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Spring has been long awaited! Each year it’s a new beginning as Branches start planning their upcoming yearly program. Check out the new two-year theme GET INVOLVED for ideas. Information has been sent to the Branches and further ideas can be found in this newsletter, online in Member Services or by contacting the provincial office. FWIO will be using this theme as a basis for all planned activities, communications and events. Districts and Areas are encouraged to use the theme material as well. Let’s see what we all can do to get involved and have fun doing it! Thank you to all who completed the Strategic Planning Questionnaire. The input received will guide the Provincial Board toward developing goals that will lead to a new strategic plan that is to be in place by next year. Advocacy (resolutions) has always been an important activity of our organization. Many Members supported the petition regarding the Kinship Care Funding issueâ€"thankyou for being involved! Lookfor more information from our new Advocacy Coordinator, Judith Moses, on page 11. Watchyourmailboxfora lettertoall Branches, which will include a nomination form and guidelines for the provincial nominations process. This procedure will give the Branches the opportunity to nominate a Member from their Branch or District for an open Provincial position. At this time of year many Branches celebrate their anniversaries â€" and we congratulate all Branches and Members that are celebrating special anniversaries this year! Ifyour Branch/District/Area is celebrating your 100th birthday, please contact the Provincial Office to give your inception date and order your special certificate. Pins are to be ordered at this time as well for the current Members of the Branches. Names of Branches/Districts/Areas who have reached 100 years are placed on a plaque in the Provincial Office and featured on the FWIO website. Looking for more information? The Provincial Board Highlights were sent with these newsletters and can also be found online in the Members Services Section of FWIO. Be sure to refer to them for further details on what is happening with FWIO. Yours for Home and Country, Joy FWIC Anniversaries The Federated Women's Institutes of Canada is celebrating significant anniversaries in 2009. It is the 90th anniversary ofthe founding ofthe Federation. At a series of meetings in Winnipeg, Manitoba in February 191 9 the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada was created. 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of Federated News, FWIC's national publication. The original title was "The Canadian Home and Country" and the first issue was published in March 1939. It is the 50th anniversary ofthe purchase ofthe Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead by FWIC. The property was designated a National Historic Site in 1962. Repair and painting ofthe Homestead is FWIC's project for 2009. ' CALENDAR' FWIC Conference June 16-20, 2009 University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown Provincial Board Meeting August 11â€"13, 2009 ou..ou.-o-..nu...-..ou.-o-..nu...-..ou.-o-oc.ouocuo.ouo-.oocn Did you know? The Members Services section ofthe FWIO website is dedicated to all WI Members. It‘sTHE place to visit forforms, ~ information and great resources and tools that will help your Branch. Any WI Member can access this information - simply use the password located on the back of your Membership card. Check it out at www.fwio.on.ca. l‘iaa‘zféJLQY“ ‘ ‘ _ 1» lmxg‘?‘ ‘ Wfizofismimtaammxw