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Members honoured with awards at fall meeting of South Bruce RWTO

October 29, 2017

The South Bruce branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario (RWTO) gathered at the Legion Hall in Ripley, Thursday, for a red-and-white-themed Canada party.

Thirty-two members and three guests were welcomed by president Pat Emmerton who opened the meeting by inviting everyone to choose to be grateful.

In choosing to be grateful, we acknowledge the many blessings we enjoy, such as having enough food to eat, clothes to wear, homes to live in, families who love us, and friends who support us. Members of South Bruce had a lot to be thankful for at this meeting.

Retiring branch secretary Lois Davey was presented with flowers and thanked for her decade of service, followed by the introduction of incoming secretary, Christine Roberts.

Once the presentation of minutes, finance, goodwill and insurance reports was completed, the meeting continued with the delegates’ report from the June, 2017, Annual Convention/AGM. Pat Emmerton and Christina Weylie recapped their experiences at the convention in Ajax and provided a poster board of information.

RWTO provincial president Lois Lockhart brought greetings on behalf of the provincial board. She praised the South Bruce branch for its efforts in making a difference in the lives of members and the community through support of local charities, such as the food bank, health care foundations, United Way, and the Alzheimer Society. She spoke of the 2017 convention, and returned retirement dream biographies that had been submitted for display by three members.

This was a good segue into updates and information-sharing for the June, 2018, Annual Convention/AGM, taking place in Alliston at the Nottawasaga Inn. This formal gathering of provincial delegates is being co-hosted by Areas 1 (of which South Bruce is a member) and 6. Members were encouraged to get involved by becoming a delegate or taking a volunteer role.

The lives and legacies of four members, who died this past year, were lovingly commemorated with framed photos, flowers, candlelight and a poem of remembrance, in a memorial service led by Eleanor Thompson.

Two members in attendance, who are over 90 years of age, Peggy McCharles and Margaret Ferguson, were presented with red roses. New member Pam Agnew and returning member Linda Somerville were warmly welcomed with yellow roses.

Lockhart assisted Emmerton in distributing past-president pins to Eva Wilken, Audrey MacDonald, Leslie Uttley and Joan Kirkham.

The Cora Bailey award recognizes outstanding service of RWTO members within their home branch. Recipients receive a certificate but recently, a pin has been designed to honour this achievement. Lockhart presented pins to Betty Johnson, Leslie Uttley, Joan Kirkham, Eva Wilken, Lois Davey, Audrey MacDonald and Carole Machan.

Following the presentations, the group enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner prepared by the Ripley Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Uttley introduced the guest speaker, Arlene McFarlane, a multi-talented author residing in Point Clark. With an extensive background in the beauty industry, McFarlane is the creator and author of a series of “cozy” mysteries featuring a beautician. Cozies are a sub-genre of crime fiction in which explicit violence and sexuality are downplayed and humour is elevated (www.arlenemcfarlane.com).

McFarlane described the long journey leading from the traditional publishing route to becoming an award-winning, self-published author of romantic, comic murder-mysteries. Members enjoyed learning about the intricacies of publishing, and many took the opportunity to talk to her after the meeting.

As the meeting concluded, raffle winners were announced and members were reminded of the Christmas Tea gathering Nov. 16, at noon, at Kincardine Baptist Church.

Retired teachers living in southern Bruce County are invited to contact Emmerton at 519-396-1120, or Machan at 519-396-6589, to learn more about the group.

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