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FWIC PRESIDENT Mrs. Oddie extanded greetings from the Executive and Board of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada. “In speaking to this meeting attended by representatives of brflflCl‘lES from all over Ontario, I am deeply conscious of the origins of Women‘s Institutes. Each time that I ceme to Ontario on FWIC business I have a sense of coming to the place where it all began. I am conscious of the burden of gratitude that FWIC owes the women of Ontario for work in preservation of the origins of WI history at the Hoodiess and vii-land Lee museums. I am deeply conscious too, that women from Ontario omprise well over two-fifths of the strength of FWIC and hat this is a significant opportunity to speak to a group cpresentative of so many,“ FWIC forms an avenue of Communication between pro- inces; it initiates nationwide programs; it provides the team through whiCh financial aid flows to projects in nderdeveloped countries; it provides WI‘s everywhere .ith a window on the world. lam presently attempting to respond on your behalf to the ederal Cultural Policy Review Committee. I consider it nportant that our organization should have input, but what ill I say? How can I know that what I have said represents majority opinion of FWIC women. Do we want more anadian content in broadcasting? Do we want improve- ients made in the national gallery? I turn to provincial residents. 1 look at resolutions sustained in recent years. As I prepare submissions I am increasingly convinced at in view of the slowness of communication that there is a red for policy enunciated by the provinces. Perhaps some Ilicy statements can be extracted from recent resolutions erhaps some can come as expressions from meetings at all web. Perhaps next year you can consider policies at this ieeting. We are quite aware that Branches differ widely. Some we a healthy age mix. some unfortunately, largely consist- g of older women who may not share the desire of our itional Board. to see FWIC as a vital force. affecting itional policy. Your Junior Wl‘s have excellent vigorous ograms. The need for new members is a priority. methods ed to achieve this goal may in some cases be different i it grafting on of new ambitious young women to the tired sin stem. or a new plant started from scratch. The programs planned by new branches may he very ‘i’t‘erent. The needs of members must be met! The world is -ry different and women are very different: well educated id assertive with easy access to many special interest “Ups and little tolerance for the dull and inept pei‘for» lance. As we are engulfed with escalating societal economic and .icial change, we in WI must try to predict where and what id even why we will be in the future. and plan for change ‘ this be needed. Every single member. like every branch. 1: public relations officer for the organization. conveying and or bad images according to the extent that they reflect vita] active organization trying to grapple with issues in 't-day's world. or on the other hand. show to the communâ€" i_v an unflattering image of complacency. The issues range mm the realm of home and community to the whole world We have had agriculture convenerships for yfiarfi- )‘BI "1 “980 it took the First Women's Conference on Agriculture m capture media attention. We can profit from the issues raised in their research papers and we can attempt to find solutions. And while we talk of issues. may I say here that FWIC brldges the gamut of philosophies between the feminist stridently crying for women‘s rights and the homemaker quretly knowing herself to be indispensable in the farm or home Situation. fulfilling a very necessary role. a bridging role,_ linking together elemcnls that might be poles apart. We “1 FWIC believe in equality for women but we believe that-welfare of women is pan and parcel of the welfare of family and society as a whole. This is an emphasis built on caring and sharing, this is the Women's Institute way When speaking of Wl‘s assessing how well their plans and programs meet needs of members. this is a task of great magnitude. We need to look to the future. We are bewil- dered enough by present seeictal change. We are confronted daily with the knowledge that starva- tion stalks the earth for so very many. that for many women equality development and peace are impossible dreams; that there has been a breakdown in old moralities. and that confrontation is the name of the game. We know that problems of inflation have grown beyond solution by government. We see that pressures on the envi- ronment being difficult decisions of individual freedom versus the common good. The influence of the media is inescapable, But we cannot escape our involvement. We know other things more disquieting. We know now that in Saskatchewan relatively no difference exists between behaviour patterns of young people, rural or urban. in drug abuse. alcohol consumption, sexual activity and nutritional habits. We know that women at home are the mainstay of the hidden support of the economy. Attempts at assessment of the importance of the domestic economy has never been satisfactorily accomplished. We have experienced a down- grading. under~valuing and discriminating against women that work in their own hnmcs. Perhaps if a few more expem buy this definition of the economy we may see the VlllUl’lICCl’ work of the WI recog- nized for what we know it to be. important and of real worth AND THAT‘S WHAT A CONFERENCE IS ALL ABOUT" [,Ciuvr h) i/iiim: [)tii'iiii: Ilit‘ Ftvlt‘riuimi Rep» rmr'murit't' \‘t’siiurt Mrr. ifl't‘lu’ ll'uii'ui't' U 'i't’t'" writing dim-n films proposed In .L-r Mrt. Fruiit'ts ll’iirk, l‘l't'ii'timl Em] District. Mrs, LllllI'L’FM l'ii'ii'r. Rurn'i‘ Rii't'r Camry; Mm Hilll'll'l'tl' (torturing. PJ't'Xt'H" District, [5