Canadian Federation of

University Women

Distinguished Civic Award for Community Service to Barbara Jean Taylor Barbara Jean has been a highly dedicated volunteer in Cobourg and environs for almost 40 years. She was a leading member of the Victoria Hall Restoration Society, and continues to be an active volunteer. Barbara Jean was a founding member and Past Chair of the Northumberland Orchestra. For the past 20 years she has worked on the often elaborate costumes required for every production of the Northumberland Players. She is a Past Chair, and for many years has been an active volunteer of the Cobourg/Port Hope Association for the Mentally Challenged. She was involved in the initial organization of Beyond the Blue Box and a volunteer for 12 years. Barbara Jean was also involved in organizing Ten Thousand Villages in Cobourg, and has been a volunteer at the store since it opened. We are pleased to present the Distinguished Civic Award for Community Service to her.

Spring has sprung Da grass has riz.. I wonda where da boidies iz.. Da boid is on da wing.. But dat’s abzoid! Da wing is on da boid! ~anonymous

March has been fantastic! The crocuses have started to peep out, along with the other early Spring flowers.

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Our Focus…..

Fellowship and support

Educational, cultural, and social issues

Special Interest groups

Scholarship programs for

secondary students

What’s inside:

President’s Report

Fall Program

Special Interest

Groups

Members’ Corner

Provincial and

National issues Executive Reports

Action Advocacy Education

Page 2 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

From the President’s Desk: April, 2012 Looking back to the past, Looking forward to the

future...

Wondering what to write about as my last

newsletter piece, I found myself thinking about

what stellar contributions so many of our

members have made to CFUW-Northumberland,

and especially those made by women who have

served on its executive. It is wonderful to note

that there are still active members who were on

our very first executive in 1991 and long

afterwards as well: Eva Nichols, Anne Tesluk,

Anne Warren, and Barb Winfield. Together they

represent many years of service and I am

indeed grateful for the foundation they laid and

the commitment they continue to demonstrate.

Compared to them I am a newbie indeed. I hope

however, that I have been able to make a

helpful contribution, before passing on the torch

to two more newcomers, Monica Sheridan and

Elizabeth Walker.

Yes, the club has grown and changed over the

last few years, as has the world around us.

Many women have moved to our community,

looking for mental stimulation, and hoping to

establish meaningful connections. When they

were able to find these at CFUW-N, they stayed

on, adding their energy and fresh ideas. While

our speakers have indeed been varied and

interesting, and email has made one sort of

communication so very easy, I believe that it is

the personal contacts that members have

established and maintained with one another

that have been at the heart of the club and one

key to its success, especially when they have led

to strong friendships and opportunities for

mutual support.

I moved to Cobourg in December of 2005, and

joined CFUW-N in 2006 after a personal

invitation to attend that year’s luncheon. Then,

when not very long afterwards I was approached

to be on the executive as vice-president, I

agreed, even though I was virtually in the dark

about CFUW, the club, and what would be

expected of me in the years to follow. Then why

did I agree? For one thing I was going to share

the job. For another, I decided that it could be

a way to get involved in my new community, to

learn something also new, and to meet other

like-minded women. And I was right about all

three.

What I didn’t anticipate was the time

commitment, and such a steep, though

interesting, learning curve. Happily I was not on

my own, and leaned heavily on Sandra Reisch

and Jan Howard. It turned out that there was a

lot to do behind the scenes: meetings to plan

and run, luncheons and resolutions to organize,

and advocacy to figure out, interest groups to

join, policies to update, archives to organize,

bulletin boards to prepare, newsletter articles to

write, problems to sort out, and, last but not

least, hundreds of emails to write and respond

to. Outside of our own club business, there was

finding out about Ontario Council, National and

IFUW, as well as reaching out to link us up with

other groups in the community. Thus I have

become involved with TEAM (Teen Education

and Mothering) at Cobourg East, the December

6 committee, and the committee that has

planned a film day to honour International

Women’s Day.

Do I regret this commitment? No. Having

only recently retired, I was glad to have

something meaningful to do. I came to believe

that the purposes and work of CFUW were

indeed worthwhile. I have always been

convinced that the full and equal participation of

women in society is necessary for the kind of

world we would all like to live in. Educational

opportunities for women are a critical stepping

stone to getting there. And, yes, I have made

new friends. Was it always smooth going? No.

