1937 - Convention Report

              50 ALBERTA WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
When I started out in this Household Economic Committee work we took
as our slogan, " Better Cooking," with the objective of encouraging our members
to have less elaborate cooking and less complicated meals, and conserving their
time and energy. We set six objectives, and as in the story, when a teacher asked
her class in spelling to state the difference between the words " result" and
" consequence", a bright girl replied, " Results are what you expect and con­sequences
are what you get." I feel that during the two years' work I got results
and consequences, for I expected and I got, so to speak.
Our objectives were plainly stated in the February 1st, 1936, bulletin, and
emphasized again in the " Home and Country," October 1st issue. Many Branches
report reading those articles, and it is very gratifying to know that the bulletins
are used by our Branches. The letters received show considerable interest has
been taken in the Household Economic Committee work during the past two
years. Several Branches are studying a booklet, " In Times Like These," by
Margaret Malone Vant. One Branch obtained booklets, " Honey and Its Many
Uses," from the Department of Agriculture, and distributed them to each mem­ber.
Several papers, clippings, etc., were sent to our W. I. Loan Collection, and
many Branches made use of material from there.
The question box on Household Economic subjects proved helpful in many
Institutes, while short speeches on Household Economic topics were given, or
clippings from magazines and papers read at meetings in other Branches. An
idea used by one Institute is what they called a " Magic Box." The members
all gather useful household hints and information and place them in _ the box.
These are read each month when the Chairman of Household Economics gives
her report.
I have received eighty- one applications for material, and although at first
the requests read, " I have to give a paper on Household Economics. Please send
me material," lately the letters read, " I have to give a paper on Household Man­agement,
particularly budgeting of our money. Please send me material"; or
" I have to give a paper on Buying Foods and Planning Meals. Please send me
material." Then, too, in most cases the writers state the date of giving the paper
and have given me plenty of time to select something really suitable.
Many Branches observed Household Economics' Week by holding their
Flousehokl Economics' meeting during April. The Gillespie Grain Co. and Susan
Agar co- operated with your Provincial Convener that week in broadcasting over
Radio Station CFRN, Edmonton. Each day during Household Economics
Week helpful items, bearing especially on our work, were broadcast. Many
Institute members listened to these broadcasts, and many Branches took advan­tage
of the Gillespie Grain Co's offer to broadcast Institute meetings and events
throughout the year. Many competitions were conducted by our Branches during
Household Economics' Week. Some of these were standard cake, chocolate cake,
spice cake and bread contests; one- plate luncheon contest, and house dress com­petition.
One Branch held a thrift exhibit during that week with 31 articles on
display. In one W. I. each member cooked an oven- dinner during that week,
trying out oven recipes and arranging menus to suit their own tastes and needs.
Results were discussed and recipes exchanged at a meeting following the trials.
Roll calls used by Branches during the two years were: " Hints for a Sunday
Dinner", " A Brand of Canadian Canned Goods That I Have Used and Can
Recommend", " Child Training", " The Value of Calories", " School Lunches",
" Removal of Stains", " House Geaning Hints", " Labor Saving Devices",
" My Idea of a Nourishing Meal", " My Favorite Recipe", " A Simple Dessert",
" Economy Hint", " An Apron Pattern", " Favorite Icing Recipe", ' Favorite
Pudding Recipe", " A Pickle Recipe", " How to Store Vegetables for Winter
Use", " Antidotes for Poison", " Step Savers", " Combining Left- overs to Make
a Palatable Meal", " Most Useful Article in My Kitchen", and " How I Plan Our
Meals." One interesting roll call was called " Sample Day." Each member
answered roll call with a recipe of jam, jelly or pickle and donated a sample of
the finished product to the W. I. This wras later sold at a bazaar.
Reports state that a great many helpful papers have been given by our
Branches during the past two years. Some of the topics were: " Better Kitchen
Eauipment", " How to Buy and Prepare Foods", " How to Make our Houses