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To Women’s Institute members, the acronym ACWW is a familiar one. For the benefit of our new readers, it translates to Associated Country Women of the World. This world wide organization had its beginnings in the late 1920’s as an outgrowth of the International Council of Women and finally developed its own consti- tution in 1933. The woman usually credited with the idea of forming an intemational organization specifically for rural women was a Canadian, Mrs. Alfred Watt, and she also be- came the first president. What does ACWW do? It WORKS for improved rural con- ditions and better homes. It LINKS country women and homemakers all over the world. Currently there are 141 member societies from 30 countries (9 million members). It HOLDS a conference every three years where every society may be represented and individual members may attend. The next one is in Kansas. Missouri, from Sept. 21 to Oct. 1. 1989. It INFORMS through its quarterly newsletter, the Country Woman. lt ARRANGES regional conferences through its area presidents. The area president for Canada is Yolande Calve, a member of Circles des Fermieres du Quebec. lt PROMOTES leadership training courses. seminars and individual scholarships through both its Lady Aberdeen and the Elsie Zimmern Scholarships. It ASSIS'IS member societies and individuals through its projects com- mittee, initiating projects through central office and member societies. It GIVES first hand information about the United Nations organization. It KEEPS the members’ points of view before the UN on such matters as food, nutrition, education and cul- ture, child care economic and social roblerns. As a women's internation- non-governmental organization, CWW has consultative status with Reflections from ROS Joyce Canning the UN’s Economic and Social Coun- cil and a number of other UN bodies. It SPONSORS nutrition education projects in developing countries to prevent diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. ACWW does not dictate any policies or program. Each member society is What is ACWW? totally autonomous. Mcmbcrshipx fall into four categories: A Constituent Society is an on ganized body ot‘country women u ho elect their own officers and whose aims are in harmony \t. ith ACWW, It may appoint voting delegate-510 counâ€" cil and to the triennial conference. [we is 30 pounds sterling. An Associate Society may botanic a Constituent Society after 18 months. it may send one voting delegate to the triennial conference. Fee is 20 pounds sterling. continued on page I‘) Communications break down Between the Lines Margaret Munro Having a large membership and covering a large geographic area has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the problems we share with other WI’s in other previnces and also with other organizations, is communications. The dictionary defines the word communicate “to exchange ideas through speech, writing, telephone; communications can be notices, reports, bulletins, directives. informa- tion, statements and liaison etc." Communication, how often we hear and use the word, but more impor- tant, how many times we carry out its meaning. An old dictionary states “a military system of maintaining con» tacts, as by messenger. telephone, telegraph or wireless and for keeping troops and supplies going forward. We have a marvellous system in place which is used as a communica» tion tool. However, it functions as a chain which is only as strong as its weakest link. When a link is broken so communications break down. The higher up the chain the link breaks, the less effective it becomes. There are many reasons for the break â€" proâ€" crastination. apathy or just plain forgetting. to name a few. Whatever H & C July, August. September 1987 5 the cause. the effect is the samc, “c are all guilty of being the weak link at sometime in some aspch of our lives, but when it effects on organiza- tion, it creates problems for Others. I recently rcccivcd u lcttcr from members who werc conl'uscd nboul what the two cents [or Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) was actually used tor. W: have been told this many llmL's. Maybe because most of us know, m.- forge-l others may not, WL' do not puss the information on. cspcciully to no“ members. Those members settled th' question by asking â€" communications is a two-way street. Your liaison bcr tween the FWIO Board is your board director. Make sure you know who she is, and listen to hcr information. Last February a bulletin was sum to every branch with pertinent infor- mation which we wanted to reach thc grassroots immediately. It actually cost over $400 for this mailing, but because of the time frame, and to Clarify parts of the new constitution, it was considered important and urgent information. However. a number of branches never heard of i1. lam sure some can be blamed on the post. but not all. Could it be the weak link? The word bulletin appeared in very large print at the top of the form and its content was short and direct. To be 100 per cent cffcctive any message must reach all members. This continued on page 19