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WHERE IT BEGAN...
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The founding members were asked to say a few words. Dawn Brohman shared a few words and maybe just a few more....
I was asked to speak on how I felt during the inception of CFUW-HH. I was working as a social worker with troubled and impoverished individuals, in an impoverished county. I was dedicated to improving lives and lobbying the provincial government for resources and change. I felt I was well acquainted with many, many community members. When I attended the inaugural meeting on September 18, 2003, it was led by women I had never see before. My first thought was “Where did these women come from?” CFUW was presented as a formal organization that nurtured and enhanced women’s lives through education, interest groups, and friendships. It also worked towards improving the lives of women and children in my community, province, country, and around the world. It was a WOW! |
Nel van der Grient, Anne Maher, Cheryl Grigg, Dawn Brohman, Marg Risk; absent: Stella Voisin and Dorothy Owens (Photo Credit: Meagan Secord)
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It seemed almost too good to be true. The “too good to be true feeling” was soon dispelled by the sincerity, vibrancy, passion, dedication, and determination of the organizers. I was excited by their energy and humbled by their knowledge. In a whirl we were presented with sign-up sheets for interest groups, ideas for educational speakers, pot luck events, and opportunities for discussion on how we could contribute to improving the lives of women in our community. There was huge momentum. I recognized that, in the background, hours of work were being put in to do financial set-up and establish a constitution.
How did I feel as the meetings progressed? I felt as if I had been given a huge gift and I felt gratitude; in fact, I still feel gratitude today, if not more. My life was being enhanced as my passions, interests, and friendships were being developed. I would like to thank our founders as well as those who have offered leadership over the last fifteen years. A CFUW in a community with a population this small and low economic base – we are one of the poorest counties in Ontario, if not the poorest – is a gift! I hope we all will cherish it and work to maintain CFUW-HH at its operational best. That is how I felt in past years, how I feel today, and my hopes for the future.
Dawn Brohman
How did I feel as the meetings progressed? I felt as if I had been given a huge gift and I felt gratitude; in fact, I still feel gratitude today, if not more. My life was being enhanced as my passions, interests, and friendships were being developed. I would like to thank our founders as well as those who have offered leadership over the last fifteen years. A CFUW in a community with a population this small and low economic base – we are one of the poorest counties in Ontario, if not the poorest – is a gift! I hope we all will cherish it and work to maintain CFUW-HH at its operational best. That is how I felt in past years, how I feel today, and my hopes for the future.
Dawn Brohman
AWARD RECIPIENTS...
Karley Wilson, a student at the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, was the recipient of the CFUW 100th Anniversary Scholarship Award.
Sage Award
As part of the 100th Anniversary celebrations, CFUW introduced the Sage Awards. This award was presented to the current member who has the longest period of CFUW membership, to recognize and celebrate her commitment and dedication to championing the CFUW's mission for decades. Heather, a member of CFUW for almost 50 years (CFUW-Haliburton Highlands and CFUW-Durham Region) was honoured with a silver pin and certificate from the National Office. Although unable to attend and receive the award, Heather sent her thanks... I feel very honoured to be receiving the Sage Award from my Haliburton Highlands CFUW Chapter. When I started teaching in 1970, one of the older teachers invited me to join the Durham Region CFUW Chapter. When I found out that I could learn to play bridge in one of the groups, I was sold. Over the years, my life has been enriched by the life time friends I have made in CFUW, the wide variety of speakers I have heard at meetings and the diverse activities I have enjoyed through my membership. When we built our home in Minden, I was thrilled that a chapter was starting up in Haliburton. I was able to enjoy a dual membership until we finally sold our home near Oshawa and moved to the Highlands full time. This membership allowed me to meet wonderful and inspiring women who live in this area, whom I might not have otherwise met. Thank you so much for this recognition. Heather Lindsay |
CFUW 100th Anniversary Scholarship Award
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of CFUW and honour the promotion of women and girls in educational pursuits, CFUW-HH offered an essay competition for a $1,000 scholarship. The essay, 1000 words in length, was to be written on one of three topics:
Heather Lindsay was awarded the CFUW Sage Award for CFUW-HH.
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15 YEARS OF OF CFUW-HH IN PHOTOS...
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Standing On The Shoulders
Words and music by Joyce Johnson Rouse I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me. I am stronger for their courage, I am wiser for their words. I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter future. I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling on this earth. We are standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us. They are saints and they are humans, they are angels, they are friends. We can see beyond the struggles and the troubles and the challenge when we know that by our efforts, things will be better in the end. They lift me higher than I could ever fly, carrying my burdens away. I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried, we wouldn’t be here celebrating today. I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me. I am honoured by their passion for our liberty. I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer. And my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me. My shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me. |
15 YEARS OF CFUW-HH...
(Click on images to enlarge)
LOOK WHO WAS THERE...
Back Row: Shirley Moore, Anne Maher, Lesley Milford, Cheryl Grigg, Helen Gabel, Carolyn Gordon, Roline Maconachie (CFUW Regional Director, Ontario North), Miriam Rutherford, Dawn Brohman, Susan Vorvis, Marg Risk, Nel van der Grient, Jenny Reiger, Gail Gotter, Cindy Campbell. Middle Row: Mary Anderson, Wendy Hamspson, Susan Hay. Front Row: Rebekah Chevalier, Deborah Ouellette, Joanne Hale, Laura Thiessen, Jane Adams, Charlene Cooper, Judy Iannucci, Catherine Meades, Mary Fox, Anne Nickson. (Photo Credit: Meagan Secord)
100 YEARS OF CFUW...
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Get Inspired!
100 Years of CFUW Highlights in Less than 2 Minutes |
