BRANCH PROFILE: Tec We Gwill WI Tec We Gwill WI (Simcoe Area) was formed in 1947 with a group of "young brides" of local farmers. The name of the Branch was selected in a contest and it is the short form ofthe two townships that the Members lived in: Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury. Over the next two years, these women produced 22 babies. This was known locally as "The Institute Flu". The women became active in the community, doing short courses in home economics for local women and holding monthly meetings with a topic of interest for the community. Since 1988, Tec We Gwill WI has maintained a community hall in the hamlet of Newton Robinson. The hall has been the Branch’s main focus over the past year, as they have had to fundraise and were successful in receiving a $29,000 Ontario Trillium Grant to do renovations. In April 2012, the Branch celebrated its 65th Anniversary along with the opening of their newly renovated kitchen. Recently, the Branch has put their kitchen to good use, hosting several very successful "Canning Days". ABOVE:A glimpse into one of Tea We Gwill Wl’s famous Canning Days! Tec We Gwill WI is a part of Simcoe South District. Today, there is a membership of 26, with 2 ofthe 5 original Charter Members still belonging. This year, the Branch has welcomed 5 new Members whom they are thrilled to have. Members actively support their community and many have received special recognitions over the years, particularly Citizen of the Year. Bonnie West received this honour from her community, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG). Joan Jebb received Senior Citizen of the Year in 2009 from the Town of New Tecumseth and another Member, Jean Gordon, received her Senior Citizen of the Year from BWG. Donna Jebb received the Alliston Rotan/ Award Citizen of the Year in 2011 â€" 25 years after her mother, Shirley Gibson had received it. Elf/(1 ï¬gm‘â€â€œ v ' ‘_ 4 [I \ l l . l ’3,» Margaret Edith Zoeller, Past President of FWIO September 10, 1920 - April 29, 2012 Margaret passed away peacefully after a brief encounter with cancer. Margaret E. Sudden, formerly ofGalt, Waterloo County, was a third generation WI Member, and a descendant of the Pennsylvaniaâ€"Dutch pioneer, David Clemens. Following her formal education, she became a Time Study Analyst until her marriage to Austin 5. Zoeller, a farmer at New Hamburg. They had a son and daughter, 2 grandchildren and 5 greatâ€"grandchildren. She was a Life Member of Haysville WI and served as President, Convenor, and Secretaryâ€" Treasurer and was also awarded a Life Membership in ACWW. She was President of Waterloo South District; Secretaryâ€"Treasurer of the District and Guelph Convention Area; National Convenor of United Nations, and Treasurer of the 1967 Convention of the FWIC. She laterjoined Bloomingdale WI, after Haysville disbanded. Provincially, she was Public Relations Ofï¬cer, Board Director and was elected President from 1968â€"1971. She became editor of Home & Country from 1974â€"1982. She was inducted into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame in 1998. Margaret’s daughter said she lived and breathed WI. She was a very knowledgeable woman and was always interested in what was happening with WI right up to the time of her death. "For Home and Country" was a personal motto for Margaret. -â€" magmas“