Support | Action | Legacy
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CFUW Ontario Council News
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Ontario Council President's Message
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Hello OC ladies,
I wish to thank the 138 participants who joined us for our first virtual AGM on Saturday, May 23rd. Though we were unable to finish the entire AGM business meeting, we were able to debate and pass the six out of seven OC bylaw amendments. As an incorporated entity in the province of Ontario, our very first line of governance authority is the Ontario Corporations Act (OCA - while awaiting the formal passing of the newer Ontario Not for Profit Corporations Act-ONCA). We were also pleased the majority of the members recognized that our ability to partner with other like minded organizations and councils outside of the province gives us more voice and strength to advocate for similar issues of concern on a wider scale.
Without a doubt we had our glitches, which is bound to happen when working different platforms. I received comments saying it was, “very well run,” “professional,” and “one of the best virtual meetings they have ever attended,” to “frustrating…why didn’t we use Zoom…format very unfriendly.” I would venture to say that these platforms are not always what is expected or what actually transpires as planned or tested beforehand. For example, I attended the Zoom “Global Futures and Foresight: Opportunities for Women’s Regional Leadership and Collaboration in North America” hosted by G. Desai, past president of GWI. The first 20 minutes was spent trying to bring up her slide presentation. Did not happen and therefore Ms. Desai proceeded without them. Nothing is perfect.
However, we will endeavour to alleviate tech issues for August 15. Please read our “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) below for more information. We will also publish instructions for the use of One Cast again prior to the Saturday, August 15 resumption of the business meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Please mark your calendars. Note the registration form will be revised to distinguish between voting delegates, attendees, board members, etc.
Prior to the close of the meeting on May 23
rd, we did receive two questions posed to the treasurer. Please see the responses from J. Nettleton, our accountant.
While we remain in this age of disruption, I am heartened by the many clubs continuing their newsletters, offering more virtual connections for their members, and continuing with advocacy efforts. There is much work to be done ladies, as the pandemic has put the spotlight on extremely serious issues which need our attention—not the least being long term care. Additionally, our partners need us too. Please see the article on “Can You Help?”
The OC Board also knows that clubs are worried about keeping their members and keeping them engaged in a time of social distancing and isolation. What justifies the dues being levied? What do we offer? If anything, we have learned during this pandemic, it is change. Technology is a saving grace, but even technology can only go so far. What about the fundraisers to support the scholarships or the operating costs of running a club? This brings us to VALUE. What is the value of belonging to CFUW Ontario Council? Would love to hear from you on this one as the OC Board, in transition, plans the next term as we “explore emerging possibilities.”
Stay Safe. Stay Well. Stay Tuned.
Sandy Thomson, President
CFUW Ontario Council
WITH GRATITUDE.....
On behalf of the Ontario Council Board, I wish to acknowledge and thank the clubs as they demonstrate what Ontario Council is all about: friendship, advocacy, education, and giving in our video display. Our deepest gratitude also goes out to creative producer, Pat Sanagan, CFUW Southport.
Thanks
Sandy
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In Memoriam
Remembering Betty Tugman
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On May 21, 2020, we lost our third Ontario Council President, Betty Tugman. Betty served Ontario Council from 1985 to 1988 and she was the driving force in making Ontario Council what it is today. We owe our foundations to her and her strong leadership and vision. She was a member of CFUW Mississauga and UWC Toronto. You may remember her wonderful memory of serving as our president when we celebrated our 40
th anniversary, with the following, “.....and we had to have the meeting over by 3 p.m. so the women could go shopping. “ (ad lib) In later years, Betty turned her energies from executive work to furthering her skills in the watercolour medium.
Gail Crawford, CFUW Mississauga, and former member of the Advisory Committee on CFUW History Project, has written an excellent piece on Betty, please click
here to read it. Betty will not be forgotten ...
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Ask the Treasurer
Financial Questions from the AGM
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Two financial questions were addressed to Treasurer Teresa Habs at the May 23rd AGM:
- Do we foresee CRA being concerned when unrestricted funds get close to $90,000?
- Why no formal audit?
To read Teresa's responses plus added comments from Judith Nettleton our Accountant, click
here.
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OC AGM Frequently Asked Questions
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In response to a number of questions arising from our first virtual AGM, please note the FAQs assembled by our Parliamentarian, Myra Willis, and tech support, Elizabeth Haynes. Thank you to those who posed the queries.
Thank you!
