CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 1  

Canadian Federation of University Women

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Newsletter

REMINDER It's time to renew your membership for the coming year! Stratford membership dues are $95 for regular members, $45 for full time students, and $30 for dual members. New and returning members can register in person at the Meet & Greet. We look forward to including you in the great 2014-2015 program. Please invite friends, neighbours and colleagues to our September 23 Meet & Greet and encourage them to join CFUW. An invitation is attached (pg 6). Membership Chair, Mary Fisher

CONTENTS Message from the President page 2 Program page 3 Building Community in a Fragmenting World Advocacy page 4 2014-15 Executive page 5 Interest Groups page 5 2014-15 Art Series page 6 Meet & Greet Invitation page 7 Encourage prospective members!

Email: cfuwstratford@gmail.com Website: www.cfuwstratford.wordpress.com  

CFUW  Stratford  –  Who  We  Are    Founded   in   1954,   CFUW   Stratford   is   a   voluntary,  not   for   profit,   nonpartisan   organization   of   more  than   70   women,   both   university   graduates   and  other  women  who  share  our  goals  and  values,  living  in   and   around   Stratford.   We   are   dedicated   to  positive   change   for   a   peaceful,   sustainable   future  and  are  affiliated  with:    • CFUW   Ontario   Council,   representing   over  6,000  women   in   55   clubs   across   the   province;       www.cfuwontcouncil.ca  

• CFUW,   the   Canadian   Federation   of   University  Women  with  more  than  9,000  members  in  over  100  clubs  across  Canada;  and             www.cfuw.org  

• IFUW,   the   International   Federation   of  University  Women,  with  more  than  70  affiliates  around  the  world.               www.ifuw.org  

 As  a  club  we  are  committed  to:  the  pursuit  of  knowledge;  the  promotion  of  education;  the  improvement  of  the  status  of  women  and  girls;  the  protection  of  human  rights;  the  promotion  of  peace,  justice  and  equality;  and  active  participation  in  public  affairs  in  the  spirit  of  cooperation  and  friendship.    Our  fundraisers  and  donations  provide  annual  scholarships  for  the  education  of  local  female  students.      

*  WE  WELCOME  NEW  MEMBERS  *  

 

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 2  

Message from the President

What  a  delight   it  was   to  attend   the  National  CFUW  AGM  in  Waterloo   in   June.    CFUW  Stratford  was  able  to  send  three  delegates  covering  the  three  days  of  the  event,  (with  no  cost  for  travel  or  hotels!).    Sheila  Clarke,  Anne  Carbert  (our  new  Ontario  Council  rep)  and  I  attended,  along  with  an  incoming  member,  the  former  president  of  CFUW  Sherbrooke  who  is  just  moving  to  Stratford.    The   experience   of   learning   about   how   other   Clubs   operate,   interacting   with   members   from  across  the  country,  and  getting  to  know  the  National  staff  and  their  roles  were  all  great  benefits.    And  while  I  enjoyed  the  workshops,  and  speakers,   the  connections  with  other  CFUW  members  was   the  best  aspect  of   this  event   for  me.     It  provided   two   things:  an   inspiration  about  moving  forward  with  Club  plans,  and  a  sense  of  pride  in  what  CFUW  Stratford  has  accomplished.    While  many   clubs   are   experiencing   slippage   in   membership,   we   have   maintained   or   increased   our  membership   over   the   last   few   years,   and   the   transportation   project   is   one   of   the   significant  efforts  among  the  Clubs.    However,  it  was  also  clear  that  we  have  many  possible  areas  to  grow  in,  and  I  look  forward  to  the  challenge  to  do  so.    It  seems  to  me  that  the  strength  of  our  Club  is  in  the  bonds  of  relationship  that  we  forge  in  our  interest   groups.     They   are   the   cords   that   hold   us   together   and   are   very   important   to   the  wellbeing   of   the   Club,   and   to   our   personal   wellbeing   as   well.   We   know   that   isolation   is  devastating  to  physical  and  emotional  health,  and  is  so  destructive  to  the  survival  of  cities  and  communities.       This   has   led   to   the   plan   for   this   year’s   theme:   “Building   Community   in   a  Fragmenting   World”.     There   are   so   many   challenges   that   undermine   relationships   and   the  speakers  have  been  chosen  to  help  us  look  at  ways  those  challenges  can  be  addressed.    Of  course,  CFUW  is  not  only  about   interest  groups.    The   twin   focus  of  advocating   for  women’s  issues  and  supporting   the  education  of  women   is  validated  by   research,  which   shows   that   the  wellbeing  of  women  and   their   education  are  key   to   the  wellbeing  of   their   country.     These   are  important  issues  and  help  us  to  make  a  difference  in  Stratford,  in  Canada  and,  through  IFUW,  in  the  world.    However,   I   am   undoubtedly   “preaching   to   the   choir”-­‐-­‐-­‐as   members,   you   already   know   the  benefits  of  being  part  of  this  local,  national,  and  international  organization.    I  am  hoping  that  you  will,  however,  pass  this  information  on  to  your  friends,  and  encourage  them  to  come  to  the  Meet  and  Greet,  7:00  pm  on  September  23rd,  and  then  join.    We  look  forward  to  that  event  as  a  wonderful  chance  to  reconnect  after  the  summer,  and  to  have  a  very  stimulating  presentation  to  kick  off  the  2014-­‐2015  year.    See  you  there!  

