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IODE members throughout New Brunswick held their 108th Annual Meeting in Moncton at the Holiday Inn Express on April 18 and 19. President Rita Beattie of Fredericton chaired the sessions.

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Seen here, at the Opening Ceremonies of the 108th annual meeting of the New Brunswick IODE are, from left to right, IODE Provincial Treasurer, Kathleen Morris; RCMP Award Winner, Cst. Norman Adams; Moncton Area Vice-President, Diane Mugridge; special guest Senator Marilyn Trenholm Counsell and IODE Provincial President, Rita Beattie.

With a theme of "Remembering our Past - Seeing our Future", the mission of improving the quality of life for children, youth and those in need continues through educational, social service and citizenship programs.

With 23 IODE chapters in New Brunswick and a membership close to 500, the "Women Working Together for Canada" continue to make a difference in this province with the Education, Services and Citizenship reports totalling close to $254,500. Pride in our past and enthusiasm for the future was evident with 22 new members during the year in New Brunswick.

Special guests during the Opening Ceremonies were Senator Marilyn Trenholm Counsell, Moncton City Councillor Kathryn Barnes and RCMP Cst. Norman Adams, of District 3, Kennebecasis, Grand-Bay Westfield detachment and his wife, Kelly.

The IODE Police Community Relations Award was presented to Cst. Adams for his exemplary and dedicated work as Community Relations Officer for District 3. One of his greatest accomplishments was to initiate the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for area students.

His presentations over the past seven and a half years have left lasting impressions in the minds of hundreds of students, with more self-esteem and respect to both themselves and others.

The next day's Business Session included Highlights and Recommendations of Provincial Officers. During the noon luncheon, members enjoyed an AMS Fashion Show and Guest Speaker, Arlene Hachey, representing CNIB Vision Health, Vision Hope.

Accompanied by Shelby Murray, a 17-year-old girl who has been blind since birth, IODE members were musically entertained with her talent on keyboard and accordian.

CNIB is marking their 90th anniversary and serve 100,000 clients, with less than 10% having no vision. AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) is now the leading cause of blindness with a loss of central vision.

Provincial officers installed included President Rita Beattie, Fredericton; Secretary, Sandra Reed, Fredericton and Treasurer, Kathleen Morris, Saint John. IODE Canada will be holding their 108th National Annual Meeting and Convention in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, from May 21 to 25. The theme will be "Sea the Future".

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