i‘li 5‘lligl-Itli"lli‘li'if|ii inguinal. “rm-,- ili mp ‘:"Ililill'!illt' Nuiiidi ’C‘ INSIDE: Revitalizing the WI , i . . i 1.7 FWIO Mailbag i . . . . . i . . . 2 Caring 8i Sharing . . . . . . . . 3 Board Briefings i . . . i . . . 4-6 Program Ideas . . . . . . . . . i B A Business Letter . . . . . . . 9 PRO Column . . . . , . . , . . . 10 Tweedsmuir Tips . . i . . . , 11 FWIC Update . . . . . . . . . , 12 Cross Country Calendar t4-15 Information . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Einstein is credited with saying “we jeopardire our 4 future if we cling to old assumptions." What does that have to do with revitalizing the Women‘s Insti- tule‘? In my opinion, it has everything to do With it. We cannot expect today's rural women to embrace the WI unless we truly understand who these rural women are and what is happening in rural Ontario. The changes in the last five to ten years are unlike any in the prevmus 50 years. So. what are some of these changes: Canada‘s Baby Boomers, one-third of the population. are retiring earlier and moving to rural areas; smaller urban centres are growing at a rate ten times faster than larger cities; and. this country’s elderly will double by the year 2008. So. is this good news or bad news? It all depends on your perspective. First. we have a group of retirees, singles and couples. arriving In our rural communities. I'll call them “The Newcomers." These people retire at an earlier age. often with a comfortable retirement in- come and with less demanding family and other responsibilities. The second group are also recent retirees from the pressures of child»rea.ring and balancing career and home responsibilities. They are equipped with the same kind of time management and life skills as the above group but they have always lived in our communities. I refer to them as “The Locals;" I belong to this group. Senior ladies are the third group of rural women available for WI recruitment. They are also locals. but they have reached their golden years. Often. they have spent a lifetime working side-by-side with their families. managing the family farm, These “Oldie Goldies." as I call them. contribute time-honoured traditions and a lifetime of WI experiences to their communities. "It You Build It, They Will Come†Revitalizing the Women’s Institute By Peggy Burris And linally. the fourth group - young contemporary homemakers caught up in the frantic in) s “I lmltiiio ing child-rearing. liniiie responsibilities. minor SpOl’IS. socuil activities. and the list gtk‘x on LII'III on You may tind tlieiii \mrl‘iiig tit LI career zmay IlUlll home to provide the double lllL'till‘lC necessar) to survive the liaiin t‘CUlttlllllCMiI the "ills. l'll ttill these young ladies "The Contcmplirarics." continued on page 7 Thornhill WI Donates to "Water for All" Overa period of three years, Fhornhlll WI member Helen Kingsley personally sold small homemade articles under the Branch name earning $1 01' 0. The money was donated to the Associated Country Women of the World Project "Water for All. " Helen was born in Vaughan Township in 1914 and has been a member of various Women's Insti- tute Branches since 1926. Helen was also an Elementary School Teacher and is an accomplished pianist Thomhi'll WI is proud of Helen's accomplishments. Submitted by Pat Macdonatn. SecretaryTieasurer. Thamniii wt. York East