“Leave No Stone Unturned – Head out today on a field trip in search of your special rock. Then have a Team Paint Party. Choose a theme (not necessarily WI related) for your painted rocks. Each team member, paint and decorate your special rock based on the theme your Team has chosen. Each team member will then take their rock and hide it for someone special. Hide it in a spot where they will be sure to find it. Send us your Team photo with the painted rocks along with your Team story telling us why each team member chose to give their painted rock to their special person. Up to 5 Bonus points for how creative your theme is expressed in the paintings of your group of rocks. Don’t forget to follow up with your special person to make sure they have found their hidden rock.”
Recently across Ontario and Quebec we experienced a Derecho Storm which caused stunning damage locally. For those who don’t know what a Dereco Storm is, it’s a long-lived, straight line wind storm associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms known as a mesoscale convective system. Derechos can cause hurricane force winds, tornadoes, heavy rains and flash floods. It was easy for us to begin selecting the theme, “Something About the Natural World”. With the echoes of chainsaws in our brains and aching muscles from tree trunk and limb, and brush clean-up, we contemplated the memory of gracious, much loved trees that were decimated and we all agreed the theme should be:
Trees! With its symbolism, purpose, and beauty, the tree is a symbol for WI:
The trunk represents FWIC;
Large branches, in our case, represent FWIO;
Smaller branches represents individual WI units;
Twigs represent individual women;
Seeds represent ideas and initiatives undertaken; and
Roots represent our involvement within the community.
Trees grow and change; so does the WI; and so does our unit. Sometimes trees are damaged, but they continue to survive and thrive. The recent derecho and the catastrophic damage destroyed many trees but many survived and continue to grow and get stronger. Similarly, though we have suffered some losses and set-backs, the WI survives and thrives.
Trees are often a symbol for ancestry. WI echoes this as we keep records of our local history through the Tweedsmuir books. Trees are strong and so are the women of the WI. Trees provide oxygen, shade, wood products, fruit, homes for wildlife, and artistic inspiration. Just as the trees provide, so does the WI, with initiatives and financial and moral support to those in need.
Our community came together to help one another. The WI was an integral part of a community BBQ which was held to acknowledge and thank the community.
We found our rock treasures, spent a wonderful afternoon painting, lunching, talking, and laughing. All the while admiring the beautiful trees that survived in one member’s beautiful, shady yard. And we succeeded in overlooking the many, MANY stumps.
