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NOTES FROM THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR By Mary Lou Norton Each year members are looking for pro- gram material which applies directly to the Women's Institute mandate. In 1995. we heard and read about the Fourth World Conference on Women which was held in Beijing. The Platform for Action (PFA) was signed by the Canadian Government, thus making a moral commitment to undertake the actions identified in it. As Canadians. we need to become active and aware of the action our government is following. To help. I recom- mend you purchase Take Action for Equality, Development and Peace - A Canadian F allow up Guide to Beijing ‘95. Contact the Canadian Research Institute forthe Advance- ment of Women (CRIAW). Suite 408. 151 Slater Stu. Ottawa ON KlP 5H3. Phone: (613)563-0681. This document outlines the Platform for Action. what this means to women and how you can take action. Some of the critical areas of concern include: I Women and Peace I Human Rights of Women I Violence Against Women I Women and Poverty I Women and the Economy I Education and Training of Woman I The Girl Child I Women and the Media I Women and the Environment I Women in Power and Decision Making I Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women Every time we listen to the radio or televiâ€" sion or read a paper, we are made aware of new legislation which will affect our lives, communities and Ontario. How involved have you and your Branch become in the issues behind this legislation? Have you as women expressed your views as 51 percent of the voters of Ontario? If not, why not? One issue I am sure you have heard a great deal about is the proposed closure of Women‘s College Hospital in Toronto. At the March Board meeting a recommendation was passed that FWIO would support Women’s College Hospital to keep it open. Letters have been sent to Women’s College Hospital staff. Foundation and Friends of Women’s College Hospital. Premier Mike Harris and Health Minister Jim Wilson ex- pressing the support of 14,200 Women’s Institute members in Ontario. 5 Home a. Country, Summer ’97 Did you know in the Take Action for Equality, Development and Peace document, under the section Participatory Women’s Health Research, Women's College Hospital is named as the center in Canada? Are you aware of the programs and research that has been initiated at Women‘s College Hospital on behalf of women? Could your Branch. District or Area initiate an educational pro- gram to learn about this center, and how we can be a voice to increase the research dollars spent on women‘s health issues beyond five percent. Use this document as a guide to prepare for the Fifth World Conference on Women. Also keep in mind the following when planning programs: Special Years 1995 - lntemational Year ol the Oceans 1999 - International Year of the Elderly Special Dates May 15 - Inlemational Day ol the Family June 5 - World Environment Day June 16 ~ Day at Ihe African Child July 11 - World Population Day August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous People September 3 » Intemational Day of Peace September 6 - International Literacy Day October 15 - World Habitat Day October 16 - World Food Day October 17 - International Day for Eradication oi Poverty October 24 - International Day of Tolerance December 1 - World AIDS Day December 10 - Human Rights Day CIDA The Canadian Intemational Development Agency (CIDA) has information available stating the Canadian Government's policy on a number of issues. Some of the topics out- lined in their catalogue include: I CIDA’s policy on poverty reduction I creating a world equality I CIDA's policy on women in develop- ment and gender equity I CIDA. Human rights and democratizaâ€" tion For more information write to CIDA at 200 Promenade du Portage. Hull QC KIA 064, Phone: (819)953-5006. Mary Lou Norton is the Program Caordinamrfor Ilte Federal/ed Women '3 Institute: of Ontario. She can be reached at RR 2. Bloomfield 0N KOK 100. (61359312052. Addressing so it gets there... faster An address tells where to deliver the mail, but the way you write the address determines how fast it gets there. :i delivery information must appear on the bottom three lines of the ad» dress 3 PO Box should never be used in an address with RR; this presents a conflict of delivery mode 3 always place civic address informa- tion above the route information; route information is used to process the mail Optimal Addresses: :i are typed in capital letters :1 have a uniform left margin :i do not use punctuation unless part of a place name (it. St. John's) :i use the two-letter symbol for prov- ince names :I place the postal code two spaces after the province name Example: FWIO 7382 WELLINGTON RD 30 RR 5 GUELPH ON NIH 612 Use these twoâ€"letter symbols for province names: Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AB British Columbia . . . . . . . BC Manitoba . . . . . . . . . . . . MB New Brunswick . . , . . . . NB Newfoundland . . . . . , . . NF Northwest Territories . . . NT Nova Scotia . . . . . . . . . , NS Ontario . . . . . . , . . . . . . . ON Prince Edward Island. . . PE Saskatchewan . . . . . . . . SK Yukon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YT Labrador‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . NF ‘part of Newioundland Source: Canada Post Corporation