The weather was perfect for our first Fall luncheon and meeting at RiverBend Community Clubhouse this year. As usual members arrived early – there were 112 attending – and it was a bit of a squeeze to move around the 14 tables, but we managed as everyone was anxious to meet and greet after the summer break.
After the meal, Lorraine Jardine was our guest speaker with her friend Elizabeth working the technology for the presentation slides on the screen to illustrate her topic, “Helping Girls in Africa” – specifically Kenya.
Helkima Place is now a compound of buildings to house, and more recently a school, to educate girls who are orphans due to AIDS. Their motto is “Changing the World One Girl at a Time”, because by educating and helping a girl, who will delay marrying and having a family until older, improves the quality of life for the entire family and the next generation. Items made by the girls in Helkima Place were on display for sale to aid in financial support.
Next on our agenda, was Membership Chairpersons, Sandy O’Brien, Sharon Lunau and Karen Tierney introducing and welcoming 5 new members to our Branch. The new members are Lia Del Duca-Howie, Joey McDowell, Dianne Monteith, Rhonda Alexander and Mary Moore. More new members will be introduced at another meeting.
Our Outreach (Sharing and Caring) was for The Women’s Rural Resource Centre Strathroy and Area and $1,303 was collected in cash and cheques and many useful items were delivered directly to Donna Newcombe and Mary McNabb-Lutz and their van, at the entrance since we did not have our usual table at the back of the room on which to display the donations.
President Linda Freeman asked members with birthdays in June, July, August and September to stand and be recognized, and Linda also handed out three pots of Mums to a September Birthday member, a Rewards card draw and a new Member.
Two members won the “Share the Wealth Draw of $105 each with $210 going to the branch to offset future expenses.
The photos are of our New Members; the Membership people receiving payments for dues and future lunches; the Speaker and her friend Elizabeth; items for sale; the table centrepieces created by Irene Gauvin’s craft group, and Maureen Tipping with Lorraine Jardine – they taught at the same school back in the day.
By:- Janice Thielenhaus
Email:- jthielenhaus@hotmail.com
