The rewarding experience of 50 years of service and friendships

Robin Krafft, Post Contributor

As Kinettes life member Mary Bartram celebrates 50 years of service, she reflects on the friends she has made and her involvement with the community over the years.

Mary joined the club in 1976, and at that time you could only be a Kinette if your husband was a Kinsmen, although that restriction was eventually discarded. She estimates there were 25 members when she joined. Meetings were quite formal - you had to address the chair, there was a dress code (no jeans) and the group decided what fundraisers to do and where funds would be allocated.

Mary wanted to contribute, but the club was important for the women who joined for social reasons too.

"That was my night out," Bartram said. "I was home with the children, and our monthly meetings included a dinner, and I stayed to the very end. We were farmers, and it was a little intimidating. Most of the ladies were married to lawyers, doctors, dentists, and business owners, but I got to know everyone."

It was a community, and there were many social events for the collective Kin members; banquets, dances, and Christmas parties. When the Bartrams had an open house at the farm, the children were delighted to have the opportunity to hold piglets, but they recommended that mink coats not be worn in the barn.

United in friendship and their desire to help those in need, the early Kinettes planned events to raise money for worthy causes.

“One of our biggest fundraisers was the bridge and euchre tournament, held at the community centre.” Bartram said. “We needed everyone at that event, all of the Kinettes. We sold tables of four, and it was always a full house. We made all of the desserts, and served them with coffee at halftime. It was held in the fall, and we made wreaths, at least 200, as well as handcrafted items that people could purchase. We called it ‘The Country Store’ and it was all part of the fundraiser."

Mary also remembers making large batches of strawberry jam, which she poured into decorative wine glasses, sealed with whipped wax, for attendees to take home as a thank you. Another favorite fundraiser that started in the late '60s was an annual fashion show.

"The fashion show was already a tradition," Bartram said. "There were a lot of ladies stores in town, and we would ask them to supply outfits. The Kinettes and their children would be the models at the complex. It was the only big place to have anything."

Walking on the stage and down the steps, circulating among the tables, the inexperienced models may have been worried about tripping, but they managed to strut and twirl for a good cause.

Funds were dispersed throughout the community: $2,400 for a children's corner at the new library, $200 to Block Parents, $3,000 over three years to the Multi-Service Centre, the purchase of fresh fruit and coolers for Meals on Wheels, books donated to the library, toys to the hospital, and a balance beam for the gymnastics club, to name just a few.

"The Kinettes donated to the fire department for the purchase of special decals for people's windows," Bartram said. "It was a little red heart that people would put on their bedroom windows so that firefighters could identify if there was a child or someone disabled in that room that would need help getting out. I've seen the odd red sticker around town still."

The Kinettes were also known for volunteering their time and helping hands. Before there was administrative staff, they regularly volunteered at the Blood Donor Clinic, signing people in and assisting them with filling out forms. They also operated a food booth at the Kin hockey tournament.

In 1983, the Kinettes were made full partners of the association, but the Tillsonburg membership fell and in 1985, with only six members, they surrendered their charter. By 1990 there was sufficient interest, and with 23 members, they rechartered.

Mary was the only member to continue on from the previous charter, and she has always been the club historian, archiving what the Kinettes have done and where they volunteered or donated.

"I was the keeper of the history," Bartram said. "I'm the oldest member too. At every meeting I flip open my scrapbook and share something from the past. There were very large scrapbooks dating from 1946 and they got smaller over time. There were newspaper clippings, souvenirs from conventions, photos, flyers, invitations and thank-you cards. Now everything is on the computer."

The new Kinettes club needed to be more creative. Some of the fundraisers they used to do were now being done by schools. In 2008, Mary and two other Kinettes started the beloved Breakfast with Santa event.

"We brought our own grills," Bartram said. "I used to cook hundreds of sausages back in the day. I wouldn't want to eat a sausage for a while after that. Now I sit at the table where people come in. It's beautiful! District governors come, and they cannot believe the numbers and the response. We served over 700 meals last year."

In 2013, Mary was also part of a small committee who started the Princess Ball. They heard about it at a London meeting and thought it was a great idea.

"We hired four princesses to interact with the kids," Bartram said. "We had craft tables, manicures, colouring, dancing, singing, snacks and photos taken. All the kids came dressed up."

Mary and her husband Larry are both still active in their respective Kin clubs, and although some of the events and projects have changed, the goal of supporting others in the community has not.

"I loved doing something, helping them," Bartram said. "Now that I'm retired, I have lots of time. After the recharter, I made new friendships. I love it. It's half giving back and half friendships. There are so many new girls and someone's always thinking of something!"

Kinette President Carrie Lewis noted that Mary brings a wealth of wisdom and experience to the group.

“She serves as a reminder of what it truly means to be a Kinette, grounding us in the values and traditions that have shaped who we are today,” Lewis said. “Through her, we are reminded of the importance of carrying forward the practices and legacy of those who came before us. Being recognized as a life member is not simply a title—it is a reflection of deep commitment, time, and a piece of oneself given not only to a group of volunteers, but to the community as a whole.”