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Board Briefings Sgns of spring welcomed the FWIO Board of irectors to the Provincial Office tor their three~day meeting from March 26 to 28. Much of thethreeâ€"day discussions focused on developing a long-range or strategic plan for the future direc- tion of the organization Strategic Planning Process Strategic planning consultant Greg Burns facili- tated lively discussion at a morning workshop with the FWIO Board that focused on the strate- gic planning process, Burns defined strategic planning as the process by which the guiding members of an organization envision its future and develop the necessary procedures and op erations to achieve that future. Membership Campaign Kickoff Offering Branch Incentives To kickoff the Membership Recruitment Cam- paign forthe upcoming year, FWIO is offering the following incentives to Branches who gain new members in the period from April 1, 2001. to March 31. 2002. - The Branch who gains the most new members during this period will win one paid registration to the Provincial Conference in June 2002 in Sault Ste. Marie. plus $300 in cash o The Branch who is the first runner up will be presented with a gift basket full of Women's Institute sales items at their Area Convention. - The top ten Branches in terms of membership gains will receive recognition on the FWIO Website and in the Home '3 Country newslet- ter. So invite that neighbour. friend or relative you have always been meaning to ask to your meet- ing. And who knows. your Branch may win the paid registration to the provincial conference next June! 4 Home & (ountry, Summer 2001 ACWW Conference 2001, Hamilton, Ontario Arthena Hacker. CoChair of the Ontario Coordi- nating Committee, reported that to date 696 full-time delegates are registered for the ACWW Conference 2001 in Hamilton. She also reported that 21 participants are registered for the Pre- Conference Workshops to take place at Crietf Hills Conference Centre. Upcoming Provincial Positions Available Provincial officers whose terms of office are com- plete at the 2002 Annual Meeting are: c President-Elect - Regional Board Director. Eastern Area (1) a Regional Board Director. Northern Area (1) - Lobbying Coordinator - Provincial Advisory Councillors for Subdivi- sions 4. 8. 9, 10. 15. 22 and 24 Normal protocol is as follows: - by nomination at Area Conventions for Presi- dent-Elect - by application for Board Directors, Coordina- tors and Committees of the Board (due date September 30) - by nomination at District Annuals to be elected at Area Conventions for Provincial Advisory Councillors Nominations from the floor are not accepted for any of these positions. For more information contact the Provincial Office. Committee Evaluations Board spent some time reviewing and evaluating the structure and the roles and responsibilities of the committees of FWIO. Changes were sug- gested to take effect at the Annual Meeting 2002 and will be forthcoming once the process is finalized. Information Items New Provincial Office Hours Please note that to keep costs down. the FWIO Provincial Office will oniy be open to visitors and telephone inquiries on Monday. Wednesday and Thursday beginning June 1, 2001. Liability Forms for Conference 2002 Competitions Please send any outstanding liability forms for the FWIO Conference 2002 Competitions to the FWIO Provincial Office as soon as possible. Promoting Through Displays Remember, FWlO is offering all Areas the op- portunity to hold a two-hour workshop at Are Conventions this tall. "Promoting Through D. playS" is the workshop being offered. The workshop is only presented at those Areas who have specifically requested it, Any Area who is interested can call the FWIO Provincial Office. FWIO Display Boards As of March 31. 2001. the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Fiural Affairs (OMAFFIA) will no longer be providing portable exhibit book- ing support to organizations. OMAFFiA has given FWIO one useable floor exhibit. The floor display depicts the structure and history of the Women’s Institute. Anyone interested in booking this display. please call the FWIO Provincial Office at 519» 636-3076. The cost of shipping the exhibit to and from the Provincial Office is the responsibility of the borrower. The exhibit is to be returned in the same condition. Donations are accepted to- wards the upkeep of exhibits. Vandalism at the Erlnnd lee (Museum) Home The doors. locks and handles of two of the outbuildings at the Lee Home will have to be replaced as a result of vandalism. Fortunately. a coupleof old doors in the basement can be used for immediate replacement. it is hoped that im- prOVing the lighting in and around t outbuildings will help prevent future vandalis ‘ other Items Covered: - Strategic Pianning Process - Day Visitors to ACWW Conference 2001 0 Public Relations Coordinators Position - Conference 2002 Competitions - Tweedsmuirs Nominated for Pierre Berton Award 0 Motions Area Convention Dates Northwestern - Sept. 14-15 Cochrane-Temiskaming - Sept. 26 North Central - Sept. 29 Northern - Oct. 13 Eastern - Oct. 15 Kingston - Oct. 16 Trent Valley - Oct. 17 Central » Oct, 19-20 Simcoe ~ Oct. 22 Grey Bruce - Oct. 23 Guelph - Oct. 24-25 Hamilton - Oct. 26 London - Oct. 29 Southwestern - Oct. 30