The members are getting older, the numbers are dwindling, and two of the area institutes have disbanded – Damascus, and soon, Moorefield, after l06 years.
But even with the odds stacked against them, it did not stop attendance from the three remaining branches when Wellington North District held its annual meeting May 19 at the Harriston United Church.
Following the 3pm registration, President Kay Ayres welcomed everyone and had everyone introduce herself.
In honor of the 82nd District annual it was Let’s give our table-mates a hug.
Marion Bracken and Willa Wick (Little Ireland) presented the In Memoriam with a suitable poem, placing a bouquet of white roses, and lighting a candle in memory of members who have passed away during this last year.
The formal part of the meeting was preceded with The Institute Ode and the Mary Stewart Collect.
Periodically the business proceedings were punctuated with some well chosen jokes and poems to keep things lively.
Following the presentation of banners, Ruth Jones, the liaison between the branches and the district, charged the representatives Dorelene Anderson (Beehive), Maxine Heise (Little Ireland) and Anne Reid (Carry-On) to uphold the rules and regulations of the institutes and to oversee the commitment of same in their own branch.
Highlights from the various annual reports included the signature quilt from Teviotdale now at the Wellington Archives; the provincial annual conference will be held in the K-W area the first weekend in June, and the Guelph area convention will be Oct. 13 at the New Dundee Missionary Church.
Tweedsmuir Curator, Blanche Wanless reported that none of the remaining branches have had their history books copied in any way. Wanless is doing a survey on all Tweedsmuir scrapbooks to determine where they are, how many, and in what condition.
Those histories have been an ongoing project since the early 1930s and must now be digitized and stored at the Wellington Archives.
Lynda Alexander thanked the girls from the rose committee for making the November Tune-Up Rally a success.
That special evening didn’t start out to be a fund raiser but it made some money for the district.
In reporting for the scholarship committee, Anne Reid advised that Paige Turton was awarded the Wellington North scholarship. She is now attending the University of Western Ontario in the biomedicine program.
Reid also told us that the main thrust of the Wellington County Historical Society this year was the launching of the book The Flora and Fauna of Wellington County. She indicated that there is a brand new Historical Society in Harriston.
Olive Metcalfe has been the Farm Safety Co-ordinator for the past 20 years. She is now giving that up, but wanted to compliment Palmerston for having a very successful Agricultural Awareness Day.
Lynda Alexander announced that there were only two entries from this district in the essay contest My Grandmother, a Woman Informed.
Kay Ayres was one of the writers and she read her story telling how her grandmother started life in an orphanage in England.
At the tender age of 6 she became one of the Bernardo Babies and was shipped to Canada where she was adopted.
Life was hard with that family, harder still when she married, but she had the courage leave that situation, buy a house to raise her family, hold a labor intensive job, and live into her 90s. Truly a remarkable woman.
There was only one entry from the youth category in the Guelph area – by 13 year old Marisa Rankin, of Palmerston. Winners will be announced at the provincial conference next month.
FWIO President Carol Innis described her journey to the ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World). Headquarters are in London, England but the conference was in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
There were representatives from 74 countries. Many, such as those from Africa, India, and the South Pacific, wore traditional costumes. Several countries were late in arriving because of Iceland’s volcanic ash blowover.
Innis found that women around the world desire the same things: education for their families; a roof over their heads; food to eat; and to be an equal, not having to take a submissive role in the family.
The 2010-11 slate of officers was installed by Huron-Perth District President Margaret McMahon
Following a supper prepared by the church women, a half hour of country-and-Western music was presented by sing-along-with-me guitarist Lee Grant, of Kitchener.
