Spring Newsletter
2016
President’s Message
Farewell / Goodbye / So long...
Contents
President’s Message
1
Minutes 2015 AGM .
2
Treasurer’s Report
2
Membership Report .
2
Encounters with Canada 2
Programme 2016
3
Citizenship Court .
3
Media Report
3
Past Meetings
4
Editor’s Note
.
4
When confronted with the task of
preparing the President’s message for
this Spring Newsletter I realized that this
would be a goodbye message because it
would be the last time that I would write
as your President.
Once realized I consulted my good friend
Google looking for ways to say Goodbye.
It was no surprise to discover that many
languages have many ways to say
goodbye. For example Germans have 13
ways, French 10, Italian 6, Spanish 6,
Japanese 10 and in English there are from
15 – 26 ways to say goodbye.
Having come to the realization that I
could say goodbye in so many ways I
decided to select ‘So long, it’s been good
to know yuh’. Some of you might
recognize this as the opening line of a
popular folk song of the ‘40s.
Getting to know you has been the best
part of being President these past three
years. While I have not accomplished the
goal of getting to be able to put every
name and face together I think I have
come a long way, certainly knowing more
today than I did three years ago. Being
able to serve as Past-President will allow
me the opportunity to complete the task.
Saying goodbye often includes ‘Thank
you’. First of all to our Board of
Directors...a debt of gratitude is owed to
all. To Kevin, Dianna and Carolyn, the
staff of the Scottish Rite Club…. a delight
to work with. And finally to you, the
members of the Women’s Canadian
Club…..for hanging in there.
So Auf Wiedersehen, Au Revoir, Ciao,
Adios, Sayonara, and
‘So Long….It’s been good to know yuh.
What a long time since I’ve been home
And I got to be driftin’ along’..
Patricia Saunders
President
In Honour and In Memory of Helen Orban
Long-time member of the Women’s Canadian Club of Hamilton, Helen Orban, passed away in early
February. To acknowledge her support of them the Famous People Players are dedicating one of their
shows to Helen. Arrangements are now being made for WCCH members to attend this event.
The performance will take place on Thursday, May 19. Your package will include a
ticket to the performance, a 3 course gourmet luncheon and deluxe coach
transportation. The total cost is $100. Please send your cheque, made payable to
the WCC of Hamilton, by May 1st to:
Pat Saunders
543 Upper Paradise Road
Hamilton ON L9C 5E4
www.wcchamilton.ca
Page 2
Spring Newsletter
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
WOMEN’S CANADIAN CLUB OF HAMILTON
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2015 2 P.M.
THE SCOTTISH RITE CLUB
The 103rd Annual General Meeting of the Women’s Canadian Club of Hamilton was called to order by the President,
Pat Saunders. The President asked the Secretary, Ruth Pearson, to record the minutes. There being a quorum, the
meeting was conducted by Past-President, Valerie Wilson. Moved by Ruth Pearson, seconded by Freda Crisp that the
minutes of the Annual General Meeting of May 14, 2014 as printed in the 2015 Spring Newsletter be accepted.
Carried.
Treasurer Lee Gowers answered some questions about the Annual Financial Statement. Moved by Lee Gowers,
seconded by Mary Lorimer to accept the financial statement for 2013-2014 as printed in the 2015 Spring Newsletter.
Carried. Moved by Christina Begley, seconded by Lee Gowers to accept the reports of the Standing Committees as
printed in the Spring Newsletter. Carried. Freda Crisp, a former Board member, conducted the election of Board
members. The Slate of Officers was presented and further nominations from the floor were asked for to fill vacant
positions. Carolyn MacArthur and Basharat Tayyab were nominated by Pat Saunders to be Councillors and agreed to
let their names to be put forward. Moved by Freda Crisp, seconded by Fred Roberts to accept the Slate of Officers.
Carried.
Moved by Susan Ricketts, seconded by Pamela Bragoli that the Acts and Procedures taken on behalf of the
Organization by the Board be ratified. Carried.
There being no further business, the 103rd Annual Meeting was declared closed.
Ruth Pearson, Secretary
Treasurer’s Report
Membership Report
My second year as Treasurer for the
Women’s Canadian Club of Hamilton
has been fairly smooth. We have
attempted to reduce the costs we have
control over, such as printing, postage
and insurance. However any savings
realized have been offset by the
constantly rising prices at the Scottish
Rite Club.
Funds were used to purchase three
GICs, with staggered maturity dates.
While these funds will earn more
interest in GICs than in a chequing
account, the amounts are still low.
The Board decided not to apply for
registered charity status for the WCCH
as the work involved would outweigh
any potential benefit.
Thanks again to the members of the
Board for their support and assistance.
As of March 7, 2016, we have 52 paid members. Also included as
members are nine Past-Presidents, and two Honourary Members.
New members would most certainly be welcome.
If you’re enjoying our programs this year, why not bring along a friend (or
friends)? If they just want to give our meetings a try, guests are free to 2
p.m. programs. And if you have ideas as to how to attract new members,
please share. (Almost) no idea is beyond giving consideration to!
Lee Gowers, Treasurer
Mary Lorimer, Membership Secretary
Each year the Women's Canadian Club of
Hamilton, sponsors two students from Sir John
A. Macdonald Secondary School to enable them
to attend an Encounters with Canada program.
This year our two students, Lirijae Ademi and Bruno Fatia will be attending
the Encounters Vimy Ridge program from April 3 to April 9, 2016.
