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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-11-10, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1999. B elgraveTtie news from [Compiled by Linda Campbell Phone 357-2188 | Community Club plans to see festival of lights The regular monthly meeting of the Belgrave Community Club was held Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. The group has arranged a bus trip for Nov. 23 to view the Festival of Northern Lights and the show Tribute to Don Messer. The club will have their Christmas dinner Dec. 3 at 12:15 p.m. Women share Majestic memories Shared memories As Majestic WI prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary some longtime members gathered with one of the youngest to share memories and discuss the importance of the organ­ ization in their lives. Clockwise from bottom left are Peggy Cudmore, Peggy Keffer, Eleanor Hemingway and Ida Evans. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Sixty years of service to the com­ munity and home is being celebrated this Wednesday as Brussels Majestic Women's Institute marks its anniver­ sary. It was Mrs. Harold Spiers, who recognized that the women of her school section in Grey Tpw. had no common meeting place where they could assemble for education and entertainment. On Nov. 16, 1939, she invited 34 would-be members to her home and a branch was bom. The name Majestic was chosen to commemorate the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth that year. Remembering those early times, life members Eleanor Hemingway, The Belgrave Guiding Units will hold a tree lighting service in the Heritage Park Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Remembrance Day Services will be held Nov. II at 11 a.m. at the park. Kay and John Roberts told about growing up in Wales during the war. There will be a dessert shoot on Nov. 12 at l p.m. Peggy Cudmore and Ida Evans recall it as not just an opportunity to be out among their peers, but as a learning experience. “It felt great to me to be meeting all these women,” said Hemingway, who joined in 1940. “In those days we learned a lot about being a better homemaker.” Cudmore, a member since 1944, said she came out to a meeting because she had just moved to the area and a friend told her to come out. “When I came up here I had never been in anything. She said, they teach you a lot and I thought I’d better go. The first thing I learned was that I didn’t know what 1 was talking about,” she jokes. Eventually, Cudmore was confi­ dent enough to do a baking with yeast demonstration, something her husband Earl was quick to cash in L. Bosman hosts Evening Unit The November meeting of the Evening Unit to Knox United Church was held Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the home of Louise Bosman. Fourteen answered the roll call by telling what they were doing during the war years. Barbara Anderson welcomed everyone and thanked Mrs. Bosman for offering her home. She opened the meeting by reading a Remembrance Day poem. Laura Johnston and Freda Johnston conducted the worship service. Laura read Psalm 85: 1-13 and Isaiah 5: 2-4. The meditation drew attention to the fact people cannot alter the thoughts and habits of anyone other than themselves. It was agreed to cater to Sara Anderson's Christmas dinner Sunday, Nov. 28. The Christmas Bureau is being hosted by the Wingham Pentecostal on. “He'd say that I better bake a batch of bread before I went so he could try and see if it was okay.” All the women agreed that the organization teaches much more than homemaking, however. Hemingway noted that it teaches leadership skills. “We have to do public speaking and ’•chair meet­ ings.” Evans, who has been a member of and on since the early 1940s said she always admired a former member who believed in doing things by the book. “When you speak you stand properly. I don't agree with these people who sit when they are up talking.” What the organization has offered is an experience Peggy Keffer wouldn't give up. The young moth­ er, who was a former 4-H member said becoming a WI member was a natural progression for her. “I enjoy quilting and things like that. But I have also learned many skills I wouldn’t have other-wise. It goes back to 4-H and its motto, ‘learn to do by doing’.” Children have always been wel­ come at WI meetings too. Hemingway’s daughter Ruth Axtmann recalls how, as a child in the country, her visit to a WI meet­ ing was the first time she realized there were other children besides her siblings. Keffer said, “I’ve changed diapers at WI meetings.” And while all of what made Majestic special to these women remains to a degree today, there is, Keffer believes, a stronger shift to community than home. “The latest project is to adopt a portion of high­ way.” Another modem venture is its web page. Majestic, according to Keffer, was the first branch in Ontario to go on the internet. Other projects of the WI in its 60- year history include the compilation of the Tweedsmuir books, donations to The Ark, Legion, Huronlea, Community Centre and Brussels Agricultural Society to name just a few. For the centennial year they designed and quilted a quilt with 1,000 Brussels names on it. Along with other WI branches they lobbied for wrappng on bread, labels on clothing, milk pasteuriza­ tion, lights on schools buses. With many other organizations forming and women now working outside the home, the biggest chal­ lenge facing Majestic as well as other WIs is enticing new members. “Membership drives are on-going. For women it always has been and will be an excellent sup­ port group." Church. December roll call will be a donation to the bureau. White Gift is Dec. 12 with lunch after the church service. Lunch will also follow service Nov. 21 when the junior choir will sing. The December meeting is to be held at Muriel Coultes’ home. The election of officers was held with the results being: leader, Lorna Cook; assistant leader, Barbara Anderson; secretary, Louise Bosman; treasurer,'Muriel Coultes; social. Laura Johnston, Area women attend 85th WI conference The London Area Women’s Institute 85th Convention was held at the Caradoc Community Centre in Mount Brydges on Oct. 28 with the theme being “Going Forward Together”. Those attending from the Belgrave WI were Wilma Higgins, Audrey Fenton, Isabel Campbell, Jean Nethery, Nancy Jardin and Gladys Van Camp. A Remembrance Day Service will be held at the Belgrave Jane Grasby^ Lillian Campbell; community friendship, Irene Lamont; group leaders, Mabel Wheeler, Thelma Pletch, Donna Shaw and Muriel Coultes, Ruth % Johnston and Barbara Anderson; pianist, Freda Johnston. Barbara Anderson read Points to Ponder a reading contributed by Myrtle Pengelly. Mabel Wheeler presented the program Bad Girls of the Bible. Donna Shaw and Lillian Campbell served lunch. Heritage Park or the arena in the event of rain on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. East Wawanosh Public School Grade 6 students will attend and wreaths will be laid. Mabel’s Moms met at their regular time on a stormy Wednesday, Nov. 3. Those who attended were: Tracey Brohn and Liam; Donna Raynard, Curtis and Craig; Karen Rundle, Holly and Emily. Their topic was Educational Toys.