There have been some misunderstandings,

sometimes amplified as they were passed along,

and personalities that didn’t always easily mesh.

But I am happy to say that such problems are

well behind me, and putting in a third year as

president has been made easy by the support

and responsible hard work of each member of

the executive.

As I mentioned above, there are four current

members who were on our first executive: Anne

Tesluk, Barb Winfield, Anne Warren and Eva

Nichols. All of them went on to serve in more

than one capacity over many years. Barb,

despite her health challenges, continues to be a

valued member of the program committee.

Now, with so many new members since those

early years, I thought it would be interesting to

learn a little more about these women.

Eva Nichols has kindly agreed to let me share

a little about her. She has truly been an

effective female force in the community and the

club. Many of you will already know that. But

there is more to her story… cont’d page 5

President’s Report

Page 3 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

Programme Committee –Summary for 2011-2012

Please note our meeting time: Of course, you are welcome to come a little earlier to catch up with friends, and

please consider bringing friends who may be interested in joining us!

General Meetings: first Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 Port Hope High School Library | Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 5 Cobourg East High School Library

Thanks to a team effort from CFUW members, Jane Davis, Ruth Kerr (chair), Catherine Lees, Carole Payne and Barb Winfield, the upcoming year’s schedule has been established. We hope that our selections interest you and that you will encourage friends to attend too. As usual, the Fall meetings take place at Port Hope High School and the others at Cobourg East Collegiate.

Sept. 12/11 – “Getting Acquainted” Marguerite Dorrity, Pat Page Hoisak, Monica Sheridan, Elizabeth Walker – a brief sharing of members’ interests

Oct. 3/11 – “Exploring the Complexity of Poverty in Northumberland County” – Open Public Panel in the PHHS Lecture Hall

Hunger– Adam Hudson / Homelessness – Diane Keast / Community Response – Sam Majic / Response of Our Justice System – Deb O’Connor

Nov. 7/11 – Speaker –Tinie Evans -advocate for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s “Grandmothers to Grandmothers” campaign supporting children in Africa orphaned by AIDS

Jan. 9/12 – Speaker – Megan Dersnah - “Gender Violence” – how it is addressed in post-conflict transition to peace

Feb. 6/12 – Panel of CFUW-Northumberland members -summaries of CFUW’s standing committees of Education, Status of Women, Legislation – from workshop presentations in October/January, including personal response of members to issues

Mar. 5/12 – Speaker – Joanne Bonnebaker

- co-founder of “The Learning Connection”

Apr. 2/12 – Resolutions Meeting: St Peters Church, Cobourg “Hutton Room” Potluck Dinner.

May Luncheon – Thursday, May 10, 2012 – Speaker – Gill Deacon

-environmental advocate, well-known broadcaster, author of “There’s Lead in Your Lipstick”

June 4th AGM – location TBA

Members: We are always looking for volunteers to bring a bottle of juice or some baked goods to the meetings. Purchased or homemade are both fine. Please sign the volunteer sheet if you could help out in this way.

http://wallstreetstripper.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pa0608_monster-cookies_lg.jpg

The Spring Program ~

Page 4 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

CFUW-N Presents PROGRAMME COMMITTEE UPDATE Thank you to our membership for supporting our choice of speakers for the 2011-2012 general meetings. We have received a lot of positive feedback and some great ideas for next year’s schedule. After the May luncheon, our committee will meet and begin incorporating your suggestions. We would appreciate your help with any thoughts about a possible speaker for a May 2013 Luncheon, assuming that next year’s executive will follow that route as a scholarship fundraiser.

Ruth Kerr

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Apr 2nd Resolutions Meeting –

Location: Hutton Room, St Peters Church,

King St E, Cobourg (just past Victoria Park)

This is POT LUCK.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Thursday, May 10, 2012 – May Luncheon –

Speaker – Gill Deacon, Is There Lead In Your Lipstick?

