The monthly meeting of the Bloomingdale Women’s Institute was held on Monday February 13^th at 7:30 in the Bloomingdale United Church.

This year is the 120th Anniversary of the Women’s Institute movement which started at Stoney Creek in 1897. To celebrate, a book has been published – Ordinary to Extraordinary. This 300 page book includes 150 stories of women from ordinary life to tragic events, from horrific to the humorous, telling of living as a child in another country and immigrating to Canada, growing up in Ontario, meeting the love of their life, and the struggles of life – fires, floods, and tornadoes. All recounting the role of the Women’s Institute in their lives and their pride of accomplishments and support for their communities. The book launch will take place on Tuesday, June 20th at the Provincial Conference in Pembroke. An order form was received and orders will be taken at the next meeting. This form must be sent in before March 31st .

The Women’s Day flyer was handed out to the ladies. This day will take place Saturday, April 8^th at 9:30 at the Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church in New Dundee. Topics this year are type 1 and 2 Diabetes, Harold Albrecht M.P. will be speaking on Canada 150 Celebration, Gail Cuthbert Brandt from the University of Waterloo will speak on some Notable and Fascinating Canadian Women, and the St. Andrew’s Hespeler Presbyterian Church will provide musical entertainment to celebrate Canada 150. Cost is $35 and $40 after March 7^th. Registration can be sent to Eleanor Berry (519) 893-8775 and for further information please contact Ruth Jones (519) 578-9876.

Waterloo District Women’s Institute will be hosting a Canada 150 Anniversary Tea on Sunday June 25th from 2-4 p.m. at the Waterloo Heritage Museum. Tickets are $25 and more information will be coming shortly.

At this meeting all the ladies were encouraged to bring items for the Sanguen Community Health Centre. The ladies were asked to collect hotel size toiletries. Sanitary pads, tampons (individually wrapped), deodorant, lip balm, shampoo, nail clippers, toothbrushes, tooth paste, mouthwash, disposable razors, denture adhesive and cleaner, washcloth, bar of soap, comb or hairbrush, hand lotion, emery board, hand sanitizer, lip balm, pen/pencil and notebooks.

It was hoped the items would fill 20 bags which Elinor Rau had made. Well the items filled 20 bags and much, much more. Thank you to Brenda Hallman who will be delivering these items.

Sanguen is a not-for-profit, community-based health care agency with offices in Waterloo and Guelph, Ontario. Their mission is to meet the needs of those in the Waterloo Region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph living with or at risk for Hepatitis C through the provision of education, outreach, support, and comprehensive, expert medical care.

There van which works in partnership with some amazing people bringing necessary services to anyone requiring them and goes out every Thursday from 6-9 p.m. in the Kitchener area and on Fridays in Cambridge 4-7 p.m.