London-Middlesex

Co- Presidents 2022-2024

Left:  Mary Maxwell 

mmaxwell@rogers.com

Right: Linda Freeman

lindyfreeman@sympatico.ca

 

 

 

Membership:  Karen Tierney

tierneykaren288@gmail.com

 

 


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.

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.

 

 

Current Newsletter

February 2022

 

Archived Newsletters

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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