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merits which caused a lot of comment were arranged throughout the booth by Miss Haring-a of the staff of O.A.C. The winning oil paintings of this year's Tweedsmuir Comâ€" petition and the winning hope chest contents were on display. Mrs. Agnew thanked her committee, Mrs. David Brown, Mrs. George Burkitt and Mrs. P. Y. McCandless for their hel . Tphe Women‘s Institutes of Ontario will cele- brate their sixtieth anniversary on February 19, 1957. Many plans for this very important event are being made and details will be announced later. Mrs. L. G. Lymburner is the convener of the committee arranging the celeâ€" bration and she will be assisted by Mrs. Gor- ‘ don MacPhatter, Mrs. G. Gordon Maynard and Miss Helen McKercher. SOCIAL On Tuesday evening the Board members were the guests of the Ontario Department of Agriculture at a dinner held in the Royal York Hotel. The Hon. W. A. Goodiellow, Minister of Agriculture, was host and chairâ€" man for the programme that followed. Mr. Goodfellow expressed regret at the postponeâ€" ment of the A.C.W.W. Conference in Ceylon. He spoke highly of the work done by the Women‘s Institutes and asked them to assist the Department in farm problems that aFfect~ ed them. “What affects you, affects us," said Mr. Goodfellow. “We have an open door policy," he said, and no one would be more welcome than the members of the Women's Institutes. He paid tribute to Miss Helen Mcâ€" Kercher and her staff, to Mrs. Gordon Mac- Phatter, and welcomed the new president, Mrs. James Haggerty, who was an honored guest at the dinner. Mrs. MacPhatter spoke briefly and welcomed Mrs. Haggerty. In a few words, Mrs. Haggerty thanked the members of the Board for her election. “I feel highly honored and very humble and just a little frightened at the task I am about to take on as president of the F.W.I.O..” said Mrs. Haggerty. “I shall do my best and I know I shall have the support of all the Board mem- bers and the Department of Agriculture. I will do the best I can to give you leadership during my term of office." A presentation of an electric coffee perco~ lator set and tray was made to Mrs. Mach Phatter from the F.W.I.O. Board by Mrs. R. G. Purcell. A programme of songs by George Murray. accompanied by Miss Mar- jorie Dane. completed the programme. The President’s Letter Editor’s Note: Before this issue of Home and Country reaches Institute members, the secre- taries will have received Mrs. Haggarty's first letter, and it will have been read at an Instiâ€" tute meeting. But because there is so much in the letter which we feel members would like to have for reference, and because it brings the new President so close to members who have not yet had an opportunity to meet her, we reproduce the letter here. Dear Branch Institute Members: New Year’s greetings and best wishes for happiness and success to each Institute mem- bEI'. in your personal lives as well as in your Institute activities! Through this letter I hope to become acquainted with you to a slight degree; and I hope that, during the year, I may have the Pleasure of meeting many of you personally. I am looking forward to making friends with as many women as possible in the Province. I shall endeavour to give satisfactory leaderâ€" Ship and I know I shall gain much in return. This year of 1957 promises to be an out« standing and memorable one in the history of the Women’s Institutes. For the first time, a National Convention is being held at Ottawa. in October. Ninety delegates from Ontario will be eligible to attend, as well as visitors. More details will be sent later to the Districts by the Provincial Secretaryâ€"Treasurer. WlNTER ‘I 957 On February 19th the Women's Institute will celebrate its Sixtieth Anniversary. Each Branch will wish to plan and have its own celebration, as near as possible to that date. I know that every Branch in Ontario will haVL‘ its Own ideas and will have a wonderful pro- gramme; but here are a few suggestions which you might like to use: What about a Family programme with charâ€" ter members present and perhaps the History of your Branch outlined? Three or four or more Branches might combine for an afterâ€" noon or evening commemoration. It would be good publicity and far~reaching to arrange well beforehand with your local Radio or TV. station (if you have one), to give a Branch, district or Area some time on their schedule for a history of Women’s Institute work, or a short address on local activities, or an interâ€" view with some key woman in Institute work. Usually Radio and TV. stations are willing to cooperate. Another suggestion is a combinaâ€" tion programme of International Day and Dia~ mond Jubilee. Whatever type of celebration, I shall be thinking of the month of February as a series of wellâ€"planned, interesting and festive occasions. Now, I wish to tell you a bit about the plans of the Provincial Board for this memorable Anniversary. Since February is not a good time of year for a Province-wide celebration. it has been decided to gear the programme of 13