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Reflections from ROS with Joyce Canning {Rural Organizations and Services) 1 wonder how many of you saw the article by Jim Romahn in the Spring ‘85 issue of Today‘s Country Women called “Grunts”? For those who may not knott Jim. he is the agriculture reporter for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record. in the article he is berating farm u omen t'or iorsaking the Women's institute in order to establish new rural women's groups which better meet their needs. BUT, before you start cheering too loudly. he doesn't let the Women’s Institutes ol‘t‘ scot-free. Says Jim. “Some in the Women‘s Institute must share the blame because they have acted like sancâ€" timonious stutTed blouses, reducing their chapters to know-ital] enclaves of critics, sniping From the do nothing sidelines. They busy themr selves with tea and trivia, leaving their beleaguered brethren little choicc but to seek solutionx elsewhere. Between January and April of this year notices of seven branches dis- banding have come through the oil ficc at Guelph. That‘s an average of almost two a month] Why is this hap- pening in some communities? Could it have anything to do with the atâ€" titude implied in Jim's statement? Arc older members of the branch willing to allow younger mentbcl in join. to try new ideas, to port, It; depart t'rom the traditional writ I” suits their needs, to plan Drtlg‘ 1]. that are ot‘ interest to you J, women? Ask any ot‘ the branch n it» hers where younger people are it. ing (and staying ~ that's impm- II and I guarantee you‘ll get u few .t, ing yes to all at the questions at Take a good look at you t ladies. Does your group lit in Rohamn’s description? it it t t, even remotely, than it's time it. welcomed an injection of new I: t: before it becomes too late tu- L transfusion! Why not co-sponsor a program? Cosponsoring is a word you may have heard recently in your county or district. Here‘s an explanation of co sponsoring which may prompt your branch or district to become involved in working on a program. Coâ€"sponsoring refers to two or more groups joining together to 14 H & C Summer ’85 sponsor an Ontario Ministry of Agri» culture and Food program, and oi the two groups, the ministry could be one. For example. the ministry and the Anywhere W1 Branch could coâ€" sponsor a program, or Anywhere WI and Somepiace Wl could work together. How do co-sponsors participate? Many ways. An organization can use its funds for renting a hall and buyâ€" ing supplies For instance and then recoup that money from the sale of tickets to the program. A eo-sponsor can actually help to work on the pro- gram itself and assist with ar- rangements such as advertising and promotion. There are benefits to the eovsponv sors. A group will receive communiâ€" ty recognition for its part in the proâ€" gram and can use that Opportunity to publicize its purpose. Money can sometimes be made by coâ€"sponsors and the content ofthe program, Sup~ plied by OMAF is preâ€"prepared. If you are interested in co-sponâ€" soring an OMAF activity please conâ€" tact your local rural organization spectalist. Provincial opportunity Two provincial convenersi . Citizenship and World Affairs II Agriculture and Canadian lndusi ~. will be vacant as of the Novembe i- nual meeting of the Federated “ en‘s Institutes of Ontario. if ill would like more information on I e positions. please contact your pfl: :i- cial director. It you would lilo apply, send your resume to your , 0- vincial director and a copy to Fl 40 secretary Marcie Johnston. 1 d‘ dresses are on page 2). S