Be kind to our world
Reduce, reuse, recycle
On August 2 and 3, 2017, the Cape Breton District of Women’s Institutes of Nova Scotia welcomed to Cape Breton almost 100 women from across the province, attending the organization’s provincial annual general meeting.
The event, which took place at the Verschuren Centre at Cape Breton University was a perfect setting for the host’s theme, “Be kind to our world: reduce, reuse, recycle.”
This theme was evident throughout the event beginning with the decorations of beautiful potted plants, centrepieces of exquisite flowers set in recycled tea cups, world globes mostly previously owned, to the fantastic guest speaker, Eleanor Anderson, whose presentation on The Climate Reality Project – made the negative effects of climate change on the world, very personal by showing how the Thanksgiving Day Floods affected our area. We can no longer think of these changes only affecting other parts of the world. They are on our own doorsteps – literally.
The main display table featured a number of items that had been made from recycled materials including, bears, aprons and jewelry, made in memory of loved ones, now having new significance and purpose; liners for compost bins made from newspapers; a cute snake made from coat hanger and tie; clothespin bag and purses made from denim pants and hats, mitts and purses made from wool sweaters; skipping rope and floor mat from plastic bags. All practical, useful items made from materials that are being kept out of our landfills.
Other tables had samples of items members had made and donated to the needy in their own areas, i.e. quilts, receiving blankets, comfort pillows and pillowcases to hospitals
and nursing homes. Pictures of various projects undertaken by branches were also visible, such as cooking classes for clients of food banks and youth outreach as well as monetary donations to various charities, food banks, Harvest House, and so forth.
In fact there were two tables full of school supplies, food stuffs and winter wear items donated by members in attendance, which were delivered to Loaves and Fishes and Every Women’s Centre, following the meeting.
A gratitude tree was decorated with tags, carrying the names of all supporters of our event including those who had made monetary donations, gift cards and gifts (for our fundraising efforts) and services, ensuring the success of our event. Although we cannot name all these “Friends of W.I.N.S.” here, their generosity was well noted and very much appreciated.
In keeping with our theme and making every effort to showcase the hospitality and talent in our area, everyone received a travel mug at registration, to be used for liquid refreshments to help cut the use of disposables and a parting gift of a reusable bag filled with a number of hand crafted items and a few tasty treats, which we hoped they would enjoy on their way back home.
A kitchen party was held the first night in fine Cape Breton
style, with square dancing, step dancers, and an old-fashioned sing-along featuring such old classics as “Tipperary” and “Daisy, Daisy” plus a number of our own Cape Breton favorites, including “Working Man” and “Out on the Mira” (my favorite). The toe tapping and singing did not stop until the standing ovation, which showed how very much everyone enjoyed our unique brand of Cape Breton hospitality.
During the annual general meeting, held on Thursday, the business of the organization was presented and accepted uneventfully. Our own Spanish Bay branch, tied for first place in the “Reach for The Stars” contest, boasting four new members. Congratulations Spanish Bay.
The discussions generated by the theme and reinforced by the guest speaker, will, hopefully, result in new ideas and resolutions being brought to next year’s AGM. To present government with a proposal for just one environmental solution that they might be able to implement would be amazing.
At the very least, I think that we will all be more conscious of how we can and must, be even more - “kind to our world” – by reducing, reusing and recycling.