Federated Women's Institutes Of Canada

P.O. Box 209
359 Blue Lake Road, St. George, ON
N0E 1N0

Phone: (519) 448-3873
Fax: (519) 448-3506
Email: fwican@gmail.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(2012-2015)

PRESIDENT

Marie Kenny
(902) 368-8285
mkfwic@gmail.com

I am delighted to be National President of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada, I am looking forward to working with President Elect Linda Hoy and the Board Members from Coast to Coast of this beautiful country, developing a stronger United Voice for Women of Canada. We have a strong foundation and as we strive to re-energize FWIC we have opportunity to grow, to rethink and to develop new ideas.

I have been a member of the Brackley Women's Institute for almost 40 years. I had held numerous positions at the Branch, District and Provincial Levels. I was President of PEIWI from 2007 to 2009 during which we had the honour of hosting the National Convention on PEI. I have served on the National Board since 2007.
I have attended a number of both National Conventions and ACWW Conventions, each time coming Home more inspired about this tremendous organization and work that Ladies are doing for Home and Country.

As a Mother and a Grandmother I have the desire to see our world become an even healthier place for my family and yours to live, Working together we can take steps to see changes made in areas of education, health, and environment, all critical areas where we need to have our concerns heard and solutions achieved for the betterment of all.

Communication is the key, listening, sharing ideas, developing transparency, working together and taking action where necessary.

The future of Women's Institute lies in each of our hands, we have been passed a brilliant torch and it is our responsibility to pass it on to the next generation so the lives of our children and our children's children will be as blessed as ours.

I ask you to work with me to make our communities the best places to live as we work together for Home and Country,

Marie Kenny
"True Success is not necessaryily about being the best at all cost.
It's about doing your best at all times." If you do that long enough who knows you might just end up being the best"

PRESIDENT ELECT & QUEBEC REPRESENTATIVE

Linda Hoy
(819) 566-2105
lhoy@acncanada.net

I have been a member of the Ascot Women’s Institute for over 28 years. I have held all executive offices at the branch, county and provincial levels. In 2003 I became Quebec WI provincial president and also co-chaired the FWIC Convention in 2003. For the past 12 years I have been on the FWIC Board/Executive and chaired the Citizenship & Legislation Committee, Resolutions, Editorial & Publicity and now I am Finance Chair. I am very comfortable with finances because I am also the county and church treasurer and work in a University Bookstore. I am also on the Convention 2015, Education & Extension, Personnel and Projects Committees.

I have attended FWIC Conventions in Hamilton, ON (1997), Lennoxville, QC (2003), Red Deer, AB (2006), Charlottetown, PEI (2009) and Sidney, BC (2012); and ACWW Conferences in Tasmania and Hot Springs, AK.

It is a real honor to be elected as President-Elect and to work along side Marie and the rest of the Executive and Board for the next triennium. I value your support and communication and will work to strengthen our organization and the ties we have made with government agencies.

Let us all continue to work together “For Home & Country”.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Joan Holthe
(780) 353-2354
threerivers@abnorth.com

Here I am, representing the members of British Columbia Women’s Institute for the next triennium. What an honour and what a job! It is my hope to establish more member interest in FWIC’s aims and objectives, thereby gaining added advantage for the issues dictated by our convenorships. My involvement on the Citizenship and Legislation Committee and its connection to Resolutions will act as a Strong voice for many Women, as our mandate states.

My husband and I operate a cattle ranch in the North-West corner of Alberta, close to the BC border, but still find time to travel and enjoy our family, friends and other involvements.

ALBERTA
Diane Dammann
(780) 879-3970
pandd@wildroseinternet.ca

I am really excited to work at the Federal level of our wonderful organization. I joined the Argyle Branch in Alberta in 1982 and have served in most positions in the branch, at constituency, district and provincial levels.

I have a few pen pals so I am happy to chair the Canadian Unity Committee. I would like to see more communication between individual members all across Canada.

