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International Exchange The Michigan Association for Family and Community Education (FOE) requested an exchange program with FWIO. The ex- change is geared to a grassroots member .as opposed to an officer at the provincial level. FCE will supply accommodation, food and some local travel expenses, similar to student exoliange visits. FCE will also pay the cost of attending their state convention if the exchange occurred at the same time. FWIO will only cover the cost of transpo rta- tion to and from me exchange site. Marg Harris will represent FWIO atthe 1998 FCE State Convention this fall. For more infor- mation on this exchange visit contact the FWIO International Convener Marg Harris at RR 3. Kerwood ON NOM 230,(519)247â€" 3695. Conference News Conference '98 The FWIO Board of Directors agreed to disperse the profits of approximately $9000 from Conference '98 as follows: $3000 - FWIO Headquarters Fund S1000 - Errand Lee (Museum) Home 51000 - Adelaide Hoodless Homestead $1000 - FWIC $1000 - Trent Valley Area Balance - FWlO General Operating Fund I ACWW 2001 Conference in 2001 FWIO is hosting the Associated Country Woman of the World (ACWW) Conference. The hosting society is respon- sible for choosing the date, venue and costs. FWIO Board of Directors approved a motion appointing FWIO President Arthena Hacker and President-Elect Christine Fie- abum as (Io-Chairs of the Organizing Committee. A fact finding team gathered information regarding terms of reference and profes- sional skills required of a Conference Coordinator. A recommendation was passed that the ACWW 200t Organizing Committee continue to explorethe possibil» ity of hiring a Conference Coordinator. The Committee will start off on a firm financial footing. The 935.716.62 received from Convention ’97 will be added to the $12,000 (repayment of seed money from 1990 FWlO Conference proceeds lent to Convention '97) and used by FWIO as seed money for the ACWW 2001 Conference. Membership Items Contributing Memberships The term Contributing Membership was changed to Associate Membership. An As- sociate Member is allowed to hold office, receive a membership card and have voting privileges. Life Membership Status A Life Membership can now be granted to an individual who has been an active mem- ber for 25 years. It is no longer necessary that the 25 years he consecutive. The cost of a Life Membership is $75 and this now includes the Life Membership Badge and certificate. A member can now buy her own life membership certificate and badge. but must apply through the Branch as before. District Lite Memberships can be awarded without first having been awarded a Life Membership at the Branch level. Honourary Life Member An Honourary Life Member is defined as a Women's Institute membern/no is incapaci- tated to the extent that she is unable to continue as an active Life Member. New Members The addresses. the date joined and the fees for all new members should be sent to the FWIO Provincial Office immediately. in or- der for the member to receive her membership card and the Home & Country newsletter. Membership Cards All members will receive membership cards via their Branch Secretaries. afterthey have paid their dues. Your current membership cards have been sent in an August mailing. Each year the colour and date will change; carry them with you as you will need them for voting privileges. Motions Passed - That In regard to Branch Life Member- ship status (page 28, Handbook) the following be added: a membermay also have the option ofbecoming a Life Mem~ berwith all privileges if she can prove 25 years membership in good standing and is willing to pay the cost of the Life Mom- bership. Badge and Cenificate. . That the Life Membership discussions be tabled until Monday to allow Board members time to review the letter from Billie Power. - That the 1997-98 FWlO Annual Report be mailed to all Branches, to be re- viewed after a period at one year. That the Life Membership Fee include the cost of the badge. That an Honourary Life Member is a WI Life Membervmo is incapacitated to the extent that she is unable to function as an active WI member. That the ACWW 2001 Organizing Oom- rnittee continue to explore the possibility of hiring a Conference Coordinator. That an ACWW Conterence Committee be suuck That the $35,716.62 received from Con- vention '97 be added to the $12,000 seed money returned item Convention '97 and be used as seed money for ACWW 2001. That FWIO's Business Plan be ratified by the Board of Directors. That all members celebrate WI Week annually in February, during the week in which the anniversary otthetormatjon of the first wt in Stoney Creek falls (to, February 14 to 20 in 1999), That all WI members shall rece‘we a membership card to be used for voting privileges upon payment of annual dues. That the colour oland date on the mem- bership cards change annually. That new members addresses and the date they joined be sent to the Prouincial Office: fees will be paid at the time a new member jotns after the annual meeting; on receipt of inlorrnation me Home a Country newsletter and a membership card will be forwarded. That die Conterenoe '90 funds be dis- persed as recommended in the final Conference '93 report That any remuneration paid for our Pub- lic Relations Officer be discussed at the upcoming Flnance Budget Meeting. That we have a combined yearly provin- cial conference and annual meeting beginning in 1999. That Subdivision numbers be changed as requtred to maintain numerical conti- nuity. I" That the Program Theme for 1 999 be the “Year of the Senior” and for 2000 ml'he New Millenium,‘ That we give permission to usethe copy- rightneoessary forthe graphs and maps from For Home and Country. That we approve the amalgamation of Oxford South and Oxford North to be known as Oxford. That FWIO present Jim Brown of STRIVE with a Friend of WI Certificate in appreciation of the complimentary copies of The Board Adviser. - That President-Elect Grinstrne Fleabum and President Arlhena Hacker be Co Chairs of the ACWW 2001 Committee. - That a Contributing Membership tee of $25 be used to cover the FWIC and ACWW fee assessments. and the liabili- ties and Lee assessment as needed. - That the term Conb'ibub'ng Member be changed to Assoaate Member. - That an Associate member may hold office. a That an FWIO Intemational Exchange with the Michigan Assocration for Family it Community Education begrn in 1999, with guidelines to be approved by me Protnncial Board. - That the Inlemational Convener attend the Michigan Association for Family 5 Community Education State'Corrvem tion as the FWIO representative. - That our representative of the Ontario Voluntary Forum. Mary Lou Norton, at- tend the Voluntary Forum. Note: Due to space constraints. the many detailed motions passed in regard to the final Report on Restructuring Will not be listed in detail here. See the Final Fieport on Restructuan In the centre insert Home & Country Survey Results The FWlO has a membership of appren- mately 12,200. Oi these members, 3.813 responded to me Home St Country Survey that appeared in the Spring 1998 newslet- ter. Thisis a return rate of 31 .3 percent This IS conedered an excellent response. The survey results are as tollows: Question 1 - The majority of members responded mat they did not want ind'nridual mailings; they had no problem receiving the newsletter In a timely fashion Via their Branch Secretary, Yes - 244 or 6.4% No - 3569 or 93.6% Question 2 - Members objected to the inclusion of advertising. and especially at the rabo of 10 pages of adverbsrng to 6 pages of content Yes - 657 or 17.8% No - 3037 or 82.2% Question 3 - Most members responded that advertising a business was not appli- cable to them. Yes - 227 or 6.2% No - 3454 or 93.8% Many thanks to all who participated. Home l’. Country, Full '98 5