Morson W.I. readay for MBI

By Nancy Miller
Morson Women's Institute

Morson Women’s Institute recently met with 11 members present and one visitor. The following are the list of filled positions for the 2009-2010 fiscal year:
President: Carol Pratt; Vice President: Rosemary Laevens; 2nd Vice President: Kris Carpenter; Secretary: JoAnn Moen; Treasurer: Carol Peterson; District Director: Kris Carpenter; Tweedsmuir: JoAnn Moen, Nancy Miller; Public Relations Officer: Nancy Miller; Advocacy: Barb Zebleckis; ROSE Coordinator: Nancy Miller; Cemetery Representative: Laurie Pentney; Welfare: Mary Sanderson; Catering: Carol Pratt, Laurie Pentney, Patsy Moen, Vivian Locking.
Old business: Kris reported progress on the Pioneer Museum in Emo with signage and building remodeling. The third building has a remodeled space to host future heritage tea and luncheons. Any members that have available time are invited to welcome guests to the museum in June. The museum is in the process of creating a WI Heritage cookbook with recipes, historical information and photos. Members are encouraged to submit recipes that include heritage recipes of past members. The museum has plans to hire a student to help during the year.
No received applications from the Rainy River High School where eligible for the Morson bursary. In other correspondence, the FWIO sent a letter addressing open positions in the provincial office of the WI organization. All members are invited to attend the WI Area Convention to be held in Rainy River, October 2 & 3, 2009. Deadline for registration is September 14.
The budget for the 2009/10 year will be prepared by the President and Treasurer, and presented after the Morson Bass International. The Morson WI will be serving the angler supper and working the food booth as well as the silent auction table. Members were reminded of all the donations made throughout the year by the branch and that funding raising is necessary to support the community programs. Laurie will be in charge of the angler supper that takes place August 14th at the Morson Government Dock. The food booth will be open both Saturday and Sunday of the tournament.
Carol Pratt thanked all the members for cooking and serving a funeral luncheon at the Morson Hall for the late Thelma Fadden. Thelma was a life WI member and is greatly missed in the community.
New business: Laurie will revise this year’s meeting schedule and member contact list. Nancy invited all members to view the updated list of museums / places to see on the Morson Tourism website, www.lakeofthewoodstourism.ca. There are also lists of activities in the area for locals and visitors like golf, horseback riding, etc that help promote the area. The Morson Cemetery flag was replaced and Carol Pratt and Laurie will be planting flowers in the upcoming future. Carol Peterson presented a “draw the contents” game. Each member drew two slips that each listed an item to be place in a gift basket. Three gift baskets will be donated to the auction table for the bass tournament. The gift baskets will include homemade preserves, wine and cheese basket and a kitchen basket. Carol Pratt won the door prize. The next meeting of the Morson W.I. will be June 26th at Buena Vista restaurant.