Women's Institute Convention Calls for Small-Town Groups

Source: Alberta Women's Institutes; AWI Collection

Transcript: WOMEN'S INSTITUTE CONVENTION. Officials and members of district four,
Alberta Women's Institute, took time out from their busy convention schedule for
a banquet at the Stampeder Hotel Tuesday night. Here, enjoying the annual get-together,
are left to right, Mrs. C. L. Alexander, Cayley, district director; Mrs. John
Richards, Red Deer, vice- president; Mrs. M. G. Roberts, Drumheller, provincial pres­ident;
and Mrs. Don Dougan, Strathmore, recording secretary.
Women's Institute Convention
Calls For Small- Town Groups
There is a great need for
women's institutes in smaller
towns, Mrs. Carl Alexander told
the opening session of the Al­berta
Women's Institute, Dis­trict
No. 4, conference at the
Stamoeder Hotel Tuesday.
" Who else would fill the need
the women's institute does with
the various proiects it spon­sors?"
she asked.
' The world has never been
so poor in love, fidelity and
purity." Mrs. Alexander, Dis­trict
No. 4 director, told the
43rd annual conference. " It is
upon women that the respon­sibility
to replenish this supply
rests."
Wl members must get en­thused
about the organization
in each community if they
want it to grow and flourish,
she went on. " We must pro­gress
with the times and show
our obligation to the com­munity."
In the business session, Mrs.
Alexander reported a, n estimat­ed
membership of 900 in the 43
branches in District 4. There
are 400 members in the seven
girls' clubs sponsored by the
women's institute.
More than $ 15,000 was raised
by WI's in the district in 1962,
she reported. An additional $ 535
was donated to libraries in the
area.
PROJECTS
WI projects in the district dur­ing
the past year included a
•* 500 donation by Turner Valley
WI to aid in build; r> g a new
swimming pool. Wheelchairs
were donated to various hos­pitals
and a slide projector was
given to an 11- year- old mus­cular
dystrophy patient.
Layettes wee given to dif­ferent
hospitals anc" clothing
was sent to mental patients.
The Mental Health Association
also received assistance.
Tn some communities, fire vic­tims
were given aid.
Medicine Hat WI provided
tricvcles for the chMdren in
the home for retarded children
to help them learn co- ordina­tion.
Raymond and Bow Island
WI helped with the senior
citizens' homes in their com­munities.
Gladys Ridse and Warner WI
soonsored a travelling art dis­play.
Langdon WI adooted sev­eral
children in Hong Kong and
India. Dinton WI started an an­nual
garden tour and plant sale.
A $ 600 scholarship, a'on? with
awards for proficiency, has been
given to deserving students from
District No. 4.
M'NUTES
Mrs. Don Dougan of Gleichen
read the summary of the min­utes
of last year's conference in
Lethbridee. The resolution re­garding
the adoption of the Red
Ensign as Canada's national
flag is slated for Parliament,
she reported.
Mrs. Pear". Liebelt of Warner,
assisted by Mrs. Stanley Nash
of Gladys Ridge, will head the
committee for resolutions. Nom­inations
for provincial secretary
and district director will be sent
to Mrs. N. H. Nolan of North
Taber. Mrs. Alec Symeic of
Lethbridge is in charge of the
courtesy committee.
The idea box, containing
suggestions made by delegates
regarding new projects and
ideas, will be under the cart
of Mrs. G. R. Rinehart of Card-ston.
The Ideas will be pub­lished
in booklet form for
distribution to groups.
Delegates divided into groups
for " buzz sessions" to discuss
ideas for a district project.
Mrs. Herb Goodwin of Ald-ersyde,
speaking on behalf of
her grouo, suggested under- pri­vileged
students be given assis­tance
to continue their educa­tion.
She also suggested the
provincial grouo sponsor a stu­dent
from another country and
bring him to study in Canada.
CLOTHING NEEDED
Mrs. Anne Lowrey of Dinton
said the CNIB, 406 16th Ave.
N. W., was in need of used cloth­ing.
Mrs. Lucy Big Plume of Sar-cee
noted the need for young
Indian students to continue their
education.
Speaking on hehalf of her
group, Mrs. William Marck of
Medicine Hat said the WI's
should encourage a drive to
keen Canada free of billboards
and other advertisements " clut­tering
up the countryside."
She suggested a beautifica-tion
project " to rid the coun­try
of junk" be started in
preparation for the Centennial.
Rest rooms could be maintain­ed
by the WI she added. Mrs.
Marck also noted that th#
Unitarian Service Committee
has asked WI's to make felt
slioners for Korean orphans.
Mrs. W. J. Ockley of Calgary
asked that younser women be
encouraged to attend WI meet­ings
and thus increase member-shin.
Volunteers are needed for
helping with Red Cross and
other organization, said Mrs.
Alec Symeic of Lethbridge.
Other ideas given by her group
included closer work with In­dian
grouos; district cook book;
exhibit of handicrafts and ex­change
with other WI's.
LIBRARIES
Mrs. Kay Willocks of Blackie,
for her session, suggested lib­raries
in smaller towns could
be helped by WI members. She
also suggested a need for voca­tional
schools in small towns to
prevent school drop- outs.
Representing her section, Mrs.
Pearl Liebelt of Warner said
that " all groups should be think­ing
of an idea for the Centen­nial
year. The Mental Health
Association and the retarded
childrens' groups need all the
support they can get," she ad­ded.
Another idea was to en­courage
the speaking of French
in Western Canada.
Constituency. conveners arc
Mrs. G. C. Newman of Calgary-
Okotoks; Mrs. Don Dougan of
Gleichen; Mrs. T. H. Nolan of
North Taber; Mrs. J. W. Knibbs
of Grassy Lake; Mrs. Emmer-son
Porter of Medicine Hat;
; Mrs. A. W. Masy of Little Bow:
and Mrs. James Ramsey of
Warner.