The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Grace Pa;t‘ggg@@&@Qme__n's__Institute, Thamesford, 1945 â€" 1989 Page 5 . regy rainy week. We actually "slopped" around in mud in anything we could find gsglgg zu‘r'eget. But 1t didn‘t dampgn our spiritg. Ogr branch took its Eurn at the Oxfo:'g North Food Tent preparing f'oc:)d, serving, and washing dlsl?es.. Ssome helped in the Ladies Tent, others in the Hospitality Booth. It was a great l?lstl.:'lct effort. With some of the proceeds from this venture, all branches pr9v1d§d a chaJ..r lift for the swimming pool at Woodâ€" ingford Lodge. Many c?f.'us attended tl:lededlcatlc.)n service. In conjunction with the Plowing Match, a qguilt .fc@nm.petltf%o.-n‘was held with a hug display of new and.old quilts at Fanshawe College. We were certainly very proud of several members who designed and made the entry from this branch. And we were even more proud whgn that quilt won first prize with an almost perfeét score. Mrs. David Woods purchased the quilt which she shows at special events. Members have taken advantage of at.:tending District, County and Area meetings, (@ Officers‘ Conferences and lpore.recently seminars once a year, Tweedsmuir Open Houses, Workâ€" shops, Short Courses. Invitations h:flve been acc.epted to attend other branch meetings in the area, as well as euchres, anniversaries and special events. In 1968 we were proud to have Mrs. O.C. Powers attend the A.C.W.W. triennual â€" in Lansing, Michigan. Two member§ attendec.i the 80th anniversary of the founding of Women‘s Institutes in Bingeman Park, Kitchener in 1977 at which time Mrs. Archie Armour was invited to set up heregtensive W.I. Around the World disp]..ay in the foyer of the Ballroom. A bus trip, organized by Mrs. Roy Ross, to the 90th Anniversary Conference of F.W.I.O. in North Bay, was enjoyed by several of our tpembers. several attended and shared in the activities of the District‘s 75th anniversal.:‘y in 1980.held in Embro. Mrs. Herb Maluske was guest speaker at the bangquet. Our Anniversary history and Cookbook Albums were available, and there were many W.I. displays. This event was convened by Mrs. Archie Armour. Members atâ€" tended the fun programs and picnics at Happy Hills to celebrate anniversaries, and the F.W.I.O. convention which was held at University of Western Ontario. Our comments on wellâ€"chosen mottoes have been highlights of our programs. Inâ€" teresting displays have included old documents, family histories, family heirlooms, handiâ€" crafts, old and new dolls, cookbooks, old school books. Neighbouring W.I.‘s have been enâ€" tertained with ah afternoon program beginning with a Dessert Luncheon. Family night with a pot luck supper is an annual event. In recent years we have had a catered meal at our Annual Meeting with husbands and friends to hear a special speaker. Our Progam convenors spend much time arnd effort in thoughtâ€"proking programs pertaining to the community, the country around us, and our families in areas of Agriculture, Cutural Affairs, Canadian Industry, Education, Family and Consumer Affairs and History. Problems and concerns are often solâ€" ved through the formation of Resolutions sent to the municipality or the F.W.I.O. For topica â€" you name it â€" and we have probably had it â€" land use, architecture, arthritis, electricity, pollution, waste management, family history, china, Canadian Indians, sohool buses, drugs, childâ€"proffing, wills, protection of personal property. All work and no play make W.I. members dull people, so we add some spice with singing, contests, humourous readings, skits, fun: times. How we enjoyed Mrs. Alex Hossack‘s book reviews of "Sadie Shapiro‘s Knitting Book" and""Mrs.‘Arris Goes to Paris". In 1983 we had a very successful and interesting Craft Show and Sale with seventeen crafts people and displays of our own members‘ hobbies such as spoons, berry spoons, Mr. & Mrs. Larder‘s doll houses, ceramics, and more. In November, 1954 Miss Patterson returned from India to make her home in Thamesâ€" ford.. We were saddened when she died in 1984 at the age of 93. We had.a special In , Memoriam Serviee for her at which all the past presidents and the president told something about her. For many years she was a dedicated "clipper",;, and preserved all important local, natrenal and international current events, as well as Ting‘s cartoons, in dozens of scrap books. As she served for so many years to make her community in India a better place in which to live, we strived through the years, to keep her ideals in mind. C3 treasurer.fii:ov m&lrch we appreciated.the dedicated leadership of presidents and secrgta?fghis â€" F9 over the yearsâ€"â€" the tie that binds! Their names are listed at the end o E;‘s’zoggén gggthen ‘hQW would we have succeeded in our.endeavours.witl?out c.:onveno:é'fl -fgg?l':â€" ful memberéfi'?}%premated' too. And no organization is an organization without e ~HI~C Cue supporters. . We have had fortyâ€"four great years! â€" ML s & a 11 This is our history! "History", we are told, is "gossip written in a nice way! C 7