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Ameuasnurgn rree l'ress, February 25, 1997 Hillier president Ruth Crawford (l-r) Consecon president Marion Walt, and Wellington president Betty Cronk show the new 100th anniversary issue of the Women‘s Institute Book at the Hillier meeting last Wednesday. â€" Pat Stanelfeldt photo. Women's Institute celebrates a century of progress By Pat Stapelfeldt Ameliasburgh Free Press It's taken exactly 100 years, but there were several groups of womm in Prince Edward County who got a whole lot of attention last Wednesday. At the Hillier Town Hall about 60 women from Hillier, Conseoon and Wellington got together to Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Women‘s Institute. The first meaing of the Women's Institute was held in Stoney Creelg Feb. 19, 1897. and over the past 100 years they have instituted such changes as the pasteurization of milk, mandatory stopping for school buses with flashing lights, clear markings on poison bottles, the formation of Brock University and the MacDonald Institute at the University of Guelph. The Women's Institute also offers scholarships and bursaries, and opportunities for Third World citizens to study m Canada. As a member of the Women's Institute you also become a member of the Associated Country Women of the World, which is the largest Women's organization. The Hillier Institute was formed in 1914. Jean Alexander who joined I-Iiller 50 years ago remembers packing boxes to go overseas, but where her work has bear primarily has been with the 4- ' H. "Our motto is still 'For home and country,” says Alexander and we try to live up to that. The Institute has . changed over the years she admits adding "We have to go with the times . " Lily Walt has been a member of Consecon Women's Institute since she retired from teaching, Well she corrects herself, an adive member. She l was a member before she ‘ retired but she didn't get out as much. She is 90 this year. She remembers the earlier years as not as organized as now, she adds, women are better informed now. In the beginning women in the Institute [named more from each other, or one woman would leam something and pass it on, she says. Rednersville Institute member Edith Cairns (left) accepts congratulations from secretary Daisy Wannamaker for being one of only 100 women across the province who were named outstanding Women's Institute members. The local chapter was fortunate enough to have two rerininntc The other was the late Audra Brickman. - Glenn Toou photo. â€"â€"_â€"â€"___/. 10 Institute Memorabil ia RUTH CRAWFORD, MARION WALT, and BETTY CRONK lighting Centennial Candles.