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Between the Lines Dear Women’s Institute members; The committee formed to study the structure of the Women’s Institutes has been meeting under the guidance of Mrs. Verna Maluske, Past- President of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. It has assessed and discussed the results of the fall questionnaire. We appreciate the fact that it may have come at an inconvenient time, but such is the nature of questionnaires. Information needs to be gathered for a specific time and purpose, and often the timing interferes with the organized, and orderly day-by-day routines. I know. however, that you realized the importance of the man- date of this committee and co- operated with them. I thank you for your efforts, and especially those who took the time to make comments at the end of the questionnaire. To those who queried the structure ofthe committee, I would like to say that it is made up of W.I. members from across Ontario. Names were submitted by your board directors, and from these, willing members were chosen to sit on the committee. The decision to study the structure came as a direct result of several letters I received from members very soon after my election. Some comments were made on the question regarding fees. Our annual fee is not specifically stated in the handbook. It has remained the same for many years, and is a foregone conclusion that it remain the same. Why? Has your branch considered that it may not be sufficient to meet the demands of a modern day organi- zation'? At the provincial level we are asked to respond to and support ven- tures that will provide leadership and guidance and will help to better equip rural people to meet the challenges in today’s world better. The clay is at hand when F.W.I.O. as the voice of 25,000 rural women will need more finances at it‘s disposal. Can we be too structured? Is parliamentary procedure a deterrent? Through the years I have heard time and time again that women who have been trained in Womens’ institutes 4 make good chairmen. A chairman versed in good parliamentary PTO" cedure can keep a meeting movtng along, and can dispose of business deftly and satisfactorily. It is not that we can do without good parliamen- tary procedure, but that we keep our business portion of a meeting to a time schedule. Some dissatisfaction as to timing of district and area meetings was expressed. Each member is also a member of a distiet and area. As such you have the right to an opinion at those levels. Have you discussed the timing of meetings, and considered any options. Maybe there are others out there who feel as you do. There were some comments about resolutions. The wording came under fire. Could resolutions be as effective worded in a more modern way. Are they as effective as they should be, or is there a more direct way of pre- senting them? Would you like to be better informed about how to present a brief? Your Board Director has in- formation that our National Presi- dent Mrs. Noblitt gave her at our 1984 annual meeting and her points were included in the Winter 1985 issue of Home & Country. Our purpose is to identify needs in the community and take action on those needs. Adelaide Hoodless and Erland Lee saw the need for women to become organized and that organi- zation led to developments in safe food preparation. better home health practices, school health programs and many community activities that made rural Ontario communities better places in which to live. What are today‘s needs? Are they the same as they were years ago? Is there a need for us to address among other things. the question of family violence, of child abuse, of the safe use of chemicals on our farms? Are we recognizing the need for child care in rural areas? [5 financial planning different for our young families starting up as compared to our seniors. living on restricted incomes? Can we supply information to anyone in need of it? You have great organizational powers. How about organizing seminars and workshops on any one or more of these topics, so that people in your communities can be given the information they 30 urgently need. Or will you develop 3 support system for those needing moral help. Perhaps a questionnai } circulated among your members a' J neighbours who are not members L i help you find out what your orga . zation can be doing to meet 1 ; challenges in today’s world. One branch suggested that yot. people enjoy sports. Our SOClEtfitness oriented. Have you conside speakers or demonstrations of fitn programs? We never become too to be physically and mentally fi= I would like to commend the c - vener of Family and Consui r Affairs for Hamilton Area, l\ , George Powell, who has organiz. t seminar on family violence for 1‘ area, I wish her success in her L r ture, and hope that it will be it incentive to others. Nipissing District have had o successful seminars. This March c seminar was titled Women 7 Growing in the 80’s, and was heir at the Pinewood Park Motor Inr- -I North Bay. Topics for discuss it were Money Matters, with a spea r from an investment company; Dr ”I just stand there. . .do somethi :, with Janet flower of OM» ; Travellers Beware, with a ret u sentative from a travel agency; i d Colours and Styles with a consult ll from Colours, North Bay. These are the type of activities c can reach out to the community v it and which are relevant to the nc of today’s women. How many m ' Such workshops and seminars . Women’s Institutes around Ont: t holding? At our annual meetings ~ year will we be reporting many hit. I hope so. Perhaps by meeting 7 needs of women in our communt we will encourage membership. - .1 continue to be a vital part of Onta ‘1 rural life. rig for Home and Country, Sincerely, Charlotte Johnson