BINBROOK, WOODBURN WOMEN'S INSTITUTE GROUPS UNITE

The members roster of the Woodburn Women's Institute group had been getting smaller and smaller over the years.

It was a concern for the members of that branch, but also for the members of their sister branch, the Binbrook Women's Institute.

"We've always been close to them, and none of us could see us losing Woodburn," said Shirley Froman, past president of the Binbrook branch and president of the Stoney Creek Women's

Institute, where the now-international organization was founded 126 years ago in the Erland Lee home, which is now a

museum.

So, when the Binbrook branch threw a 75th anniversary celebration for the Woodburn group, all of the members voted to amalgamate the two groups, and the Binbrook Woodburn Women's Institute was born — though the decision still needs to be finalized at the upcoming district meeting in May.

Froman said that while it can happen that there isn't a lasting recognition of the smaller branch when two branches of an organization amalgamate, they were very purposeful in retaining the name Woodburn.

"Seventy-five years ought to earn you something," she said, adding that they'd put the names in alphabetical order.

Froman is now the secretary of the new group, and Shirley

Randle is president.

Randle noted that when they all got together for their meeting in February, the Binbrook branch had some funds that they'd raised, and they were discussing where the money should be donated to. The Woodburn members were asked for their input, and they requested that CityKidz, a not-for-profit that they'd long supported, be considered.

"We had never done that, and I think it was a really good addition to the lineup," Randle said. In the past, the Binbrook group has supported a number of organizations, including the Glanbrook Food Bank and Glanbrook Community Services.

Raising funds for not-for-profit groups in the community is just one of the ways the Women's Institute gives back.

The organization's branches also offer ROSE (Reaching Ontario Sharing Education) program sessions. Locally, this has spanned a variety of topics, including pie-making and Lyme disease awareness information nights.

On March 29 at 7 p.m., the Binbrook Woodburn Women's Institute will be hosting an Alzheimer's and dementia information night at the Binbrook Memorial Hall, 2600 Highway 56. Sandra Mallet with the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton-Halton will be the guest speaker. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Virginia Blackman is the newest member of the Binbrook Woodburn group, having joined in December when she moved to the area; she'd been a member of two other Women's Institute groups previously, over a 25-year period.

Blackman said she wanted to stay involved with the organization because of the members.

"They're always so warm, so welcoming when you're a brandnew member ... I really enjoy the friendships you develop," she said.

Blackman also appreciates the many opportunities to learn through the ROSE program, which allows her to then share that knowledge with her friends and family.

"In turn, it betters our community, and hopefully our province, eventually," she said.

The Women's Institute has certainly left its mark on Canada in a number of ways, including advocating for: the pasteurization of milk, all babies to automatically get a birth certificate and blacktop roads to have the centre line marked.

Froman noted that on top of all of this, the group has a voice at the United Nations, which it has used to advocate for items like food sustainability and combatting human trafficking.

The Binbrook Woodburn Women's Institute welcomes new members; those who are interested can email shirleyjohnfroman@yahoo.ca

or shirley@nbfp.ca for more information.

Blackman noted that new members are valued because they bring new perspectives.

"Even just one new person comes with whole new ideas."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: When we heard that the Binbrook and Woodburn Women's Institute groups had amalgamated, we wanted to know more about what the local branches were doing in the community.