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On My Mind ~ By F W/O President Carol Innes I am writing this at the beginning of November and have just finished attending Area Conventions. I was very pleased to meet so many of the Wonderful Women of WI. You are to be congratulated on the work you do for your Branch, your community and for those less fortunate. Give yourselfa big pat on the back for your efforts. Each Area Convention is different from all the others. Things we do share are fun, fellowship, friendship and moving our Conventions to a different place each time. This gives all ofour Members a chance to attend without a terribly long drive every time. There are many raffles with lots of prizes, exercises, singing and laughter. What a great way to spend a day with friends! Some of you are asking how the membership contest works. Well I have the scoopâ€"right here. Recruiting new Members will win for a Branch: 1st Place - One Provincial Conference Registration plus - fifty dollars ($50.00) in FWIO bucks. 2nd Place - One hundred dollars ($100.00) in FWIO bucks. 3rd Place - Seventyâ€"five dollars ($75.00) in FWIO bucks. Member: The individual Member from each District who has recruited the most Members will receive a free membership, a certificate and a special pin (awarded to recruitment winners only). Be sure your name and the name ofthe person recruited is sent to the Provincial Office. Your Branch should also send the names of new Members and their recruiter to Membership Coordinator, Debbie Bauer, for the Iris Incentive. The FWIO President will present the certificate and pin at Area Conventions. In the event of a tie, the first one to reach the milestone number will be the winner. The other(s) will receive the next prize based on the same principle. All of you have an invite to Tea on WI Day, February 19, 2012. Remember, this will be our 115th Anniversary! You can make it as fancy or as simple as you wish. Invite your neighbours orjust stop for a cup of tea by yourself. Think about how far WI has come and where you would like it to go. What have you achieved because of your participation in Women’s Institute? I will have my cup oftea between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. Send pictures of your gathering and any special reflections to Andrea for the Home& Country ROSE Garden. Carol l‘ta’afi‘zitsgr‘l" ‘ ’ A Fundraising Venture for Russell Village WI! 1 Most often in a small town everyone knows everyone and it is a valuable resource that fundraising must take advantage of. Mary Inglis of Russell Village WI (Eastern Area) is a MASTER Fundraiser for the Branch’s Keep Russell Blooming annual campaign to fund the hanging baskets (31+) and street planters (13) project they do each year in Russell. Mary is very creative and this year she asked the Horticultural Society if they might set up a table at their annual Plant Sale. Where else to meet up with plant lovers and those who might appreciate what they do to beautify the community? Well that day - which was Dubbed "Toonies 8: Loonies for Bloomies” â€" the ladies raised, with donations from organizations as well as individual families, a fair amount of money towards this project. Also, it kept the Branch in the public eye! They handed out WI brochures and made new residents of Russell familiar with what WI does there! Well done Mary Inglis and Diny Achtereekte! A great day’s work! CALEEDAR Annual General Meeting January 5, 2012 WI Day â€" 115 Years! February 19, 2012 Provincial Board Meeting March 27 â€" 29, 2012