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THE PRO LINE Keeping Up with the Times “When lattend 5 WI meeting today. I am attending a meeting ofa group thathas not changed radically in its organ'zalional structure or the conduct of its meetings since me organization was founded in 1897..." "This is part of the great success of the WI as an organization. This is what cre- ates the feeling of sisterhood and bonding at County, Provincial, and FWIC conventions... ' "So what has happened to the Women's Institutes? Basically. nothing has hap- pened to it. It is what has happened to the society in which WI functions. The so- ciety of 1995 is light years away in its differences from the society a! 1897..." "Many of the young women who have been the next generation of Wl members are too busy, too tired [or] too occupied to belong to an organization which they feel is no longer relevant to their iile. They don't have time to sew, to quilt, to cook, to make jams, jellies. and preserves More importantly, this is not a source of pride to them. Their careers or self-fulfil- ment are more important. " The preceding quotations are taken from Success at a Grunt Price by Jean Cagswzil. a: printed in the Winter, 1995, Lone of the Quebec Women '5 Institute: Newsletter. After reading this article, I read a quote in Ontario Farmer from FWIO Presi- dent Marg Harris: “When I‘ve attended functions lately and looked around I‘ve been so much more enthused, encouraged and positive about the Women‘s Institute than I was a few years ago." She went on to speak about a new vibrancy in the group that was not there before. Which of these views more accurately re. flccts the Women’s Institute organization today, on the eve of its centennial? Are we stuck in the traditions of the past and conse- quently irrelevant, or are we keeping up with society as it now functions and meeting the needs of our members? 15 it possible that part of the problem lies in the fact that many of our members are not aware ofjust what the Women‘s Institute is and what it stands for? The Women‘s Insti- tute is a spiritofcaring and fellowship for our members in the local and worldwide commu- nity â€" an organization where groups of all ages can learn from each other by working together. Have you ever stopped to reflect about the Branch meetings you attend or plan? If you were evaluating your meeting. how would you respond to the following questions? 1. When a guest comes to a meeting. what is it about that meeting that makes it stand out from any other club, church or social gathering? Z. Did members discuss what is happening at MARKETING MATTERS 8 Home 8. Country, Spring '96 Members lrom Subdivision 9 gathered last fall at Homings Mills tor a one-day workshop on marketing the Women‘s Institute. Pd. Wade, .3 member of the New Toronto Branch helped facilitate the day's program with Margaret Richardson, Board Director for Subdivision 9. From left to right in the back row are Ann Tupling - Secretary, Dufferin North District, Margaret Richardson - Board Director, Subdi» vision 9, Evelyn Cos - President, Dufferin North, and Joan Falkard - President, Central Ontario Area. In the lrorttrow from let! to right are Vivienne McLeod - President, Huskview Wl, Duiierin North, P.J. Wade - President, New Toronto Wl, York EastDistrict, and Billie Power - Past President, Dullerin North. Submitted by Billie Power, Past President, DuHen‘n Norm District. the District, Area. Provincial or National and Intemational levels of Women‘s In- stitute and how they are affected by events in other parts of the world? 3. Did the meeting meet the objectives of the organization. as printed in the FWIO Handbook? 4. Did the group talk about any of the infor- mation in Home dl Country. Federated News or The Countniwomurt‘? . Did members share any ideas about the focus of the Women‘s Institute on Safe and Healthy Communities? 6. What current issues were discussed at the meeting? 7, What do community members and W1 members know about the local history recorded faithfully by WI members? 8. Were good leadership skills used at the meeting? 9. Did the meeting provide variety and inter» est for members who attend regularly? LII Is the Women’s Institute relevant to and . needed in today’s society? Cogswcll, in the same article, states: “If a WI should disband, what organization or group would step in, judge public speaking contests, contribute to and volunteer in the local library, promote school fairs, provide judges and prizes for 4-H Achievement Day, provide volunteers for Meals-on Wheels, collect or volunteer for the Red Cross, Vol- unteer at schools, hospitals, senior citizens‘ homes. contribute to or volunteer at youth centres, provide help to families who have been burned or flooded out, hold bake sales, suppers, teas and other activities too numer- ous to mention? When a WI disbands, a hole is left in the community which no other or- ganization can quite fill." Is there a new vibrancy in Women’s Insti- tute today? Judging by the enthusiasm experienced at the “Marketing the WI” Workshop in January, 1995, the increase in the number of new members shown in the annual reports, and the spirit and interest shown by the Board Directors at the 1995 annual meeting. the Women’s Institute is definitely a vibrant, vital and active organi- zation. We are fortunate to have intelligent goals that have passed the test of time. By Mary loner is the Public Relations Officer for ll“ Federated Women Lt Institute: of Ontario, adapting them to our times we are ready t . meet the challenges of the let century!