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NE ’Fart, Food, Facts, Fees and a Fascinating Future! ” I have always been fascinated by a1» literation ~ words beginning with the same letter arranged to follow each other in a sentence. They tend to grasp our attention and reinforce a point. Shakespeare would have added "they trippeth lightly off the tongue." 50 the words above bring special meaning to us as Women‘s Institute Members. How we treasure the m0» merits of shared fun we all enjoy; how dear to our hearts the friendship forged in our organization â€" at branch, district, area. national and international levels; and how food brings us all together, whether over the tea cups or in cooking courses or in sharing what we have with others Indeed, the WI was built on food, nutrition, food safety and food preservation. It is what we have shared with our communities. and what we have shared through ACWW with our counterparts in the developing countries of our world. It has been our foundation: food. which brings with it the fun and fellowship of friends. But there has always been more to the Women‘s Institute. We deal in facts. We've been focused on a broad range of issues. We look ahead and plan for a strong financial basis. In 1991, those basic tenets of our organization are even more important than in the past. Rural women have a vested interest in the environment, and in the three environments of women: personal development to enrich our own lives; the family and community that surrounds us; and, the global ecol- ogy whose management challenges our deepest problemâ€"solving ability. And if we are to serve as our predecessors did in the past, we must find a clear and open path into the future. To do so we must first look at some facts: Changing Relationships with Govern- ment Funding for administration â€" that is 1112 day-toâ€"day running of our organizaâ€" llOn â€" will be cut in the very near future or when present contracts expire. Governments at all levels will, howâ€" ever, continue to fund programmes upon application and meeting of certain criteria. Falling Membership For the first time membership in the Women‘s Institutes of Ontario has dropped slightly below the 20.000 mark. This. ofcourse. can be explained by the decreasing population in rural Ontario. and by the age of our organ iza- tion. Perceived Image "The Women's Institute." 1 was told by a recent interviewer. "has to be the best kept secret in the country. You have an amazing record of accomplish- ments!" "And," says our Public Rela- tions Officer. "we must do a betterjob of telling it." So let us look at the future. In order for us to grow and to take our rightful place in it, we must do so as a united provincial organization as we have done traditionally. Our early planners recognized this necessity in 1913 when they set up the Federated Women‘s ln- stitutes of Ontario. Why did they choose a federation over an associate tion? Because it allowed - us our native peoples knew A for each branch. each district and each area across the province to be "mistress in her own house.” but joined together at the provincial level as a force to be reck» oned with. That strong provincial voice is needed even more today. To continue as a strong and credible voice. funds and a strategic plan for the future of the FWIO are essential. The Provincial Executive have spent many hours developing that plan to carry us into our second century. In order to address the three basic facts listed above. the following plan has evolved: 1. Due to the changing relationship with governments. the funding. al- though it may be augmented by project funds and corporate grants. must be borne in large part by our own members, As we are used to government support. this comes as a major change for all of us. But. the Women's institute has always realistically tackled its problems. The Provincial Board has set the fees. necessary to fund FWIO. to gradually rise as follows: El 1991 - $6.00 - to cover the cost of producing our own Home 8: Country magazine El 1993 - $9.00 - to cover the cost ofour own office space. equipment and tele» phone 31993 - $11.00 - to cover the possible loss of an annual government grunt 211994 7 $15.00 - which brings the fee in line with other provincial member? ships across Canada and to work toward the Centennial Celebrations of [907 2. Falling membership has been uti- dressed by the intention to organize new branches to meet the needs of a new generation of women. and to extend those branches into urban areas. 3, Through Home 81 Country. con» tinued press releases to the media. as well as by cxtendcd networking with other organimtions and government ministries. and with a higher proiilc at provincial and na- tional events. succcssivc Public Relations Officers will continue their outreach. But may i note here. that the Provincial PRO expects each of us. as members. to act as public relations officers and markctcrs for our organization wherever we are 7 even to making guests fccl warmly welcomed to our own branch meetings. Yes. the focus for the future is in our hands. Fees make us part of a brunch. provincial and national organization, and an international network ofcounlry women in 72 countries. And all of Us are tied together in fun. fellowship, friends and a fascinating future. Peggy Knapp President. F W10 H dt C March. April. May W91 3