Home & Country Newsletters (Stoney Creek, ON), Fall 1992, page 8

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illian emigrated to Canada from Ireland. She trained as a nurse in England, and then as a midwife. She pracâ€" ticed as a domiciliary midwife before coming to Toronto in 1966, where she met her husband, Bob. Aftera few years Gillian and Bob bought 140 acres of bushland west of Sudbury. Here, they were “roughing it in the bush" in their old, log school house with no hydro and no running water. Twentyâ€"three years later Gillian admits that alterations to their home are ongoing. It was here that Gillian and Bob raised their two children, Malcolm and Vanessa, “As my children grew," Gillian exâ€" plained, “I grew too - from play groups, to story hours, to the Boy Scout movement. I started a Cub Pack in our community and eventually moved on to Beavers, starting all the original Colonies in the Region. I Gillian Catto: Hospitality Homes Coâ€"ordinator “My WI friends are very special to me and I always look forward to our meetings.” then became 3. Trainer and trained Beaver Leaders from all over Ontario. From Boy Scouts I moved on to 4â€"H for five years, which was a lot of fun! AndI coached the winning team forthe first ‘00 for the Gold’ Competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which was a great thrill!" Not long after moving to the Sudbury area and wanting to meet her neighbours, Gillian joined the local WI â€" the Penage Road Branch. “These wonderful ladies quickly became my mentors and friends and offered me much useful advice.” Since then, Gillian has remained an ac- tive WI member. She has held all offices, except Treasurer. “I don’t handle other people’s money," she stated. Gillian has also held several offices at District level, including three years as President. At the Area level Gillian has been Resolutions Convenor twice, and was nominated by‘ her Area to run for President Elect. During 1989 and 1990 Gillian was the Board Director for Subdivision 29. She was sent to a weekend training school conducted by the National Council of Jewish Women, and subsequently ran a five-week course called “Surgery: A Necessity or Choice.” While on Board, Gillian also originated and organized the FWIO Hospitality Homes Registry, which she still runs from her home. Gillian has given several interviews to the Sudbury Star about the WI. “1 love the Women’s Institute,” stated Gillian, “and have grown by attending courses. put- ting on programs, speaking in public and organizing events. My WI friends are very special to me and I always look forward to our meetings.” Gillian works as a Registered Nurse in the High Risk Maternity Unit of Sudbury General Hospital. She sits on the Reproductive Concerns Committee (a joint hospital/community committee), and keeps busy with gardening, sewing, quiltâ€"o ing, cross country skiing, travelling and reading. Last year, Gillian and Bob took up sailing. They now own a beautiful yacht which they sail on Lake Huron. Gillian is the Hospitality Homer Coordinator for the FWIO and a member of the Penage Road Women’s Institute. he Area New Branch Organizers, Provincial Board Directors and Dis- trict Officers are raising the consciousness of the Women's Institute through their efâ€" forts in locating communities of women 8 HOME & COUNTRY. Fall 1992 with similar interests and needs, We want our organization to grow, not so we can count people, but because people count. Albert Einstein said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge." Imagine for a moment that WI stands for whining and immobility? Are we constantly whin- ing about not getting new members’.’ Are we immobile with no new ideas for change? Or should the WI show leadership which is willing and innovative? Willing to take a risk? Innovative and prepared to change the way in which we do things at our meetings? Adelaide Hunter Headless â€" was she not daring, visionary, inspiring. dedicated, diplomatic and a riskâ€"taker? Someone once said: “Most good, new ideas are rejected the first or second time they are presented.” One should present an idea for change again and again, realizing that change is not instantaneous and under- standing that resistance to change is expected. Remember - new members, new Branches and new ideas will build our future! Hilde M order: is the New Branch C o-ardinato, far the Federated Women's Institutes 17 Ontario.

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