CFUW Guelph Interest Groups

Our Club has many Interest Groups for our members to join.

A member can join as many groups as she wants.

Only CFUW members in good standing (i.e. with fees paid by October 31)are eligible
to attend CFUW interest groups (Article 1 #4, Constitution and Bylaws).
Eligible members are welcome to attend on payment of membership fees.

There is no charge to join a group; however, when a group goes on a special outing,
each member covers her own fees and expenses for the day or trip.

As well, some groups have annual charges to cover group expenses.
These are determined by each individual group.

Most groups normally meet in members' homes, with the responsibility
for "hosting" rotating within the group.

The end-of-year reports found in the May newsletter provide a description of
more specific activies of each group.

happy cyclist





Book Discussions

Comfy Chair Reader

There are a number of book groups which meet different evenings of the week and which are held in members' homes on a rotating basis.

Members meet once a month from September through June.

Generally, one member hosts, another researches the author and the book and leads the discussion.

Participants enjoy a social time along with research and discussion.

The groups are lively and enjoy excellent sessions.


Book Groups and Lists Link Button




Book Exchanges

The groups meet once to discuss which books to
buy. Each member has one book at a time.

The books are in turn passed around to
each member.

Reading

Book Lists Link Button










Lazy Read

CFUW Guelph
Virtual Book Discussion Group
Participants do not clean,
do not cook,
do not meet to discuss the book.
Each discussion is open to all CFUW Guelph members.
The group operates 24/7 and is tailored to the individual schedule of each participant.
And ~ participants may discuss from anywhere in the world that has internet access.

Online book discussion
started in the fall of 2009.

To date (April 2010)
participants have discussed
three books:

Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel

The Golden Notebook
by Doris Lessing

Divisadero
by Michael Ondaatje





Communicating




The next discussion will centre on two books dealing with autism:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
by Mark Haddon

The Speed of Dark
by Elizabeth Moon

Any club member may suggest a book for discussion.

Then the entire club is notified and
invited to form that book's discussion group.


Please see the Blue Book (page 4)
for contact information.





Bridge

Judith Barrett
Convenor
playing cards There are nine bridge groups in CFUW Guelph and each is independent.

The bridge convenor is contacted when a group is in need of another member, either because they have lost a member or because they are in need of a temorary replacement (spare) due to illness or absence of a regular player.

From a list of people who indicate that they would like to join a group, or people who are willing to substitute (spare) on an occasional basis, replacements are contacted.

Groups meet on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday.

Most meet in the evening;
a few meet in the afternoon.

Some play once a month;
some play twice a month.

Seven of the groups
play contract bridge,
two play duplicate bridge.






Civic Affairs


Meetings:

Harcourt United Church
2nd Monday of each month
1:30 p.m.
September to May


Civic Affairs Group


Our Objectives:
  • To make a contribution to our city by becoming informed about and actively involved in our City Government, and in all respects affecting the quality of life in Guelph
  • To make presentation to City Council or other Government offices when we have valid concerns or interests concerning life in Guelph
  • To write letters of support for Council decisions we deem to be good for Guelph
  • To make suggestions to City Departments based on information we have accumulated through study
  • To actively support women to seek appointments to City boards and commissions
  • To encourage and support women to seek election to City Council

Spring 2010 Meetings Details  Link Button

Editorial Placed in The Guelph Mercury Link Button





Cross-Country Ski Group

Linda Hathorn, Convenor

Meets one afternoon a week to ski in and around Guelph, snow and ski conditions permitting.

The group makes day trips to groomed trails at Mansfield and Nordic Highlands, again depending on ski conditions.

Cross-country Skier




Attention


Exploring Music
Contact person: Jill Dick

We love music!

We meet in members' homes on the first Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m.

We plan outings to musical performances and we learn more about music and
musicians by sharing the knowledge of our group members and researched information.

We invite you to join us!



Gardening
Clare Irwin, Heather Bailey
Convenors

Meets on the third Monday of each month (except December) at 7:30 p.m.

Meetings are either in the home of a member or "on location" in nurseries, botanical and other gardens.

The group is open to novice as well as experienced gardeners.

Meetings are designed to increase members' knowledge about all aspects of gardening, including soil, plant material (trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals), garden design and landscaping, pest management, etc.

There is a mixture of member-led meetings and invited speakers.

Bloom




Gourmet Dining

Group 1
Joyce George, Convenor

Group 2

Singles or couples.

Members or couples host a
 dinner once each year.

The whole group can plan a meal or
the host decides on the theme
and then each member or couple
cooks a portion of the meal.
Oysters and Wine




Hiking

Carole Stewart, Convenor
Regular hikes depart from:

Covered Bridge parking lot,
Gordon Street
12:45 p.m. sharp on Wednesdays
Sept - Nov; April - May

Hiking is at your own risk.
Hikes take between 1.5 and 2 hours, plus travel time. Carpooling is done, and the driver receives from each hiker in her car the amount listed with the hike.

