CHAPMAN TRAILBLAZERS - clue #1

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Image

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Photographs

Description

The Scavenger Hunt for the Chapman Trailblazers began the moment we found out the first clue. Up until that point, there were a lot of questions, as half of our team had never before participated in a Scavenger Hunt. Thanks to that first Zoom meeting for the Team Captains, it certainly helped to clarify a lot of things for us. The next part of the Scavenger Hunt was then scouring our brains, trying to figure out what we were capable of accessing, as far as a plaque, a hall or a project near us. Phone calls and e-mails and texts and messages went flying back and forth between the team members for over a week, until we finally managed to decide on something we believed was special to us and would be of interest to others.
Our Scavenger Hunt continued with our Branch Secretary, Cecilia Maines, traveling to a neighbouring branch member's home to borrow a WI plaque. As you can see in our photo, the metal plaque reads, 'WOMEN'S INSTITUTE MEMBER LIVES HERE.' Cecilia does own a plaque that reads the same, but the wording is engraved on wood. The problem is that she needs to go on another scavenger hunt in hopes of finding her own plaque! Last fall, Cecilia moved her plaque to protect it, when she had interior painting done in her home and she hid that plaque well!
The Chapman Trailblazers then decided, since we never had a hall of our own, that we would gather for a photo at the home of Cecilia's sister, Monica, who is also a member of our Chapman Branch WI. The special reason for choosing that site to gather is that Monica and her husband own the house where the very first meeting of the Chapman Branch WI was held. At that time, the home was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Harry (Irene) Coulter. On Tuesday, May 23rd, 1950, Irene opened her home for the purpose of organizing a WI Branch which was named Chapman Branch Women's Institute. In 2020, our Branch had planned on celebrating our 70th Anniversary there, but because of Covid restrictions, we were unable to meet in person.
Our Scavenger Hunt plans then unfolded into combining the plaque, Monica's home, our late 70th Anniversary celebration for Chapman Branch WI, our 125th Anniversary Celebration for the FWIO, and our February business meeting. The date was set for February 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM.
It was a cold but beautiful sunny day when the Chapman Trailblazers and other members of the Chapman Branch WI gathered in the home of Monica Maines for our meeting and celebrations of two special Anniversaries! Not only were the minutes of our December 2021 meeting read, but Cecilia also read out the minutes from that very first meeting back on May 23rd, 1950. Back then, the annual dues were fifty cents!
After the meeting, a social time was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Monica was a gracious host and made sure that everyone was comfortable as she served tea as well as an Anniversary Cake.
Once the meeting and celebrations ended, our Scavenger Hunt concluded with this photo. It was taken on the lawn in front of Monica's home, and includes four of our Branch Members, two of whom are part of the Chapman Trailblazers Team. From left to right are Sheila Toner, Samantha Harris, Monica Maines, and finally, Cecilia Maines, who is holding the plaque that states, 'WOMEN'S INSTITUTE MEMBER LIVES HERE'.
Later on, Samantha, shared her feelings on the experience of being in the home where the first Chapman Branch WI gathering was held. She said that it felt very unique and truthfully a 'once in a lifetime' moment. Samantha expressed that Monica's house is such a substantial size, she could just picture all of those women, (nineteen in attendance at that first gathering) floating around the room and enjoying being in each other's company. She found it very sentimental after hearing the minutes of that first meeting being read, because she felt like it brought that night of May 23rd, 1950 back to life. I believe that most of us share in Samantha's sentiments! We were all so grateful to have that special time together, in such a special home where our Chapman Branch Women's Institute first began!

Notes

Submission part of the WISH challenge for WI's 125th anniversary.

Date of Publication

Feb 2022

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