Pregnant, scared and alone with no one to turn to, what would you do?
Mount Forest is truly fortunate to have the Ramoth House where, for over 27 years, a group of people have been providing a safe and supportive home environment for young women who need support during pregnancy or who have an infant to care for.
Brenda Tubman and her husband Terry were the founders of this non profit organization and with 24 hour supervision, 12 staff members and a board of directors Ramoth House provides a three step program of care for young mothers.
Brenda Tubman was guest speaker at the Sept. 30 meeting of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario in Palmerston. She explained how the young mothers that come to them at the Ramoth House are provided with parenting classes where they learn the basics of caring for their babies.
They learn to cook and clean and how to manage money and set goals for their future. They have chores to do and learn what it takes to be part of a family during their time at Ramoth House.
In step two of the program there are three furnished apartments next door where mothers can live for up to one year as long as they are attending school, have a job or are doing some volunteer work.
While living in the apartments they still have the support of staff from the Ramoth House. In step three, the Extended Care Program provides support in building family and community relationships as the moms work at being on their own.
The Ramoth House relies solely on donations and does not receive any government funding. They are, however, supported by the Ontario Works Program. The local high school does allow the young women to get credits for some of the courses in parenting and money management that they have taken while living at Ramoth House.
The “Cuddle Program” is always in need of volunteers to come and cuddle the babies while the moms have a break. A police check is needed in order to be a volunteer. Donna McFarlane thanked Tubman for coming and enlightening everyone about the work they do at the Ramoth House.
President Anne Darroch welcomed special guests, area director Dianne Winkler and provincial president Peggy Stock. Winkler outlined some of the events that took place this past year as RWTO/OERO celebrated its 60th anniversary. A scrapbook of events is being compiled and will be available for the convention in 2017. A new Cora Bailey pin has been designed and will be presented to all Cora Bailey recipients from the past and in the future.
RWTO/OERO now has 13 branches because of the splitting of Area 4 into two branches. Winkler praised the Palmerston Branch members for the community work being done and encouraged the group to continue working hard for the various charities, checking on shut ins, and having fun.
Stock, visiting from South River, was impressed with the beautiful area around Palmerston and with the “perfect balance of stimulating speakers and fun” that is a part of the Palmerston Branch. She is proud of the caring, sharing and supporting of women that occurs in RWTO/OERO and briefly outlined how she became a member of the organization.
Stock read a list of rules for teachers from 1923 and many were amazed at the limitations on women from that era.
Darroch presented each speaker with a small token of appreciation.
New member Doris White was welcomed and presented with an RWTO/OERO pin. The Listowel Branch has invited the Palmerston Branch to join them on Oct. 12 at 10am for lunch and an auction. In turn, the Listowel Branch has been invited to join the Palmerston Branch at their meeting on Oct. 28 to hear guest speaker Dave Dryden from Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW).
On behalf of herself and JoAnne Walter, Anne Darroch thanked the many ladies who helped to load and unload schools buses and helped out in the education tents at the recent International Plowing Match near Harriston.
Reports were given and correspondence read. Lorraine Ballard was pleased to announce that Betty Audet celebrated her 90th birthday this summer at the Royal Terrace with flowers, cake and ice cream. Members Doris French, Shirley Jackson and Bea Houston are each wished speedy recoveries from recent falls and illnesses. The sympathy of the group is extended to Barb Thompson in the loss of her mother and to Yvonne Day in the loss of her husband.
Anne Darroch reminded everyone that a free shingles vaccine is now available for seniors between the ages of 65 and 70. Helen Grainger won the door prize donated by Anne Darroch and three members paid fines for not wearing their pin.
The Book Club were honoured to have local author Margaret Blair attend their recent meeting to discuss her book Shanghai Scarlet. They chose a list of books to read for the coming year.
Travel convener Lynn Morrison noted she is looking to organize trips to Pennsylvania to the Sight and Sound Theater and Niagara for the Niagara Belle Cruise.
The new “In Our Own Backyard” group enjoyed visits this summer to the Lavender Farm outside of Mount Forest and Mapleton Organics for a tour and ice cream.
