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Board Briefings March, 1 998 Federated Women's institutes ot Ontario (FWIO) President Arthena Hecker welcomed Board Directors to dieir first provtncral meeting ol 1998. Before making decisions, she reminded Board Directors to carefully considerwhat is best tor the organization to keep it as strong in this century as in the past. ln her report to Board. Anhena empha- srzed communication. She encouraged each member to "let their thoughts and views be known." She stressed that only by communicating With their Board Direc- tor, wtlh the provincial Executive and President can ideas he discussed and acted upon The FWIO Board participated in two interactive workshops at the March Meet- ing. Lori Jamieson, a lreelance writer and editor lrom Cambridge, provided Board members with numerous pointers and techniques to help them organize and pre~ pare lor presentations She opened by cautionrng Board notto contuse worry with preparation. Just because you've been thinking about and dreading a presenta- tion, doesn't mean you have been preparing lorit, Some oi the many pointers Lori spoke about are presented on page 9. Stuart Budd. Rural Community Adviser with the Ontario Ministry oi Agriculture, Food and Rural Atlairs, conducted a mock meeting at Board as a means to help answer the many questions regarding the newly adopted Canadian guide, Prose» dures Ior Meetings and Organizations by 4 Home 8 Country, Summer ’98 Kerr and King. (In 1997, FWIO voted to replace Bourinot’s Rules 0! Order.) Stuart noted that procedures are necessary to ensure that: o the right at the minority be heard; - the right at the majority prevails: - every member has an equal voice and vote; and, - only one topic is considered at a time. He reminded Board that it a particular procedure is already stated in the consti- tution or by-Iaws ot the organization, then that is what members follow. Kerr and King is to be used as a guide only, and ch organization uses their own judge- ment as to how much is right tor them. Test your parliamentary procedures knowledge and try the quiz on page E. Information Items Public Relations Officer One at the most commonly asked ques‘ tions of the PRO is, “What are we doing about our declining numbers and our tu- ture?“ Mary Jones, the FWIO PRO, said she responds with the lollowing: 'We are aware of the problem, we have new bro- chures, a radio jingle, a system oi membership organizers and strategic alli- ances with other organizations to raise awareness at our own. She also tells re- porters about the ‘quiet work' at the wt in their communities and about WI accom- plishments and abouthow they are getting into the media through interviews and news releases to talk about issues.” But, she wonders if this is enough? As she has done in the past. Mary Janes stressed that the Board must plan lor Public Relations to be an integral part oi the organization. and not a volunteer position. Recognizing the need to keep promotional material current, recognizing the need to have the wt in the public eye on a regular basis. recognizing that re- cruitment is a top priority, knowing mat it takes time to build relationships, knowing that the display boards and brochures will need to be changed to retlect the revised vision and mission statements and locus changes - the costs oi promotion are con- siderable. The work istull-time. She stated thatknowing what is expected at the PRC, she could riot, in all honesty, recommend it to any volunteer that she knows in the WI. Partnership Agreements The Board was reminded of me totlowing partnership agreements with FWlO: - Community Abuse Program oi Rural Ontario (CAPRO) - Pharmaceutical Manulacturers Asso- ciation oi Canada (PMAC) - Osteoporosis Society at Canada (050) - Ontario Breast Screening Program (case) These groups agreed to partner and work with FWIO presenting educational programs throughout Ontario. The chal- lenge was made in November to all members, Branches, Districts and Areas to initiate at least 100 programs in 1998 with each 01 these partners. Let us help inlon'nwomenandcommunitiesForinlor- mation on each at these programs see pages B and 9 ol the Fall 1997 issue ol the Home ti Country. Program Themes 1 “Salely- How to Make Your Communi- ties Sate‘ Programs. projects and resource intor- mation on the Sale and Healthy Communities theme can be lound in the goldcoloured insert that came with your Winter 1996-97 Homed Country. Page 3 recommended “Salety » How to Make Your Communities Sale” as this year's theme. Call the FWIO Oltice tor a copy. Or ask your Branch Secretary tor this rnsen, or an update to thistnsen mailed to your Branch in a January 1993 mailing. 2. “Arts. Crafts and Hobbies“ This second theme was approved at the 1997 November Annual Meeting, Branches are asked to organize an “Arts, Crafts or Hobbies" Workshop and invite people ot all ages irom their community to lOlI'l in. Erland Lee (Museum) The Curator ol the Erland Lee (Mu seuml Home. Mary Kneebone, resigned this past spring. The position is advertised on page 16. The Home was given notice about the widening oi Ridge Road. FWIO President Arthena Hecker and the Erland Lee Committee have met wrth Stoney Creek Council to discuss how to minimil- ize disruption to the Museum. Branch Secretanes ~ Ask your District for your copy of the upcoming events at the Lee Museum. Convention ’97 Peggy Knapp. Chairot the Convention '97 Committee, gave her final report. She it; marked that the best possible final reports anyone in 100 years could have ol the Convention is the Commemorative Booklet and Video. Several pages at rec- ommendations were compiled for use by FWIO and FWiC in the planning at luture conterences/conventions. Hiring protes- sionals to undertake all Contract negotiations and lurid raising are among the recommendations to be considered. ACWW Peggy Knapp also gave her linal report as Associated Country Women oi the World Area President lOr Canada. She said it was an honour and a privilege to be the Canadian representat'we. She noted that atthe ACWW meetings, one does notvote as a Canadian, one votes tor the best lor ACWW and for what does the most tor the most people. She stressed to Board that when you have the opportunity to see what the women in third world countries go through. you can count your blessrngs Make May Membership Month! Lorna McGrath, FWIO Membership Coors. dinator, and Mary Janes. FWIO PRO. encouraged Board Directors to “Make May Membership Month." Help With this recruitment/promotion blhz In order to de- velop enthusiasm and interest in Women's Institute and to find new mem- bers. Attention Branch PROS Did you encourage each member in your Branch to walk tor her health during the month of May? Did you provide invitations to your Branch meeting so members could get out and walk to deliver one to a lriend, neigh- bour or relative? Did you record how tar each member walked, how many invitations were deliv- ered and how many were accepted? Don't lorget to compile the results and send them to the District PRO belore the end of June, so she can send them to the Area PRO. The Area PFlO will then send her tabulations to the Provincial PRO by August 1. The Fall issue at Home 5 Country will report the results. .