President's Report

BC Conference UCW
 

 

 

Statistics for the Year 2011

Note from Helen Ross - December 2011  - please fill in and return the Statistics Report for Women's groups for this year.  The report was distributed to most churches but if you did not receive one click here Statistics Form 2011 .

 

President's Report - by Judy Foster
Sept 21, 2010

Greetings to all UCW ladies across our beautiful province!

The National United Church Women (NUCW) News
The NUCW executive met at Cedar Glen (YMCA) north of Toronto, Sept 13 -17. Thirty three women including national staff were present. It is truly an INSIGHTFUL experience to attend. We are different, but UNITED in touching the lives of women locally and supporting issues outside our congregational doors to the wider world. M&S and UCW continue to work as a team.

NEWS FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
Dates: Monday July 23 - Friday 27, 2012
Time: Registration 2:00 -5:00 PM
Location: Redeemer University College (Lutheran)-Ancaster, Ontario
Host: Hamilton Conference
Theme: TAPESTRY OF LOVE Colossians 2:2-3 The Message translation
Logo: A cross woven with 50 in the middle. The weaving will be in UCW colours
Cost: Thus far $350. - 500.00 subject to final details
Details of interest:

  • wide selection of tours available
  • workshops
  • parade of banners from each conference
  • Publication of a book honouring the UCW and their stories
  • slide show presentation of UCW across Canada
  • Moderator Mardi Tyndal to be the closing banquet speaker

Based on the national tabulation from the green sheets, we have around 50,000 members across Canada.

Therefore we would like to throw out a challenge that money to the amount of $50,000.00 be collected for a special gift. ($1.00 from each UCW person.) The national M&S team is preparing a list of project possibilities for this gift. Please send cheques to our BC Conference UCW treasurer who will forward them to the national. May 31, 2012 WILL BE THE TERMINATION DATE for tabulating this amount to your UCW conference treasurer. This significant gift is an exciting way for the UCW to mark a milestone. As UCW we have learned that it is truly a blessing to be in a position to bless others with our personal resources.

In case you wondered where this idea came from-last year at the NUCW I attended the group reporting on the plans for the 50th. I asked would there be any gift given in recognition of this event - silence followed. Finally, at this fall meeting, it was M/S/C to celebrate the 50th with a special gift.

Some ideas to bring a gift:

  • honour a charter/former members, family may like to participate on their behalf or the UCW group do it
  • a birthday party - serve cake and talk about the good old days
  • a dollar per member

Other info re photos for the slide show:
Photos of United Church Women for a slide show presentation will be created in advance of the meeting. You may submit digital photos electronically - scan and send - to the contact person
Joyce Osborne: janlea [at] hurontel [dot] on [dot] ca

Permission re photos to be released: send with your submission.
I GIVE PERMISSION for the photograph(s) of myself, which I am forwarding to the committee contact person, to be used as memory or promotional material in various United Church of Canada print and electronic resources used for the UCW and UCW promotional material.
_____________________________
Participant's signature

CONFERENCE BANNERS: Quilters and sewers needed.

  • The banners will be hung from a stand.
  • Measurements: 4' high x 3' wide
  • Back of the banner - material channel to fit a 1" dowel
  • Leave a 3"- 4" opening in the middle of the channel for " T"

Ruth Nott, Hamilton Conference is the co-ordinator.
50th Memorabilia of shirts and scarves is being considered.
Plans for the 50th have deposits made in allotments to secure our location and intent. July is the next due date.
NUCW with the help of Anne Martin staff person is looking to have a poster and information in the INFO PAC for this 50th event for complete church distribution.

NUCW Finances:
Due to finances, starting 2012 NUCW will meet annually at Church House with both president and vice president in attendance. Meetings previously moved around the country.
Life Membership Pins: income from these pins continues to supplement the national UCW office.
Monies received from their sale: $19,770.00
M&S received $8075.00 from the sale of the pins
M/S/C February meeting: By Judy Foster, Jocelyn Cook
Conferences suggest $1.00 each be given annually from members for resourcing the NUCW.
Please make cheques out to The United Church of Canada, on the MEMO LINE write -SUPPORT FOR RESOURCING THE NUCW. Send to Dorothy Amos, NUCW at the national office.

Just personal thinking on this:
In reaction to cutbacks at the GCO in ‘07, the UCW was affected by discontinuing resource material. If only we had thought to send in an annual donation to assist with resourcing who knows - it may have been retained

Norma Wrightly, Bay of Quinte Conference, is the representative to the Women's Inter - Church Council of Canada. She enjoys the meetings and associations formed. She spends much time reviewing requests for grants to the WICC.

Installation of new President:
Betty Radford Turcott comes to us from the Bay of Quinte Conference. She is gifted in writing and speaking. We look forward to working with her leadership.

MISSIONS:
M&S ministers on Tuesday, Sept 13th reporting from the 6th poorest country in the world.
Bill and Karen Butt worked in Mozambique for 11 years. They reported with joy these highlights:

  • the young girls’ education program is a success. Handcrafts are sold to help finance their way. Parents who considered it best to have girls work at home for necessary domestic help now see the value of releasing them for education. This helps increase the price of a dowry.
  • Bill’s involvement in a music studio helps youth to produce educational videos on issues where they take much of the initiative for music and choreography.
  • Community gardens are being initiated now. These have helped introduce newer agricultural techniques. Something as simple as mulch had yet to be introduced. They saw the difference in crop productivity.
  • Aids education is taught to both boys and girls. Catholics working in the area are involved with this need also.
  • Karen and Bill are open to speak to churches. Direct your request through Patty Talbot at the national office.

Justice issue Wednesday Sept 15
Bill 191 was in its third reading at the Ontario Legislative Assembly. (Land issues with First Nations)
NUCW presidents had received an email requesting prayerful support on what was felt to be a violation of the government towards First Nations over land treaty issues in Ontario. President Joyce MacKinnon and Joan Martin from the All Native Circle, entered special chambers with First Nations Peoples to hear what was happening. Other NUCW went to the upper gallery to hear opposition to the reading. It still passed.
Though our support was minimal, we stood with those still being marginalised by action beyond their control. The GCO was aware of this government action, therefore we felt then we could stand with them that day as a national body.

UCW groups from across Canada are working together diligently where possible, faithful in all they do. Others are experiencing loss, but looking for a way to continue connecting.

For those of you who do not have a current Presbyterial I trust that should you have to limit yourselves to congregational UCW only, you will still connect with the wider UCW as events are planned. I will work to keep an email posting if I have addresses.
I will send the BC report to you as well from the AGM in Abbotsford. (If I have been given e-mail contacts.)
As I bring this report to a close, let our creed remind us:
We are not alone –though far from my desk.
We live together in parts of God’s world
Sharing the mission and vision of Women “UNITED” from coast to coast.

Submitted with joy and gratitude for all you ladies,
Judy Foster, President
BC Conference UCW