Marianne Singh-Waraich 
CFUW saved my sanity when I joined it in the early 70s while I was at home with four young children and in need of some intellectual stimulation. My book club led to 50 years of enjoyment. Within the club, I served as president in 1980 and again recently. After attending Ontario Council’s meetings, I became interested in the larger organization and became National Director of Resolutions in 2002.I moved from there to a term on OC as chair of the Education Committee and back to the National Board for two terms as chair of the Education Committee. Next I served on the Resolutions Committee of GWI ,then IFUW , first as a member and then as chair in the next triennium. I followed this up with a term on the GWI Education Committee from which I retired this year. On the CFUW national level, I saw to fruition 5 resolutions, 3 by my club: on homecare, student debt and the extension of the CPP and two with the National Education Committee on Closing The Gap for First Nations. I developed a template for all candidates’ meetings which was widely shared. I was the original chair of CFUW Burlington’s Advocacy Committee more than 20 years ago and continued in that position for most of that time. I attended 6 CSW meetings in NYNY and have not missed a national AGM since my first one in Wolfville Nova Scotia in 2002. Internationally, I attended IFUW and then GWI’s triennial meetings in Mexico City, Istanbul, Capetown, Geneva and Lusaka, Zambia. CFUW has enriched my life!
Eleanor Christie I joined CFUW Burlington within a couple of years of moving there in 1968. The mental stimulation was wonderful and there were many young mothers like me.
Over the years I have held many positions on the Executive and been involved in many interest groups. I am still on the Leadership team. I have thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and friendship CFUW membership offers.
One of my passions has been to Co-chair the Advocacy Committee for probably 20 years and I am still doing this to this day. Fifteen years ago, as president, our club joined the online community. I also helped guide our club through Covid restrictions. After retiring from teaching, I ran a community kitchen in Burlington for 18 years until Covid hit. I have attended many AGMs over the years and I had the privilege of attending the GWI Triennial in Zambia in September
Anne Billings As a university student and new teacher, I had heard about CFUW. Pregnant in 1963, I left teaching in June and joined the Burlington University Club in September of that year. This began a long and happy relationship.
I remember some fund raisers in those early days. One Christmas I sold UNICEF cards from the house. For several summers, the Club sold used books in the Burlington Mall. That was a lot of work: collecting and storing books through the winter, moving them to the mall, sorting and displaying them. We also had to arrange a schedule for members to sell. Then we had to pack up the unsold items and find something to do with them. Another year, the Club organized an afternoon lecture series on China – with babysitting! Getting three preschoolers fed, rested, cleaned, dressed and out of the house for 2 o’clock was a feat, but where there is a will, there is a way
Later, I was on the Scholarship Committee for several years. The year I was Chair, we discovered that we were not operating “at arm’s length” from the Club. That meant we were not a recognized charity and members could not claim donations on their taxes. Sorting that out was difficult. I was Club Executive Secretary and then Program Chair for a couple of years.
My membership in the CFUW has benefitted me in many ways. It has given me the opportunity to observe and work with a group of energetic, intelligent, devoted, creative, women who have guided the Club through difficult years. I have learned I am capable of organizing things other than my household and have the confidence to speak to a group.
The most important gift has been the friends. Through all the different Interest groups, too numerous to mention, I have found a group of amazing friends. These are women who have similar interests, with whom I socialize, and on whom I can call for help if I need it. They are also fun.
The experiences I have had and the friends I have made make the Burlington CFUW an important part of my life.
Helga McTaggart I joined CFUW in 1975 after a friend took me to a meeting. We lived on a farm in Freelton Ontario. My husband was a cattle order buyer for several Packing Houses. My job was: Secretary/Treasurer of his company. Our telephone rang 7 days a week until 11.00 pm. We had 90 yearlings on 90 acres from April to October each year.
I was fortunate to use some of my time to volunteer in the community. We curled in Burlington. I worked my way through the ladies Executive. I took my turn for 3 years on the Games Committee. We were responsible to schedule 225 ladies playing 5 days a week. I finished as President of that section.
In 1982 a member of the Joseph Brant Hospital Auxiliary asked me to join their Executive, starting as Volunteer director. We had 500 to 600 volunteers. Their shift was 4 hours and each day we provided 146 volunteers for many services. I moved from Volunteer director through the VP chairs to President. That connection lasted for over 30 years. I stayed involved as an advisor after being President. In 2006 I was asked by CEO Don Scott to return to the Auxiliary as President. I had a committee of 6 auxilians; we were in charge until we found a new President. I kept involved as an advisor until my husband became sick.
During the same time I became involved with the CFUW activities. Being a volunteer in different places, taught me a lot. I was VP on our CFUW Executive when we had to replace our president due to illness. I was asked to step into that position of CFUW Burlington. I inherited 12 boxes containing our archives- not safe. The Burlington Library agreed to store them for us. Next I took on the CFUW Regional Chair for Ontario South. The meetings were at night – In bad weather the drive to the Niagara area was a challenge at times. Ontario Council Meetings in Toronto at the Club House once a month were also at night. Once again, I inherited a pile of boxes with records. I asked If I could make up a handbook – the Ontario Executive agreed. My next assignment for CFUW was Nominations Chair for all of Canada. I loved that job the best, because I had been to many national AGMs I knew alot of people . My son translated the English Application form into French. It was pre-e-mail; we had to use a fax machine. Voting deadlines and provincial representation were carefully arranged across Canada. I was able to complete 2 terms and found a replacement for nomination chair from BC.
Things change – I lost my husband in 2018. The pandemic happened . Most of our community activities disappeared. Since 2003 I have been a member of the Roseland Park and Country Club which is a Tennis and Social Club in Burlington. When all activities stopped I was on the ladies Executive Team as secretary. Sadly, our president was very sick and passed away. One more time I stepped up and restarted the club’s activities. The members were hesitant to attend gatherings, afraid of catching Covid again. 7 other members on that executive helped to start the process. It was the most difficult task I had ever taken on. I was older as well. I am happy to say, we increased our single ladies membership and the changed activities slowly built a new system for our gatherings.