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In some areas there are Community Food Advisers, volunteers who speak to groups free of charge of charge ex~ cept for any handouts. They will speak to groups on basic food safety and/or specific foods and their preparation. Your local municipal office can supply you with addresses and telephone num- bers for obtaining resource materials from Ottawa that contains ideas forpro~ grammng on many topics, including citizenship. Organize and publicize a community event featuring two or three speakers from different countries. Topics that have adistinct possibility include “Cus- toms Versus Good Nutrition" or “Customs Versus Food Safety." The speakers could talk about their culture and homeland, followed with a nutri- tious lunch of foods relevant to their countries. Because many Branches are involved in food preparation for community events. a refresher course on bulk cooking and the necessary precautions required is another possibility Education Many groups are willing to send speakers on any topic related to food safety and nutrition. These include Public Health Units, Dietician Societies. Heart and Stroke chapters and Diabetes Associations (etc). Topics might include: length of time to store food in the freezer or refrigerator proper storage and cooking of meat preserving foods health disorders related to food interaction between drugs and the food we eat foods and how they affect your health cooking for crowds; cooking for one or two quick nutritious meals for busy families healthy snack food. These arejust a few ideas. The topics are endless. whether it is a refresher or some- thing new. Health I Continue to access the many sources of information provided to each Branch via the ROSE Health Program. And watch for future editions of The Rose Garden. an information newsletter to keep you up-to-date with what is hap- pening with our Health Partners. I The Ontario Women‘s Network is an organization that helps link women with the relevant tools and resources. In Our Hands: A Guide to Women's Health and Community Services â€" An Ontario Directory is just one of the tools available to help make women's health information accessible. The Di- rectory can be obtained from the Ontario Women's Health Network at ISO Dundas St.W.. Suite I900. Toronto ON MSG IZS. Phone: |-877~860â€" 4545. Fax: 416408-2122. I Your local Health Unit can also supply information about and contacts for variâ€" ous associations you may wish to contact. I Arrange a series of information meet- ings on different herbs. including the pros and cons of taking them and the danger oftaking herbs with prescription drugs. I Learn more about food disorders. such as anorexia or bulimia. I Another topic might be “Food Aller- gies" and why they seem to be more prevalent today. Leadership Development Most of the following suggestions in- volve Branches presenting or demonstrating at public meetings or toâ€" rums. Do any ofthese topics appeal to you? I Organize an event called “Eating Health" and advertise to the public to attend. Arrange for presentations and food demonstrations. perhaps by a die tician or a chef. I Obtain fact sheets from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Ru- ral Affairs (OMAFRA) on various topics, such as care of frozen foods or preserving and storing Ontario's har- vest. Then. “Do Your Own Thing!" Make the presentations yourself and hone your leadership skills at the same time. I Organize workshops where Women's Institute members (or leaders) are teaching canning and preserving meth- ods. Preserving food makes you more aware of what is in the product and how it has been prepared. These are just three ideas calling on members and Branches to take the initiav tive to present to the public ways to ensure food is safe and nutritious. leO/FWIC/ACWW Take your program across Canada and around the world: I Talk about the Pros and Cons of Food Brinks. Is there ii better solution? I Discuss it typical meal in (name ii country). I Plan a project to raise money for ACWW and help others. Donnte the proceeds to Safe Water for All. I Organize ii program around foods com- monly known in Ontario. Canada and around the world. Include explanations about how these foods are processed. stored and used. I Discuss how we can improve on the usage and preservation of clean water. locally. nationally iind internationally? Remember. the following when planning your programs: I (lily of these topics could be expanded beyond your Branch to a community information day. rind I inform any speakerthntyou are looking to address the issue of food safety and nutrition. We trusl that Women‘s Institute meet- ings across the provmce will be educational. informative and fun. Afterall. we are rural Ontario sharing education! This information was rompiled by the FWIO Education Committee under the direction of Education Coordinatorloan King She can be reachedat 5487 Oil Heritage Rd, Camlarhie ON NON 750. Phone: 519899-2642. Fax 519-86973261. Email. bikingtélxeelro on re Home I Country, Winter 2001-2001 9