Both the students and their teacher Mark Daschko are looking forward to
attending our May 11, 2016 luncheon; the students will be sharing the
highlights of their Encounters week long program.
June Lockwood
Spring Newsletter
Page 3
WCCH PROGRAMME
We are very pleased to present the programme for the rest of 2016!
**May 11, 2016—Books as Theatre. Actor and author Bruce Woods will give a humourous, informative and
inspirational talk based on his best-selling novel, Between Two Women, A Stratford Story. Spoiler alert: the women
were his mother and grandmother.
September 14, 2016—First we’ll ‘laugh ourselves healthy with laughter yoga’, then local environmentalist Michael
Nabert will present Sustainability: the Musical. Bypass a sea of misinformation to learn the facts about climate change,
the impact locally and what you can do about it.
**October 12, 2016— Denise Davey, an award-winning writer will deliver the talk “Pippa’s Bottom: How the media
manhandles women’s bodies and what to do about it”.
November 9, 2016— Lynn Philip Hodgson, historian and author of several books including Inside Camp-X,
will speak of Canadian, British and U.S. espionage training which took place at the highly secret Camp-X on
the north shore of Lake Ontario during WWII.
**December 14, 2016—Join us for a scrumptious turkey dinner and delight in the musical offerings of the
Kaleidoscope Singers.
** denotes a luncheon meeting. Lunch is served at noon followed by a speaker at 1 p.m. Flyers detailing the meals and cost are
distributed in advance and posted to the WCCH website.
Regular meetings begin at 2 p.m. Tea, coffee and goodies will be served.
Congratulations!
Join Robin McKee as he guides you
through the Women’s Tour of
WCCH Board members
The Stories in the Stones
Christina Begley and June
This new tour will premiere on May
Lockwood were presented
7 & 8 (Mother’s Day weekend).
with HWHA Volunteer
Meet at the Gatehouse at the
Recognition Awards at the
entrance to the Hamilton Cemetery,
Heritage Day event on
777 York Boulevard, at 11 am. Wear
February 20. Their names
good walking shoes and bring
and citations were included
whatever food and drink you may
in the 2016 edition of Who’s need. The tour goes rain or shine
Who in Heritage in Hamilton- and is free!
Dates for the Women’s Tour and
Wentworth. Well done
other tours of the cemetery are
ladies!
listed at: www.hamiltonhistory.ca
Citizenship Court Report
Media Report
Members of the Women’s Canadian Club of Hamilton greet
new Canadian citizens after they take the Oath of Citizenship.
There can be up to 60 new citizens from as many as 30
different countries at any one session. Light refreshments are
served and information on the WCCH is distributed. This year
we hosted at 7 ceremonies with help from Pat Saunders,
Colleen Johnson, Christina Begley, Ruth Pearson, Pam Bragoli,
Lee Gowers and Susan Ricketts.
Dina Sankey
The WCCH website is constantly updated with the
latest versions of the newsletter, luncheon order
forms, programs and photos.
Our Facebook page now has 27 Likes.
WCCH meetings have been advertised on Cable 14,
in the Hamilton Spectator, the Mountain News and
other publications and featured in snapd.
Thanks to Basharat, Susan and Pamela
Spring Newsletter
Page 4
November 2015
Editor’s Note
Submitted by Lee Gowers
WCCH Secretary Ruth Pearson gave an
illustrated talk on her recent trip to mark
the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the
Netherlands.
February 2016
Sandra Binns, President of the Ontario Federation
of Home and School Associations, joined us as Lee
Gowers, a past-president of OFHSA, presented on
the 100th anniversary of that organization.
Sandra is pictured with Dina Sankey, Colleen
Johnson, Ruth Pearson and Pam Bragoli.
March 2016
Paula Grove performed
her one-woman play
about Sarah Ryan, the
young girl who became
a spy for the British
during the War of 1812
and , as an adult, a
member of Society in
Hamilton. She is
pictured here with
Freda Crisp, a former
member of the WCCH
Board.
Contact us:
[email protected]
My introduction to the Women’s Canadian Club and
subsequent election to the Board are thanks to Pat
Saunders. This is not the first time she has
persuaded me to take on an executive position, so
you’d think I would have been more wary. But, to
tell the truth, she seems to know when people are
truly interested, have something to offer and are
ready to join in. Those three things describe Pat and
explain her involvement with so many groups in this
area over many years. Pat has decided that this is
the time to step down from some positions, to take
on different, less stressful roles. In her words she
doesn't want to wake in a panic thinking “I didn’t
get the agenda done”. Who can blame her? Those
who know her have long marveled at the amount of
work she gets done and her seemingly boundless
energy. The groups she has volunteered with have
benefitted from those traits. Certainly the Women’s
Canadian Club owes her a great debt of gratitude for
all she had done as president over the past three
years, from booking speakers, to arranging meals
and representing the Club as she makes her rounds.
Now, as she begins to pick and choose which issues
to work on and where to concentrate
her energies we wish her well and
know that we have not seen, nor heard,
the last of Pat Saunders.
Did you know?
The first woman to be featured on Canadian
currency was Thérèse Casgrain, CC, OBE, the
first woman to be elected the leader of a
political party in Canada, the CCF in Québec.
She was appointed to the Senate in 1970 by
then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Her
likeness appeared on the $50 bill from 2004
until it was replaced by the image of an
icebreaker in 2012. Images of the Famous Five
were removed from that same banknote. The
idea of featuring a woman on Canadian
currency is a good one—but it’s not a new one.
905-538-6634