A Century Of Service

In 1933, the fate of Casa Loma, a once-proud edifice in the heart of Toronto, hung in the balance. Initially built as a private residence, the castle was languishing in the post-war depression, and the City of Toronto was prepared to accept tenders for its demolition. Enter the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto, a charitable organization with a vision of restoring the extraordinary structure to glory, operating it as a tourist attraction, and using the profits to fund their service work in the community. It was a vision that would be brought to fruition, though not without its fair share of challenges. A Century of Service is the untold story of this remarkable club, whose services to the city of Toronto are extensive, including—but certainly not limited to—the incredible rescue of Casa Loma. One hundred years ago, The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma, then the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto, ushered in a new era of community leadership and volunteerism. This book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Club’s earliest days, serving underprivileged boys in partnership with the Y.M.C.A., through to Casa Loma’s heyday, hosting many fundraisers and charitable events. The Club is active to this day in various programs supporting kids and the community. A profound study of Canadian history, architecture, and volunteerism, A Century of Service offers a revisiting of the past and a path forward for community service ventures worldwide.

In 1890 congressional legislation opened a new chapter in the history of higher education by allocating public support for black Land-Grant colleges and universities.These institutions were established to provide training to blacks in the fields of agriculture, home economics, the mechanical arts, and other useful professions. For a century, these schools have assumed and continue to maintain a unique and important role in affording educational opportunities for thousands of students to whom no other doors would have been opened. A Century of Service is both a history and a celebration of these Land-Grant schools. The work also provides a presentation of views on how their original mission can best be adapted to the challenges of the future. The 1890 Land-Grant institutions are a legacy of what can be accomplished with little more than a determined, tenacious commitment to survive and excel. In spite of unequal financial support, they have succeeded in establishing and building quality resident academic and extension programs on a par with those of other colleges and universities not suffering the same economic limitations. As demonstrated throughout this volume, the 1890 institutions have amassed an impressive record of achievement in the areas of agricultural research, cooperative extension, development of rural communities' support systems, human resources development, resident instruction, international development, and technology and information transfer. In assessing the current state of the schools and looking to the future, the authors seek ways of building upon their strengths and traditions and explore alternative institutional designs to enhance the status and opportunities for African American agricultural scientists and professionals under quite new circumstances. A Century of Service will be of interest to social historians, black studies specialists, agricultural scientists, and educators.

In February 1919, 20 nurses and midwives meeting in Dublin to discuss their poor working conditions took a historic decision to establish a trade union - the first of its kind in the world. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) now numbers 40,000 and is Ireland's largest nurse and midwife representative association. This book examines the heady social and economic backdrop that gave birth to the INMO, putting names and faces to the founders and delving into the challenges they encountered. It details the Organisation's conservative middle years and its recent emergence as one of the most vocal protagonists for nurses, midwives and patients in Ireland, while also exploring the vast and varied service that the Organisation provides to its members. The prospect of a nurses' or midwives' strike always raises concerns for patient welfare, and the book looks closely at how the INMO has negotiated this tension, most especially during the 1999 national nurses' strike - one of the largest strikes in Irish history. A Century of Service is brought to life by a fascinating series of in-depth interviews with the INMO's members and leaders in a story of an organisation that with talent, tact and tenacity is delivering despite the odds.

Dadi Janki; the unusual subject of this biography; presides over a unique global spiritual empire run and led by women. Born in 1916 into a traditional Hindu family; she was expected to follow the standard pattern for Indian women of the day; which was to succumb to an arranged marriage at the earliest possible opportunity and then disappear from view. But she had other ideas. Since the age of two; she has only ever wanted to connect to one being; and that is God. She never sought nor desired any other relationship and she managed to escape her unwanted marriage in order to dedicate her life to spiritual study; service and contemplation. She joined the Brahma Kumaris; then in its infancy; in 1937; and for many years; ran centres in India. In the early 1970s; the decision was taken to try and introduce the movement to the West and Dadi Janki arrived in London with no real idea how she would do it. Her task was made especially difficult as she arrived not speaking any English; with no money; no influence and nowhere to live. But with God as her constant companion; she never gave up and within 20 years of being in London; had established the Brahma Kumaris as a respected; influential; worldwide organization. This is the story of how she did it.

Outlines the Department's organizational development and its response to changing conditions - national and international, scientific and economic. Appendix includes biographies of officials, a chronology of major events in USDA, etc.