| Pictures | Accomplishments | Programs | Links | Memberships | Objectives | WI Fact File |
Meet the Women of Women's Institutes of Ontario
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Marcia and Debbie helped host the Huron South District Annual. |
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President Cass Lovie presents Quincy to Grand Bend Librarian Marlene Desjardine |
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| A quilt was made by W.I. members and is for sale. | |
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| Grand Bend hosted the District Annual GB member, Donna Lovie (right) is secretary. | |
Our Fair Display "Fall Harvest" was set up at Zurich Fair. |
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Christmas cards and bags were made at our Nov. meeting. |
Hotdogs are served at the Annual Farmer's Thanksgiving Market. |
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A float was readied for the Winter Carnival. |
The craft wagon is readied for the Farmer's Market Sale. |
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| A quilt was quilted with money going to W.I. projects. | |
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| A rug hooking course was conducted. |  |
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Celebrating Women's Institute 110th Anniversary with Queensway Nursing Home Residents |
| Making pies for Farmers Market |
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Thanksgiving Weekend Farmer's Market |
| Working on Quilt donated to the Adult Day Centre |
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Rolling pastry for pies |
 | Having bread wrapped |
| Having white line painted on the centre of Provincial Highways |
| Getting flourescent paint used on sides of railway cars |
| Getting garments labelled as to quality |
| Putting music on the school curriculum (1937) |
| Making the law mandatory for traffic to stop when school bus is stopped |
| Requiring breathalizer and blood tests for motorists |
| Having poison containers clearly marked |
| Requiring a pasteurization of milk |
| Dental and medical inspections in schools |
| Encouraging War Memorials and War Services |
| and many more! |
Programs Theme: Keep Our FWIO Rose Blooming
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TOPIC: Museum ROLL CALL: An old fashion custom, I hate to discard. MEETING: Sharon Mears LUNCH: Barb Kilback, Marg Green, Loreen Gill MOTTO: Don't complain about the farmers with your mouth filled |
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TOPIC: Ice Sculptures - Hensall ROLL CALL: What interesting changes have taken place in our community MEETING: Sherry Peters LUNCH: Dorothy Ratz, Ev Thornton MOTTO: The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it |
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TOPIC: New Canada's Food Guide
ROLL CALL: Name a protein other than meat
LUNCH: Cass Lovie, Dorothy Hendron MEETING: Cass Lovie MOTTO: One should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them |
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TOPIC: Christmas Party MEETING: Doris Bestard, Dorothy Ratz |
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TOPIC: Back through time - Tweedsmuir history ROLL CALL: Grand Bend has lots of history - tell us a fact or event that interests you MEETING: Donna Lovie LUNCH: Bette Tufts, Marg Love, Ruby Lagerwerf MOTTO: Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes |
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TOPIC:
Funerals - Colin Haskett ROLL CALL: Do you have your will prepared and does your family know? MEETING: Marg Desjardine LUNCH: Carol Beamish, Marcia Mylan, Betty Haist MOTTO: Success is doing something usual, unusually well |
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TOPIC: Armchair Travel - destination to be announced ROLL CALL: Bring items for Children's Hospital donation. MEETING: Glena Olcen LUNCH: Verna Lovie, Donna Lovie, Lois Gill MOTTO: Friendship and understanding are the bonds that hold the world together |
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TOPIC: Annual Meeting, Installation of officers ROLL CALL: Annual fees are due. How did you spend your winter? Show and tell. MEETING: Executive - Cass , Marg, Brenda, Elaine, Marci LUNCH: Pot Luck |
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TOPIC: Westland Nursery & Greenhouses ROLL CALL: Name your favourite butterfly or bird MEETING: Delight Rath LUNCH: Local restaurant, followed by meeting. Then a visit to the nursery MOTTO: The difference between a flower and a weed is your judgement |
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TOPIC: Weurth's Shoes - guest speaker ROLL CALL: Name your favourite teacher MEETING: Deb Page LUNCH: Brenda Love, Shirley Eagleson, Bernice Cress MOTTO: Always buy a good bed and a good pair of shoes, if you are not in one, you are in the other |
For further information regarding the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario click here on http://www.fwio.on.ca/
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Women's Institute is the largest rural Women's organization in Ontario with over 1000 branches. TO BECOME A MEMBER
Women's Institute Members WORK to improve homes and communities LEARN by participation in planned programs, workshops and conferences. INITIATE educational programs and special projects for the benefit of the community STUDY current issues and problems related to family and society. INFORM government and other decision makers or rural women's viewpoints INFLUENCE action by presenting briefs and submissions concerning issues SUPPORT projects in Ontario, in Canada and overseas PROVIDE scholarships and bursaries ENJOY the friendship of fellow members, making new friends and warmth of serving others |
BENEFITS
* members have the
opportunity to participate in current local and federal issues.
* make new friends
* automatically become a member provincially, Federated
Women's Institutes of Ontario (F.W.I.O.) nationally, Federated Women's
Institutes of Canada (F.W.I.C.), and internationally, Associated Country Women
of the World, (A.C.W.W.)