Find out what is really in our personal care

products at the 21st Annual Scholarship Luncheon

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Best Western Cobourg Inn

Cash Bar 11:30 a.m. ~ Luncheon 12:00 Noon

Tickets $55 each, Available from

Avid Reader 905-377-9454 or CFUW members

Gill Deacon, award-winning environmental

advocate, broadcaster and author of

There's Lead in Your Lipstick and Green For Life

brings her informed and friendly style to the

subject that has long been her passion.

Gill will share how to navigate misleading

labels and ‘greenwash’, and ultimately arrive at

safer choices for a healthier family and a

healthier world. You'll learn how to identify

and understand the ingredients that are bad for

your body and damaging to the earth. This is an

indispensable review of personal-care choices

that are sustainable, both for your health and

for the earth.

Gill is a busy working mom and host of CBC-TV's

The Gill Deacon Show. She understands the

challenges of trying to "do it all" with a

smaller environmental footprint. As a breast

cancer survivor, Gill Deacon takes the issue of

toxins in body care products to heart.

(Continued from page 2…) Eva was a war

baby born and raised in the Czech Republic,

where war (being buried alive for three days

in a bomb raid!) taught her survival and

organizational skills. At age twelve she

arrived in Oakville with her parents and a

sister, brought in by United Nations as a

political refugee (Displaced Person), when

Communists took over the Czech

government. Clearly she adapted well, for

she later graduated from U of T, with a B.A.

and eventually an M.A. Eva’s career was

then spent as an educator. She finished up

as principal of Clarke High School. Prior to

that she was a course director at York

University for six years; published

educational materials, and took summer

courses in Germany and Switzerland

sponsored by the Ministry of Education. She

was seconded by the federal government to

cross Canada promoting experiential

learning. Here in Cobourg she founded the

Centre for Individual Studies. It’s certainly

clear that Eva believes in the importance of

education, as does CFUW. I just wish I had

half her energy!

Eva is also a firm believer in giving back to

her community. The following list takes my

breath away: United Way volunteer, Art

Gallery of Northumberland, chair of the

hospital board, member of Rotary, board

member, on the Central East LHIN, president

of OCEA and CESBA ( provincial associations

in education) , Northumberland Land Trust.

Eva has also served in several positions on

the executive of CFUW, especially about

twelve years off-and-on as treasurer. She

has made many lifelong friends in the club.

And, last, but not least, Eva has two

wonderful children (a son in Ottawa and a

daughter in Alberta) and six grandchildren.

She treasures the times she can spend with

them. She is interested in gardening

(raising gorgeous orchids!), nature and

wildlife, which may or may not include her

delightful dog, Logan. While she loved living

in Gore’s Landing, she downsized to Cobourg

after her partner, Ron Miller, died in 2004.

Well… Eva has set a fine example for all of

us. She epitomizes the CFUW motto: The

Right to Speak. The Responsibility to Act.

~ Margaret Schroeder, President, CFUW-N

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Page 5 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

Thank you, IBM!

Interest Group Convenor: Sandra Parcher 905-885-8333

Please call me with your special

interests!

CFUW-N TEAM!

Teens and babies with Linda Nicol, presenting cheque to Dorothy Noronha

CFUW Member gets $1000.00 Grant for the CFUW’

sponsored Teen Education and Mothering program.

By Linda Nicol

The year 2011 marked the 100th

anniversary for IBM.

As part of the IBM centennial events, they declared

an awards program that could be applied for by any

employee or retiree that volunteered in the

community. The awards for an individual application

were $500-$1000’s.

As a member of the CFUW executive for two years, I

qualified to apply for the $1000 award. The trick was

to define a project that IBM would approve. I

decided to see if the teacher of our special project, the

Teen Education and Mothering program at Cobourg

East Collegiate , and I could define an activity for the

teen mom’s that would increase their skills in some

way.

The teacher, Dorothy Noronha, remembered that the

previous teacher had thought of taking the moms on

an outward bound type activity. The objective of this

experience would be to help them to understand how

to work within a team to achieve team goals. The

initial programme experience would be off-site

during the day.

The skills to be focused on would be team building,

trust, self esteem and emotional resilience. This

would help give the moms the ability to develop their

own personal bank of resources to draw on when

faced with adversity.

