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ELF-PROFILE: wenty one years ago, my husband, Norman, and I moved to a small rural town named Russell. Ontario. and not long afterI was invited to my first Women’s In- stitute meeting. Little did I know what an important step this would be in my life, The first time I was asked to be on a committee and actually speak to a group was the most difficult. I found this to be less difficult. with the continued support I received from the group. It was a gradual growing process â€" leaming from other members, participating in leadership workshops and learning by do- mg. ng in November 1994. and the first thing I noticed was the warmth and friendliness of everyone around me. Rooms were assigned so that each new “First Year" Board Director shared with a “Second Year." This was an excellent way to make new friends and get the “inside scoop" on what we were getting into. The meeting progressed pretty much as 1 expected. until it was time to discuss and vote on the resolutions. Until this time. I had not fully realized the impact that the Women’s Institute has on decisions being made by our Provincial Government. Not only do the vari- ous government departments take our suggestions seriously. they have asked that the Women’s Institute submit briefs. I was . I attended my first Provincial Board Meet» MARY INGLIS: ALL ABOUT BEING ON BOARD also impressed by the discussions that took place for each resolution. Everyone in the room was committed to making informed decisions; nothing was pushed through just for the sake of getting it over with. On the social side. it was a pleasure to get to meet Board Directors from all over the province and share information. We also had a chance to get to know the members of our Executive on a more personal level. I have made many new friends along the way. Upon arriving back home. I was over- whelmed by the amount of information I had received over the threevday period. It was difficult to decide what to include in my report. I tried not to leave out anything im- portant. and at the same time. I tried to keep it concise, After almost two years. this is still the hardest part of being a Board Director, Throughout my term of office. I have re ceived support and encouragement from all the members in Subdivision 1 and I would like to thank them for giving me the oppor- tunity to represent them at Provincial level. It has been an enjoyable and memorable exâ€" perience. and I trust that my successor will be given the same support. The Women's Institute has been an imporâ€" tant part of my life. In spite of all the work I have done, and all the time I have given, I feel that I have gained much more than I have given. The skills I have learned through Women’s Institute have been helpful to me. in both my personal life and in my career with National Defence. The friends I have made will be friends forever. Mary Inglis ir a member of the Russell Women‘s lnrlilule in the Rrerell Dis/rid, ulrd a Bude Direr'mr for Subdivision I. ‘ Provincial Board Directors ‘ ». Asi'outlined in the Federated Women's ' institutes of Ontario (FWIO) Hand- . book. the duties of a Provincial Board -' ,; Director are as follows: a) to attend all sessions of the meetâ€" lngs hold hydro Provincial Board. with - g travelling and. living expenses paid by . the FWiO; ' 'V ’ b >to-attend the District Annuals in her dbdivision to: 1') present a summary of Women's institute activities and the delibera- tions ofvthe Provincial Board, and. in ratify the District Directors (or , their Alternates); ' c) to preside at the elections at District Annuals. except in her own District; ‘ Ct) to send a report otthe DistrictAnnu- als in her Subdivision to the Provincial Office; 9) to have the opportunity to be a mem bar of the Board of Directors of the Districts in her Subdivision; ‘ f) to have travelling and living 9);- penses paid by the FWIO when attending District Annuals in her own Subdivision. or meetings as requested ' by the, Provincial President: 9) to serve as a member of the Board ofIDirectors of the Area of which her Subdivision is a: part: h) to attend all sessions of the Area Convention as the Elected delegate from her District; and, i) to communicate at a Subdivision meeting or in some other way the in- formation from Provincial Board. Thornton Members Honoured he Thornton Branch was proud to honour ten mem» bers who had been Women's Institure members for 45 consecutive years or more. The honoured members were presented with a yellow rose corsage and an in- scribed 1996 Heritage Book. Pictured left to right are lean Evans. Nora Jennett. Lillian Black. Florence Altman, Marg McCabe. Doris Payne and Eleanor Maw. Helen Carr. Afra Sjerps and Margaret Dixon are absent. Submitted by Lemm Darlingmrr. SerraIan-Treasurer, Thumb-n WI. Simone Kempenfeldr District. Home 8. Country. Summer '96 9