Morson W.I. steps up fundraising efforts for museum

By Nancy Miller
Morson W.I.

Morson Women’s Institute recently met with 7 members and one visitor at the home of Helen Kellner in Rainy River. After a delicious meal served by Helen, the Mary Stewart Collect was read and roll call followed with the number of volunteer hours by each member since the last meeting. Those present had logged over 100 hours. Minutes were read and approved. Rose Mary Laevens chaired the meeting and requested each committee report along with any correspondence. Mary Sanderson reported the cards sent for holiday and get well greetings.
Progress is being made on a community billboard for Morson with the location to be near the mailboxes and to be weather resistant. The billboard will be installed in the ground to prevent moving in the wind.
JoAnn Moen and Kris Carpenter reported on the Heritage Tea with proceeds to the Pioneer Museum in Emo held earlier in February. A letter was read from Ruth Brett outlining some of the obstacles for the museum and needed support. The museum is run with support from the Women’s Institute branches in the Rainy River District and current funding events are not meeting the museum’s operating costs. Members are encouraged to give suggestions to help the museum. The upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Supper being held March 20th at 5:30 at the Barwick Hall will have a penny table and silent auction in addition to a delicious meal will help raise needed funds for the museum. Supper tickets are $15.00.
Laurie Pentney has organized several sewing events to create a quilt. A sample quilt block was displayed to members. This block of 60 pieces will be part of the raffle quilt for the museum. The block is called Morning Glory Star and will be a stunning quilt when complete. Those working on the quilt will put the remaining blocks together in March.
Progress is being made to digitize all histories collected via the Tweedsmire History books with the Ontario Genealogical Society. Digitizing these histories will allow others to use the information for historical research. This process is expected to take 5 years to complete.
The door prize went to Rose Mary Laevens. The next meeting to be held April 22nd at the Morson Hall.