Branches busy preparing for Founder’s Day, district conventions

The board of PEIWI and its branches across P.E.I. recently kicked off the New Year with their fourth lrevee and are preparing events for the upcoming year.

In a joint effort between both the board of directors of the Farm Centre and WI’s provincial board, Islanders were greeted at the Farm Centre in Charlottetown on the morning of Jan. 1.

The next event in the WI year is Founder’s Day, or Founder’s Week as it’s sometimes referred to, commemorates the formation of WI. On P.E.I., it will be celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with a number of creative and unique presentations for WI branch representatives. The afternoon sessions will be followed by an open house reception and the WI student cooking contest final round. This portion of the day is open to all, starting at 4:30-6:30 p.m. at The Farm Centre, 420 University avenue in Charlottetown.

Branches across the Island are in final preparations for their district conventions in January through March. Contact the office at 902-368-4860 for a full schedule for events in your area.

Planning is underway for the “Spring Is in the Air” gala annual dinner. It will be held on Friday, April 15 at Red Shores/Top of the Park Restaurant. Live and silent auctions will be included with all proceeds going to P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue. Tickets are available from PEIWI board members and the WI office. For further information, contact Helen Dawson, chair, Jacquie Laird, Donna Butler or Pat MacKinnon.

In ensuring care and education as a continued WI focus, there is a renewed call for purple hats as a part of the Period of Purple Crying Campaign. These hats assist in educating about normal infant crying and dangers of shaking an infant. Anyone wishing to knit or crochet purple baby caps can view patterns online at www.peiwi.ca. Hats can be given direct to the QEH or PCH Hospitals through their volunteer services offices or directly to the maternity units with a note, For the Period of Crying Babies Program.

Lastly, for participants preparing for Old Home Week, an online version of the official handbook for the handcrafts, horticulture and arts show of the Provincial Exhibition is now available at www.peiwi.ca. The print version will be available in February.

In branch news, a challenge has been issued. Canoe Cove Women’s Institute recently donated $500 from their fall bulb sale to Trinity United Church, Summerside, to help with their Syrian Refugee fund-raising effort. The Canoe Cove WI branch challenges other Institutes to contribute to this important need in our province and country.

To join or open a Branch near you, visit www.PEIWI.ca, contact the Provincial Office at 3684860 or email wi@gov.pe.ca. This article, prepared by Ellen MacPhail, executive director for the PEIWI and appears in the Guardian the second

Wednesday of each month.