We submitted a plan to IBM that provided a day out

to Larryland Adventures in Keene that conducts team

building activities. The budget submitted was just

under a $1000 including the day for 12 moms and

transportation. The day out would take place in the

spring of 2012.

This required a group effort on the part of - Our president, who had to sign an IBM

Affirmation of Compliance stating that we

conduct our group without discrimination, that

the awarded funds would not be used to support

acts of violence or terrorism. A typical US

corporation requirement these days.

- Our past treasurer, Eva Nichols, who provided

the financial report

- Barbara Garrick, who provided a letter stating she

had audited our books

The rest of the IBM volunteer award application

documentation was completed and submitted by the

November 15th

deadline.

In early December, IBM approved the request and

sent CFUW president Margaret Schroeder a cheque

for $1000 to be used by the TEAM program.

Hopefully the teen moms enjoy their day out in the

spring. We may call on members to help babysit the

little ones at the school while the moms are away. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~

Special Interest Groups

Page 6 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

Gourmet lunch group –Nov 2011 Back: Joan Prlja, Mary Park, Faye Richards, Donna Smith, Margaret Robinson |Front: Pat Page-Hoisak, Kathy Upper | Absent (cruising the Mediterranean!): Hilary Walker

Walkers Group and "Zoe"

on the Port Hope Waterfront

Trail on November 8th

, 2011

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Some pics of

Virginia Mair’s

Dragonboaters New members

welcome!

In MEMORIAM:

DEAR (nee HOSSIE), Helen Marie - Peacefully, at the Golden Plough Lodge, on October 25th, 2011, in

her 88th year. Beloved mother of Allan (Angela), Pamela (Barbara) and daughter-in-law Patricia.

Predeceased by her husband John, and son Ian Gordon. Cherished grandmother of Matthew (Janette).

Loving sister of Lila Harting (Alfred). A service will be held at St. Peter's Anglican Church (corner of

College and King Street Cobourg), on Saturday October 29th, 2011 at 11 am. Interment at Heritage

Cemetery of St. Peter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northumberland Symphony Orchestra

or the READ Center. Condolences received at www.MacCoubrey.com http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oId=546034

“Helen was a long-time member and strong supporter of CFUW. She made a significant contribution in all areas, especially on the scholarship committee, the focus group, and the investment group. Helen was a retired teacher and reading consultant – she worked for the Toronto School Board. In retirement, Helen was a valued member of the Victoria Hall Volunteers and was an active volunteer in other areas of Cobourg. Helen’s active life was curtailed due to a severe stroke in 2003.” ~ Submitted by Barbara Jean Taylor.

Members’ Corner @->-->---

Page 7 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

International Women’s Day was celebrated in film this year with 3 offerings shown at the beautiful Park Playhouse, King St E, Cobourg on Sunday, March 11th . The three films were: Last Train Home, Yesterday, & The Secret Life of Bees. Thanks to all who came out to enjoy this free event. Please consider other ways we could celebrate International Women’s Day

National has improved their website! Please visit at www.cfuw.org .

International Women’s Day (IWD), which is observed on March 8th, is a day to celebrate the progress made towards gender equality in Canada and around the world, and also to recognize the many hurdles we have yet to overcome as women. For the past several months CFUW Clubs across the country have been busy planning events and various activities to mark the 101st IWD. Last year with it being the 100th anniversary, there were also a number of

exceptional events planned by our Clubs. (From the March issue of the Communicator -CFUW National)

CFUW WEBSITES:

National Website:

www.cfuw.org

Provincial Website:

http://www.cfuwontcouncil.ca

Our website:

www.cfuw-northumberland.com

International:

COME AND JOIN US IN VICTORIA!

AGM and Conference 2012

June 21-24, 2012

Registration for the AGM and Conference in

June in Victoria is up and running! Just check

the national web site (www.cfuw.org) for a link

to the registration company, which provides

further links to the registration form and booklet.

J a n u a r y 2 1 , 2 0 1 2

Ontario Council sent a letter to Laurel Broten, Minister of Education on Bill 13, an act to amend

the Education Act with respect to bullying and other matters. J a n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 1 2

Ontario Council sends a letter to Premier McGuinty asking that he pressure the federal government to both maintain the records that have already been collected with the long gun registry, and to

denounce the potential changes that have been in place since 1977. F e b r u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 1 2

Continuing the work done by the Great Lakes United concerning the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, letters have been sent pushing for this

agreement. CFUW Ontario Council is a signator.

