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Pa'}.\.,‘.i:.\. s 2 HOME Br COUNTRNl is published quarterly by the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (HMO). This newsletter has two objectives: 1. To provide educational material which cultivates more knowledgeable and re- sponsible citizens and promotes good family life skills, leadership development and community action. 2. To providea "communications link" among all members of the Federated Women's institutes of Ontario and other related or~ ganizations. EDITOR Janine ROQIEns‘Grant GRAPHICS Debbie Thompson Wilson © Willustratr‘on 2mm EDlTORlAl. COMMITTEE Ruth McDonald (Chair) Janine Roelens»Grant (Secretary) Carol Helfenstein, Jane Mayer Lynn Lodge (Copy Editor) DEADLlNES: Winter Issue: November 1 Spring issue: February 1 Please address all correspondence to: Janine fioeiensfirant Editor, Home & Country FWlO 7352 Wellington Rd. 30 RR 5, Guelph ON Nil-l 612 Tel: (51 ‘3)836-3078 Fax: (519)836-9456 Editors Email: gmgrant@w:l.on.ca FWlO Email: fwio@sentex.net FWIO Website: www.fwio.onrca Copyright (C) 2000 FWIO Copyrighted material (including graphics) may be reproduced as long as it remains in context. its source is recognized and it is not used for monetarygain. To reprint copyrighted material under any circumstances contact the Editor. ISSN O701~57EX Printed on recyclable paper by Signal-Star Publishing, Gaderich, Ontario. Canada Post Publications Mail Reg. No. 1685341 Return undeliverable Copies to FWID. If you lend someone $20 ‘ and never see them again, it . / was probably worth it. l ‘ 2 Home & Country, Fall 2000 Dear Editor: Last year, there was a proposal to change the name of our organization Why? The issue that needs to be considered is what the public thinks of our name. . I surveyed 15 women aged 30 to 50 who know little about the Women's Institute to get their impressions. They commcnted that the WI was a group of older women who gathered to chat and visit over a cup of tea. They suggested the word Institute was antiquated and rarer used. And that it presented a formal, rigid and school-like image, resistant to change. indeed, these are all valid reasons why our name is often not wellareceiVed_ One must remember, however. that this group of women I surveyed does not have the some background that our members do They belong to a generation of women that did not automatically join the WI. They are not aware of the positive Women‘s Institute experience. Instead, they fall back on their impressions and they wonder if there is any value in or significance to a group whose name is seen as irrelevant, dated and passé. Difficulties with our name are compounded when, as members, we try to explain what the Women‘ 5 Institute is all about in current terms. It is no wonder the public is confused. People are reluctant to join a group that doesn’t relay a clear, coherent message. Originally, our name did not have this discrepancy. Institute meant a place where one could receive expert instruction and vital information. It connotes an early model of education popular in the early decades of the 20m century. The name had a strong appeal to rural women who took advantage of a rare opportunity to educate themselves. Our organization's approach to educating its members has changed in the last half of this century. It entails a wider manner of learning, including problem solving, weighing fact and opinion and implementing what was learned. This is what we need to commu- nicatc in our name. We must ask ourselves if the word Institute follows the basic rules of good communie cation. Does it send a message that is clear and concise? Does it communicate who w, are and what we are about? Does the word Institute invoke stereotypes? Is the wor relevant today? I proimse that our organization adopt a synonym for the word Institute. lam proposing that we adopt: WI â€" Women Informed, Women Involved, Women of Influence Anita Evans. PRO, Bethesda-Roach WI, 1997-1999 Respond to Anita Evans at the following mailing address: 658 Simcoe St. NU Apt. 9, Oshawa ON HG 4V4- The Millennium Tree For their millennium project, the Bethesda-Reach WI presented a red maple tree to file Uxbridge Secondary School graduating class to plant on school property. Branch President 3afbara Renee (far right) and Secretary Margaret Bruce (second from right) pose with the “351 Submitted by Doreen Brelhour. Pno, asinesdanaacn wr. Ontario.