The Health Committee Chair position has also come my way. We have a wonderful health care system in this country BUT we must strive to keep ourselves fit and well so that we, as a country, can afford to keep our standard of medicare.

SASKATCHEWAN
Ellen Stachiw

MANITOBA
Ann Mandziuk
(204) 966-3829
amandziu@mts.net

Individual member of Manitoba Women’s Institute
Graduate Home Economist
Work for the provincial department of Agriculture in a rural community
My husband and I have one daughter who is at university studying to be a high school history/mathematics teacher
I am chair of the International Affairs Committee. Through our affiliation with ACWW I hope we can strengthen both our organizations in Canada and around the world. Letter Friends and the Peace Gardens fall under this committee. Being from Manitoba I know the Peace Gardens is a beautiful place to visit and I hope our committee can encourage others to visit if they are in my province. Learning from others is very important and Letter Friends with other institutes across the country/world is a great way of learning.

The other committee is Projects and the task at hand is to choose the ‘Project” for the next triennium. Once the decision is made we will be encouraging others to become involved at the provincial and local levels.

ONTARIO
Joy Trimble
(519) 942-2093
executiveofficertofwic@fwio.on.ca

I have been a WI Member for 36 years and have served in different offices within my Branch and District and am past Provincial President of Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. I presently serve on the Board of the Orangeville Agricultural Society and I live on the 4th generation family farm. I enjoy singing, reading and crocheting.

I am Chair of the Recruitment and Extension Committee. We plan on creating a spreadsheet bringing information together from the provinces, sharing ideas that will help to promote our organization and sustain the membership.

I am also Chair of Canadian Industries (Environment) Committee. We plan on continuing to support Canadian products, learn more about food labeling and be aware of environmental issues across Canada and around the world.

NEW BRUNSWICK
Glenna Geer

I hail from a small town on the outskirts of Saint John. My life in WI all began after my mother passed away, and an elderly neighbour asked for a drive to her WI meeting. There were two Women’s Institute Branches in this area., I am glad I joined Lakeside as the other branch closed.

Having gone through the offices of the Branch, I went on to District, and after serving as Past President of District, I was asked to be Secretary of the Provincial level. I accepted, but no one would take 2nd Vice President. Things changed, and I became 2nd Vice President, and someone else took the secretary position. However, I have missed out, as I have never been a Convener.

I thoroughly enjoyed being Provincial President, which came during the time of our NBWI 100th Anniversary. Now my work is sure cut out for me serving on the FWIC Executive Board as Committee Chair for 2015, when New Brunswick will be hosting the FWIC Convention.

NOVA SCOTIA
Coni Murray

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Carol MacLellan
(902) 964-2478
everett.mac@pei.sympatico.ca　

I am a retired teacher who has been a member of WI for over 40 years. I joined the Provincial Board of Directors in 2002 as Co-Chair of the Exhibition Committee for Old Home Week and continued on the Board until I became President of the Federated Women’s Institute of Prince Edward Island. I Co-hosted the FWIC Convention in 2009 in Charlottetown and was privileged to represent my province at the ACWW Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 2010. I also attended the FWIC Convention in Red Deer, Alberta in 2006, and the ACWW Mini-Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2011. It was exciting for me to be installed as Executive Officer in Sidney, British Columbia and I look forward to my term serving the National Board of Women’s Institute.

My husband, Everett, and I live on a farm in Pleasant Valley. We have 3 children and 6 grandchildren living on the Island, in Nova Scotia, and in Yokohama, Japan. My hobbies include quilting and rug hooking as well as getting together with family.

I will be compiling the history of FWIC for the 2012-2015 FWIC Triennium. As Chairperson of the Editorial and Publicity Committee, I would also welcome any suggestions and news items to promote the communications and good will of Women’s Institute. I am thrilled about being part of our national organization and hope that I will be able to contribute to its continued success for the benefit of Women all across Canada!

