The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Information Items Erland Lee (Museum) Home Thelma Stewart. Chair oi the Erland Lee Committee. was invited to report on Lee .activities. Seven school groups signed up lor the new Education Program at the Home thisiall. The newcuralor. Michael Gemmell. is very enthusiastic. Stewart reponed that the Curator is reaching out to work more closely with outer nearby historic sites. He also plans on advertising in tourist areas and sending out informational brochures about the Lee Home to motels in Ontario. Collaboration with the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead is in the works. pos- sibly combining tours of the two historic homes. WI Week Proclaimed Keep your ears open and listen lor the provincial proclamation oi Women’s Insti- tute Week by the Legislative Assembly in Feanary. (See Home & Country. Fall '95, p. 11. tor ideas on how your Branch can celebrate WI Week.) Health Proposal Eastern Area Membership Organizer Jane Cooper presented a proposal. entitled “FWIO Partnership (or Health Education." to the new Board ol Directors. The proposal is soeldng funding and participation lrorn the Ministry oi Health tor an expanded health education partnership with FWIO. The Board passed a motion allowing Cooper to .submit the proposal to the Minister oi Health, It the project is accepted by the Ministry at Health. itwould not only reinforce existing partnerships. it would build new partner- ships between FWIO and organizations which support women's health education. Olherbenefitslistedincludelheopportunity to provide higher quality programs to Branches, to provide leadership training through train-the-lrainer sessions and to at- tract new members. Disbanded Branches Currently, items and material oi historic value trorn the provincial level ol the wt are housed in the Archives at the University at Guelph Library. However. Branch minute and record books and other Branch material should go to local libraries or museums because of historical and local interests. A letter shoutd go the FWIO Provincial Ditice so that researchers know where the mate- rial is located. The only exception to this would be it local libraries and museums reiused minute and record books lrcm diss banded Branches. in this case. this material will be accepted at the University at Guelph Archives. ACWW 2001 Conference The theme lorthis world conlerence is ‘Volv unteers Make Visions a Reality." As Co-Chairs oi the Organizing Committee in Ontario. either FWIO President Arthena Hacker or FWIO President-Elect Christine Fleaburri can attend planning meetings in London. England. Heabum recently partici- pated in a Triennial Conterence Committee (T CC) planning meeting at the end at Octo- bar. where she presented several possible ideas regarding the conlerence. A motion was passed that FWlO hire a Coordina- tor/Negotiator for the Associated Country Women at the World Conlerence to be held in Ontario in 2001, Please Note‘ You have to hold an individ‘ ual membership in the Associated Country Women oilhe World for atleasta year it you wish to attend this conlerence. To apply lor ari indwidual membership (renewable each year) send a [115 money order. payable to ACWW. to ACWW. Clutha House. 10 Sto- rey/s Gate. London, SWtP 3AV. England. Elections Held Lobbying Coordinator Congratulations to Anne Dyas the newly elected Lobbying Coordinator. Anne em- phasized her Willingness to work with other groups tolobbylor thesame cause or issue. “A collective vorce would carry a lot more weight." she noted. Anne can be reached at BB 3.Cochrane ON POL100.(705)272- 6386. Public Relations Coordinator Congratulations are also extended to Carol Hellenstein. the newly elected Public Beta- lions Coordinator, In her speech to Board. Carol said that the experience she has to other the Women's Institute comes from “35 years of busy productive rural living.“ And that she is a “rural girl who has come to understand the value oi the printed word." Carol can be reached at RR 1. Kincaidine 0N N22 2X3. (519)395-0065. Provrncral Advisory Council members were elected to numerous committee posi- tions. Tweedsmuir History Workshop "Only by knowing our past, can we envisron our future." Rosella Clancy. FWlO Tweedsmuir His- tory Curator. reported giving eighteen workshops or presentations to date this year; her presentation at the Annual Meet- ing was her nineteenth. Clancy's talk outlined the Tweedsmuir History Workshop Kit she compiled. The seriousness at her discussions. however. were interspersed with comic excerpts and interludes. As the FWlO Tweedsmuir History Cura- tor. she noted her live priorities. 0 to complete each page oi the provincial Tweedsmurr History Book in a worthy manner - to encourage and assrst dedicated cura- tors throughout the province - to encourage the writing at memberpro tiles - to generate enthusiasm tor recording family history - to work with District Curators to learn the whereabouts of disbanded Branch Tweedsmurr History Books Clancy requested that all retiring otticers at all levels write their autobiographies lor inclusion in Tweedsmuirs. But, she noted. all member profiles should be included. even it members have never held an office. She also encouraged officers to document and photograph all Branch. District. Area and provincial events In concluding, Clancy suggested an hi5~ loricat walking tour of your community or working on a Branch Time Capsule as pro- gram ideas. Communications Workshops To ensure the Provincial Advisory Councrl (PAC). the Board of Directors and the iive Coordinators have a clear understanding oi their roles and responsibilities. and to pro vide an opportunity ior other members attending to leam more about the posrlions. a series oi workshops were organized lor the afternoon ol December 1 As well. dis- cussion focused on hoiv the [low of inlormation between the various levels could move eittcrently. Outgoing Board Directors Winnilred Mann and Dianne Orrfrom Subdivisrons l0 and it lacllltated discussions on the roles and responsrbitlties ol the Provincial Ad- visory Council (PAC) members. Glenna Smith. Guelph Area President. spoke to PAC about communicating It is critical that everyone communicate to the besl at their ability. and especrally this year as FWlOs new structure is implemented Smith stated that communications involves listening. seemg and speaking Listening. however. is the most important; hear What is being said and report the lacls accurately She concluded by reminding PAC that commu~ nicating IS a twoaway street PAC members are to pass on questions and intormalron lrom the grassroots members to the Board, and vice versa. Denise Edwards. Organization Develop- ment Consultant wim the Ontano Ministry ol Agriculture. Food and Rural Ailairs, guided the live Coordinatorsthrough a simi- lar workshop. Alter having a close look at their rob descriptions. Coordinators were asked to discuss possible problems or chaI‘ lenges wrth theirdulres as outlined. Several potential problem areas were identified. With communications coming through as the primary concern. Edwards then had participants create an “idea Tree.“ or all the possrble ways in which Coordinators could improve the ilow oi inlonnation between the various levels. The next step. she said. was to put potential strategies in place that can only improve communications Jim Brown at Strive'. a private company devoted to helping mairimize the reflective- mass at people and organizations through leadership development. spoke to the new Board at Directors He began by asking Board Directors to state what excited them about the new structure. The feeling that new Board members were pioneers. lorg- ing ahead. and that the new structure would workwas clear Brown reminded Board that they should draw on each other and speak hope into each others lives. The primary focus at the workshop was to highlight the essentials ol the law ior an incorporated non-prolit organization. The Corporations Act is the primary source oi legislation delining the legal obligations oi a director lor most incorporated and non- prolit organizations in Ontario. The law imposes two general types ol obligations upon Board Directors in con- nection With the management oi the organization‘s busrness and aliens: Fiduci- ary Duty and Standard ot Care. Fiduciary The Coordinators from left to right are Carol Helfenster‘n - Public Relations, Anne Dyas - Lobbying, Rosella Clancy ~ Tweedsmuir and Mary Lou Norton » Education. Home 3 (ountry, Winter “98-99 5