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{Women's Institute f'can't get no respect' CALEDONIA -- It's called the - Federated Women's Institute and it's become the Rodney Danger- : field of women's organizations. . V It was a few years ago when ; Margaret McKibbon called The Spectator to inform us that the institute was celebrating its 90th birthday. , ,"Call us back on your 100t ," snapped the editor, before hanging up." Boy, was he lucky. If Margaret could have reached through that phone she would have pounded some sense into his empty Skull. "1 was darned upset," recalls the Widowed grandmother. "We were getting no respect . . . and to think it all started here." She's right. The Women's Insi- tute -- WI for short --. has spread to 70 countries on five continents, but it was founded in Stoney Creek, Feb. 19, 1897. _ . "It was a man's idea," says Margaret, without a trace of em- barrassment. "The men already had learning courses throughout the Winter and it was Erland Lee who suggested women should have the same." Rural roads Erland, along with his wife, _ Janet, travelled the rural roads in r l3" aWn buggy, convincin 'a handful of farm women that their time had come. The goals would be simple -- promote household science with special attention to sanitation, economy, the hygienic value of foods, and raising the general stan- dard of health. "That might sound a little odd in these times," says Margaret. "But we've progressed. I don't want people thinking that W1 is liv- ' ing in the dark ages. "We're right up to date and we've become involved in many '5 national and international issues." ' Margaret is a founding mem- 2 pet of t Maggie Johnson branch -I_ otilie . The branch started 30 ' ago and it's named after the :1 'me Maggie who was made fa- -2 minus by her husband's song When '3 Wu and I Were Young, Maggie. a: :On the 100th anniversary of :1 g'quiet ceremony at her grave. -' A . ' That was nice, but they would :1 like us to know they have been 1* Involved in much heavier projects ~ H- like fighting pollution. h Maggie's death, WI members held ' Mike Hanle Margaret says it was WI pressure that brought Blue Boxes to Glan- ford. She shows off a WI grocery sack that eliminates the need for plastic or paper shopping bags and she tells of their lug-a-mugs that replace plastic or foam coffee cups. « And, she adds, no issue is too controversial for the WI. During a meeting in Guelph, their provincial president informed members of a letter she had dashed off to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, informing him that WI was in support of his stand in the Persian Gulf. The meeting closed with mem- bers holding hands while singing the Hymn of all Nations --- a song of peace. "There were so many tears we had trouble singing." ~ Mar aret summoned me to her Mount. ope farm this week to tell me about a March 27 workshop in Caledonia for members from Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand- Norfolk, Brant and Niagara. She said they will be tackling many issues including public relations. Learning process She said they will learn how to promote their organization through the media and how to use a booth to attract attention at fairs or shopping malls. Margaret has a brochure that will give them tips on designing a booth and the importance of gear- ing their information to the poten- tial audience. ' It also includes a list of 15 'do nots' for a successful booth. The list includes warnin s that mem» bers should not smo e in the booth, should not drink in the booth nor should they have bad breath. Margaret is a public relations officer with WI and suggests it's HOME & Country .5 "M. n \ \luru'im in: Kim \. \pUL \'.-k we Margaret McKibbon shows off some of Wl's most recent projects. "It's important that people we've donated a lot of money to know about us if we be e to worthy causes, but we don't get time the women started blowing an credit ,. their own horn. She isnays a lack of ywrhere are people in this area attraCt new members- . itive publicity w' lead to a who don't k hat w1 is and . . . ack of members. , that's sad. wlgfixe to become bet--- For more "'fOrmat'O'L "(me to ' "We do a lot of good things and ter communicators. the Federated Women's Insmmes i Mike Hanley. The Spectau of Ontario, Guelph A iculture Centre, P/O Box 103(§rGuelph, Ontario, NIH 6N1. If you have a story idea from Haldimand--Norfolk, Brant or Ni- agara, call me collect at 526-3207.