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(On Your Behalf l By Dianne Orr he Branch annual meetings and District TAnnuals are over. Now it is time for many of us to attend the Federated Women’ s Institutes ofCanadaConvention in Lennoxville, Quebec. Because Ontario is such a large province it has been twinned with three provinces â€" Prince Edward Island. Manitoba and New Brunswick. The Convention will allow us the opportu- nity to learn more about these provinces. Our new ROSE Program Manager Juiie Annett is a wonderful addition to our pro» vincial organization. Her position is completely funded for two years by an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. With Julie' 3 enthusiasm one cannot help but feel inspired to get involved with the “ROSES are Blooming" Expansion Project, .lulie is ious to meet members during her two years and I know that you will support her and the ROSE Program. Have you been participating in “Women Walking for WI?“ This is the best time of year to get out and about. Don't forget to record the total number of kilometers you have walked and send it on to your Area Convention in the fall, Let‘s put that total figure well over the 50.000 kilometers that was suggested by Peggy Knapp. Many members are planning to attend the 4‘h Line Theatre this summer to see the play For Home and Country. On August 17 the FWIO Board of Directors plan to attend the final performance. We hope for Cold Springs Celebrates! Cold Springs Women's Institute members were ecstatic to receive a $25,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The grant will enable the group to complete installation a! an air conditioning unit and an upgrade to the upstairs washrooms in their Memorial Hall. Cheering from left to right are members Laura 'Iis, Jean Euttars, Helen Pulley, Dorothy Beedham, [hi Dickinson, Yvonne Barker, VI Dickinson and the hand at Lillian McIntosh (sorry Llillanl). iiwman, Shiela Frost. Orma Budreau, Margaret good weather since the theatre is com- pletely outdoors. Don’t forget. if you identify yourselfas WI and purchase group tickets you can take advantage of a special discount price. Are you planning to travel around Ontario this summer? Do you sometimes find that motels are ratherexpensive’.’ Why not stay at :1 WI Hospitality Home? You will have the pleasure of meeting fellow members and experiencing good accom- modation and food for the price of$ l0 per person per night. Or perhaps you would like to open your home to a weary WI traveler. If you are interested, get in touch with Hospitality Homes Coordinator Gillian Catto at Box 16. Site 14, RR 1. Whitefish ON POM 3E0. or email gilcat@sympatico.ca Since February is International Month and the next Associated Country Women ofthe World (ACWW) Conference will be held in Tasmania in March 2004. our ROSE Coordinator has suggested that Branches plan an Australian night. We hope that many members from across Canada can attend the world conference and experience the real thing. A reminder that the third phase of our Focus High for WI project will be starting soon and that the Provincial President will present the proceeds to ACWW in Tasmania for their special projects. Some members have expressed concern about the rise in membership fees. As many of you are aware. until a few years ago FWIO was fully funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF), FWIO did not have to pay for office space. supplies. postage, the Home & Country newsletter, staff. or any other expenses required to keep the Women‘s Institute functioning. When the govern- ment discontinued their support. FWIO assumed all of these responsibilities and had to find the financial resources to maine tain the organization. In a recent lettera former Board Director made the following comment about the loss of government support: "We went from having every paper clip. typewriter. telephone. salaries. meeting rooms. over, night accommodation and meals tetc.) paid entirely by OMAFRA to being re- sponsible ourselves for all of the above in a very short time." Today. the main support comes from membership fees. Donations from Branches. Districts. Areas and from some outside sources such as bequests also help FWIO meet the rismg costs of maintaining the Provincial Office in Guelph. the Erland Lee (Museum) Home in Stoney Creek and the many other operating costs. The mem» bership has risen to the occasion by taking on the responsibility of the operation of FWIO. You are truly a credit to the organie ration. and an example of what can be done when we all work together! 1am anxious to meet many ofyou again in the fall atArea Conventions. In the mean time. work to meet the membership re- cruitment challenge for the next two years â€" that each member recruit one new mem» ber per year. Remember. what lies behind us and before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. A safe and healthy summer to all! On your behalf. Dianne Orr Dianne Orr is the President of the MIC, She can be reached at RR 7, Conn ON NOG 1N0, Phone- 5 i' 9*348~5440, Fax: 519-848-3476, Emall: orwvay®free§pace net Submvtted by Domlhy Hamden. Cold Springs Wl. Northumbetiand WESL Trent Valley Area Home E Country, Summer 2003 3