APRIL 2011 HOMESTEAD NEWS
Hello Friends of Macphail,
Well, here we are – another year has passed, and an interesting one it was! Thanks to the Province, the homestead has received a new paint job, the plumbing has been repaired, the furnace is currently being repaired, and some rotted wood has been replaced.
In 2010, the Sunday brunches were well attended. A “Faces” workshop was held, with all participants very satisfied. The Christmas Dinners were successful, as well. In the fall, an agricultural forum was held. Its purpose was to discuss how we could use the cleared land for sustainable agricultural projects. This is still a work in progress. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Harry Baglole for his great efforts on this project. Dr. George McRobie was the lead speaker. He was later invited to be Patron of the Foundation, which he has graciously accepted.
The Homestead will open in June with a stronger emphasis on its historic nature and authenticity.
This season we plan to hire 2 heritage guides, a Site Manager, and a gardener/caretaker. We are also planning to have some new flower gardens, where we will place donor appreciation markers. This, too, is a work in progress.
We are also planning to have Christmas dinners again this year . Also we will still be open to catered events – small groups, weddings, conferences, etc.
Something new this year will be a series of “kitchen parties” ceilidhs with Garnett Buell and friends. Look for more information on our Events page of the website: www.macphailhomestead.ca
The 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the homestead, at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served at 6 p.m., and documents will be handed out at that time.
Our deep-felt thanks go to Mike Oulton, a great President, who has resigned from the Board due to the recent loss of his dear wife, Linda. All of our best wishes go out to him and his family at this sad time.
Our current Board of Directors is listed below. If anyone is interested in joining the Board as a Director, please contact us at: director@macphailhomestead.ca We still have 3 openings for directors.
Louis Lebel (Acting President), Don Patton (Secretary) , Holly Noel (Treasurer), Sandy Peardon (Director), Grant Honeyman (Director) Mary Noel (Director)