Hikes can be easy, moderate, or strenuous.

Hiking Schedule, Spring 2010

May 5
Cootes Paradise -
North Shore Trails
1 ½  Mod  $3.00

May 12
Eramosa River
from Covered Bridge
1 ½  Easy  $0.00

May 19
Arboretum
1 ½  Easy  $0.50

May 26
Credit River Valley
1 ½  Diff  $3.00

June 2
………………………   

June 9
10:00 a.m.
 Final Hike and Lunch   
 Speed River West
 1 ½  Easy  $0.00

Hiking Boot


Join us on our hikes in our photo archive ~ ~ ~  Link Button




Focus

Focus


International Focus Group
Carol Dilworth, Convenor

The countries of origin of five members :
England, the Netherlands, Poland and Bosnia.
One member is a first-generation Canadian from Hungary.

We meet on the third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in member homes;
the hostess tries to provide a food appropriate to the country being studied.

We have room for lots more members.

Program Ideas:
Problems of new immigrants moving to Guelph
Video with a discussion after
Visit to Shelldale
A performance by Shelldale women refugees
Scarcity of world food supply
Women's rights in different countries
Comparison of health benefits worldwide
Refugees - why they leave their country
Emergence of China
Sports in different countries, e.g. soccer

Photo Archive Link Button

Globe




Issues and Action Image


ISSUES AND ACTION GROUP – CFUW GUELPH

 Teresa McKeeman, Convenor


History of the Issues and Action Group :
In 2008, Joan Fuller, past president of CFUW Guelph, suggested the need for a group to come together to respond to government actions with respect to CFUW policy. The initial meeting was held in November 2008. The first year was spent organizing and debating thepurpose and direction of the group. We are now ready to take ACTION to advance CFUW policy and we need your help.

Our objectives include :
  • Being informed about issues and activities of all levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) as they impact individuals with respect to women’s equality and human rights

  • Evaluating government actions with respect to CFUW policy using a non-partisan approach

  • Planning activities that advance CFUW policy and respond to government actions

Activities :
  • Writing letters to and meeting with MPs and MPPs regarding pressing issues

  • Writing letters to the editor of our local papers

  • Supporting the Civic Affairs group with respect to activities at the municipal level

Membership :
  • All members in good standing of CFUW Guelph are eligible to join.

  • Members may participate on issues of particular interest on an ad hoc basis.

Authority :
  • All communication on behalf of CFUW Guelph must be in agreement with CFUW policy.

  • Communications are to be submitted to the CFUW Guelph Executive Committee for approval prior to distribution to the public.

Current Activities:

The Issues and Action Group of CFUW Guelph is currently working on a response to the
Early Learning Report submitted to Premier McGuinty with respect to the implementation
of full-day learning for 4- and 5-year-olds in Ontario.
     
Meetings:

Meetings are monthly with a schedule based on the availability of members.

Currently 3rd Tuesday evening each month

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!



Knitting

Marg Donaldson, Convenor

Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.squiggly line

Members with all levels of knitting expertise knit and share tips, encouragement,
and inspiration.

ball of woolle




Lunch and Chat

Shirley Perrior, Convenor
Groups meets once a month
at the home of the hostess.
Two people prepare lunch.
This is not a "gourmet" group, just good food and chat.

tea cake




Quilting Template


Quilting

Anne Hobbs
Convenor


Meets the third or fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
Learn new techniques, make your own quilts, share projects you are
working on, attend our annual retreat, and participate in the making
of group quilts and wall hangings to donate to not-for-profit organizations.

In the past, we have donated wall hanging quilts to raffle at the monthly CFUW meetings to raise money for the Scholarship Fund.

This group is best suited for participants with some sewing skills and a working sewing machine.
(The quilt background on this page is our CFUW Guelph banner, which was made by this quilting group.)





S1 C3 R1 A1 B3 B3 L1 E1


First Monday - evening
Linda Hathorn
Convenor

Second Wednesday - evening
 Jocelyn Anderson
Convenor


Members rotate hosting and get together to have fun and learn new words. Every word counts.




Tea and Treasures

Elizabeth Tremayne, Convenor
The Tea and Treasures group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month
at 1:30 p.m. from September to May.

It's essentially a "show and tell" group. Members bring in interesting items
and talk about them.

Sometimes the group goes on field trips.
Tea in mug




Wine Interest Group

Andrea Manera, Convenor

With renewed interest in wine taste testing,
our group is small but active.

We always welcome new members to join our group. Cheers!


Wine glasses





Scribblers - A Writers Group
Writing Book

Ann Middleton, Convenor
Scribblers meets on the 2nd Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
A different member leads the meeting each time.

We do ten-minute writing exercises during the meeting
(e.g., write something that contains only words of one syllable).

We present material that we've written since the last meeting
and members critique the work.

We have an assignment to do between meetings, if the muse is willing...

Most members have either published (not necessarily professionally) or have aspirations towards publishing.



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