Montreal Lakeshore University Women`s Club

Montreal Lakeshore University Women's Club
Newsletter,November,2009
Volume 52, Issue 3
President’s Message
General Meeting
Monday, November 16
at
The Karnak Shriners’ Temple
3350 Sources Boulevard, DDO

Coffee
7:00 pm

Meeting
Guest Speaker:
Sheila Kindellan-Sheehan,
A resident of Pointe- Claire, and an
experienced broadcaster,
Sheila is a “best selling” novelist,
the author of an award-winning memoir,
and of four gripping mysteries.
Acclaimed as “a major voice on the
Canadian mystery scene”, her choice of
titles alone promises a lively glimpse into
an intriguing imaginative world.
Her sixth and seventh books are with a
British agent and will be
released internationally.
Copies of her books may be bought after
her presentation.

OK, this is it ladies; a call for action! This month I’m asking you
to take action on three important issues.
First of all, our annual Theatre Night fundraiser is just around the
corner and we need your support. If you haven’t bought your
tickets yet, don’t delay! Tickets are available from interest group
leaders or by contacting our Fundraising Chair Nicole Awad.
Encourage your friends and neighbours to come too -- tell them
what a wonderful cause they would be supporting. Those of you
who met last year’s scholarship recipients at the October meeting
have to agree.
Second, Bill C-391: an Act to amend the Criminal Code and the
Firearms Act entered into second reading the in House of
Commons at the end of September. This bill intends to eliminate
the long-gun registry and to destroy all existing registration
records. Rifles and shotguns are the firearms most often used to
kill women and children in domestic violence. Although the vote
has not been scheduled, it could happen as early as October 28
and at the latest sometime during the second week of November.
A sample letter and information about how to contact your MP is
included with this newsletter. The gun registry is crucial to both
public safety and the safety of Canadian women and children.
Our third action item concerns the CFUW resolution on Climate
Change which was passed at the AGM this summer. With the
United Nations Climate Change Summit coming up in
Copenhagen in December, now is the time to urge the Canadian
government to step up and negotiate an ambitious, fair and
binding treaty for global action on climate change. A movement
spearheaded by the South Shore University Women’s Club will
see the Prime Minister, other party leaders and MP’s from coast
to coast being inundated with letters from University Women
calling for action on climate change. Finishing touches are being
put on the documents which will be distributed to you shortly.
Remember the time to act is now!
I look forward to seeing you all at Theatre Night on Tuesday
November 10th and again on Monday the 16th for our regular
monthly meeting. At this meeting we will be presenting
information about the 2 candidates running for CFUW president
and asking you to vote on which candidate our club will
support. As always, feel free to contact me with any
questions, comments or ideas.
Heather Hamilton
M
embership
As I write this, there are still 27 membership fees to be paid. Late memberships are always
accepted but tardy members will be excluded from this year's directory, which will be sent to the printer at
the end of October. If you do not plan to renew your membership, a notification would be appreciated.
The directories will be available at the November meeting. Please pick up your copy (and that of a friend
not in attendance). If you need to have it mailed, please notify me.
We welcome our newest members: Adeline Ciebien and Celine Dupuis from Beaconsfield, Susan Davies
from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Anne Krikorian from Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Susan Pick Vadivel from Ste Adèle.
To date we have 16 new members and many enquiries are still being received. There will be a reception to
welcome the new members on October 29, at which time we look forward to providing information about
our Club. Once again, our thanks to Gail O`Reilly, who is doing a fabulous job as new members co-ordinator.
To all members (new and old), please feel free to contact me at any time should you need my assistance.
Marie-Belle Cunningham
ommunication
We offer our most sincere condolences to Françoise Perreault, whose husband recently passed away.
Our thoughts are with you, Françoise, at this difficult time.
Irene robson 514-694-6647
[email protected]
C
C
FUW Liaison
As Patricia DuVal’s term winds down, preparations are underway for the next biennium. CFUW is
having elections this year for president. We are fortunate to have two candidates for CFUW president
and we will take a vote on this at the November general meeting. Marylea Burtt is currently Director of
Membership and has previously been Chair of the CFUW 1970 Conference, Director of Communications
and Membership and twice Regional Director for Ontario east. Marylea has also served as Treasurer of
Ontario Council. Brenda Wallace is currently Vice President Prairies and has been co-chair of the LAC. She
has also served as Regional Director of Saskatchewan. Each candidate’s one page proposal accompanying
their nomination form will be sent out to you along with the newsletter.
