Carol Pratt elected President of Morson W.I.

By Nancy Miller
Morson W.I.

Morson Women’s Institute held their Branch Annual Meeting on April 24th at the Morson Hall with 9 members present. Carol Pratt read some of the history report written in an old Rainy River Hospital Auxiliary cookbook. Of interest was the instrumental role that the area Women’s Institute had in getting the Red Cross to set up a hospital in Rainy River in the 1924. Kris Carpenter reported on the St. Patrick’s Day supper in Emo and the Heritage Tea, proceeds to go towards the Museum Building Fund. Minutes and the financial report were approved as read. The meeting’s focus was to review proposed community events, annual elections and any new business. With all seats declared vacant, the Annual Meeting was held. The following are the list of filled positions:
President: Carol Pratt; Vice President: Rosemary Laevens; 2nd Vice President: Kris Carpenter; Secretary: JoAnn Moen; Treasurer: Carol Peterson; District Director: Kris Carpenter; Tweedsmuir: JoAnn Moen, Nancy Miller; Public Relations Officer: Nancy Miller; Advocacy: Barb Zebleckis; ROSE Coordinator: Nancy Miller; Cemetery Representative: Laurie Pentney; Welfare: Mary Sanderson; Catering: Carol Pratt, Laurie Pentney, Patsy Moen, Vivian Locking, Barb Atkinson.
Old business: The Rainy River High School bursary will be again awarded this year.
Our Community Garage Sale – date set for Saturday May 31st at the Morson Hall, 10 AM to 3 PM.
The budget for the 2008/09 year will be prepared by the President and Treasurer, and presented at the next meeting.
Members were selected to audit the 2007/08 financial statement.
Kris Carpenter reported on the Women’s Institute District Annual meeting to be held May 3rd.
Carol Pratt and Nancy Miller to represent us at the Morson Bass International (MBI) meetings. Nancy Miller requested assistance from members to sew some MBI T-shirts into knapsack’s for the anglers in the tournament. Carol reviewed the experiences learned from last year’s event and our options were discussed by the members.
A list of member responsibilities was drawn up, and proposed changes will be presented to the MBI tournament committee.
New business: Laurie Pentney will revise the year's meeting schedule and member contact list.
2008 is the 40th anniversary of the Rainy River District Women’s Institute Museum, and a committee has been drawn up from District branches to plan events in celebration of this very important year.
Kris reported progress on signage and the garage sale success. The name will be shortened to the “Pioneer Museum” and there are plans to hold a museum tea event at the Emo Legion on May 9th.
The next meeting of the Morson W.I. will be May 22nd.