President's Message 

 

 

 

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At the first meeting of 2022, held by Zoom for the second time since the latest Omicron variant’s infectiousness, was opened on time by MPres Trudy who welcomed Jacques’s return from his Trans-Atlantic voyage and invited him to speak to the Club about his experiences at a futute date. Twenty-six members attended and were joined by Peta Hall who has previously presented to and attended our meetings and was introduced by Kim who described the wide range of enterprises that Peta has founded both in the County and in Africa.

In her presentation, Peta elucidated upon the initial establishment of the Vocational Training Institute of Ghana which has fostered the Textile Art Ghana Project (TAG.com) since 2020 and in which, currently, nine women are engaged, both studying and learning skills as well as producing beautifully coloured and decorated textile items. This program is creating a wide-range of opportunities that would not otherwise exist for these women. It gives them the chance to earn additional income, explore designs, colours, shapes etc in their creations and, because they have been provided with used iPhones, they can save images of their work and share it, locally and internationally. A lot of the products can be seen on-line at the wesite, textileartghana.com, where further information may be obtained. Peta also shared how the women were paid by Fair Trade basics and that they were encouraged to see this income as their’s to decide how to spend it. Some of these funds arose from sales in Canada, including from a major event at the Baxter Arts Centre in Bloomfield.  In answer to members’ questions, Peta explained local (Ghanaian) attitudes to income, the simplicity of the sewing machines and other tools, and that the full program would be on hiatus for three years because of the needs of the NGO that Peta works with. She also said that the program would come back even stronger in the future. Overall the enthusiasm, energy, positivity and optimism of Peta’s presentation was very well-received and she was thanked by Mike.

In Club business, Bill needed a volunteer for Wed 11-1 and this is indeed the slot that needs filling on a regular basis. Barry will chair a meeting of the annual fund-raising committee following next week’s regular meeting, by Zoom. There will also be an up-coming meeting of the Food Bank Committee with Linda Downey invited.

 

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Michelle Kosoy, Bill Pennell, Lyn McGowan

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Howard Ziedenberg, Doug Little (FoR), Chris Compeau

 

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