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Co- Presidents 2022-2024
Left: Mary Maxwell
Right: Linda Freeman
Membership: Karen Tierney
Who To Contact?
Karen Tierney
Membership Chair
tierneykaren288@gmail.com
We are always happy to talk with retired teachers from all aspects of the teaching profession, elementary, secondary, college, private schools. Contact Karen Tierney for membership information as listed above.
Participation
From September 2020 until May 2021 the co-presidents held monthly Zoom meetings for all members with speakers as well as giving business news and a little opportunity for socializing on Zoom. All the executive meetings were held via Zoom.
In September 2021, a luncheon meeting was held at the RiverBend Golf Community club house with about 75 people in attendance. Everyone attending had to show proof of double vaccination and ID as well as complete a pre-screening form on the internet before being admitted to the grounds and building as per provincial requirements for dining indoors.
Friendship Group
This is a very popular group within the whole membership. The aim is to bring members together in smaller interest groups and do fun and friendly things such as our twice monthly breakfasts and hiking/walking.
We look forward to resuming such things as theatre outings, road trip luncheons, car rallying, crafts etc., when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
Keeping in Touch & Courtesy/Goodwill
We like to keep in touch with “shut-ins” who are no longer able to attend meetings. In recent months, we have not been allowed to visit homes in person, so Front porch visits, phone calls and cards have been used to help us Keep in Touch.
Book Clubs
Two separate small groups that would normally have monthly meetings after reading a mutually chosen book, now discuss the selection while distance meeting in back yards, large airy rooms, or via Zoom. New members are welcome. “If you are interested in joining a Zoom meeting to discuss books, contact Deb Kaiser at, kaiser50@gmail.com “.
Phone-Callers Group
This is a group of members who each phone a short list of other members to remind them of the upcoming luncheon, who is the Speaker/Topic of the month, the charity of the month and what to bring if members wish to support it.
Since our membership is always growing, additions to the group are welcome. It is a great way to connect with new people. Members may decline to be on the “call list” of course.
Our callers have been instrumental in helping us make our two “wellness checks” with our members during the Stay-at-Home period of recent months.
At Luncheons…
Book Sale
At each regular luncheon meeting members’ pre-owned books are contributed to the Book Sale table to be circulated, for a small cost to new owners. Four of our members organize the books on display, cull them as necessary, and pack them up in sturdy bags to be taken home by about twelve volunteers ready for the next meeting.
This is a very popular fund-raiser which sponsors Branch delegates attending the annual RWTO Convention.
Table Decorations
A very talented group prepares centre-pieces for every table at our six luncheon meetings. They not only enhance our venue but sometimes go home with members, for a small charge, to continue the sharing.
October 2022 Luncheon
Top Row:
Four new members are welcomed.
Bottom Row Left To Right:
Helen Munce -RWTO Health Insurance – is in the spirit of October.
The Treasurer is accepting payment for next month’s Luncheon
Our Co-Presidents Linda and Mary
The Table Decoration Group’s masterpieces were on each table.
October 2022 Luncheon & Fashion Show
Our 4 models showed off day wear, evening wear, and coats from Bijou Boutique, to the admiration of all the members present.
SEPTEMBER 2022 Luncheon
Top Left: Our Guest Speaker Lori-Ann Pizzolato, TVDSB chairperson
Top right: September’s table decoration
Bottom Left: Karen (centre) welcomes two new members
Bottom Right: The Book Sale a fundraiser
RWTO/OERO Convention 2022 in London
” Let Us Raise Your Sprits”
Top Left: “Waiting for a presentation”
Top Right: “A session in Progress”
Bottom Left: “London-Middlesex delegates & volunteers celebrate a successful Convention”
Bottom Right: “A much enjoyed dessert at the Banquet”
May Luncheon 2022
Top Left: “Books for Sale”.
Top Right: Executive for 2022-24
Bottom Left: Greeting friends before lunch is served.
Bottom Right: Outgoing Presidents Vera and Sandy receive a thank you gift.
April Luncheon 2022
Top Left: Karen Tierney (on right) welcomes a new member to our Branch.
