Hall of Fame
Noreen Bennett
by Helen Hatton
Last month I had lunch with Noreen to discuss her career and what I'd say tonight, and she told me she'd never done a resumé. Never had to, not once! All of Noreen's jobs came from colleagues who rang her up each time something came along and they'd say “…you'd be perfect for this job I just heard about…” and Noreen would go off and get the job. I'd call that serious and most effective networking!
Networking is extremely important. Governments rise and fall on networking. Fascinating things happen with networking. The Hall of Fame came about through networking.
I'll back up in thought for a moment. In June 1982, I was a month away from marriage and subsequent immigration to Canada, and didn't know a soul here other than my husband-to-be. At the American Home Economics convention that year, colleagues from General Mills, Minneapolis whooped over my news, and with great excitement produced a “Real Live Canadian”, one Noreen Bennett, who immediately and graciously said, “Do let me know when you're arriving; we have several associations you might be interested in”. Networking!
Fast forward — past marriage and move — to September, and a note arrived in our mailbox from Noreen telling me about the upcoming THEA meeting. I couldn't telephone my acceptance fast enough! At the door was Mary Adams, who made sure I was introduced to everyone and made just as certain that I was given membership forms. I was immediately made to feel welcome, met some incredibly interesting new professional colleagues, joined all the groups and made friends whom I will cherish forever. One of them was Jane Hope, who at another meeting pointed out Helen Gagen, and mentioned that it really would be a good idea to somehow honour our earliest Home Economists. Voila — the Hall of Fame was born. Networking!
Noreen Bennett, our latest Hall of Fame member, married after receiving her degree in general Home Economics from Macdonald Institute in Guelph, and began to raise a family. Her first job was at the CNE Family Theatre; demonstrator the first year, and manager the next.
Then Margo Oliver and Kay Williams contacted Noreen to tell her that Marjorie Elwood, the well known Food Editor for the Star Weekly was looking for an assistant, and guess who got the job! For 9½ years! I'd call that networking!
She left the Star Weekly in 1968 and began freelancing, and just as it was beginning to roll, she got a telephone call about a job at General Mills Canada. General Mills Minneapolis had been in Toronto shooting commercials, and they had been impressed by the freelance work Noreen had done for them.
Noreen told me about the interview with General Mills, and mentioned that as she left the personnel office, she noticed another candidate waiting to be interviewed who was wearing white gloves! In 1968! I heard that and snickered. Noreen snickered and said she figured she'd won that one, and indeed she had, for Noreen became Canada's Betty Crocker.
Meanwhile, Noreen attended Centennial College and qualified for a teaching certificate. Her final test was a demonstration to a room full of men. She presented menus and ideas for a poker night and received a standing ovation and very shortly thereafter, a job offer.
So just as her career with General Mills was beginning, Noreen wound up teaching two night courses, after work of course, at Centennial College. Her comment on a schedule that would flatten most of us was, “Just go for it. You never know when something is important!”
As the head of Consumer Services at General Mills, Noreen was responsible for the Betty Crocker test kitchen and all consumer responses (indeed, a career in itself). She was also the trouble-shooter for various products and brands including cereals. There's more… Noreen did the food-styling for all of General Mills commercials, packaging, and print ads, and was writer and editor for all the recipe books and educational material from General Mills Canada.
Noreen said to me, “When you wear the hat of Betty Crocker, the consumers expect you to know everything. I certainly didn't, but I always knew someone who did have the answer. If I needed help, I'd call one of the girls and get the information I needed!” Networking!
Wendy Sanford, among many others, nominated Noreen to the Hall of Fame, and her opening paragraph really says it best about Noreen's professional involvement. “During Noreen's active career, she participated in the growth of the Home Economics profession and associations on all levels from local to national. As a true professional, she has earned respect from her peers within the profession as well as those where she was employed.”
Noreen's daughter, Cindy O'Dell, who is here tonight, was product manager for cake mixes over at Procter and Gamble while Noreen was at General Mills. I think it's the final word in professionalism that neither ever had any idea what the other was working on. Noreen was the provincial representative for the wildly successful Collage of Canadian Cooking and with Kay Spicer, Marg Fraser and Fred Bird did all the food photography. In the late summer of the 1970s, they survived episodes like the 6 a.m. fudge shot with studio temperatures already in the high 80s… and, as most of you know, the book became a Canadian best seller!
Noreen attended most CHEA and American Home Economics conventions during her years with General Mills and shared all her contacts on both sides of the border. That's ultimate networking! I certainly benefited handsomely, as did so many other of Noreen's colleagues.
In addition to Home Economics activities, Noreen has been active in the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP) and was a charter member of the Toronto Culinary Guild. Aside from her extensive professional involvement, Noreen somehow found time to coach disadvantaged children from grades 1 to 8 in reading or math or whatever subjects they were having trouble with.
Upon retirement Noreen joined the Leaside Curling Club last year and is now president. Quelle surprise? And, during the other season, she is a serious lawn bowler. I personally think Noreen would never join a sport that didn't have smashing outfits! And you should know that Noreen is also the official top-rated grandmother of Geoff and Jill, ages 13 and 11.
A lot is being said today about the future of our home economics profession — about where we're going and who we are. But if ever there was an “old girl's network”, this is it. Remember it, use it, and keep it going. It certainly worked for Noreen Bennett, it works for me, it can work for us all. As Noreen said at lunch that day, “Just DO it!” And I'm sure that included networking!
Thank you.