Louise McColl -­‐President  

 

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 3  

2014 – 2015 PROGRAM Building Community in a Fragmenting World

Sept 23: ANNUAL MEET & GREET for Prospective and Returning Members 7:00 pm, University of Waterloo, Stratford Campus,

Screening of the Stratford Festival Forum Event "And Her Children".

Canadian Senator and retired Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, founder of the Daughters for Life Foundation, and Dr. Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child Canada, come together for this extraordinary examination of the living legacies of war.

**********

REGULAR MEETINGS at Central United Church* 7:30 pm Oct 28: Mary Bastedo, former community leader, L’Arche Stratford, co-ordinator of “The Cedars” at L’Arche Daybreak, Richmond Hill Nov 25, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, April 28: sequence for the following speakers to be confirmed Anne Copeland V.P. Anne Hathaway School and past Coordinator of the Avon Maitland District School Board "Safe Schools" Program Altiera Essensa Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Stratford & District Eugene Dufour Chair Stratford Perth Residential Hospice Steering Committee Mar 24: CFUW National Resolutions : Come Prepared for Discussion

*********** Dec 6: Seasonal Celebration 11:30 AM, The Queen’s Inn, 161 Ontario Street, Stratford April 11: Elizabethan Dinner Fundraiser 6:30 pm, The Queen’s Inn, 161 Ontario Street Stratford May 26: Annual General Meeting: 6:00 pm, The Queen’s Inn, 161 Ontario Street, Stratford Speaker: Michelle Baldwin, Exec. Director, Pillar Nonprofit Network

Pillar Nonprofit Network provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the nonprofit sector through the promotion of volunteerism, professional development and networking opportunities, and information sharing.

 

 

Note:    Regular  meetings  are  held  at  Central  United  Church,  194  Avondale  Ave.,  Stratford.    Please  use  the  back  door  off  the  Huntingdon  Ave  parking  lot.  The  meeting  commences  at  7:30  p.m.  with  the  evening’s  speaker.  The  regular  business  meeting  follows  a  short  refreshment  break  at  8:30  p.m.    

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 4  

CFUW NATIONAL ADVOCACY URGENT CALL FOR ACTION: Justice for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls The August 17 discovery of 15 year old Tina Fontaine’s body in the Red River again focused attention on the 1,200 Aboriginal women and girls in Canada, missing or murdered, over the last 30 years. CFUW joined the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and many others calling on elected officials to implement a full public inquiry and a national action plan to address the disproportionate violence faced by Aboriginal women and girls. Letters went to the Minister of Justice, and the Premiers of every province demanding action. CFUW clubs and individual members wrote to federal and provincial elected officials. On August 27, in Charlottetown Canada’s premiers and native leaders renewed their demand for a federal inquiry and invited the Prime Minister to participate in a roundtable discussion. Please join fellow CFUW members by writing to your Member of Parliament, Premier and relevant provincial Ministers to demand justice and action for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Templates and addresses are provided at http://www.fcfdu.org/en-ca/advocacy  