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Barbara Taylor
b.k.taylor@nf.sympatico.ca

I have been a member of the Templeton Women’s Institute for 44 years.
Served in all executive positions in both my branch and the NLWI Board.
In addition to my WI activities I like to Quilt, Kayak, Hike and Ski.

Chairman – Citizenship & Legislation
As Resolutions are part of this committee, I feel we have to make some changes so that our Resolutions will have more impact on the recipients. The previous C & L Committee left us many good suggestions and hopefully we can work with the Board and Provinces to update our handling of Resolutions.

PROVINCIAL PRESIDENTS

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Jill Copes

ALBERTA
Brenda Willsie

SASKATCHEWAN
Lynn Ballhorn

MANITOBA
Joan Clement

ONTARIO
Elsie Stephenson
president@fwio.on.ca

Women's Institute was created on February 19, 1897 in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) was established on Feb.6, 1919. FWIO was made a body corporate under the Agricultural Associations Act of Ontario on May 11, 1921. Women's Institute members are united in a common interest in personal growth and community action.

FWIO has accepted the invitation of Canada 150, a history gathering project, to become a founding partner. WI members are encouraged to record the stories of their lives, their families and their communities.

"Back 2 Basics" theme has proved to be very popular with the Branches and they are sending in ROSE session report forms to the provincial office. These sessions are being highlighted under the ROSE Program on the FWIO website.

The Erland Lee Community Committee is fundraising in order to make repairs to the Erland Lee (Museum) Home.

The fourteen WI Areas are holding their conventions through out the province beginning on September 22 and ending on October 23rd -a busy autumn for the Provincial President.

QUEBEC
Norma Sherrer
(450) 263-3448
npsherrer@hotmail.com

Quebec Women’s Institute (QWI) has a busy month in September -most Counties are holding their Semi-Annual Meetings. One highlight is our QWI Rally which is being held in Hemmingford, QC, on Wednesday, September 26th. It should be a fun filled day: getting-to-know-you opening; workshops on recruitment; crafts; power point presentation of the FWIC Convention; question and answer time, and of course a delicious lunch!!!

I have a project for this triennium -each Branch in the Province has been asked to make and decorate a bank and place it on their executive table each month. Members are asked to drop in coins. These banks will be brought to Convention each year. Money collected will go to purchase medical supplies for a Third World Country. We are also collecting tabs from soft drink cans, bread bag tabs--these go to the Shriners Hospital to buy medical equipment for children who can't afford to buy their own.

In October we will be having our QWI Executive and Board meeting. In November QWI will hold their Annual Remembrance Day Service at the QWI Memorial Cairn in Dunham, QC.

NEW BRUNSWICK
Holly Hersey

NOVA SCOTIA
Linda Munro

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Doreen Cole

Photo of President, Doreen
Cole (right) presents the Louise
MacMillan Scholarship to Mariah
Hogan

The PEIWI brings two events for the fall - an interactive Women's Health Expo will be held in September and is open to the public. It features exhibitors in the field of women's health, guest speakers, fitness demonstrations, refreshments, and prizes. The second series of events are Fall Workshops featuring Public Speaking and creating Fasinators (small decorative hats) in three locations across PEI. (Details at www.peiwi.ca).

To kick off preparations for the 100th anniversary in 2013 PEIWI is pleased to unveil it's new website at www.peiwi.ca - the refreshed look will assist in re-branding into the next century of WI on Prince Edward Island. (For those who have visited the older website, browsers will need to be restored to see the new website.)

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Jean Budden
(709) 227-3174
07buddenj@persona.ca

I will be Provincial President until May 2013 –our convention year. Branches across the province have re-opened for the year. Plans are being made for the Provincial Board Meeting that will be held in my home town of Dunville/Placentia on October 26-28, 2012. Plans are also in progress for our next convention that will be held in Gander, NL.