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130ml Briefings The Board of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) met at the Kempenfeldt Conference Centre in Barrie for their January meeting. The FWIO Open Annual Meeting followed on January 14. The FWIO Provincial Board, Coordinators, Provincial Advisory Councillors and Committees of the Board participated in a series of workshops and discussions on the third day. The following are items covered at the FWIO Board Meeting: Review of FWIO Finance: The FWIO Board reviewed the organization's finances and highlighted areas that warrant fur- er discussion in efforts to cover the shortfall ‘ing incurred each year, The Board had a brainstorming session with respect to the fi» nances and restructuring the levels of the organization. To generate additional operating revenue, the Board also felt that several ideas warranted future discussions. including a Special fundraising event, increasing membership and an increase in the membership fee. FWIO Strategic Plan The FWIO Board reviewed the organization's Strategic Plan making minor revisions to who was responsible for sections of the Implementa- tion Plan that previously fell under the duties of the Marketing 8. Resource Development Director. Lobbying Coordinator's Report Fair Trade Coffee Outgoing Interim Lobbying Coordinator Anne Dyas presented the following information and proposal to the Board about Fair Trade Coffee. Dyas explained that coffee is big business! Next to oil, coffee is the second most heavily traded commodity in the world. But for the ma iority of small coffee farmers who live in rural communities in some of the poorest countries in the world, the benefits are small. The chain of events that leads from the farm to your cup is long and expensive, Processors, creditors. ex’ porters. brokers and acast of middlemen, known to Latin American farmers as “coyotes,” all come between you and the farmers before you get to sip your morning brew. Since the deregulation of coffee prices in 1985, world coffee prices are constantly changing. “coyotes” pay the lowest price possble and coffee farmers never know how much they‘ll get for their crops. The produc- ers of a rich crop struggle to make a srmple living and are often trapped in poverty. But there is an alternative! Worker owned co- operatives offer consumers fairly traded coffee and tea direct from the small-scale farmer coop- eratives in Latin America, Africa and ASIa These worker-owned cooperatives seek to balance the ineqUIties found in the conventional coffee trade by adopting the internationalty recognized European fair trade standards, which include: - always paying a fairpnce to the farmer, includr ing a guaranteed minimum when market prices are low and above market premiums for quality and certified organic coffee - working directly wtth democratically run larmr trig cooperatives â€" busmesses that are owned and governed by and for the farmers â€" so that the benefits of trade actually reach the farm- ers and their communities - provtding Vital advance credit to farmers; which is normally unavailable or offered at prohibitive rates. For more information about Fair Trade Coffee check out www.equa|exchange.com Proposal to the FWIO Board re: Fair Trade Coffee Dyas proposed: - that individuals and Women's institute groups and members purchase Fair Trade coffees and teas for their own personal use and for use at WI functions; - that individuals and Women's Institute groups and members promote the sale and use of Fair Trade coffees and teas in their commu- nities by asking their grocery stores, health food stores. cooperatives, cafes and restau- rants, offices and places of worship to offer Fair Trade coffees as an alternative to the weltknown brands: and, - that by promoting the use of Fair Trade coffee and leaand usingitourselveswould help fulfill the mandate of Wl in that members would be supporting members of several ACWW coun tries Look for the Fair Trade Certified Logo on the coffee containers To find a retail outlet of Fair Trade Coffee near you. or for a list of companies licensed by Transfair Canada go to www transfair ca or call 1-888-6637FAIR. It was the consensus of the FWIO Board that the information that the Lobbying Coordinator had collected on Fair Trade coffee be distributed to members in the Annual Branch Mailing. Organize a Branch program around this issue, l' _,, Ask your Provmcral Advrsory Councilor or Board Director for more information on these other items covered at Board. - Restore the Roof Update 0 International Convenor's Report - Request for Host Families for MAFCE Visitors - ACWW Conference 2004 Update - Erland Lee (Museum) Home National Historic Site De5ignation - 4‘h Line Theatre Remount For Home and Country - Motions Minden \Nl Dnndtt's in Health .‘wn iiiw Within one year Mlnden Women ‘5 Institute raised $2,000 of a 52.500 pledge to the Hallburfon Highlands Health Services Foundation. The group presented F oundatr'an representatives Dale Walker and Jack Woodcraft with a cheque, while they served tea to the reside/i is of H yland Crest. Pictured are Mary Cox, Jean Cox, Bette Herlihey, Nancy Gayton, Elva Deacon, Mable Deacon, Rita Baird, Beaulah Hewitt, Irma Walker, Dolores Cartrnill, Pam Rolfe and Mary Wllson. Submitted by Dolores Carlmill, Minden WI, Victoria East Home & Country, Spring 2003 7