ADVOCACY:  CFUW  Stratford  Public  Transportation  Project        After   a   summer   of   renewal,   the   CFUW   transportation   project,   You Can't Get There from Here  www.gettingthere.ca,   is   set   to   refresh   efforts   to   maintain   rail   transportation   to   and   from  Stratford,  within  an  integrated  transportation  framework.    On   June  19,  Advocacy  members   Liz  Dolan   and   Sheila   Clarke  met  with  Metrolinx   (Go  Transit)  executives  Leslie  Woo,  V-­‐P  Policy,  Planning  &  Innovation,  and  Bert  Peverini,  Chief,  Rail  Network  Planning.     Discussion   centered   on   the   transportation   needs   of   SW   Ontario,   and   Stratford   in  particular,  noting  the  presence  of  the  rail  yards.    On  June  22,   two  presentations  were  made  at  the   CFUW   National   AGM   in   Kitchener   –   once   to   the   Ontario   attendees   and   again   to   the   full  gathering   with   the   website   live   in   the   background.   Many,   many   members   described   similar  transportation  difficulties  in  their  provinces.    The  on-­‐line  petition  reached  its  goal  of  500,  and  was   submitted   to   Premier   Wynne   along   with   a   cover   letter.     We   await   word   on   a   meeting  request  to  the  Transportation  Minister's  office.    Ongoing   initiatives   include   membership   in   SWOTA,   the   Southwest   Ontario   Transportation  Alliance,   including  Sarnia,  London,  St.  Mary’s  and  Stratford.    This  group   is  restructuring  under  new  leadership,  and  seeking  opportunities  for  political  voice.    We  continue  to  be  represented  on  the  United  Way   Transportation   Task   Force,  which   is   exploring   transportation   alternatives   to  enable   their   clientele   to   reach   services   and   employment.  We   are   also   involved   in   an  Ontario  CFUW  Standing  Committees  meeting  that  will  highlight  transportation  in  the  coming  year.    We  are  renewing  efforts   to  speak  with   the   federal  government  re:  VIA,  and  with   the  new  VIA  President,   Yves   Desjardins-­‐Siciliano,   and   will   continue   our   liaison   with   the   City   and   other  community  groups.  Additional  community  engagement  may  also  be  a  direction  to  look  at  with  reference  to  GO  trains.  Stay  tuned!  (And  stay  trained  :)  

 

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 5  

 

Your CFUW STRATFORD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2014-15

President Louise McColl 519-271-6942 plmccoll@cyg.net

Past President & Scholarship Chair Katherine Gunnel Gavin 519-305-1066 gunnelgavin@rogers.com

Vice President Charlotte Gillett 519-272-1101 cgillett15@hotmail.com

2nd Vice President Lois Battle (duties only) 519-272-5032 lbattle47@hotmail.com Secretary/Newsletter Pat Shewen 226-921-5021 pshewen@uoguelph.ca

Treasurer Jean Hillen 519-271-1516 jrhillen@rogers.com

Membership Chair Mary Fisher 519-271-7062 fisherjm6@gmail.com

Program Chair Pat Reavy 519-273-0176 preavy@rogers.com Advocacy Chair Margaret Reid 519-273-0068 rielreid47@gmail.com

Communications & Archives Nora Walden 519-272-0001 twalden@orc.ca

Fund Development Ann Reynolds 519-273-7727 no email

Interest Groups

Interest Groups start again this Fall. Think about which ones you want to join, then sign-up at the Meet and Greet September 23rd. Most groups meet once a month and it is a great way to meet new people, reconnect with friends and also take part in an activity you enjoy. You will be able to sign up for the following groups:

Advocacy and Action Lunch Bunch Book Clubs (Noon, 3rd Friday each month) Bridge Movie Night Crafts & Chats (3rd Monday each month) French Mystery Readers Gourmet Quilting Learn to Play Basic Bridge Walking New this year: a group to engage with IFUW activities

If you would like to start a new group, please contact Lois Battle. lbattle47@hotmail.com

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 6  

Join Bob Phillips for two interactive presentations:

• Conversation with a Sculpture: Developing Relationships with Art

Explore ways of interpreting ideas and locating personal meaning in visual artworks. No extensive knowledge of art is required!

• Shark in the Gallery: Making Connections with Contemporary Art

This presentation will attempt to calm fears and open eyes to the complexity,

ambiguity and meanings to be found in recent visual art.

Dates: Fridays - Nov. 14 and 21, 2014 Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm Location: River Gardens Retirement Residence, 10 Romeo St., Stratford Light refreshments will be served.

Fund Raising Event for:

Canadian Federation of University Women – Stratford Club

Local Post Secondary Scholarship Program

$30.00 for a Series Ticket (available at Blowes Stationery) Single tickets available at the door for $ 17.00

For further information and tickets contact 519-273-7727 or 272-5032

Bob Phillips is currently Education Officer for Teacher Programs at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Bob taught visual arts and drama with the Peel District School Board for thirty years. He was sessional professor in the Art and Art History program at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College and taught elementary and secondary teachers at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Bob maintains a passionate affair with contemporary global art (even does some of this own.)

CFUW Stratford September 2014 Fall Newsletter 7  

Canadian Federation of University Women

CFUW Meet and Greet

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 at 7:00 pm University of Waterloo Stratford Campus

125 St. Patrick St.

You are invited to enjoy social time and refreshments followed by our program: viewing and discussion of the video “And Her Children” from the 2014 Stratford Festival Forum.

This speakers panel examines the contemporary equivalents to Mother

Courage’s children and the living legacies of war.

This meeting is a chance for you to consider joining CFUW Stratford with its array of interest groups and monthly meetings

with stimulating speakers.