Women's Institutes seek to shed 'old ladies club' image

Source: AWI Collection

Transcript: Women's institutes seek to
shed ' old ladies club' image
BY MARY MACARTHUR
Western Producer staff
CAMROSE, Alta. — Shortly after
joining the Alberta Women's Insti­tutes
in 1952, Doris North ey
dreamed of becoming president.
She had just heard Martha Beil-ish,
the first woman senator from
Alberta, talk at the provincial con­vention.
" I thought ' I would like to be
president of this organization,' "
said Northey.
Forty- four years later Northey
was elected president of the Alberta
Women's Institutes.
" The time was just right," said
Northey, a retired Red Deer farmer.
Not everyone may think the time is
right to be head of the organization
celebrating its centennial next year.
Many people see the women's in­stitute
as an organization of old
ladies only interested in handicrafts.
Government recognizes AWI
But Northey sees it differently.
When the Alberta government
wants an opin­ion
from a rural
group they turn
to the women's
institute.
" We're be­coming
recog­nized
as the or­ganization
rep­resenting
rural
and urban peo­ple
now," said Northey.
" The government is recognizing
us," she said referring to govern­ments
coming to the institute to or­ganize
farm safety and child- care
programs.
There are 1,600 members in 117
branches around the province. Al­most
300 members were at the
provincial convention at Augus-tana
University College in Cam-rose.
As president, Northey sees her
job as trying to let women know the
organization is not just crafts.
" Our programs must fit the
needs of the younger generation,"
she said.
Resolutions during the convention
covered everything from Alberta's
water act to discrimination of the el­derly.
Sessions during the convention
ranged from creative writing to
help members write their family
histories to resolution writing to
help formulate resolutions at
conventions.