Charlottetown lawyer Daphne Dumont has been appointed a

member of the Order of Canada. She was honoured for her

contributions as a lawyer and volunteer with various legal

associations.

Dumont earned her law degree at Oxford University in 1976,

becoming the first woman admitted to study law at any of the

Oxford men's colleges. She became the third woman

president of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), and its first-

ever president from Prince Edward Island. She has devoted

countless hours to volunteering for community groups,

including the Community Legal Information Association and the

Canadian Federation of University Women, providing advice on

family law, legal aid and access to justice.

IFUW International Colloquia IFUW 's international colloquia project is identifying barriers to women's access to decision-making positions in Higher Education (HE). The deadline for IFUW national federations and associations to submit proposals to join the project has been extended to 31 March 2012.

Mary Rose Suzanne Boyer B.Ed., PGDEA ,Cert.Comm.Dev (

1946 - 2012} Mary Rose, a Metis citizen of Saskatchewan, was

born and educated in the Macoun -Estevan - Roche Percee area.

After receiving her degree, she taught school in several

Saskatchewan locations and was chair of several educational

organizations. She also earned certificates in Aboriginal Cultural

Awareness, Life Space Crisis Intervention Interviewer,

Community Development, Human Rights Legislation

Implementation and Assessment Employment Counselor.

Regional, National, and International News

Page 8 September 2011 CFUW-N Newsletter

Endnotes:

MEMBERSHIP Women who have a university degree, or equivalent from an

accredited university anywhere in the world, or have earned a

professional qualification that currently requires a university or

college degree, are welcome to become members of the Canadian

Federation of University Women (CFUW). In addition, CFUW

Clubs offer associate memberships for women without a degree,

who support our goals and objectives.

Presently our annual dues stand at $100.00.

The dues not only include membership in our local Club, but also

the Provincial Council (CFUW Ontario Council), the national

Federation (CFUW), and the International Federation (IFUW).

Members attend our monthly meetings and social functions and

may join as many interest groups as desired, some free – some

paid.

In addition, members are invited to start up new groups reflecting

their own specific interests. They will also receive our newsletter

"The Northumberland Network" published three times annually. To join us, please call our Membership Chair,

Virginia at 289-252-0461, e-mail: vmair1@cogeco.ca or send an e-mail to cfuwnorthumberland@gmail.com

The Executive:

Executive Meetings:

3rd

Monday of the month

at 7:00 p.m.

President:

Past-President:

Co Vice-President:

Co Vice-President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Membership:

Program:

Newsletter:

Communications:

Awards:

Special Interest Groups:

Social Convenor:

Margaret Schroeder

Jan Howard

Monica Sheridan

Elizabeth Walker

Christine Sharp

Lynn Patry

Virginia Mair

Ruth Kerr

Nancy Fairweather

Patricia McCaw

Charlotte Majic

Sandra Parcher

Sharon Holmes

Our members are all amazing ladies! Ask us where we’ve been, and how we spend our time…

If you are interested in being part of the

Executive team, please contact the appropriate

person above. We would be happy to

collaborate, train, or otherwise work with you!

Spring Song by Robert Louis Stevenson

THE air was full of sun and birds, The fresh air sparkled clearly. Remembrance wakened in my heart And I knew I loved her dearly. The fallows and the leafless trees And all my spirit tingled. My earliest thought of love, and Spring's First puff of perfume mingled. In my still heart the thoughts awoke, Came lone by lone together - Say, birds and Sun and Spring, is Love A mere affair of weather?

Brenda Thompson of Palisades extends thanks for

CFUW-N patronage of their facilities, and warmly

welcomes us back for future events.

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/robert_louis_stevenson/poems/2101.html

The next newsletter submission deadline will be August 10th, 2012.

Any errors or omissions are unintentional.

For corrections, submissions or ideas Contact: Nancy (mob) 905-269-0702

Email: nfairweather@devpar.com

The Executive 2011-2012