Rural women helping rural women

Women's Institutes of Nova Scotia  

• social group 
• monthly meetings
• rural women (ie not living in a city) educating rural women
• no religious affiliation 
• some fund raising but not a priority
• promotes crafts
• affiliated with the Federation of Women's Institutes Canada

(LR) Roseanne Preston, Carolyn MacLeod, Marion Schofield, Lavinia Parish-Zwicker 

Celebrating 30 years - (LR) Faye Schoffield, Carolyn MacLeod, Marilyn Thornley, Hazel Bekcwith, Lynda Andres, Glenda Braham

(LR) Marilyn, Carolyn, Hazel, Lavinia. Faye, Glenda, Lynda

The Lockhartville group recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and WINS is celebrating 100 years in 2013.
We welcome women who are interested in learning more about WINS.Contact Glenda Braham at 684-9563 or r.braham@eastlink.ca

My experience: I joined the Lockhartville group two years ago because I wanted to get involved with a group of local women who socialize and who contribute to the community.
Lockhartville is in the Kings East District and we frequently meet with other WINS groups.
The first year our craft was a quilt. I am no sewer but I did help.
Last year we learnt how to crochet. My adapted my square for a tea cozy into a cushion.
Currently we are getting ready to celebrate the 100th anniversary of WINS with a display and tea in Kentville in May. One display will outline the contribution the district has made to social issues. I enjoy the meetings and look forward to them. -Heather Davidson

PS Even Hants Border and Hantsport are rural. We all qualify. 

The quilt won first prize in the provincial WINS competition!

A history of the Lockhartville Branch of Women’s Institute of Nova Scotia

THEN: 1982 - 88

“A number of women from Lockhartville and surrounding area met at the home of Lavinia Zwicker on Thursday, October 21st at 8 pm.”

  The women met to consider organizing a Women’s Institute branch. Ten women favoured this. The following officers were approved: President Lavinia Zwicker. Secretary Diane MacPhee, and Treasurer Bonnie Vaughan.

  Charter members included Lavinia Zwicker, Dianne MacPhee, Bonnie Vaughan, Thelma Clowry, Marion Simpson, Sandra Kerr, Grace Smith, Roseanne Preston, Carolyn McLeod, Marion Schofield, Trudy Atwell, Dianne Benjamin, Katherine Sherrard, Mary Pitts. 

  During the next six years, group membership climbed to 18 but usually eight or ten regularly attended the monthly meetings. These were scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8 PM at members’ homes. This changed to 7:30 PM and varied from members’ homes and the Lockhartville Community Hall.

  The group’s primary focus was the education of rural women. Programs included a presentation by the RCMP on preventing sexual abuse and break-ins, the nutritional value of beef and pork, matrimonial property law, stress, families feeding families, and municipal government. 

  The group raised money by collecting cash registers receipts to get a coffee perk, selling honey, holding teas and donating money to the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada for clean water and sanitation, the Valley Hospice Fair, and to a family which had lost its home through fire. It also contributed to the Lockhartville Community Hall. When the group held meetings in the hall, it paid the hall $20. In addition the women cleaned the hall, did yard work, developed a garden, and contributed needed items to the hall, 

  Crafts were important. Members made cross-stitch Christmas decorations, samplers, homemade valentines, and handbags. Quilts filled a double role as a craft and as a fund raiser. 

  The women worked hard but also were social. They held pot luck suppers, went to restaurants for group anniversaries, had sing songs, performed skits, had a mock wedding with clothes from Frenchy’s, and performed a mock operation.

   They met with other groups by invitation such as Grand Pré, Windsor Forks, and Berwick WIs. Members attended provincial conventions, district meetings, and, when possible, Associated Country Women of the World meetings. 

  They had a connection occasionally with the defunct Hantsport WI. In June 1983, three former members of that group presented the Lockhartville group with various memorabilia including two flags. In June 1986, Mrs Zella Harvie and Mrs Evelyn Harvie of Hantsport donated a cream and sugar set from their group to the Lockhartville group. 

NOW: 2009 - 2013

  Through the years, attendance varied from four to eight members at a meeting. Some of the original ones left; others joined. 

  The group continued to focus on educating women. Their programs included a talk by a local Heart Smart Bread baker, a craniopsacral therapist, and a local RN who provides foot care. They watched a video on ovarian cancer and a member read an article which appeared in Rural Route on Dr. Ellen McLean.And members supported Women Walk the World. 

  Because their first cookbook, Cooking From the “Hart”, was a financial success, they put together a second one, Cooking From the “Hart” Again. They organized a HarvestFest Tea with dessert. They donated money to groups and individuals including WI membership dues, Pennies for Friendship, Loonie Month, the Heart Fund, the Annapolis Valley Music Festival, the Hantsport Food Bank, the IWK, Christmas Daddies, and to local people who needed financial help.  For several years the group continued to make crafts including crocheting tea cosies and making a quilt which won 1st prize at the AGM on August 4, 2011. 

  Through the years they socialized among themselves by holding their annual meetings and Christmas meetings at various local restaurants. Member Hazel Beckwith, age 86, completed her 300th cuddle bear and was named ATV’s Maritimer of the Week on April 20, 2012. Members attended Marion Schofield’s 95th birthday. Several times they met with their twin, the Delhaven W.I. One new member joined. Members attended district meetings, provincial conventions, and an ACWW convention.

  Members in 2013 were: Glenda Braham, Hazel Beckwith, Faye Singleton, Lynda Andres, Carolyn McLeod, Mildred Schofield, Marilyn Thornley, Elaine Munroe, Rosanne Preston, Lavinia Zwicker, Marion Schofield, and Heather Davidson. 

Submitted by Heather at 684-3876