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Remember, the following program themes were chosen for 199697 - “Safe and Healthy Communities“ and “Women's Institutes â€" 100 Years of Active Involve- ment." From May 1996 to January 1997, we asked that you plan your programs around the theme “Safe and Healthy Communities." From February 1997 to May 1997, we asked that your program tell the story of the 100th anniversary of Institute work in Ontario. However, we must be flexible enough to change if a current issue should arise. Here are some ideas you might want to consider: Take Action Take Action forEquality, Development and Peace: A Canadian Follow-up Guide to Beijing ’95 is a major non»govemmental Canadian follow-up document to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, By signing the Platform for Action (PFA), the Canadian government made a moral commitment to undertake the actions suggested in it. This document provides the reader with a guide to particular commitâ€" ments and suggestions for action that you and your group can take to further equality, de- velopment and peace. Each chapter looks at five themes within each critical area of concern - Women and Peace, Human Rights of Women, Women and Health, Violence Against Women. Women and Poverty, Women and the Econ- omy, Education and Training of Women, The Girl Child, Women and the Media, Women and the Environment, Women and Power and Decision Making. Each chapter also gives you the following: What the Platform for Action Says. What this Means for Women in Canada and How You Can Take Action. For a copy of Take Action send a $12 cheque payable to the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW). 151 Slater St., Suite 408, Ottawa ON KlP 5H3, Phone: (613)563â€"0681, Fax: (613)563-0682. / Notes from the Program Coordinator By Mary Lou Norton Fact Sheets Programs could be organized around a number of Ontario Federation of Agriculture Fact Sheets entitled: Wetland, Canada Leads Grocery Stakes. The $100,000 Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, Abandoned Railâ€" way Right-ofâ€"way, Regulations Act, Farmers‘ Trespass and Occupiers‘ Liability, Participant and lntervenor Funding. These Fact Sheets can be obtained from Frances Roesch. Communications Coordinator with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. at Suite 500. 491 Eglinton Ave. W.. Toronto ON MSN 3A2, Phone: (416)485-3333, Fax: (416)485-9027. United Nations The United Nations has declared both 1996 and 1997 International Years for the Eradi- cation of Poverty. For more information contact Joan Broughon, Information Officer. with the United Nations Association of Canada, 900-130 Slater St., Ottawa, KlP 6E2, Phone: (613)232-5751, Fax: (613)563- 2455, or call the United Nations in New York City at 1-800â€"253-9646. World Food Summit Canada will produce a country position paper on world food security as a contribu- tion to the preparatory process for the World Food Summit to be held in Rome from November 13 to 17, 1996. The working defi- nition offood security for the purposes of the World Food Summit is as follows: “Food Security means that food is available at all times, that all persons have means of access to it, that it is nutritionally adequate in terms of quantity. quality and variety, and that it is acceptable within the given culture." For more information on this topic, contact Mary Lou Norton at RR 2, Bloomfield ON NOK 100. Phone: (613)393-2052, Fax: (613)393-3378. Mary but Narrrm is the Program Corrrdinulnrfor the Federated Women's Institutes (If Ontario, Herb Walk continued from page 1 row were still playing a key role in the diet of ral Canadians right up to the second world war." says Pat. Because the focus forthe Herb Walks is on using herbs to enhance our lives, Pat includes a booklet listing the wild and domestic herbs that grow according to the season that you visit Riversong. She gives recipes for the dishes in the menu so that you can try them, For more information about the Herb Walks. contact Pat Crocker at Riverson g Herbals and Naturals, RR 2, Mount Forest ON NOG 2L0, Phone: (519) 3236693 or 1â€"800â€"551â€" 7051: Fax: (519) 3234644. SELF-PROFILE: CPDCI‘EI‘: Woodland Springs (Junior Member A graduate of Ryerscn, Pat earned 7 1/2 years' experience before establishing her business. Her first company, Ad Astra, pro- vided research, writing. special event planning, recipe development, food styling and teaching packages to companies like the Turkey Marketing Board and Supreme Aluminum. In 1932, she formed a partnerâ€" ship and broadened the scope ofthe Public Relations sen/ice. Pat purchased her part ner's share in 1984 and was the driving force behind Cracker lntemational Com- munlcations Inc., which she sold in 1987. Since then, she has turned her attention to her daughter, Shannon Alexandra McLaughlin and her herb garden. Tending both and watching them grow has been her source of inner peace and contentment Pat began to share what she has come to love about herbs by teaching at places like the Toronto Civic Garden Centre. She writes a monthly column, The Herbal Link. for a local paper. lectures and hosts sea- sonal Herb Walks from the 100 year-old log cabin she shares with her artist husband. Gary McLaughlin, Pat is currentty working on a second book, Cooking with Medicinal Herbs. Pat is a charter member of the Woodland Springs Women‘s Institute in Grey South District. Her neighbour asked her to an organizan meeting and this was her first introduction to the WI. She liked the history and philosophy of the organization and de- cided it was somethan she would like to be a part of. Patteels thatit responds to issues and meets the needs of the younger. rural population today, as much as it did when it first started. The Woodland Springs Branch works with the Big Sisters and gets involved with a number of local events. In the acknow- ledgement to her first book, Recipes from Fllvsrsong, Pat says she has “experienced community cooperation, and because of where we now live, I've had the opportunity to reflect on food and life.” She says she is overwhelmed by the support network and the feeling of community she has experi- enced since moving to Grey South and becoming a member of the WI. . Pat Cracker is a member (If the Woodland Springs W! in Grey South District. Home & Country, Summer '96 S