CFUW E-NEWSLETTER - September 2025

Fall 2025

CFUW STRATFORD

WELCOME TO OUR

September Newsletter

In this issue:

President's Message
Welcome Executive and Chairs
September 23rd Meet and Greet
Our 2025-26 Speaker Program
Interest Groups
Advocacy
Ontario Council
CFUW National
GWI News
Special Events
Extra! Extra!
Contact Information

President's Message

It’s September – although it still feels like summer – when we reconnect and kick-off the new program! This year our theme is Women Leaders – Agents of Change. Congratulations to our Program team for putting together such a powerful group of women speakers. Our first meeting will be Tuesday September 23rd at 7pm at Stratford District Secondary School.

Please note, before that meeting, on Friday, September 19^th, our Violence against Women (VAW) Advocacy group will once again be supporting STOP VAW Perth County at the Take Back the Night rally in Market Square – details are below. We would love to have a strong turnout.

Also, we are looking for new volunteers for our Communications and Membership committees. If you have a talent for social media or meeting new people, joining these sub-committees is a great way to get involved in our club.

And finally, a gentle reminder that our fees for the year are due. The $130.00 can be paid through etransfer to cfuwstratfordtreasurer@gmail.com, or by cheque at the meeting. We will have a Treasurer's table if you choose to pay in person.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again next Tuesday,

Cambria Ravenhill

President

CFUW Stratford Team 2025 - 2026

PLEASE WELCOME!

EXECUTIVE

President: Cambria Ravenhill
Vice Presidents: Pat DeSanti
Wendy McNaughton
Secretary: Nijole Tinits
Treasurer: Lynn Krolick

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Advocacy: Sue Bailey
Program: Margaret Thompson
Communications: Pat DeSanti
Communications Team:
Newsletter: Bev Symons, Website: Pat DeSanti,
Interest Groups Convenor: Wendy McNaughton
Membership: Gail Buckley
Special Projects Co-Ordinator: Wendy McNaughton
GWI Co-Ordinator: Pat Reavy
Archivist: Marylu Moyer

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

Chair: Charlotte Gillett
Treasurer: Heather Tremble
Secretary: DJ Anderson
Education Lieason: Margaret Thompson
Member: Caro Coltman
Scholarship Liason: Rotating

Our September Meet and Greet

The first meeting of our Program year is always our Meet and Greet. It’s a chance to reconnect after the summer break, welcome new members and guests, and celebrate our Scholarship committee’s activities. We have a great Scholarship presentation, including the high school award winners, our Mature student award, and a new Scholarship announcement! Please make sure to attend and bring your friends.

And of course, our Interest and Advocacy groups will be looking for new members - the sign-up sheets will be available at the break.

Our Speaker Program 2025 - 2026

An Exciting Year of Programs Ahead

The theme for this year’s guest speakers is Women Leaders: Agents of Change.

October: We welcome Mary Hoffstetter, Order of Canada recipient and longtime leader in the field of the arts, who will examine changing leadership roles in the not-for-profit field.
November: Dr. Kim Anderson, a Metis writer and professor at the University of Guelph, shares her research on Indigenous women’s leadership, especially as it applies to Nokom House.
January: Dr. Dianne Godkin who has worked in the forefront of medical ethics, dementia and Alzheimer’s research, and women’s health.
April: We welcome Christine Ritsma, an award-winning educator, innovator and teacher in the field of environmental education.

Each of our speakers are not only recognized leaders but also exemplify the ability to change in ways that are constructive and innovative.

And don’t forget to mark your calendars for our annual Christmas brunch on December 13th at the Stratford Golf and Country Club.

Volunteers Needed - Please don't be shy

Communications Committee

Interested in Social Media? We'd love to hear from you if you enjoy posting to Facebook or Instagram!

Celebrate your inner influencer.

Contact Pat De Santi at communications@cfuwstratford.

Membership Committee

Once again we are hoping to have greeters at each meeting and would love to have help with set up.

Please contact

Gail Buckley

membership@cfuwstratford.ca

Interest Groups ~ Sign-ups

Sign-ups 2025-26

Joining an Interest Group is one of the best ways to get the most out of CFUW! Sign-up sheets will be out at our first general meeting on Sept 23rd. Please see our website for information on our 2025-26 Interest Groups.

Do you have an idea for this year? Contact Wendy McNaughton at interestgroups@cfuwstratford.ca

Indigenous Rights Learning Group

University of Waterloo Sept 27

Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát
22nd Annual Pow Wow

A one-day celebration of Indigenous heritage featuring vendors, dancers, and singers from the Waterloo region and beyond. Join us as we celebrate Indigenous culture and tradition through song, dance, arts, and cuisine.

Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát Pow Wow is intended to be a safe, welcoming, and vibrant opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks from the UWaterloo community and beyond to gather in celebration.

We welcome everyone to join. For complete details go to:
https://uwaterloo.ca/indigenous/annual-pow-wow

The Thursday Murder Club premiere

Some of the members of both Mystery Book Clubs got together to watch Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club" debut on Netflix in August.

Mystery Book Club - Thursday Night

Our own Joyce suprised us with a perfect "Joyce" layer cake from the Thursday Night Murder Club. It was espceially wonderful to celebrate two birthdays which had just passed as well as an upcoming special birthday for Joyce. Our author for September was Shari Lapena.

Three members of our DNA Group

We'll be getting together on Wednesday Sept 17th at 2pm at the home of Jean Hillen to review our summer progress.

Advocacy

Join CFUW Stratford as we again support

STOP Violence Against Women

Take Back the Night!

We will gather at
Stratford Market Square on Friday, September 19th at 6:30pm

Featuring inspiring speakers (including survivor-advocate Rachel Walker), community information and resources, and a march to help raise awareness and end sexual violence in our communities. Please join us.

Climate Action

CFUW Climate Action Group at SLAA this past Saturday with its shoping cart of environmentally friendly goods. Here we see our own Sheila Clark with its contents.

Sue Baily and Charlotte Gillett are ready to explain the Sustainable Shopping Cart. Click to see our

Advocacy Shopping Cart ideas.

Ontario Council

News and the Speaker series will be updated for this year after the 17th of September

CFUW National

To truly appreciate te scope of our national organization, refer to the CFUW MAIN CALENDAR

Sign up to receive the CFUW National Advocacy Newsletter here.

GWI

The GWI 35th Triennial General Assembly and Conference

is taking place from 11–13 September 2025 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. This milestone event will convene members and advocates from around the world to engage in critical dialogue on the future of education, women’s empowerment, and sustainability. The priority theme is: “Building the Future: Integrating Culture, Education, and Empowerment for Sustainability.”

Special Events

Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Association

SLAA Open House, Wellness and Multicutural Fair - Sat. Sept 13th

Aging with Optimism

Wendy McNaughton, together with Gail Buckly, introduces and signs up new members at CFUW Statford's exhibit table. Our executive was out in full force and many members attended throughout the day. What a super community event!