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 with fees paid 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 activities of each group.








!!! NEW !!!

Arts and Entertainment



Arts and Entertainment
Heather Bailey, Coordinator


We plan outings to movies, theatre or musical performances of interest to group members and then circulate this information to all CFUW Guelph members via e-mail in case anyone else would like to join us.


Tickets may be purchased as a group and transportation may be shared depending on the event.





!!! NEW !!!

BIKING

Happy Cyclist


This is a new group which will do 3 or 4 trips this fall and a few next spring. We will usually drive to our starting point and do fairly easy,
i.e. flat, but pretty, routes.

We have transportation for six bikes.

The group is flexible if the planned date is unworkable
due to weather conditions.

October 27: We'll probably go to Elora ( Elora -Cataract Trail)
and head to Fergus or the
Shand Dam - maybe have lunch somewhere en route ...

Please contact me to confirm your attendance.

Mary McEwen
Bicycle



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


The Joy of Books ~ Stop-Action Video:

http://youtu.be/SKVcQnyEIT8



Book Exchanges

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

The books in turn are passed around
to each member.

Reading


Book Groups and Lists Link Button









Lazy Read

CFUW Guelph
Virtual Book Discussion Group

This interest group is "virtual" in that it meets online rather than in person.

We read actual, physical books.


The only technology is email.

Participants do not clean,
do not cook,
do not meet to discuss the book.

This activity is open to all CFUW Guelph members at all times.
You merely indicate that you would like to participate in the
current discussion and then jump in and out whenever you wish.


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.





For February and March, there are three books.

You are welcome to discuss any or all.
  All you do is read the book and describe your reaction in, say, 200 words or less (or more, if you prefer) in an email. 

Only those also reading the book see your comments.
Participating in one discussion does not commit you to any others.

Here are the choices:


Seabiscuit, An American Legend by Laura Hellenbrand

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

The Reader by Bernard Schlink


Seabiscuit and The Reader are also movies and often the discussants see the movie together after they're finished talking about the book.




Communicating



Any club member may suggest a book for discussion.

The entire club is then notified and
invited to form that book's discussion group.

Carol Dilworth, Contact Person





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, 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.



!!! NEW !!! Breakfast Club





Breakfast Club

Contact
June Ayrhart
for
information
and
to reserve a spot.


Meet to eat and chat at a local restaurant
on the third Tuesday at 8 a.m.
unless otherwise planned.



Everyone welcome !





This month:

TBA





Civic Affairs

Janet Fowler, Betty-Anne Stammers and Esther Devolin , Co-Convenors

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

Editorial Placed in The Guelph Mercury
Link Button

Photos of Civic Affairs Field Trips Link Button

Programme for 2011-2012 Link Button









Cross-Country Ski Group

Linda Hathorn, Convenor

Linda Hathorn and Brenda Vegso

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.



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
Heather Bailey
Convenor


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:

Parking lot by the
Covered Bridge/Lawn Bowling Club/Boathouse

on

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.

Spencer's Gorge Montage

November 2 ~
The Spencer Gorge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Hikes will begin again on Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

Winter hiking will occur via communication among interested members.

See you in the Spring!



Hiking Boot


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


We were too busy hiking and chatting and observing
to catch ourselves in the act in the spring of 2011 ...
maybe we'll have more pictures in the coming season.





Boys and Girls Multi


coloring beads


International Focus Group



The International Focus interest group appeals to members who enjoy both dining out and learning about other countries / cultures.

Restaurant meetings alternate with in-home meetings and the focus is on a specific area of the world.


Some of the areas that we have learned more about during the past three years are Bangladesh, China, Korea, Latvia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Venezuela, and volunteer work in the Caribbean and Africa. We also did a Saturday field trip to Fort York.

Upcoming meetings will focus on China Revisited and The War of 1812.

The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for meals and 7:30 p.m. for in-home meetings. There is occasionally a modest amount of reading to do to prepare for a meeting.

Please contact Carol Dilworth if you would like to join us.


Field Trip
Dinner





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.


Meetings :

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

Currently 3rd Tuesday afternoon each month

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!



Lunch and Chat

Joan Goddard, 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



S 1 C 3 R 1 A 1 B 3 B 3 L 1 E 1


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.




Scribblers - A Writers Group

Writing Book

Sylvia Grant, 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.



Tea and Treasures

Joan Goddard, Convenor

The Tea and Treasures group meets on the third Wednesday 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.

Tea in mug




Textile Art Group

Marilyn Watson
Convenor

Autumn in Muskoka


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.

Over the years, we have donated wall hangings and quilts to raise money for the Scholarship Fund, to great success.

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 group.)