Home & Country (Spring 2008)

              Home and Country Spring 2008

Handicraft Report
Bernice Willsie, Handicraft Coordinator

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reetings to everyone at the start of a wonderful New Year. A bright cold January day is just great for crafting and finalizing the plans for the 2008 Alberta Women's Institutes Handicraft Competitions. The competitions will be held in conjunction with the AWI Convention to be held in Camrose, Alberta on June 3 - 5, 2008. If you plan to enter this event please follow the steps listed below so that I can make sure everything is in place to serve you in the best manner. 1. Send the White copy of the entry sheet to me with all of your entries listed on it no later than May 9, 2008. This can be done by sending it to Bernice Willsie Box 373, Bowden, Alberta T0M 0K0 or by fax to 403-224-3155. 2. Pack your entries carefully and enclose the beige copy of the entry sheet in the box. 3. Send your parcels containing your entries to AWI Handicraft, c/o Norsemen Inn, 6505 48 Avenue, Camrose, Alberta T4V 3K3. Keep in mind your entries must arrive at the Norsemen Inn no later than May 30, 2008. If you wish to personally deliver your entries they must be delivered to the Norsemen Inn no later than 12:00 noon on June 1, 2008. 4. Send the Mauve Copy of the entry sheet with the person picking up your entries after the convention. NO entries will be released to anyone that does not have the correct mauve sheet. 5. Entries must be picked up at the designated time on June 4, 2008. The time will be announced at the convention. Additions and deletions to your list will be accepted by Bernice with a telephone or fax call until May 28, 2008. I have an answering service so please leave me a message with your name and telephone number. This year any items that are NOT listed on your entry sheet will not be judged. Please be sure to get everything entered because we would love to show case your work. All entries must be the work of the person exhibiting them and must be completed in the past year. Entries can only be entered in the Provincial Competition ONCE so therefore they may not be entered this year if you have entered them before. Last year we had nearly 400 entries which was wonderful. This year I am challenging every member in Alberta Women's Institutes to try and make this an even better display. Welcome back to everyone who has entered in the past. I would like to extend a special welcome to members who are entering for the first time. I will need some volunteer helpers on June 1 and 2, so if you live close to Camrose I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at the above telephone number if you would like to be involved. If you have volunteered to help and something comes up at the last minute please call me on my cell phone 403-507-9947 so we are not looking for you and don't worry about you. Thank you to everyone who has sent me their reports they are always a pleasure to read. To anyone who has not sent your report please do so soon so that I can get my report completed for the Report Book. As my term of office is drawing to a close I would like to thank all of the members for their help and co-operation. I would like to welcome the new Handicraft Coordinator and I encourage all of the members attending convention to drop by the handicraft room and meet the new Coordinator. I have truly enjoyed serving the organization in this position.

International Affairs
Zella Pimm, Convener

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h e Area of Canada project for the Associated Country Women of the World is Home Based Care for the Tsunami affected Dalit Children in the Nagapattinam District of India. The Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators (DMI) have started a home to take care of children who lost their parents and relatives in the tsunami tragedy and have no one to support them. They provide school fees, uniforms, supplies and transportation to local schools, and individual tuition if necessary. They also have counselors to work with the children as needed. The project will help provide basic needs such as food, clothes, medicine and educational materials, and Canada pledged to contribute $7,000 to this worthwhile project. Donations can be sent to the AWI office. A Canadian Area ACWW Conference will be held September 18-19, 2008 in Winnipeg. Watch for more information and plan to attend if possible. These are worthwhile experiences to learn about ACWW. I encourage branches to subscribe to The Countrywoman, the ACWW magazine which is produced four times a year and comes with your individual membership, which is now 20 pounds sterling for one year or 50 pounds sterling for three years. Please remember to support Pennies for Friendship, but Loonies would be better!

Correction to page 10 Handicraft Competition Winners Section E Stitchery, Fall 2007 Home and Country. 3rd place winner was Mary Lundgard, Berwyn Branch. Apologies to Mary for this error.

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