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PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006.
67th Guelph Area WI convention in St. Agatha
The Guelph Area Convention,
hosted by the Waterloo District
Women's Institute was held at the St.
Agatha Community Centre, Oct. 19.
Pauline Weiland, first vice
president welcomed everyone.
Bloomingdale WI branch held an
In Memoriam for members who
passed away in the past year.
Highlights of the 2005 convention
were read by secretary, Lorianne
Schmidt.
Correspondence included a letter
from Western Region board director
Winnie Trachsel, asking members to
support the Stephen Lewis, African,
Grandmothers-to-Grandmothers
AIDS campaign.
A collection was taken to start a
project with funds that will provide
these African grandmothers with
much needed support. Stephen
Lewis has worked tirelessly to raise
awareness and educate the world of
the pandemic in Africa.
Federated Women's Institute of
Ontario (FWIO) president,
Rosemary Moran reported on what
is happening at the provincial level.
Her report included information on
the Eat to Give, fundraiser. This
By Bette Jean Crews
Vice-President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Farmers unhappy with
agriculture's recent economic output
— and that includes most of us — will
soon have an opportunity to share in
the planning for the future of our
industry. The groundwork is just
being laid now for the next
generation of Canada's agriculture
and agri-food policy.
Documents are being circulated
and reviewed with the intention of
stimulating dialogue among all
stakeholders — government staff and
farmers included — to examine how a
competitive and profitable Canadian
agriculture can be built.
The next generation program
discussion documents cover the
themes: innovation and science;
environment; food safety and
quality; renewal; and market
development and trade. Along with
the basic documents there are more
in-depth papers related to each of the
themes.
Consultation material on business
risk management programming and
a series of economic backgrounders
will form the basis for the
consultation discussions.
The consultation process is based
on the principles that Canadian
agriculture will be market-driven,
innovative and efficient, and capable
of seizing opportunities across the
value chain, and from there be able
to strengthen Canada's position in
the global marketplace.
It is expected results of the
consultation process will achieve
success by including the promotion
of a competitive and profitable
agriculture and agri-food sector —
program assists FWIO and provides
the Districts with one per cent of
total dollars spent while at the same
time costing members nothing.
She encouraged members • to
participate.
One hundred and forty-eight new
members have joined FWIO over the
past year.
She announced the new seasonal
book (Christmas) was available for
sale at the cost of $8. There were 500
copies printed with each area
receiving 35, to be sold at their
respective conventions.
A decision was made to continue
with the seasonal books with the
next being autumn.
It was recommended that the name
of the provincial ROSE co-ordinator
at provincial level only, be changed
to program co-ordinator. The
provincial program co-ordinator
(Carol Innes) will assist branches
and districts with programming and
direct them to the ROSE (Rural
Cntario Sharing Education) program
manager (Patti Pizziola) for
sessions.
FWIO regional board director,
Winnie Trachsel gave her report. She
one that can respond quickly to
market opportunities in both the
domestic and global arenas.
The success of Canadian
agriculture into the future will also
depend on the sector's ability to
develop and adopt new technologies
and best practices so that Canada
can be at the forefront of agri-
products development. Canada's
becoming a world leader in
innovation and prosperity will
depend on the country's ability to
foster a business and regulatory
climate that is conducive to these
traits.
The ability of the Canadian agri-
food sector to respond quickly to
evolving consumer and citizen
demands will be key to future
successes. This becomes
increasingly obvious as we watch
consumers raise their expectations
of food producers and processors to
meet increasing health and wellness
demands. Canadian consumers can
be expected to measure the
effectiveness of agriculture against
its impacts on the environment and
renewable resources.
As our agricultural sector looks
for new markets, domestically and
around the world, the next
generation of policies and programs
will need to act in accordance with
our international obligations. We
will have to acknowledge the
potential of exposure to possible
countervail actions, yet move to
achieve the full benefits of Canada's
international trading rights.
While we are just at the discussion
paper stage now, Canadian farmers
need to prepare to voice their
thoughts beginning in January, 2007,
as the consultations begin in earnest.
encouraged branches to celebrate the
entire year 2007, marking the 110th
birthday of the Women's Institute.
Many ideas and story ideas can be
found in the Connecting Link
(newsletter).
The international small craft
project is progressing well. The one
item that is apparently not being sent
is the much-needed coloured raffia
straw.Thanks to all who have so
generously sent parcels to the
Caribbean.
Members were issued a challenge
by FWIO program co-ordinator,
Carol Innes, to invite as many
friends as you can each month. Keep
a record. Have it signed by the
district president and send it to the
FWIO office. The winner of this
friendship challenge will be
recognized in the Connecting Link,
on the website and in the Home and
Country ROSE garden newsletter.
Winnie asked members to use the
Connecting Link, a communication
tool, providing a wealth of
information on what is happening at
the provincial level.
Ruth Jones, Haysville WI
commented on all the great displays
These sessions will be held across
the country and will be open to all
interested stakeholders.
In conjunction with this round,
consultation sessions on the new
Business Risk Management suite
will be held. Following this, another
round of invitation-only working
sessions will be held to assess
feedback from the first two rounds
and prepare consolidated input to the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial
negotiations.
OFA looks forward to working
with Ontario farmers to develop
their input, and contributing to the
national debate through the
Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
We are working on both short and
long-term solutions.
presented.
District presidents gave two-
minute highlights of the pAt year's
activities.
For Your Information morning
speaker Mara Engle with her pal, a
chocolate lab from the National
Service Dogs, spoke about how dogs
are trained to help enrich the quality
of life and enhance the independence
of a child with autism.
John Ritz, fire chief of Wilmont
Twp. was the afternoon speaker. He
spoke on fire safety in the home and
workplace.
The after-dinner speaker, Libby
Barrie helps children learn how to
deal with their many emotions and
frustrations. She works and speaks
within the school system on family
violence. She addresses 10,000
children each year.
The Sweet Adelines choir
entertained.
President, Rosemary Moran
conducted the election of 2006-07
officers: past president, Margaret
McMahon; president, Pauline
Weiland; first vice president, Dianne
Orr; secretary, Lorianne Schmidt;
assistant secretary, Verna
Coneybeare; treasurer, Everdina
Bender; PRO, Lynda Alexander;
Tweedsmuir curator, Henrietta
Claus; financial examiner, Ethel
Corry; heritage hall committee
representative, Glenna Smith; 2007
convention chair, Wellington North
District.
Cindy Rabstein was voted in as the
area voting delegate to FWIO and
Leone Foerter was voted in as
alternate.
Wellington North extended an
invitation to all to atte,nd the 2007
Guelph Area Convention to be held
Oct. 18 at the Palmerston
Community Centre.
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OFA Commentary
Preparing input for the future