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The President’s Corner Mrs. Everett Small, President F.W.I.O. Have you ever spent an afternoon reviewing back issues of magazines? That is what I did recently and found it to be most interesting. I would like to share with you excerpts from early editions of Home and Country. In the 1933 September issue an article, “Es- sentials for Success in the Institute" was writ- ten by Geo. A. Putrnan, Superintendent for Ontario, in which he said that he had enjoyed the pleasure of working with the Women's Inâ€" stitute for thirty years. He tells of his appreciav tion of the association by saying. "One could write indefinitely of the masterly manner in which the country women of Ontario have giv- en judicious. earnest leadership in local, dis- trict and area undertakings. The women of ruâ€" ral Ontario are not generally conscious of the fact that their succeSs will be recorded in the pages of history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, accomplishment of women in any country.“ Are not these words, written thirtyâ€" five years ago. a challenge to us to uphold the standard set by the members of that day? In the 1934 issue for March and April I read, "A number of Branches report difficulty in securing officers." This statement made me realize that securing officers is not a new prob- lem, and I asked myself “Why?” It is an hon- our to be asked to serve as an officer in the Women‘s Institute. We realize. of course. that with this honour goes a responsibility to fulfill the tmst placed in us. We also know that it is through doing that we learn. and in learning we are preparing ourselves to assume responsi- bilities at other levels. Let us be prepared to give loyal support to our officers. The Summer issue of 1949 told of the first Officers’ Conference which was held in Memorial Hall at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, with six hundred women in attendance. Mrs. Futcher. the Provincial Presiâ€" dent, pointed out that the officers had come together to pool ideas for programs. She invit- ed constructive criticism (which is something we today should be prepared to accept). A 4 good foundation was laid at that first comm. ence as it has become an annual event looked forward to each year as a meeting place Wht.,_ members can share ideas, hear speakers, any return to their Branches filled with enthusias... and new thoughts. Miss Helen McKercher was one of 1’ speakers at that first conference. Her tor was "A Procedure for Planning Your Instill. Programs.“ The summary of her suggestion-t as fitting for us today as it was on that M day in 1949. The suggestions are listed as i. lows: (1) All the group plan together a sh. decisions. (2) Base programs on interest and needs. (3) Set up definite objectives. Write th. down so they are clear to all. (4) Draw on local talent and resources well as talent from outside. (5) Build for program in obtaining oh; tivcs. (6) Consider the needs of individual mt bers. (7) Stick to quality. From these early issues of Home and Col. try we have a challenge placed before us uphold the high standards set by our memlv of previous years. They count on us to o tinue to plan good programs. set high gm and to make our community a better placv; which to live because a Branch of the Wt» en’s Institute is there. We cannot fail them. I wish to close with a few lines written Philip James Bailey from “A Country Tou We live in deeds, not years; in thought. breaths: In feelings not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heartâ€"throbs. most lives Who thinks most â€" feels the noblest * . the best. Eileen SJ 1r * * "I shot an arrow into the air, it fell to can know not where: 50 swiftly it flew, that sight could not four in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, it fell to ear I know not where: For who hath sight, so keen and strong, that it follow the flight of SONG. Years afterward, in an oak, I found the all still unbroke, And the song from beginning to end. I fOUl'v' the heart of a friend.“ * ir it “Get thy tools ready; God will find the w â€"Rohert Brow t: * “k * HOME AND COUN (Y