming generosity At the Erland Lee Museum) Home Annual Meeting on November 25, the Lee Committee planned the events for 2005 Activities from lanuary to lune include a lecture during Heritage Week in February on the Vinemount Community and the WI. a Teddy Bear Making Workshop on March 17 and 18, a Pancake Breakfast on April 2. a Ladies Day Out on April 23, the Stoney Creek Spring Blossom Art Tour on May 28 and 29 and a June Luncheon and Murder Mystery on lune 8. The 2005 Lee Committee Executive are Chair Mary Whitwell. Secretary Lynda Brooker and Treasurer Marian Austin The Erland Lee Award oprpreciation is presented by FWIC to a man who most exemplifies those qualities of Erland Lee, which led to the founding of the WI. Ontario is entitled to two nominations per year. See page 9 of the Spring/ Summer 2004 edition of the Home 5 Country for details. At the November ProvinCial Board Meeting, the Provincial Policies. Roles and Responsibilities and the FWlO Handbook revisions were reViewed One copy of the revised Handbook insert will be sent to each Branch. District and Area in the spring FWIO is offering Areas a workshop on the Handbook at the 2005 Area Conventions Christine Reaburn. a member of the Handbook Committee. Will cover the changes and the layout and why they were made The Auditor presented a draft of FWiO's audited Financial Statements for the year ending September 30, 2004 it was the first time since 1998 iwhen the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food gave FWIO a final grant of 58,000] that there was not a deficit Copies of the final Financial Statements Will be forwarded to Branches, Districts and Areas either by email or mail Since 1996, FWlO has recognized the Significant contribution made by a woman in agriculture at the Royal Agricultural Winter Faith} presenting her withtheprestigious\VomanofExcellence in Agriculture Award Unfortunately. there were no nominations this past year Refer to the SprinySummer 2004 edition of the Hams 8 Country for details on how to nominate a deservtng woman for this Award 1 would like to thank all of the Women‘s institute members who so graciously hosted me in their homes during the Area Conventions Your thoughtfulness will always stay with me Elsie Stephenson is the President of FWlO She can be reached at 268 Regional Road 10 Whitefish ON POM 3E0 Ph: 705-800-2435 Fax 705-860-2170 Email: ertoivoté‘allstream net