The Quebec Council’s mid-year meeting was hosted by CFUW South Shore on October 17. A number of
members attended and the meeting provided a forum for an open and easy exchange of ideas, informative
and avid discussions, and sharing of hopes for the future. The Council is preparing to restart the provincial
website with links to the other Quebec Clubs as well as to CFUW. Four of the five Quebec Clubs have a
website. We are looking for members to help write some of the copy, for editing and also for translation
since the website will be completely bilingual. For further information please contact Connie Ellis at
[email protected]. The next Quebec Provincial Council meeting will be in Quebec City. For those of you who
are interested in participating, it is never too soon to start making plans to attend the April 25, 2010 meeting.
The Clubs also discussed the governance document with the proposals from the national Board. The results
of these discussions will be presented to you at the next general meeting just prior to sending our suggestions
to CFUW. If you have any ideas for improvement of services or if you have an idea about what you would
like from National please contact Heather Hamilton or me.
Chitra Chopra
Statement of Revenue and Expenses: June 1 to May 31, 2009

Theatre Night
Ticket sales are going very well thanks to your co-operation, ladies. All the tickets have been distributed to the
interest group leaders , but we do not know if they have all been sold so we would really appreciate it if the
interest group leaders would call and let us know how they are doing and how many tickets they still hold, since
we have no monthly meeting before the Theatre Night. Thanks again for your help and see you on November 10,
8:00 pm, at John Rennie High School.
Nicole Awad, 514-630-0208
P
OTLUCK DINNERs
JANUARY 11, 2009
Though Monday, January 11, 2010 seems a long way off, we are counting on your participation
to make the annual pot luck dinner an enjoyable evening for all.
To date we have 10 hostesses and 67 members signed up. You will have an opportunity to add your name at
our November 16 meeting. In order for everyone to attend these wonderful dinners we would need
additional volunteer hostesses for Pointe Claire S., Beaconsfield S. and possibly north of the highway
As a hostess, your responsibility is to share your home and dinnerware, and supply the tea and coffee. Your
assistant co-ordinates the meal, phoning each guest to ask what she wishes to bring, so that we have a wellbalanced meal.
Diane Nener, 514-457-6540 and Kerstin Birch, 514-457-6473
DID YOU KNOW?
W
omen do two-thirds of the world’s work, produce 50% of the world’s food but currently earn
only 10% of the world’s income and hold 1% of the world’s property. However, women are
gaining a real voice in finance, according to Kavita Ramdas, President and CEO of the Global
Fund for Women since 1966. During this time the Fund’s assets have grown from $6 million to $21 million.
Grantmaking has increased to $8 million a year and the number of countries to which the Fund for Women
gives grants has nearly tripled, to over 160 countries. Kavita asserts that women have unique and creative
ideas that can help the world resolve global issues leading to peaceful and productive communities. Kavita
envisions this century as the time when women‘s contributions change the course of the world.
Read the transcript and watch the September 28, 2009 interview of Kavita Ramdas on the Bill Moyers
Journal entitled “Investing in Women is the Engine for Social Change.” Go to
www.globalfundforwomen.org, to the Find Out column and click on Media Center.Sources: Wikipedia and
www.globalfundforwomen.org
S
tratford Festival Trip (2010) 
Plans are being made for our trip to the Stratford Festival for September 20–24, 2010. Reservations
have been made at the River Garden Inn in Stratford.
The Calendar of plays includes the following:
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” (Christopher Plummer) and “As You Like It” (Brent Carver); the musicals
“Kiss Me Kate” and “Evita”; “Dangerous Liaisons” and Michel Tremblay’s “For the Pleasure of Seeing Her
Again”.
Tickets will be ordered in early December. If you wish to join us and reserve a place for this thoroughly
enjoyable excursion, call as soon as possible.
Louise Dagenais,514-694-7651, Barbara Rowan, 514-694-4286 or Renate Sutherland, 514- 695-1970
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Could you serve ?
♥
A dedicated Board keenly interested in “special people" invites your interest.
