Fordyce Branch Women’s Institute
The members of Fordyce Branch Women’s Institute gathered in Emmanuel United Church hall at 10:30 a.m. for their March 7, 2018 meeting. President Norma Sherrer welcomed everyone, then read the following: “Flour Sack Underwear When I was a maiden fair / Mama made our underwear / With five tots and Pa’s poor pay / How could she buy us lingerie? / Monograms and fancy stitches / Were not on OUR flour sack britches / Just panty waist that stood the test / Gold Medal’s seal upon the chest / Little pants were best of all / With a scene I still recall / Harvesters were gleaning wheat / Right across the little seat / Tougher than a grizzly bear / Was our flour sack underwear / Plain or fancy 3 feet wide / Stronger than a hippo’s hide / Through the years each Jill and Jack / Wore this sturdy garb of sack / Waste not want not, we soon learned / Penny saved a penny earned / Bedspreads, curtains, tea towels too / And tablecloths were all reused / But the best beyond compare / Was OUR flour sack underwear (Dianne-slama).
The Mary Stewart Collect, Salute to the Flag repeated and “O Canada” sung. “Happy Birthday” was also sung to Edwina Bougie (24th).
Motto for the month was “Snowflakes are one of nature’s fragile things, but look at what they can do when they all stick together.” The Roll Call was “Bring a label from something made in Canada and cookies for the Group Homes.”
Secretary June Lamey read the Minutes of the February Meeting, which were approved as read.
Business arising from the Minutes was the Semi-annual County Meeting, which is on March 14th in Trinity Anglican Church hall. Isabel Sutherland and Michilynne Dubeau offered to be Delegates and June Lamey will be in charge of the Sale Table. Correspondence: None was received. Evelyn Lewis thanked the members for the donation to the Helping Hands Food Bank and said that a letter should be in the mail from the person in charge
Elizabeth Milroy, Treasurer, read her report, which was accepted as read. There were no bills. A donation was made to Heroes’ Memorial School for the playground which is being planned to replace what they presently have.
New Business. President Norma read the names of those who have let their names stand for offices in the QWIC.
Program - Michilynne Dubeau presented many good ideas, as to how the W.I. could encourage mothers with children to join it. One was to hold a short meeting to which they would be invited. It would include an activity, snack, presentation about W.I. and a gift bag.
There being no further business, Coins for Friendship were collected and June Lamey read a story before Grace was said.
CANIS FIDELIS - Drinking is trouble, that’s easy to see, and a Mistress can mess up your life. But the guy with a problem / I’m sure you’ll agree / Is the man with a Dog and a Wife. Women are lovely / But their logic is strange. Somehow they just don’t seem to understand. The kind of true love that can somehow exist / ‘tween a scruffy old dog and a man. A dog is your Buddy thru’ thick and thru’ thin / Tho’ sometimes he chews up your shoes / But he doesn’t have family, who like to drop in / Then sit there and drink all your booze. A dog never grumbles, he never complains / He’s never downhearted or blue / And when he’s been playing outside in the rain / He’ll come in and share it with you. A dog will defend you. A dog’s love is true / He’ll die for his master ‘tis said. And when thunder rolls and the rain’s pouring down / He’ll come and crawl under your bed. When I’m weary and low and I sit all alone / My dog comes and sits by my knees. Then he lifts up his back leg, he gives a big groan / And sits there and scratches his fleas. My wife keeps insisting he stinks up the room / But to me the old dog smells just fine. All it took was a bit of my wife’s new perfume / I think she calls it Chanel number 9. Well my wife don’t like dogs / and she don’t want him around anymore / I guess ‘cause he ate up her best pair of shoes / Then upchucked all over the floor. Now my wife’s really sore and she said “It is time to choose / ‘tween that dog and your wife.” Lord I hope she’s just kidding / cause I really would hate to see / her walk out of my life. We do have a problem / I’m sure you’ll agree / But it’s really not grounds for divorce. And I hope we resolve it / quite soon, for you see / I’m thinking of buying a horse.
The “Potluck Lunch” following the meeting was enjoyed by all before it was time to leave.
Until next time. Happy St. Patrick’s Day Evelyn Beban Lewis