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REGIONAL SELF-PROFILE: NORTHERN Living in Cottage Country Above: Betty McGregor's limestone home, Flight: Seine of her cottages on the shores of Lake Manitou. By Betty McGregor grew up on Manitoulin Island and grew up near the village of Sandfleld located on Lake Manitou. As a child one of the special events I remember was going to the homes of WI members after their meetings and en joying a really delicious lunch. The men often joined the group for lunch as well. They took their wives to meetings by horse and cutter or bob sleigh and then congregated in the local general store to visit and wait until the WI meeting was over. My father, Elias Hutchinson, built a stone house out of the local limestone near the lakeshore. Because it was a very picturesque setting he built a cabin to rent around 1938. After that, he built six more. My three sisters. my brother and I grew up helping with the cabins . painting, cleaning and whatever needed to be done. My father continued in the cabin rental business until his death in 1962. I was working in a bank in Toronto at the time; my husband, George, andI decided to take a leave of absence from our jobs the following few summers and returned to Manitoulin to help my mother with the busi- ness, After my mother, Grace, passed away in 1971, my brother Douglas took over the business. Once again, I took a leave of ab- sence from the Community Centre where I worked coordinating an Outreach Program for Seniors. My brother extended the busiâ€" ness to ten cottages. He replaced the wooden punts with steel motor boats. And he continâ€" ued to operate the snack bar which my husband and I established when we were assisting my mother. When my brother decided to sell the busi‘ ness in 1984. I decided this is where I wanted to be. A year laterI took over. I learned how to operate the water system and do minor repairs and carpentry work, as well as do the bookings and keep books. My husband's poor health often prevented him from helpâ€" ing with the business, but I have managed with the assistance of summer students and local women. Eleven years later, I am still operating the business, now with experienced help. I have built a new dock and undertaken major reno- vations to the plumbing and wiring systems in the cabins. It is my heart's desire that someone in the family continue with the business. After coming back to Sandfield from Toronto, the Sandfield Women‘s Institute persisted in asking me to their meetings. I have been 3 WI member for eight years. In 1990, I was the Board Director for Subdivi- sion 29. I found Board meetings intensive, but very interesting and enjoyable. It was a real learning experience. I always remember Peggy Knapp, FWIO President at that time, saying: mThe WI is an organization that foâ€" cuses on education; you aren’t expected to. know all the answers when you take an of- fice, you are there to learn." I have been District Secretary since 1993 and have been the District Director and Public Relations Officer for our Branch for the past few years, I remain very active with my business, family, church, community and the Women’ 5 Institute. And , I am thankful every day for the good health, strength and many blessings the Lord has given me. Betty McGregor is a member of the Sand/feid Women's Institute in the Manitoulin East District. Using the WI Jingle for Promotion M4,, n 00 s I n its first three months, the WI jingle has proven to be very popular and successful across Ontario, thanks to the personal ap‘ proach of so many WI members. 4 Home & Country, Spring ‘1997 In Subdivision 25 (Larnbton County), the three Districts have decided to use the new WI jingle to promote the Women’s Institute on a regular basis for a full year. The Women’s Institutes started sponsoring the 8:30 newscast every Monday morning on CKTY Samia Radio on Febmary 3. The inâ€" troduction to the news states: "This newscast is sponsored by Lambtmr Women’s Insti- tutes.” At the end of the newscast, the jingle is played with a message about an upcoming local WI event or information about the WI. Card parties, education workshops and the centennial are among the events promoted in the first three weeks. The following is the system being used in Lambton, under the leadership of Lamthn North District President Debbie Bork. In orâ€" derto have advertising atthe same time every week, the Districts have committed them- selves to paying for the time slot. Each District is responsible for four months. Each Branch will contribute up to $10 per month. up to a maximum of $40, with the station contributing an equal amount. For advertising to be effective, the Same message needs to be repeated regularly. The jingle provides the continuity of the WI mesâ€" sage; the financial support provides the regularity of the message. The end result should be a higher profile for Women’s In- stitutes in Lambton County and an increase in Branch membership. . Submitted by Mary Janes, Warwick Institute, Lamblon North District.