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P615" What is the Women' Institute? - at creativity and uniqueness was uilt into the organization that has elped it to endure for 90 years? ls l e reason for its success that it has classic structure? Classic insofar i at it has been able to adapt to the eeds of women over the decades. nd retain its excellence? 1 would liketo share with you some “t ctions about how I believe the ‘ ocicn’s Institute has helped women 0 develop as homemakers, as com- . Ul ity leaders, and as decision . a'. 3rs in policies they believe will . a. e our country a better place in i hi it to live. I want to share with on the mystique of the Women's nsuute. The reason why many of U! members have been members for . a. ; years. I would like to explore c Jute we-should take to encourage ev members. . ;a young organization in 1897, ll: Vomen’s.lhstitute was organized o 1 set the needs of young women. is urpose was to give them training r 'usehold science. 'The safe way of re -rving "food, good health prac- isc and household management, e topics thefounders built into the n’ - rams. It provided instruction in : 1' re scientific care of children. and be reflected in the o res, and‘so they became active in r: matingénejw. programs in the eduâ€" v. tonal syStem. 5 land in with these programs r a the :pe no]; development of the t nbers. ership roles were heâ€" i. taken in their groups. Any action ' group’or communi- ET a_person. or people. “PI ve'willingto risk failure me hope 0 achieving success. This s liowll diets-are developed. And hat I' ‘ ' nstitu , lute has for , a social encounter ‘- In these days when Between the Lines ‘ Charlotte Johnson there as the support group. 111 com. munities where husbands, sons and daughters had gone to serve their country, the Women's institute helped to break the long lonely spells. W0» men came together, most often with young children. for companionship and to work on their specific war effort. It must have been the same during the First World War. During the Depression years it was there to help provide entertainment and re- spite from hard work. Members of the Women’s Institute were always ready to share their talents with their communities. What has kept our members coming back year after year? Perhaps priâ€" marily the fellowship. Then there is the opportunity to display one‘s talents. On many occa» sions we find we are given the chance to exhibit our specific gifts, It may be that we are terrific cooks, or that we are able to give a speech, it may he that we can demonstrate a new craft, or initiate an activity within the group or the community. We are recognized for our own particular personal con- tribution however humble it may be. When we become an officer in the organization, the training and guid- ance we receive is outstanding. I have belonged to many organizations, and the parliamentary procedure training I have received in the Women’s In- stitute has often helped smooth the way when differences of opinion arise, or a procedure was questioned. The opportunity to help shape legislation exists in the method we use for writing and presenting resoluâ€" tions. As you will have read in 0'... last issues, we have tremendous suc- cess in this area. We can speak for a very large segment of the female elec- torate, and should not lose sight of the fact that if we speak with one voice, it is mare influential with policy making bodies. I joined the Women’s Institute as a young woman, with a very young family. 1 credit the organization for helping me to develop leadership and organizational skills I would not have gained otherwise, or at least not as thoroughly. 1 have had Opportunities to use these skills, not only in my own Branch, but in the District. the Area. and at the Provincial Level, The opportunities are there if we but recognize them. If the institute is viewed as an organization for older women, that in itself holds truth also. It becomes an integral part of onc‘s life. and most members do not give up their membership with the passing of years. I will not want to give up my membership, even though the time may eventually arrive that I will not he as effective as I might have been. This in itself holds a danger. If the Women’s Institute is to remain a classic organization, ready to adapt to the changing times, and be its all fective as it has always been, the members, who arc the Women's institute, must be ready to adapt us well. To address the issues of impor- tance to the younger women of today. to give them a vehicle through which they can make their voice heard, we have got to stay informed. lfwc nccd to streamline our methods, we must. If we need to make adjustman in our meeting schedules, we will. To remain an organization for young people, we will change to meet lhcir needs. The “in” thing is to have a mission statement, The commitlcc reviewing the constitution recognized this, and [share with you that statement. The Women’s Institute is "An organization for personal growth and community action", We the members offer this to anyone who makes enquiries. May we continue to nurture, and to pro mote, the objectives of thc W.|.. and to illustrate with our words and actions, the benefits that are available to all women who are inlcrcslcd in personal family and communin betterment. at: v a Quote: All our talents increase in the using, and every faculty, both good and bad. strengthens by exercise. Anne Bront “820-49) H 81 C Oct. Nov. DEC. 1986 5