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The McKercher Days Tributes received from Presidents, Secretary Treasurers and Officers Conlerence Secretary Treasurers durâ€" ing Miss McKercher s 20 yearslas Director. Deceased. Mrs. Gordon MacF'hatter and Mrs. James Haggerty. Mrs. Gordon Maynard Is extremely Ill and was unable to send a message. Helen McKercher came to the Niagara area as Home Economist when I was Welland District Presi- dent. Her work then. gave promise of the future. For a time her life moved in other channels. including the service of her country and then came her appointment to the position she has performed so effectively as the Director of that Branch of the Ontario Ministry ongâ€" riculture and Food with which the Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario are associated. She brought new enthusiasm and a new vision to the mem- bers of the organization and the work of the Girls' Clubs took on new meaning with their programmes for the development of the skills and talents of young women. The great philosopher Goethe said that man was not born to solve the problems of the universe but rather, each is to find out what he can contribute to the welfare of his fellowâ€"man. Consciously or otherwise. I am sure this is the guide followed by Helen McKercher. With all the sometimes drudgery and oc- casional disappointments, belief and trust in those with whom she worked were never lost. The Director preserves continuity and fortunate in- deed, have been the Presidents of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario who enjoyed the bene- fit of her cooperation and assistance. Never, to the smallest degree overâ€"stepping her authority, she was always available to listen to the frustrations of the President or to share the joy of a project successfully completed Kind, energetic, dependable. wise and witty. knowledgeable and dedicated to the job in hand per- sonify Helen McKercheri These attributes go to build great strength of character and all of these she pos- sesses in full measure. We are the richer for having had her in a position to share them with us so gener- ously, That there is sadness at her leaveâ€"taking is certain but we would not have it otherwise; whatever paths she may travel in the good years ahead she will con- tinue to spread that radiance of good will and friend- ship all of us have experienced during our years to- gether, Those whose lives she has tonched must have had some of her graceful qualities shed upon them. We would hope this will be returned to her in great measure. May good health, good friends and pleasant ways be her experience wherever the future may take her. Finally, in a personal vein. 1 should like to para- phrase Max Ehrmann‘s words, “With all its sham and disappointments. the world is still beautiful and you belong in it. Be Happy." 17%“