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_ Torn between tradition and transition | W ‘s Institute omen‘ s InslULtute T:A 17â€" 3â€"35 8 | o By Agnes Bongers OM 1ARAMR!C Epgrxrxm /o MEI 1| Women‘s Editor â€" person WI tries to form. C Some argue the two organizations are completely different, \ and offer women something the other cannot. It is for that $ reason that people such as Lorna Campbell, IIderton, chose _‘ e | he Federated Women‘s Institute of Ontario (FWIO), to join both the local WSA and WI, feeling she could conâ€" g.ran_dm_other' of today‘s farm women‘s movement, is tribute and learn from both groups. Lorna‘s only complaint e fmdmg.lt'self in a dilemma. Wedged between a supporâ€" is that the two organizations do not work well together. 1 tive but declining membership, yet fighting the antiquated But it would prove a benefit to rural women as a group image of a slowâ€"acting, older women‘s coalition, WI has if they would take an existing organization and mold it into become torn between tradition and transition: struggling to something useful to themselves and their community, maintain the roots that please its loyal followers, yet fighting believes Bonnie Popov, Essex County. Rather than forming 1 to present a young, contemporary image in hopes of bolsterâ€" a new group, she and women in her area did just that with t ing its ranks. their local WI branch. For as one flagâ€"waving, true WIâ€"devotee put it, if the Bonnie reluctantly joined with WI after a friend coaxed her | organization does not change to become more attractive to into it. Up until that time she had the image of WI members | a younger membership, "‘it will surely die.‘"‘ as ‘‘greyâ€"haired old ladies."‘ | I A sad fate for a body which has seen itself survive through When she joined, Popov remembers the women at that | 88 years, expanding in that time from a lone Stoney Creek time were basically members who did nothing. But the Essex â€" > | branch, to a national and international organization. In Onâ€" County farm woman took charge and now meetings include f tario, WI now boasts of about 25,600 members dispersed talks on Block Parenting, computers, and lectures by police & across 1,150 branches throughout the province. officers. Popov and her friends brought the dying group from s With that kind of membership already existing, it must a membership of six to 26, with an average age now in the | «_ have something to offer rural women. Fellowship, educaâ€" midâ€"30s. o o f tion, and leadership training would be three quick answers t WI members would offer. The results of involvement with aih: . e | WI, according to Rebecca Johnson, of the Thunder Bay area, _ S !â€" ~are the molding of leaders who have gone on to become i sCt . ~*<_ S heads of communities and politicians. - % Cl ® ..g * 3 She points out the wellâ€"structured organization offers a mt t Te / . â€" € 2% f ‘i’ Â¥. | _ teaching of parliamentary procedures considered "‘second in Y l c 355. > X" "C~o t 3 ‘to none.‘‘ Few would doubt this statement, but this particular e h o O 0c‘ . _ / * * e â€" I gold star for WI has turned out to be a detriment in retainâ€" i L.; ba * Solkt _ :. 3 2s s _ ingnew, younger members, looking for an expedient method m 3 § Ai = j e N_ ,‘ \_=to get their message through the organization and on to o e Z2 U _ â€" % SA 3 â€" government. *T t +3 & _ sfi < es ~ _ Women who have turned to some of the newlyâ€"formed 3 § â€" ; ? * ~ol + \ s £ |â€" farm women‘s organizations complain W1 ties up its resoluâ€" PmA ‘) 33 . o . . 8 |â€" ‘tions in a knotwork of detail and procedure, and they cl'}arge h @ < , ad & € the WI is not considering agriculture to a great degree in its '?i.: j @% ;am f Q y ; resolutions and regular meetings. in o Peent a & \ B Vika Donna Lunn and Suzanne Leach are both members of ~a. oo ?& * w â€" CR ; Women for the Support of Agriculture groups, located in difâ€" *sV l s > eC . % nnr tace. ferent counties. They say they are primarily interested in learâ€" «t . 6} * _A x § ning about agriculture, and could not find this direct apâ€" t J 3 a e > | proach to farm dissues with WL alr 5. m S . uies 5 3 ¢° * Women‘s Institute members are generally not pleased with C > '*@. 3 _Â¥ 3 ‘ ‘ ~~# these and other women‘s decisions to create new rural 5o h f j ; | E organizations instead of using the existing one of WI to furâ€" F" <%. %'i PP 1 / ;‘? k: ® | ther their causes. fl“ . pro fartas" Bs . : j Marcie Johnston, an executive member from Perth Counâ€" go .;:,.;"i é 515?5, ?“ /) .. iss ‘ ty, reports the agriculture convenorship of WI is available 4B '_\ [1 j s & s . $ x , as an avenue to learn more about the industry, and wisllles . m N * > s % is > wa V\ 3 farm women would turn to this group. She accuses the other * wee ‘ i 3 organizations of involving wo?nenpstrictly in agricultural W.L. membe.r(:i Mtar;;c?::clzzigoegr;:elps Elgin Manor (St. ,: issues, nOt allowing for the creation of the "wellâ€"rounded"‘ Thomas) resident, e »_ es j xi I