Top Right: The April Speaker for the new London Children’s Museum
Bottom: Table Decorations in April.
Lunch March 2022
Top Row:
Left: Speaker Patti Conlen showed events/issues of the Covid years in her woven rugs
Right: Bees at Risk
Bottom Row:
Left: Table decoration – March 2022
Right:Table decorations boxed up to use for the Convention ’22 tables
2022 – 2023 Program
September 22, 2022
Issues in Education
Speaker: Lori-Ann Pizzolato Chair of TVDSB
Outreach donations to : Women’s Rural Resource Centre
October 27, 2022
Fall Fashion Show – Bijou Boutique, Byron
Outreach donations to: Children’s Literacy Initiatives
November 24, 2022
Christmas Merry Makers – Choir Leader – Janet Slavin
Outreach donations to: My Sisters’ Place
March 23, 2023
I Love My Life, Speaker: Robert Pio Hajjar
Outreach donations to: The London Food Bank
April 27, 2023
Human trafficking & Crime Along the 401 – Speaker TBA
Outreach donations to: Education Fund & Kiwanis Award Recipients
May 25, 2023
Spring Banquet, AGM, Awards, and In Memoriam
Reinstallation of our Executive for 2023-2024
2021-2022
We are meeting once again in person at the RiverBend Golf Community clubhouse for our Luncheon and Speaker meetings.
CORA BAILEY AWARD
This provincial Award recognizes members who have given excellent leadership and outstanding service to their local branch.
There have been 22 recipients to date in the London-Middlesex Branch since the Award was begun in 2006. Cora Bailey was the first Provincial Secretary-Treasurer and held office for several years and wrote a book about RWTO.
Mary Maxwell with Cathy Harrison presented the 2018 Cora Bailey Award to Nancy Bell at the October Luncheon. Nancy is our Past President, she has been very active with many of our activities including the Friendship Group and the Table Centre-piece making for each of our luncheons.
BARBARA BAIN AWARD
This Provincial Award is presented at the Annual Convention in July to Branches that have increased membership over the previous year. There are three tiers representing three different sizes of Branches. We have over 240 members which places us in the “large” tier.
In 2017-18 our Branch had top place with an increase of 22 members, Past President Nancy Bell accepted the Award and $300.00 for the Branch at the Convention in 2018.
Barbara Bain is a member of the London-Middlesex Branch and was present at the Convention in 2018.
SHINING STAR AWARD
This Award was established a few years ago by our Branch to recognize members for their long-term service, support of members, as well as community volunteer work.
In May 2019 at the Annual General Meeting Pat Savage presented Pat Malone with the Shining Star Award and Cathy Harrison presented Janet Wombwell with her Shining Star Award. Both Pat and Janet were given the award in recognition of their commitment to our Branch in carrying out the mandate of Caring and Sharing by supporting programs and members as well as being active volunteers in the community.
On the left: The Shining Star Award 2019, Pat Savage presented the Award to Pat Malone.
On the right: Cathy Harrison presented the Shining Star Award to Janet Wombwell in May 2019.
A great majority of our members are active in the London-Middlesex Community through their church or other agencies and organizations. From May Court Club, Sororities, Meals on Wheels, Cancer Clinic, Lioness, to Optimist Club, Grandmothers for Grandmothers Campaign… the list is long and varied… hundreds of hours each year are spent helping and serving others.
In addition to individual members’ activities, as a Branch we support different charities within our London-Middlesex region by collecting goods or monies each month we meet for a luncheon in 2018-19.
Our Charities
- September – Paper Goods for the Women’s Rural Resource Centre, Strathroy and Area
- October -Items/cash for Children’s Literacy Initiatives.
- November – Items for the women of London attending a Resource Centre called “My Sister’s Place”,and also the Branch makes a financial contribution to the Salvation Army Christmas drive in lieu of Christmas gifts for our members.
- March – Non-perishable items for the London Food Bank.
- April – monies are collected from members for Educational Awards given by the Kiwanis Music/Speech competitions and for the Children’s Aid Scholarship Fund and Merrymount Children’s Services.
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