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Entering the New Millennium a was Program Ideas for 2000/2001 A new millennium is a great time to look back at the past. take stock of the pre- sent and look forward to the future. Soon you will be thinking about your Branch program for the year 2000/2001. FWIO has chosen “The New Millennium” as a theme. Here are some ideas to help you plan regular meetings that will be both educational and fun! Now is a good time to review the job of the Branch Education Coordinator in the new Handbook (pages 28 and 35). This is the new title for the old Program Coordi- nator. This is one of the most important jobs at the Branch level. The Education Coordinator and her committee are re- sponsible for sitting down in March or April to plan the year‘s program. That program must be copied and distributed to all members. and lots of potential mem- bers! Your Branch's annual program is your most important piece of advertising. It must show the date. time. place and pro- gram for every meeting. as well as all the relevant contact names and phone numâ€" bers. Everyone » your members and your community a needs to know all the inter- esting things your Branch is going to do each year. Make lots of extra copies and pass them around, The new Handbook has a slightly differ- ent list of suggested topics (page 35) to consider as themes for your regular meetings. There are new FWIO subâ€" comâ€" mittees on each ot‘these topics looking for interesting ideas for you to use at your Don‘t forget ~ Inviting guests to your meetings is the number one way to attract new members. Make sure you have at least one guest enjoying yourpmgram at every single meeting! 8 Home 8. Country, Winter 1999-2000 Branch meetings. Here are some of their suggestions. You may have lots of ideas already. If you do. that‘s great! If not, consider a few of these. Agricultural Issues I Water testing and water resources will be important issues in the next millenâ€" nium. Can you tour your local water treatment facility? Visit a local water bottling plant? Or visit your local con- servation authority? I Farm Safety - The St. John‘s Ambu< lance offers a course on First Aid on the Farm. To book a trainer for your Branch and your community call your local St. John's Ambulance branch. or call their provincial office at 416-923- 841]. Or visit their web site at www.sja.ca I Offices of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), 4-H Council. Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and Agriculture Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment (AgCare) are just a few of the organir zations that can supply speakers. I Bring your local agriculture into the schools. For information on participat- ing in school programs call Rhea Brillinger. Ontario Agri»Food Educaâ€" tion Inc. at 905~878- 15 10. Business and Industry I Learn about local women in business. Women and Rural Economic Develop- ment (WRED) is an Ontario women’s organization that promotes rural eco- nomic opportunity through local control and ownership of businesses. It provides programs for women’s business development. life skills. net- working. access to capital. information and markets and business diversifica- tion. <0 WRED has setup 21 Rural Women's Business Networks across Ontario that hold regular meetings with over 2.500 businesswomen. There should be a network in your area. Contact your local network. Organize ajoint meet- ing? Get aspeaker to talk ab out women in business in your area? Get a sugges~ tion for a rural women’s business you could visit? To find a WRED contact in your area, look for their notices in your local paper. call their provincial office at 1-800-790-9949. visit their web site at www.wred.org or email admin@wred.org I Confused by all the email and web addresses in this article? Plan a meet- ing to tour the Internet. Get a local high school student to show you how it works, or call FWIO’ s Webmaster Joe Ann Lane at 705-282-2137. Or sen her an email: granny@onlink.net Citilenship/Culture/Communily I Attend an all-candidates meeting in your local municipality during an elec- tion, or better yet, host one. I Re-enact an historical event, like the first council meeting in your area. Or compare the agenda from an earlier council meeting with one from this year. Ask your local historical society for the minutes and agendas. I The TransCanada Trail is a walk- ing/skiinglskidooing trail. which will span Canada from coast to coast. Plan a summer meeting to visit the part of the trail closest to you. Help build part ofthe trail for the future by sponsoring it at $40 a metre and get your WI's name on a plaque! Contact the Tranâ€" sCanada Trail Foundation at 43 Westminister Ave. N.. Montreal QC H4X 1V8, Phone: 1-800-465-3636 or Email: info@tctrail.ca O