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Board Briefings March Ill-20. 1003 Springâ€"like weather greeted the Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) Board at the Provincial Office for their March Meeting. President Dianne Orr extended a special wel- come to the four new Board Directors around the table. The highlights of this meeting are outlined below. FWIO Finances FWIO Bookkeeper Mary Poodry detailed the organization's first-quarter financial statements for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. FWIO Strategic Plan Part: of FWIO's Strategic Plan is to ensure that this Plan is reviewed and evaluated at each Board meeting. As part of every Board agenda. Directors monitor the Plan's progress and check whether the objectives and target dates as set out in the Implementation Plan are being met or need minor adjusting. Membership Recruitment Challenges As an incentive to Branches to help in their membership recruitment, a new two-year Memâ€" ber Incentive Program was initiated last spring for the period from April 1, 2002. to March 31. 2003, and from April 1. 2003. to March 31. 2004. The Branch who gains the most new members during each of these periods will win one paid registration to the Provincial Conference in 2004. plus $100 in cash. This challenge is “part and parcel" of FWIO‘s Strategic Plan to revitalize a membership recruit- ment and retention plan by promoting “one new member from each current member” per year. with incentives as outlined above to the Branch that recruits the most new members. Note: A new member refers to an individual who has never before been a Women‘s Institute member. Resolutions Update The FWIO Board passed a motion at the March meeting that changed the title of the Lobbying Coordinator to the Advocacy Coordinator. Ftuth Kennedy, FWIO's new Advocacy Coordinator. submitted the following revised version of a 1998 4 Home 1. Country, Summer 2003 resolution on lead toxicity. which was approved by Board: I - That FWIO. recognizing that the three maior sources of lead in the Canadian environment are old leaded paint and leaded plumbing in pie-1976 houses and lead in contaminated soil, strongly urge the Federal Government to provide sullicrent funding for both public awareness programs and targeted lead screening of at risk populations. especially children. MW 24‘“ Triennial Conference in 2004 The 24'h Triennial Conference of ACWW will be held from March 23 to 29. 2004. in Hobart, Tasmania. Australia. The cost of registration is 225 pounds up to the Early Bird Registration date of September 12. 2003; thereafter it is 250 pounds. The fee covers the Welcome Reception. Gala Dinner. Tasmania Day. Official Opening and Closrng oi the Conference. as well as a Tasmania Evening of Entertainment. Lunches are included from March 24 through to the 29, in addition to a Conference Bag, Badge and pa- pers. Remember. it is important that members traveling to Tasmania obtain a Visa. ACWW Competitions - Greeting Card â€" depicting the 24'” Confer- ence Theme â€" “Working with Women Worldwide" - Bookmark-size~5 cm x25 cm. any material. to include the initials ACWW. the 24'h Confer- ence date and place Note: The July~September 2002 issue of The Countrywoman contains the ACWW Confer~ ence Registration Form and other pertinent intormation. orcall the FWIO Provincial Office. ACWW Pre-(onference Workshop Donation A Training Workshop will be held in Sydney. New South Wales. in March 2004. immediately prior to the 24'" Triennial Conference of the Associ ated Country Women of the World in Tasmania. The theme of the Workshop will be "Managing Organizational 8: Leadership Development." The aim of the Workshop is to enhance the capabili- ties of potential women leaders who plan development work. with the aim of helping women, their families and communities and strengthening and developing organizations. Ail Workshop participants will go on to Hobart. Tasmania, to attend the world conference. The FWIO Board passed a motion to contrib- ute $2,000 from past conference monies in support of the Associated Country Woman of the World Pre»Conference Workshops. The money is specified to help pay the traveling expenses for Workshop participants from member socie- ties in the developing world. Expense Reports Please note that all Expense Claim Forms 5 mitted by all FWIO Provincial Officers must total 525 or more to be processed by the Prownmai Office. Expense Forms submitted of lesser amounts will be held until the total amount otlhe claim is 525 Or more. The FWIO Board has passed this policy in the name of econornic efficiency. Thank you for your cooperation In this matter. Also. just a quick reminder to Districts that. with the exception of Provincial Advisory Coun- cillors attendlng District Annuals on behall ul FWIO, when a District invites a Councillor to attend an event it is the responsibility of the District to pay that Councillor’s expenses. Other Items Covered Ask your Provincial Advisory Councillor or Board Director for more information on these other items covered at Board: - Meeting Julie Annett â€" Your New ROSE Program Manager a Community Based Needs Assessment - Fair Trade Coffee Proposal - FWIC Convention 2003 - FWlO Conference 2004 - FWIO Conference 2004 Competitions - Women Walking for Wl . - 2003 â€" lntemationat Year of Fresh Water - World Rural Women's Day - FWIO Open Annual Meeting - Provincial Positions Open - 4‘” Line Theatre Remount - Woman of Excellence in Agriculture Award a Host Families Wanted for International Exchange - Macdonald Institute's 100m Anniversary - Restoration of the Macdonald Institute - Focus High forWl o Motions