Board Briefings June 12-l4, 2002 The Directors of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) met at Puddington Place on St. Josephs Island for a Board meeting held prior to the Provincial Conference. Some of the highlights of this meeting are outlined below. fWIO Financial Statements Quarterly financial statements were issued. in- cluding receipts and disbursements, cash position, investment summaries and a status report on Branch Trillium Grant applications. Kemble Wl Gains Most New Members To kickoff the Membership Recruitment Campaign last year. FWIO offered a number of incentives to the Branch who gained the most new members in the period from April 1. 2001. to March 31. 2002. The incentives included one paid registration to the Provincial Conference in Sault Ste. Marie this pastJune plus $300 in cash. Kemble Women's Institute in Grey North District was the winner of this past year‘s campaign with 8 new members. Congratulations Kemble WI members! The second place winner was Morson Women‘s institute in Rainy River District with 6 new members. Resolutions The following two resolutions were passed at the June Board meeting: - That FWIO strongly urge the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada to change the age of consent to sexual activity to at least 16 years. - That FWIO urge the Federal Government to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from feminine protection products. Interim Lobbying Coordinator Anne Dyas was asked to resurrect the resolution on lead toxicity passed by FWIO at their 1998 Annual Meeting. Changes to Note District ROSE Representatives A letter from the FWIO President will be sent to each Women‘s Institute District asking them to provide one District ROSE Program Repre» sentative willing to give her address. phone number and email information. 4 Home 8. Country, fall 2002 Handbook Revision Committee The organization's traditionally named Constitution Committee has been renamed the Handbook Revision Committee. This Committee is comprised of the FWIO President. Past President. President-Elect and two Senior Board Directors. In an effort to reduce the 2003 budgeted spending. this recommendation was brought forth from the Budget Committee and will be effective after the annual meeting in January 2003. This Committee will meet for the first time in March 2004. Budget Committee Dissolves Effective January 13, 2003. the Budget Commit- tee will be dissolved. The decision to dissolve the Budget Committee was made because directing and protecting the finances of the organization is the legal and moral responsibility of the Provincial Board. Therefore. reviewing and ap- proving budgets. which includes determining where to make budget cuts. will be listed under the roles and responsibilities of the Provincial Board. The Budget Committee brought fonh this recommendation for the legal protection of Board Directors. in addition to minimizing costs. Public Relations Coordinator The position of FWIO Public Relations Coordi- nator will be dissolved effective January 13. 2003. There have been no applications for this position tor the past two years. and the last two Coordinators had both made the recommenda- tion to Board that it should be a paid position. ACWW 24‘“ Triennial Conference in 2004 The 24th Triennial Conference of ACWW will be held from March 23 to 29. 2004, in Hobart, Tasmania. Australia. The cost of registration is 225 pounds up to September 12. 2003: thereafter it is 250 pounds. The fee covers the Welcome Reception. Gala Dinner. Tasmania Day. Official Opening and Closing of the Conference. as well as a Tasmania Evening of Entertainment. Lunches are included from March 24 through to the 29. in addition to a Conference Bag. Badge and papers. ACWW Competitions Greeting Card â€" depicting the 24In Conference Theme ~ "Working with Women worldwide" Bookmark â€" size â€" 5 cm x 25 cm. any material. to include the initials ACWW. the 24'h Confer- ence date and place Women’s War Stories The FWIO Marketing Committee has been given approval to go ahead with a new book to include women's war experiences. Suggestions on how Women's Institute members might approach these stories and submit them for consideration in the book will be forthcoming via an insert in the Home & Comm/newsletter, Other Items Covered Ask your Provincial Advisory Councilloror Boar, Director for more information on these other items covered: - FWIO Strategic Plan, 20022004 (See Home l!- Country Summer Supplement) - New Membership Recruitment Challenge (see p. 8) - Provincial Positions Open (see p. 16) - FWIO Conference in 2004 - MFIDD Update a FWIO Website Update - ACWW Canada Area Conference - Provincial Officers â€" A Deï¬nition v Age Limit to Join WI - Flags for Provincial Ofï¬ce - Telehealth Ontario - Policy and Procedures Manual - Minute Style and Content - Report Forms Under Review - Communications Handbook - Motions ACWW Triennial Project in Kenya Associated Country Women of the World Area President for Canada. Elizabeth Hushton. has advised that the Canadian Triennial Project will be in Kenya. The project is with the Largot Farmers Group situated in the Migori District of Nyanza Province. It is a fruit and vegetable processing project and continues on from an irrigation project reported on in the October~Deeember 2001 issue of The Countrywoman. The irrigation project was successful ena- bling farmers to produce vegetables year round. This new project will enable the Largct Farmers to improve the shelflife of otherwise perishable produce by us- ing technology available to them. Farmers will be able to store the surâ€" plus produce and sell it at a better price later on, thus improving their income. It you would like to support this protect please forward your donation to the FWIO Provincial Office, payable to FWIO and mark “Kenya†on the memo line of your cheque.