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CFUW Ontario Council
Constitution and Bylaws
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The CFUW Ontario Council Constitution and Bylaws, as amended at the May 23rd AGM, are now posted on the OC website. To view, please click
here
.
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Can You Help?
Charities Needing Your Support
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The pandemic has charities looking for support. One of our partners,
Scientists in Schools
, Ajax-Pickering, has been adversely affected with the school year suspended. You may remember the workshop at our 2018 AGM presented by Cindy Adams, Executive Director. If you have a mind to donate and assist our partner, please consider giving to their campaign. Please click
here
for more information. To donate click
here
.
Also during June, the
Joy Smith Foundation
, created to fight human trafficking, is participating in the “Great Canadian Giving Challenge,” trying to win $20,000 to allow for ..”new education programs to be created to continue to protect our children and our youth from this horrid crime.” Please click
here
for more details. Also, each year the Joy Smith Foundation is one of the charities that partners with the
Ride for Refuge
to fundraise. This year the event is taking place October 3, 2020 and is more inclusive than ever with their Ride Freestyle option which allows participants to choose the activity most meaningful to them to support their charity. #ride20 #nobikesrequired
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Women Helping Women
Our vision for Ontario Council can be summed up in the following key words:
Support. Action. Legacy.
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CFUW Southport
(Southampton and Port Elgin)
staying connected and supporting the community!
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Darlyne Rath is one of our members and has created a group of volunteers to make nursing caps for the local hospitals. They made
300 caps in 7 days
with more on the way. “Southampton Hospital loves them”. You can find the pattern at
twelvebees.ca.
Another member, Roxy Angel, is busily adding to the masks being made for the Owen Sound Hospital. Her daughter works in the ICU.
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Southport CFUW Executive reached out to all members with a phone call to ask:
- How are you dealing with the isolation and social distancing?
- Do you need anything?
- What are you doing to keep occupied?
Many were working in gardens, doing lots of walking with spouses and friends (keeping 2 metres apart), baking, trying new recipes, connecting with family and friends through social media. Interactive online games keep many connected and engaged. Favourite Netflix movies were also a hot topic. It is amazing how much you learn about a member in a one on one conversation!
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We created a CFUW Southport Zoom account to be sure we had enough minutes for meetings. So far, we have used this resource to hold Executive Meetings, a Scholarship Committee Meeting, present and amend Resolutions, and hold book clubs. One book club used the CFUW Zoom account with the wonderful support of
Rachel Deneault, Member Engagement Coordinator
,
CFUW!
CFUW Southport has continued support to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation through donations of food, toys, and over the counter medicines. This is being facilitated at this time by Lyndsay Grace, the daughter of one our members.
The Scholarship Committee discussed how to move forward during their Zoom meeting. They have reached out to the local High School, candidates will be selected through on line applications and recipients will be determined by on line interviews. Mature Women and Coming out of Care Scholarships are being looked at for Fall.
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CFUW Orangeville & District - Vote.Run.Lead. Women’s Campaign School Website to be launched Canada Day
CFUW O's Women in Action team have been working diligently over the past year towards developing a Women’s Campaign School in April and May 2020. Nothing short of a pandemic was going to derail us! But here we are, ‘pivoting’ like everyone else, to adapt to this ‘new norm’ that requires of all of us to think and act differently than before. Since the funding we have for this initiative from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is time-constrained, instead of postponing the two events until public gatherings are again possible, we are instead redirecting those funds towards the development of a website that will be a much more enduring resource for our community.
The Power of Women Working Together is the
ACE up our sleeve, and we can’t wait for you to share in this project. The planned launch date for the
VoteRunLead.ca website is July 1, 2020. See you there!
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Upcoming Club Fundraisers & Public Events
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Cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19 continue. We look forward to the day that in-person meetings, fundraisers and public events can resume. When that day arrives, p
lease remember to send posters of your coming events to
the Editor
as soon you have them finalized, so we can include them on the website and in the newsletter. A complete list of past events can be found
here...
In the meantime, if your Club has a COVID-19 story to share, please submit using the button below.
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Ontario Council News is a newsletter for and about our Ontario Clubs.
- We receive news from so many of our clubs that we've decided to publish it on our website to limit the need for scrolling in the newsletter.
- Please note: Because Ontario Council includes close to 50 clubs, we are not able to publish club meetings, AGMs, scholarship winners and other charitable giving.
- To help you help us, click the link below for all the information you need about our publication schedule, submission deadlines, and preferred format.
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Save the Date!
2020 Ontario Council Virtual AGM - Part 2
August 15
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