ONTARIO COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2001

Congratulations to CFUW Kitchener Waterloo for hosting such a successful AGM. The Walper Terrace Hotel provided an elegant and convenient setting. I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to conference chair, Karin Manley, and her dedicated volunteers.

Mary Hall, President, Ontario Council

The theme of Ontario Council AGM 2001 was PRESERVING THE PAST IN A HIGH TECH FUTURE. The panel comprised of four talented, dynamic women and their moderator Pat Graham of CFUW/Kitchener-Waterloo focused on this topic. Because quilting is an activity of the past that is well worth preserving, all the speakers tied it into their talks.

Joan McKinnon, mayor of Waterloo from 1997 to 2000, spoke on "Environment and Ambience", and how communities are put together piece-by-piece, just like a quilt. Protecting and preserving green spaces and a quality of life in our communities doesn't happen without planning and public input. Like all the speakers, she encouraged everyone to become actively involved. Writing letters, an old-fashioned activity, is effective because a paper trail is hard to ignore.

Lynn Haddrall, Editor in Chief of the Record (Kitchener Waterloo's daily newspaper) spoke on "Archives and Community History". She credited listening to women tell stories as they worked on quilts in her childhood farm home with developing her desire to pass history on - the job of journalism. By preserving the present, which becomes the past, having a community presence and a personality, newspapers are still relevant in a high tech world.

Patti Haskell retired Director of Education of the Waterloo Region District School Board, naturally spoke on "Education"' . Like quilters, teachers have to be creative and innovative and wrap their students in comfort and safety to make them into successful citizens. Patti encouraged us to view the displays, especially the "Victorian Classroom". At Suddaby School, Kitchener, one room, set up with slates and old desks, is used by volunteer, retired teachers to give elementary students a visible link to the past via penmanship lessons, math drills, etc.

Janet Passmore, Vice-President, Investments Marketing, Clarica, spoke on "Partners and Leaders in our Community" . As with quilting bees, where everyone puts in "their" stitch, business leaders and the community should work together. Corporations need a social policy as their employees live in the community and what they want influences the community.