IODE Mary Lawson, Dartmouth

IODE Mary Lawson Chapter, Dartmouth NS

IODE Mary Lawson Chapter Bestowal Ceremony was held September 1962 at Penhorn School, Dartmouth. Thirteen members signed the Charter. The name "Mary Lawson" was chosen to honour the memory of a local author and poet best known for her book “History of Dartmouth, Preston and Lawrencetown” and a volume of poetry entitled “Frankincense and Myrrh”. In addition many of her poems and prose were published in Halifax newspapers and periodicals of the 19th Century. An elementary school in Dartmouth also bears her name.

Presently there are sixteen members in the chapter which meets in member’s homes the second Monday of each month, except for July and August.

President's Message

Seated Lorraine Kent, Secretary; Standing Sharon Greenough, President; Elizabeth Harrison, Treasurer

President
Past-President

Treasurer
Secretary
Education
Services
Citizenship
Communications
Membership
Standard Bearer

Officers 2021 - 2022

Sharon Greenough

Laura-Jean Williamson

Elizabeth Harrison

Lorraine Kent

Laura-Jean Williamson

Geraldine Dickie

Lorraine Kent

Ruth Murray

Micker Purdy

Laura-Jean Williamson

Education

Bursary Application Support to school libraries

Each year a $1000 Bursary is awarded to a graduating student from Prince Andrew High School, Dartmouth. The bursary is given to a student with financial need, good academic achievement and active in school and community initiatives.

Books to Dartmouth Pre-School

With the arrival of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and Princess Kate, IODE members across Canada undertook programs to collect books to be distributed within their communities where it was felt books were most needed. Books, shown below, were given to the Dartmouth Pre-School.

IODE Mary Lawson members, for many years, have supported several local elementary schools with monetary donations to their libraries to purchase books, preferably by Canadian authors and Canadian content. We presently support - Brookhouse, Admiral Westphal, Michael Wallace and Mount Edward Elementary schools.

Community Concert Tickets

Each year we contribute to the purchase of tickets to the Dartmouth Community Concert Series so that an interested student from Prince Andrew High School may attend one or more performances. The Dartmouth Community Concert Association strives to present the best of professional musicians, and to support Canadian and especially Maritime performers.

Support to Dartmouth Pre-School

An ongoing project of the chapter has been to support the Dartmouth Pre-School program with an annual donation toward the purchase of a special item to enhance the experience of the children while at school. Items such as a water table, "diversity dolls" and "play food" reflecting the Canada Food Guide(below) along with a baby chicken incubator; note below the stages of hatching from the egg to the baby chicks. These are but few of the special items that Mary Lawson Chapter has donated to the Dartmouth Pre-School program.

Real Care Baby Program

The IODE Mary Lawson Chapter supports the Child Studies Course at Prince Andrew High School by donating infant simulators and supplies to support the “Real Care Baby” Program. With their parent's consent, participating male and female students are required to assume full responsibility for the "infant" for a 48 hour period. The simulator reacts in life-like ways as a real baby would giving the students experience on parenting.

Reflections on the Real Care Baby Program:

"Going into the project I thought it would be a lot easier than it actually was. The first day I had the baby was very fun, I didn't really mind when he cried. It was a bit hard to figure out what the baby needed when he cried. On the second day I went out with the baby; I got a lot of strange looks from people. I could tell a lot of them were judging me. The last night was the worst, the baby woke up almost every hour. I would not like to ever do this again. I lost a lot of sleep and the day after I got sick from lack of sleep and stress."

Community Services

Treats to the Nova Scotia Hospital

Gifts and treats to the Nova Scotia Hospital, Simpson Landing Units, has been an ongoing project for many years. The residents are given special occasion gifts and treats along with a monthly birthday cake.

HomeBridge

Christmas Family

HomeBridge Youth Society is a residential care facility caring for high risk youth who are in temporary or permanent care offering progressive therapeutic program opportunities for young people. As part of our Community Service commitment, each year we collect many items to be used as stocking stuffers such as cosmetics, socks, mitts/gloves toiletries, gift cards etc. for the youth that may be spending Christmas at one of the residences.

Each year prior to Christmas preparations Mary Lawson Chapter members, with the help of one of our local school principals, a family is chosen for us to give assistance to a family that has met with financial adversity. Chapter members donate food, enough to help serve an amazing Christmas dinner along with many extras to help them through the next few weeks. Gifts for the children and parents are purchased and/or donated from their wish list, making for a wonderful Christmas morning for all the family.

Citizenship

IODE Canada's 150th Good Citizenship Award for 2017

Support to Learning English as an Alternative Language classes

During the regular school year members visit the Forsyth Adult Learning Centre to provide refreshments, in the way of sweets, fruit, cheese & crackers, etc., to the students that are studying English as an Alternative Language. This gives the students an opportunity to practice their new language skills in a new formant and to meet the IODE volunteers who take pleasure in visiting with them, learning about their countries and their goals for the future as they start a new life in Canada.

The photos below show some of the students, along with IODE members, enjoying the array of goodies brought for them to enjoy during their morning break.

Remembrance Day

During recent Remembrance Day Services at Sullivan’s Pond, chapter Standard Bearers posed with two RCMP officers who were also participating in the Service.

Fundraising

One of our major fund raising events is the annual Card Party. Those attending enjoy an afternoon of playing bridge, or whatever card game they choose to play, delicious desserts, and many prizes.

Our next Card and Dessert Party will be Thursday, May 11th, 2017 at St. Luke's Church, Dartmouth.

Upcoming Events

Due to Covid-19 no Events are planned at this time

﻿IODE Mary Lawson Chapter,﻿ ﻿Dartmouth NS﻿