LoW W.I. gears up for a busy 2010

Submitted by
Ruth Brett

Lake of the Woods (Bergland) Women’s Institute held our first meeting of 2010 on the afternoon of January 13th at Trinity Church in Bergland.
Called to order by President Ellen Chojko-Bolec, the meeting began with the Mary Stewart Collect recited in unison. Roll call was answered by 5 members and 1 visitor with Pennies for Friendship.
The minutes of the very short December meeting and the financial statement were presented and accepted. There were no bills to pay.
Correspondence: The winter edition of the Home and Country arrived.
The Erland Lee Home, which is in great need of structural repairs, has requested financial assistance and some suggestions / ideas for direction for the future of the home. We have decided to send a substantial donation to help with the repair work and a letter with our suggestions and comments.
The Ontario Genealogical Society is now working with the Women’s Institutes to preserve the Tweedsmuir Histories, which the WI have been documenting of people, events, farms and businesses in their communities. The histories will be digitized, stored and made available to researchers for a small fee.
We appreciated a letter from the Northridge Funeral Home with information on charges for churches, halls and lunches for funerals in our district.
Reports: The Thinking of You Committee reported on cards sent, phone calls and visits made.
Reports were given on our Christmas gift bags to the Seniors at the Rainy River Hospital; on the candy bag project for the school children and on the pies for the Hospital Tea on Dec. 6th.
A short museum report noted that WI Day and Heritage Week will be celebrated on February 19th in Emo. Detais to follow in New Business.
Old Buiness: Our Provincial Voting Delegate, Ellen Chojko-Bolec, urged our members to remember to send in reports and pictures of our events to the ROSE Coordinator and keep the FWIO Head Office informed of our activities. That is one way of letting them know that we, in the northwestern part of the province, do exist and are doing well.
We will be hosting a quilting session (table runner) on February 20th at the school in Bergland at 9:30am. No charge. Bring lunch. Call Margaret Helder - 488-5722 for material requirements.
Another scrap booking day in tentatively planned for February 20th at the school. Call Carolyn Kreger - 488-5714 - for more information.
New Business: Our Branch and the Lake of the Woods Recreation Committee are hosting a Community Pot Luck Supper on February 6th at the Bergland Hall starting at 5pm.
WI will provide baked ham and and the Rec. Committee will cook turkey with dressing and gravy. There will be entertainment and an auction of baking - pies, cakes, tarts and other good stuff with the proceeds going to the school for children’s activities. We look forward to seeing all our friends and neighbours there.
Carolyn, Ellen and Ruth will be going to the Hospital to provide entertainment and a coffee time snack for the seniors on Thurday afternoon, January 21st. Karen will make 3 fruit flans for the occassion.
The WI Pioneer Museum will be celebrating Heritage Week and WI day on February 19th from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Knox United Church in Emo. A delicious hot lunch, baking and crafts will be available for sale with all proceeds going to the museum.
Our Branch’s “Spring Tea” will be held on March 10th at the Bergland Hall. Plans for the menu , program and displays will be discussed at our February meeting, which will be held at the home of Ruth Brett.
District Directors were reminded of the District Annual Planning meeting on Jan. 21st.
Our meeting was adjourned at 3pm. The door prize was won by Karen Sepers. Coffee and dainties, along with visiting, was a nice ending to our afternoon.