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By Cindy Lockhart Pride in the WI Pide is the most successful ingredient for a successful and satisfying membership in a Women's Institute Branch. or in any organiza- tion. If a member is proud of her Branch. she doesn't hesitate to invite others to join. She is proud to be identified as a WI member of a particular Branch and proud to work on their many projects. Pride in your Branch must always be the ultiâ€" mate aim of your programs. This pride is developed and instilled by concerted efforts to: - expand your Branch membership by offering new and appealing projects a share your leadership and numerous other skills with your community - elevate the status of your members by pre- senting them with various membership awards - recognize the special achievements of both Branch and community members .organize and publicize your enjoyable and memorable meetings and special celebra- tions, The time and effort spent in these areas Can only work to expand the feeling of pride in the heart and mind of each one of your members. Contribute your time and resources to your Branch. Talk about your Branch work and activi- ties. Invite new members to join your Branch. Attend your monthly meeting, your District An- nual and your Area Convention. Wear your WI pin. Perform your committee duties promptly. Serve in your office with commitment and dedi- cation. Be excited about the Women’s Institute! Be a successful and satisfied Women‘s Insti- tute member. But most of all. be proud of the WI. The WI Image It is important to publicize our quality image. We must advertise and promote ourselves in the community. Establish an advertising budget. if at all possible, to let people know what the WI is doing. Be proud of our accomplishments and bask in the spotlight. We must brag! The media should be aware of what we do. We should invite the press to all our special occa- sions. our District Annuals and our Area Conventions. As well. grab the opportunity to invite community leaders and the media to Branch meetings. Are you working hard at our Membership Recruitment Campaign? The incentives to Branches who gain new members in the period from April 1. 2001. to March 31. 2002, are out- lined on page 7 of the Summer Home & Country. Which Branch is going to be the lucky winner of one paid registration to the provincial conference in June 2002 in Sault Ste. Marie? So keep invit- ing those guests to become members. And if you hold interesting meetings and programs. they will come! Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out my questionnaire. The results are forthcom- ing. However. everyone seemed to express the same feeling that the WI needs to be strong and vibrant in the years to come for the betterment of all communities. Remember. we must have fun while we are helping others. It‘s great to hear what is going on across the province. so feel free to call. fax or email me at any time. Cindy Lockharr is the Membership Coordinator for the Federated Women's institutes of Ontario. She can be reached at 736 Algonquin Dr., Midland ON MR 429. Phone: 7055274768, Fax: 705-527â€"1677, Email: lockhart@csolve.net Valued Servic for Farm Families Bethesda Reach Women's institute member Corinne Croxall was honoured for her aulstanding volunteer service to help bring seasonal child care to farm families. Corinne credited many others involved in the program. such as Barbara Evans. "l just feel a for olpeople have done a lot of work. " she said. The program started T4 years ago when a group of WI members were challenged by the national organization to help provide rural child care. "lthink the thing we‘rernostproud ofis the fact that after the government funding was removed. we managed to keep ours going." Educating farmers to realize that their children must be taken care :1! some place other than the field or in the stable has been critical to the success of the program. Photo courtesy ol Ron Prelromro, L/xbrldge Trioune vamtlleo by Doreen Ereihour Pno Bethesda Peach WI. Ontario Mountview Hall Gets Face Lift The Mountview Women ’5 Institute Hall at the Country Heritage Park in Milton serves as an inlerprelive centre for Women ’5 Institute history. WI volunteers work at the Hall during the summer greeting Visitors and answering questions. On Saturday. June 16. ACWW Conference delegates were based to the Park lore barbecue and quiltauction. ACWW President Hilda Stewart took part in a ceremonial tree planting at the site. in preparation for the visitors from all parts at the world. Halton District WI Branches painted the outside of the Hall, while Wellington South District Wlmembers cleaned and planted the flu werbeds. From left to right are Bryce and Ann Burrows, Edith Eedy. Jean Hume. Flth Laking, Glenna Smith. Myrtle Reid and Isobel Rankel. Submrlled by Edith Eedy. PRO Guelph Area WI Home & Country, fall 200i 7