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Board Briefings April l9-20. 1999 The FWIO Board of Directors gathered at the Erland Lee (Museum) Home on Sun- day. April 18, Curator. Michael Gemmetl. conducted a tour of the Home. Two Board Directors had never been to the Home and enioyed their visit immensely. A meeting with the Erland Lee (Museum) Home Com- mittee followed the Sunday afternoon tour. FWIO President, Arthena Hacker, opened the spring Board meeting on Mon- day morning with great enthusiasm. She reported that the proposal to the Ministry of Health requesting funding to support an expanded health education program within the Women's Institute was accepted. Hecker added that Women's College Hos» pital and the Women‘s Health Council are eager to work with me wt in disseminating cunent programs. Refer to the front page article at Horned Countrytor more informa- tion about this expanded health program. Provincial Positions Nominations are needed for a number of provtncial positions: President-Elect - to be elected at Board - applications available irom the FWIO Provrncial Office - applications to be forwarded to the Pro- vincial Otfice immediately aiter Area Convention Board Directors - one from each at the 4 regions - to be elected at Board - applications available from the FWIO Provincial Office - deadlineforsuhrnissiontothe Provincial Office is Sept. 30 Education Coordinator - to be elected at Board - applications available from the FWIO Provincial Office a deadline forsubmission to the Provincial Office is Sept, 30 Pro vincfaf A dvis cry Councillors (plus Alternates) - for Subdivisions 6.7.12.13. 16.18.20. 21 Er 26 a to be elected at Area Conventions For ioli descriptions of the above posi- tions contact the Provincial Office or review the Fall t998 issue of the Home & Country. pages i to viii. 4 Home & Country, Summer I999 Policies and Procedures FWIO Handbook Given Final Approval The final questions on the Handbookwere answered and clarifications were made. These changes will be made as promptly as possible. And then. it haslo be indexedand prooted. and desktopped. and proofed again. at least twice, While it is a long process. FWIO is working hard to get the new Handbook to the printer as soon as possible. Elections at the Annual Meeting Board Directors discussed how to improve the election process at the annual meeting. The Provincial Office wrll send an informa- tion package to Area Secretaries before Area Conventions this fall. The package will include: - a list of the Subdivisions requiring PAC elections; - a list of committees and the roles and responsibilities of each committee: a a list of the current PAC members and the committees they sit on; and. - a list of committee positions up for elec- tion, Immediately after Area Conventions. re- member ID send the FWIO Provincial Office the names. addresses and phone numbers of all Provmcial Advisory Council members elected at your Area Convention. Reports and Applications Board Directors were asked for their input on how and what they wanted Coordinators to report to Board. A standardized Coordi» nators Report Form was designed. This report indicates to Board which committees Coordinators have been in touch with. a committee's recommendations for pro- grams and protects and any difficulties committees have encountered and the so- lutions to these problems. The application for an FWIO Board Direc- tor was also revamped. The application Will outline an individual's skills, WI and volun- teer experience and their ideas on how WI can continue as a progressive and vibrant organization, Letters of support and a two- minute presentation at the annual meeting are requested. Starter Kit for New Branches The Women's Institute Handbook brielly outlines how to organize a new Branch. Groups wishing to organize can contact Membership Organizers, District PieSi- dents and Secretaries and Provincial Advisory Councillors as resource people. To assist in the process. and hopefully make it run more smoothly. FWIO is devel» oping a Staner Kit for New Branches. Policy Manual Each Board Director was asked to write a policy on two different items. While policy existed for a number ot items. for many others it did not. A starting point for policy on a numberol items was outlined. includ- ing the use of the FWIO mailing list. Branch mailings. logo approval. return of supplies. consignment orders. obtaining quotes for expenditures. unbudgeted spending and expense repons. Based on these sugges- tions, the Policy Manual will be revised and broughtforth fordiscussion again atafuture meeting, Home & Country Editorial Policy Ala recent Editorial Committee meeting the Home & Country Editorial Policy was re- viewed. The Board ot Directors approved minor changes. However. the Policy will continue to not print notices or deceased members. with the exception of the death oi a pastor present FWIO President. Let‘s Celebrate 100! Branches. Districts and Areas celebrating t 00 years will be honoured with a certificate issued from the Provincial Office and have their name inscnbed on a plaque to hang in the Office, Please notify the Provmcial level of this great occasion. Conference Updates ACWW 2001 Anhena Hecker, FWIO President and Co» Chair of the Ontario Coordinating Committee (000). attended an Associated Country Women olthe World Triennial Con- ference Committee meeting in England in March. Christine Fleabum. the other Co» Chair of the OCC. updated Board about the ACWW Conference 2001. Reaburn re- ported that a skeleton program and a registration fee has been set by the Trien- nial Conference Committee in England. Many ideas are in the works to involve Ontariomembers. so watch for more details in future issues of Home a Country. Fiosella Clancys submissron for the logo for the 23rd Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) Conference was se- lected, Rosella is a member of the Stirling wt in Hastings West District. FWIO Provincial Conference Board Directors agreed that an FWIO Pro- vincial Conference will be organized for the year 2000 during good weather months. Board was asked to suggest guidelines for a provincial conference and bring this information to the August meeting for dis cussion. Coordinators Reports PRC Report In her report, Carol Hellenslein. the FWIO Public Relations Coordinator (PRC reminded Board that FWIO has a commu- nications link with every newspaper in the province through an electronic bulletin board system. Press releases can be down- loaded into a WI folder through the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OSNA) Office. and then be sent to each at the 250 community newspapers in Ontario. Hellenstein encourages members to be- come pan of this process. Refer to the PRC column on page 10 of the Spring 1999 issue of Home :2 Countiyto find out how to do this. The PFIC asks that Branches report back to her if they have used this servrce for their May Membership Month Campaign, Please let her know via mailI phone or email (refer to the Home & Country newsletter for her address inlormation). Future plans of the PFIC include promot- ing PHONEBUSTERS and the expanded Health Education Programs. As well. the PRC will be working With her Assistant, Joe Ann Lane. on the FWIO web pages. Creat- ing a list of web site addresses of interest to members and initiating a Coming Events page on the web for Branches, Districts and Areas is also in the works. Lobbying Report The report from the FWIO Lobbying Coor- dinator. Anne Dyas. noted that she receive. replies from the Canadian Health Councr and the Federal Minister of Health regard- ing the resolution on Lead Toxicity. The responses explained what is currently being done to protect children from the dangers ol lead. The original letters from FWIO were forwarded to the Canadian Medical Asso- ciation. Dyas recommended that FWIO write a letter in support of a resolution presented by the Middlesex Women in Support of Agricul- ture at the Ontario Farm Women's Network meeting in March. The resolution requests that a slay-atâ€"home parent be allowed to claim as an expense a comparable ratio of childcare as a working parent who receives a receipt for this seNice. Information Items A Good Idea! Board asks that each Branch assign one member to highlight Items printed in each issue of the Home a Country newsletter. These items of importance to all members should be discussed at each Branch meet- ing. This procass can only improve the flow of inlorrnation from me provincial down to the Branch level, Give it a try!