HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESENTATIONS AT THE 107^th NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING, OTTAWA

LABRADOR ADOPT-A-CLASS

The Labrador-Adopt-A-Class program has over 60 classes awaiting adoption. Your chapter could help…

Adopting a Labrador class need not involve great expense. Teachers appreciate the contact and understand you have other commitments. School supplies including packages of loose leaf paper are always in demand and educational games and knitted mitts, toques and finger puppets are appreciated.

Students' fitness can be aided with exercise mitts, styrofoam exercise bands and aerobic compact discs. Frequent communication is essential to exchange ideas and give support. You may already have an adopted class but consider sharing your budget with a Labrador class. Special occasion projects could include funding for library books or special technology.

Ever increasing postage costs can be avoided by having the teacher order the supplies by mail order after first having the cost approved by the chapter. Always consult the teacher before sending a parcel.

Small classes benefit from adoption by individual members. Contact Joan Williams, Labrador Adopt-A-Class Coordinator at (519) 434-9773. She will be delighted to get your new adoption started.

When feed-back from Labrador discloses that children are out in the snow without anything on their feet it pulls at the heart-strings. Please get involved.

MEMBERSHIP

Promoting membership in IODE is the key to ensure that our organization thrives.

The new E-Chapter pilot project is open to women of all ages across Canada, who cannot join a chapter at this time. Women can join IODE on-line and become a member of this ‘for women only’ organization. The Alumni chapter pilot project is open to IODE members or former IODE members whose chapters have disbanded and/or there is not an IODE chapter in their area. The cost for the E-chapter and Alumni members would be the National fee and both the chapters would receive copies of Echoes and the National Newsletter. These members can help make a difference in the lives of children, youth and those in need.

Amalgamation is an option chapters with a few members can consider. This has worked with great success in some provinces. Chapters do not have to give up their charter. By amalgamating two or more chapters there are more members to take the offices and assist with fund-raising or other IODE events. It is a win-win situation. The National Chapter has the information necessary to take this step. We would be happy to be of assistance.

The ‘Thrive For Five Membership Drive’ will continue through 2007. Chapters have the opportunity to win Gold, Silver, Bronze or Participation awards. The monetary rewards of $500, $250, and $150 will be presented in 2008 to the chapters who gain the most new members percentage-wise over 2006. These monetary rewards give winning chapters the opportunity to use the funds for their own membership drive, thereby strengthening this great women’s organization – IODE.

VIOLET DOWNEY BOOK AWARD

Eric Walters is the winning author for his book SHATTERED. This is a story about Ian, a young teen who works in a soup kitchen for the homeless to complete his required volunteer hours for a social studies course. He meets a former Canadian soldier who served as a peacekeeper stationed in Rwanda. Ian learns not only about events in Rwanda, but about other similar events in the world. Ian also becomes committed to being a volunteer!

For a teacher guide to accompany this winning book, visit www.penguin.ca. Type in “Shattered” in the Advanced Search text box (upper right). Select the link for “More Information.” For more information on Eric Walters and his books, visit www.ericwalters.net.

SAMPLE PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS SPEECH

The Mission of IODE, a Canadian women’s charitable organization, to improve the quality of life for children, youth and those in need, educational, social service and citizenship programs.

IODE MAKES A DIFFERENCE:

IODE helps student at all levels, scholarships, bursaries, awards and literacy
IODE supports remote communities
IODE assists families across Canada with support in health and in crisis
IODE has special projects for children (breakfast programs, reading programs, sponsor camps)
IODE helps in communities with equipment for hospitals, programs for seniors
Awards for Firefighters and Police Officers, and Citizenship Awards.

IODE HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER ITS MEMBERS – You will:

make life long friends in your area
develop leadership skills
meet women from across Canada
work with other women to meet local needs
participate in provincial and national projects
learn about health, education, environmental and other issues

HAVE FUN WITH LIKE MINDED WOMEN

There is no minimum time commitment; members contribute as much or as little as they are able. I invite you to join a dynamic women’s organization.