August Provincial Board Meeting A Board Director flying from Fort Frances to Toronto via Winnipeg beâ€" cause of a jammed airplane door. a car stalled in the heat on Highway 401 outside Toronto. an unexpected hole in the floor resulting in emergency room treatment. a suitcase left behind. a funeral, a bumpy school bus ride to Stoney Creek in the extreme summer heat and humidity â€" this was the beginning ofthe August Provincial Board Directors‘ meeting at Crieff Hills Conference Centre. But things quickly got better. After a delicious picnic supper provided by the Erland Lee (Museum) Home Committee. followed by a tour of the home and a report of the Committee’s activities. the Board re- turned to its normal routine of conducting business and discussions. Restructuring Committee The Restructuring Committee. chaired by Past President Marg Eberle. is continuing its work in preparing the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario for its second century. Now that the organization is no longer under .the guidance of the Ontario Ministry of Ag- riculture. Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). the needs and responsibilities of FWIO are different. The committee has received input from seven past Presidents and from the Executive. During the Provincial Board meeting it conducted a brainstorming session. to record Board Directors’ ideas on how to streamline the organization and how to make it mn more efficiently and economically All aspects of the FWIO. from Branch to provincial level. were considered. Board Directors will be conducting similar sessions at the fall Area Conventions. W'I members are encouraged to write their concerns. ideas and suggestions to the Committee for consideration. Health Care Committee The newly formed Health Care Committee presented several areas of health concerns which they are investigating. Chair Mary Lou Norton and FWIO President Donna Russett met in July with Dennis Timbrell. President. and Willis Rudy. Vice President (responsible for small hospitals) of the On- tario Hospital Association to discuss the closure of small rural hospitals. They plan to continue this contact on a regular basis. Also a member of the Committee. Board Director lee Ann Lane reported on medical examinaâ€" .ions. She emphasized that it is the patient’s responsibility to control the examination by the information she gives the doctor. By Mary Jane: Centennial Committee The Centennial Committee announced that 500 Women's Institute Rose bushes will be available in 1996. with more available the following year. WI Day with the Toronto Blue Jays at the Skydome will be June 8. 1996. Another of their projects is the presen- tation of 100 Centennial Awards as part of the anniversary celebrations. Committee Chair Margaret Zoeller stated that informa» tion on all these events will soon be sent directly to the Branches. Women‘s Day at the Royal Women's Day Co-ordinator Peggy Knapp announced that the program. taking place on Thursday. November 9. 1995, will focus on the War Years. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War 11. during which time the Coliseum. the Cattle Barns and the Horse Palace provided a “home away from home“ for young men and women in all branches of the Armed Serv~ ICCS. Conference '96 Exciting things will be happening in South- western Ontario next summer at Conference ‘96. to be held at the Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology from July 12-14. Board Directors gave many suggestions for workshops. speakers and entertainment for the committee to consider. Look for details in the next issue. Communicate by Phone The second in the series of communication speakers for the Board Directors was Marilyn Sewell. Rural Community Advisor from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). She discussed “Communicating on the Telephone.“ Sewell suggested organizing the telephone area in the home with a pencil. telephone numbers and a notepad on which to record all mesâ€" sages, including time and date ofcalls. A hint for improving your telephone voice is to sit up‘ straight or to stand while talking. This gives your voice a more alert pitch. Sewell also stated. “Smile! People will hear your smile over the teleâ€" phone. You'll feel good inside and this feeling will carry over the phone." Conference ‘97 “Indebted to the Past - Committed to the Future" is the theme of Conference '97. the 100th anniversary of the formation of the ï¬rst Women‘s Institute. Registration forms will be available from the FWIO Provincial Ofï¬ce in February. The celebration will be held at the Hamilton Convention Centre from June 17 - 22. 1997. FWIO is working with FWIC to make this celebration a time to remember! Anniversary celebrations will be interspersed with FWIC triennial conference activities and tours. The August Board meeting report would not be complete without mention of the retir- ing Board Director‘ 5 party. Everyone enjoyed the review by the Fabulous 1995 Calendar Girls. which included fashions and music. Irene Tennant’s excellent monologue â€" “How to avoid spring cleaning†- was espeâ€" cially enjoyed. Mary lanai is Public Rolalionr Offu'z-rfor [he Fedormcd Women '5 [mil/me: nfOnmrin. Springmount WI Helps Foot the Bill tel . . . a A new foot bridge has been constructed on the Bruce Trail. and the Springmount WI Branch was pleased to have been a part of (he project. The Branch donated $500 to the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority to hEIp build the bridge located atJones Falls. The Conservation Authority recognized the con- tribution of the Spnngmouni Wl by including their name an a plaque on the bridge and presenting them with a certificate of appre- elation. Submitted by Mary Labban, Secretary. Spnngmaunt WI. Gray West District Home A Country. Fall '95 7