* receive a copy of Home & Country magazine
The Women's Institute at all levels is an organization for personal growth and community action. The objectives are:
| To assist and encourage women to become more knowledgeable and responsible citizens. |
| To promote and develop good family life skills. |
| To help discover, stimulate and develop leadership. |
| To help identify and resolve needs in the community. |
The first Women's Institute in the world was organized at Stoney Creek, Ontario on February 19, 1897 by co-founders Adelaide H. Hoodless and Erland Lee. Throughout the years the organization has had many accomplishments.
Locally, W.I. have supported libraries, parks, 4-H Clubs, agricultural fairs, hospitals and nursing homes, foster children overseas, community halls, museums and recreation areas.
Also on the local level, TWEEDSMUIR HISTORIES have been developed and maintained. These books document the histories of communities by recording the stories of buildings, people, farms and industry.
W.I.s offer SCHOLARSHIPS for continuing education and support local members with leadership training opportunities.
Provincially, the ERLAND LEE (MUSEUM) HOME in Stoney Creek is owned and operated by F.W.I.O. It is the home of W.I. co-founder Mr. Lee. It has been completely refurbished to its original style for members and the public to enjoy.
Nationally, W.I.s participate in competitions and scholarships and support the ADELAIDE HOODLESS HOMESTEAD, the home of co-founder Mrs. Hoodless.
Internationally, Women's Institutes belong to the ASSOCIATED COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD. As members, they support community improvement projects in the THIRD WORLD like nutrition education and sanitary water facilities. They also act as consultant to the UNITED NATIONS.
On April 5, 1945 a group of women met at the home of Mrs. Ed Gill Sr. at Grand Bend to organize a Women's Institute branch. Mrs. Harry Hess of Zurich, president of South Huron District, was present to explain the objectives of the organization and a decision to form a branch was made. Since the women were all from Grand Bend and vicinity, the name Grand Bend Women's Institute was chosen. There were eighteen Charter members - Mrs. Ed Gill Sr., Mrs. Sam Hendrick, Mrs. Harold Walper, Mrs. Ed Gill Jr., Mrs. Raymond Kading, Mrs. Carlyle Taylor, Mrs. Elmer Webb, Mrs. Don Hendrick, Miss Maudi Hodgins, Mrs. WM Love, Mrs. Colin Love, Mrs. John Lovie, Mrs. Max Turnbull, Mrs. Garnet Patterson, Mrs. Allan Miller, Mrs. Lloyd Walper, Mrs. Verne Ridley, Mrs. Manford Luther, Mrs. Lloyd Fahner. The first President was Mrs. Sam Hendrick and Mrs. Raymond Kading was Secretary-Treasurer.
In 1951 Grand Bend was incorporated into Lambton County, and the Women's Institute voted to remain in South Huron District.
The first meetings were held in the member's homes. It was then moved into the town hall after it was built, then to the United Church Sunday school rooms and now at Sauble Court.
The Grand Bend Institute celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1970 with eight other South Huron branches as guests.
In April 1985, Grand Bend Women's Institute honoured eight members with Life Memberships - Ruth Hendrick, Olive Miller, Fern Love, Nola Taylor, Olive Webb, Verna Lovie, Jeanne Kading, Clara Hamilton. Grand Bend celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1995.
Some projects have included - Furnishing a room at South Huron Hospital, sponsored 4H Clubs, placing a plaque at the Brewster dam site on the old river, helping fire victims in the area, in the summer of 1958 donated money to build a picket fence at the entrance to the Grand Bend cemetary, purchased a flag pole and flag for the village, helps with delivering meals on wheels, finger puppets made for Sick Children's Hospital - London and the Grand Bend Medical Centre. To commemorate Stephen Townships 150th Anniversary, Grand Bend, along with Dashwood and Crediton made a Wall hanging, which now hangs in the Township office, in summer of 1994 a Historical Plaque was erected commemorating the cutting of the Aux Sauble river to Lake Huron. Some fund raisers have been - selling apple pies, table at Farmer's Market, catering to meals.
Donations have been made to Boy Scouts and Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies. In 1971 donated to the Grand Bend Medical Centre, Children's Hospital - London, Exeter Hospital, Friendship House at Goderich, donation to Exeter Fall Fair, Pennies for Friendship and also donate to special need projects in the community.
In 1999 Grand Bend Women's Institute made a quilt for the IPM Quilt Contest. We won second prize in our category. Tickets were sold on the quilt and Ann Russell won the quilt. (see Photo)
Our largest annual project is the Farmer's Market held on Thanksgiving weekend. Apple and pumpkin pies, butter tarts and preserves sell well. In 2000 we sold crafts, bean soup mixes, grapevine wreaths and corn swags. The farm wagon is very attractive and each year we work harder and use new ideas.
r.o.s.e - rural ontario sharing education
The ROSE (Rural Ontario Sharing Education) Program is a province-wide initiative of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) and provides FWIO members and communities with access to vital information.
The ROSE program will help to increase awareness of important health and social issues, provide resources for the prevention of disease, heighten the visibility of rural issues and concerns, improve the status of women and their families, and reduce the duplication of services.
Elaine Wardell 519-238-6312
Cass Lovie
519-238-2727
Institute Ode
A goodly thing it is to meet in friendships circle bright.
Where nothing stains the pleasure sweet nor dims the radiant light.
No unkind words our lips shall pass, no envy sour the mind.
But each shall seek the common weal-the good of all mankind.