VATIL Inc (Apprentissage à la Vie Autonome – Towards Independent Living) is a non-profit
community organization based in Lachine offering services to adolescents and adults with mild
intellectual handicaps. We are looking for board members to take an interest in our “special
people” as they pursue their goal of independent living among friends in the community.
A
We need people who are available for monthly board meetings (Mondays), who may be familiar with the
Social Services network, who are interested in keeping an eye on finances and helping us fund programs not
covered by government. We offer outreach to adolescents and young adults, short-term residential learning
to live outside of the family home and long-term community support for apartment living, money
management, health and personal matters. Our social activities reduce isolation and foster friendships. Our
almost 200 clients range in age from teenagers to seniors. We offer professional support and counselling for
clients and fieldwork placements for social work and special care counselling students. We collaborate with
other organizations that serve the intellectually disabled in the West Island.
Please call Carita Dubuc, 514-684-7423 for more information and a visit
_______________________________________________________________________________________

L
et's Car Pool!
Almost everyone who attended the October meeting at the Karnak Temple shared a car, saved
gas and enjoyed a chat on the way. If you are looking for a ride to the November or December
meeting and you live near one of these members, give her a call:
Sherwood Forest, Beaconsfield: Pam Deans, 514-697-2195
Pointe-Claire (St Jean between #20 and 40):
Suzanne Dawson, 514-674-0581
______________________________________________________________________________
E
nvironmental Studies Group Tip
Water Use
Run the washing machine and dishwasher only with full loads and use the most efficient setting. In most
cases, wash in cold or warm water. Further, when brushing your teeth, do not leave the tap running
unnecessarily
S
tewart Hall Singers Fruit and Nuts Fundraiser
The deadline is fast approaching for this highly popular annual fundraiser of nuts and dried fruit
of excellent quality at unbeatable prices, just in time for the Christmas baking season. The
deadline for placing orders is Monday, October 26 for delivery by arrangement after Monday,
November 2. Please contact Joan Dyer, [email protected] to receive an order form by email. Don't miss out! Don't delay!
Also mark your calendars: Stewart Hall Singers Christmas concert, Sunday, November 29, 4 pm, St Edmund
of Canterbury Church, Beaconsfield.
Also mark your calendars: Stewart Hall Singers Christmas concert, Sunday, November 29, 4 pm, St Edmund
of Canterbury Church, Beaconsfield.
T
he Zonta Club de Montréal
cordially invites you to their Annual Award Night and Dinner on Tuesday, November 17, 6 pm at
the Wyndham Montreal Airport Hotel on 12505 Cote de Liesse, Dorval.
Following cocktails and dinner, Scolarships and Bursaries will be presented to several exemplary young
women.. Special recognition will be made of the work of The Auberge Madeleine Woman’s Shelter
celebrating its 25 Anniversary.
For tickets, ($50.00) and reservations,please call Yvonne Quintyn (514) 683-4213 (514) 914-3413 before
November 9.
Tool Kit for Bill C-391
Canadian Federation of University Women
September 2009
Background:
On Monday, September 28, 2009, Bill C-391: an Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (to
repeal the gun registry) entered into second reading in the House of Commons. Bill C-391 intends to
eliminate long-gun registration and to destroy all existing registration records.
This is despite the fact that information about the guns individuals own is essential to Canada’s police
agencies; the gun registry is consulted by police 10,000 times a day and has helped in efforts to take
preventive actions and in several investigations. Rifles and shotguns are the firearms most often used to kill
women and children in domestic violence. 88% of Canadian women killed with guns are killed with a
shotgun or rifle, the very guns that supporters of Bill C-391 say are not the cause of gun violence.
The Canadian Federation of University Women believes that gun control is an important measure to help
prevent public violence and especially domestic violence against women and children. The CFUW is calling
upon Members of Parliament of all parties to vote against Bill C-391 to reduce violence in Canadian families
and communities.
Current Status of the Bill:
There is still one hour of debate up for this bill before the vote can be called. Although the vote has not been
scheduled, it can happen at the earliest on October 28 and at the latest sometime during the second week of
November. This gives us time to organize against the passing of this bill.
Get the word out that the gun registry is crucial to both women’s and public safety. Write into your local
paper, to your MP and the MPs in your area! Every vote counts, Private Member’s bills are typically not
whipped by party so every MP may get the chance to vote for their constituents, make sure they know how
you feel about Bill C-391.
