When I watched all these women get together and share their concerns, their programs, their plans, I felt very glad to be part of such a large network. I think I now have a few new colleagues with whom I can share ideas and support. I never had that before, except at my own workplace.

2-3 The first visit

Following the first workshop it became clear that not only did all twelve programs want to continue with the project, but they also believed the entire group should stay together for a full twelve months. Those women continuing in the process wanted a sense of connection, of returning to each other in April, and again the next November. While women's enthusiasm and growing sense of group process was gratifying, I wondered about the strain on the budget and on myself as coordinator. Instead of working with eight to ten programs, half of them I involved for six months and half for twelve months as originally planned, there were twelve programs committed for a full year.

Frances Ennis, an original member of the advisory committee, agreed to share the coordination of the research. She would work with Rabbittown, Beat the Street, and Toronto ALFA Centre, co-facilitate the remaining workshops, and be involved in the documentation for the project. CCLOW decided that we could work with the budget figures to accommodate the extra involvement because of earlier cutbacks in outreach and program preparation for the first workshop.

When Betty-Ann Lloyd visit Action Read in Guelph she met with the women's group. From left, Shirley, Anne, Joanne, Monique, Lucy. Photograph from Women: Where have we been? Where are we going?

In January, Frances worked with Rabbittown in St. John's and travelled to Toronto to visit the two programs there, while I flew to Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Guelph. I made a second trip in February, visiting Saint John and Brandon, and meeting with Karen Bergman-Illnik (Arctic College) in Winnipeg. My third trip took place in March, when I visited Fort McMurray, Prince George, and Duncan.