What can we do?
1. Write to your MP and the MPs in your area:
Letters sent to MP offices are postage free. The address for the House of Commons is:
[Name of Member], MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Emails for MPs can be found on this website:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/CustomizableReports.aspx?Language=E&Subject=1
Note: If sending an email be sure to cc. all the party leaders and MP Candice Hoeppner, who introduced Bill
C-391 into the House of Commons.
Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Oppostion: [email protected]
Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois: [email protected]
Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party: [email protected]
Candice Hoeppner, MP (Portage – Lisgar): [email protected]
[Date]
Re: Bill C-391 an Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act
Dear [MP]:
I am growing increasingly concerned about the private members bill C-391. This bill, named an Act to
amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act, seeks to dismantle Canada’s gun control laws.
This bill has been proposed in spite of overwhelming evidence that stronger gun laws, which include the
licensing of gun owners and the registration of all guns, have helped reduce gun related death, injury,
violence and suicide. In 1991, before gun control laws were strengthened, 1441 Canadians were killed with
guns; in 2005, after the implementation of the gun registry the number was 818. Murders with rifles and
shotguns have also decreased dramatically, from 107 in 1991 to 32 in 2008, a decrease of more than 78
percent, in part because of stronger controls on firearms. These laws have made Canadians safer.
The story around the gun registry often ignores the role long guns play in domestic violence. Rifles and
shotguns are the firearms most often used to kill women and children in domestic violence. 88 percent of
Canadian women killed with guns are killed with a shotgun or rifle, the very guns that supporters of Bill C391 say are not the cause of gun violence. 50 percent of family homicides end in the suicide of the murderer,
indicating that the key to protecting women and children is thorough screening in licensing and licence
renewals for gun owners.
Our gun laws have been recognized worldwide as an effective tool for reducing gun violence targeting women.
The number of women murdered with firearms fell from 85 in 1991 to 32 in 2005. In contrast murders of
women without firearms declined only slightly during the same period of time. Information about the guns
that individuals own is essential to Canada’s police agencies; the gun registry is consulted by police 10,000
times a day and has helped in efforts to take preventive actions and in several investigations.
As my MP I urge you to consider the untold story of long gun violence and vote against C-391. The
evidence is clear that the gun registry has worked to reduce gun violence. This bill threatens public safety
and the safety of Canadian women and children.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
Interest Group News - late October and November 2009
I
ssues and Resolutions
The next meeting of The Issues and Resolutions Interest Group will be on October 27 at 9.30 am. at
Francis Lortie's home in NDG. We will be discussing Nursing issues and Health Care issues in
relationship to isotope availability. If you are interested in joining this group, you may call Marjorie
Hamilton Harding at 514-695-0125.
G
erman Kaffeklatsch
Will met at the home of Christne Hamilton on Tuesday, October 27 at 2:pm. If anyone is interested to join,
please call Christine Hamilton
attendance: 514-697-8015 or [email protected]
M
usic Appreciation
Meets October 28 at 10:am at Nora Christie’s home, 33 Claude St., Beaconsfield to prepare for
the November 11 MSO concert. Repertoire includes exciting dance selections by Bernstein,
Copland and Daugherty. Lunch afterwards.
Meets November 25 at 10:am at Judy Paquin’s home, 590 Chelsea Cr., Beaconsfield to prepare for the
December 9 MSO concert. Works by Bach and Haydn. For details please contact Maria Cranker, 514-6943963.
T
ravel
On Monday, November 2, we will again have a presentation from our faithful Joanne Brais and her
husband, J.C., who are world travellers. Refreshments will be served at 7 pm and at 7:30 pm, we
will travel via video to South and East Africa. Location: Sunrise Senior Living Residence, 505 Elm (top of
Woodland). Call Judy Paquin, 514- 428-05410 or Janet Ankcorn, 514- 426-0729. for information.
C
hristmas Meeting MLUWC Choir
Help ring in the Christmas season at our December meeting with Wendy Hamel and friends. You
can look forward to hearing selections by Wendy and a MLUWC choir. Then everyone will get their
turn in a sing-along, to get us all in the festive spirit. If you would like to be in the small choir, please phone
Wendy by November 8 at 514-426-2008
B
ook Club 1
On November 11, 1:00 pm, we will be meeting at Jeanette Brooker's, 72 Curzon, Montreal West.
The book The Secret River by Kate Grenville will be reviewed by Beth Wood, followed by our group
discussion. Please phone Jeanette at 514-481-8583 if you are unable to join us. See you all in
November! Margaret Nicoll-Griffith [email protected]
J
Aunters
The trip for November will be the THEATRE NIGHT play on Tuesday, November 10, 8:00 pm at John
Rennie High School. The Lakeshore Players are presenting Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose.
Tickets are available from committee members. Hope to see you there.
And on Tuesday December 15, we will visit the CENTRE D'HISTOIRE DE MONTRÉAL.335 Place d'Youville in
Old Montreal. Housed in the old fire station, the CHM is a small, unpretentious historical museum
presenting exhibitions on various themes related to life in Montreal. The guided tour is from 10:30 am–
12:00. The ticket price is $1.75. Lunch will be at Les Filles du Roi. A special lunch menu is available.
We will meet at 9:30 am at the Pointe Claire Shopping Centre located just north of the 20 at St John. Please
be on time. Let me know if you want theatre tickets and if you wish to go to the museum. Virginia Sears
514 425 0737
B
T
ook Club II
Book Club II will meet on November 19 at 1:30 pm at Adla Halwani's, 32 Shediac Cresc., Kirkland.
Mary Leblanc will review Pay Back by Margaret Atwood. Leader: Louise Dagenais (514) -694-7651
[email protected]
utto Italiano
The next meeting of the group will take place on November 20 at 2 pm. Details will be confirmed to
members via e-mail.
C
.A. Wellness
The group will meet on November 24 at 7:30 pm at Renate Sutherland's, 28 Lansdowne Gardens,
Pointe Claire for a presentation on "Mindful Reflection" by former Buddhist monk Stephen
Schettini, now a Montreal writer, publisher and teacher of mindful reflection for 30 years. His talk
will give us insight into how the Quiet Mind can teach us flexibility and resilience and at the same time
increase our confidence, empathy, creativity and happiness.
To cover honorariums there is a $10 yearly membership fee for regular members of the group and a small
charge for guests. All members of the MLUWC are welcome. Please contact Heather Roberton re your
C
M
onversation en francais: Le prochain rendez-vous du groupe 'conversation en francais' aura lieu
chez Susan Cruickshank, le 20 novembre, à 9:30 h.
usic History:
Meets on nTueday, December 12th at 1:00 pm We are now in the early part of the Romantic
period, the year 1844. Someone in the group requested music by Chopin, and we will play a
selection of nocturnes by this Polish/French composer. As it is the bicentennial of Mendelssohn's birth this
year, we will play his beloved violin concerto. The program will be rounded off by Berlioz' Roman
Carnival, and Wagner's Flying Dutchman overture. Refreshments: Patricia Duval
O
ut to Dinner Group
18 Ladies met for our first meeting in September at Terra Mare. We all enjoyed the food, price and
the company. These are the restaurants we chose for this year: (we next meet on November 26 at 6:30 pm)
October 22nd,
Maiko Sushi, Sources Blvd
November26th, La Sirene, St. John's Blvd
January 28th,
Mio Vino,
St. John's Blvd
February 25th,
Bombay Palace, Sources Blvd
March 25th,
Fuji,
Gouin Blvd
April 22nd,
Elixor, Sources Blvd
May 27th,
Le Charlesville,St.Charles,
Vaudreil
June 24th,
Mundo Trattoria, St. Charles,
Kirkland
November 2009
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Book Club l
1: pm
Music History
1: pm
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Wine
Appreciation
7:30: pm
Book Club 11
1:30:pm
Conversation
en français
9:30: am.
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25
26
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C.A.
Wellness
7:30: pm
Music
Appreciation
10:am
Travel
7: pm
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Theatre
Night
8: pm
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General
Meeting
7: pm
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Tutto
Italiano
2: pm
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Out to
Dinner
6:30:pm
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Editor. Johannah Lloyd [email protected]
Proofreader. Joan Dyer. [email protected]
Deadline for December Newsletter: November 13
MLUWC: www.mluwc.com CFUW: www.cfuw.org IFUW: www.ifuw.orgQPCUM:www.afducfuw.org