Scrapbook FWIC 1997 Convention

              which begin today in Hamilton, in
eludes a range of calls, from a review
of ad- mail rates so that non- profit or­ganizations
can use the service, to con­cerns
about tlie presence of unknown
chemicals in liquid- filled products
such as paperweights.
Another 23 resolutions still on the
books include concerns about such di­verse
subjects as gratuitous violence
on television and the safety of growth
hormone used to increase yield from
dairy cows. The hormone has not vet
Concerns
Knapp likens the relationship be­tween
Women's Institutes and the
Third World to two sisters, one with a
closet full of clothes the other with an
empty closet. " The one with the full
closet says let's share."
But. despite the successes, there are
concerns about the Wis future
A FWIC strategic planning work
shop, held a couple of years ago. point
ed to a need to publicize achievements
of the WI An example of the wide
spread ignorance about the WI, along
with its talent for understatement, is
the lack of success the organization
has had so far in getting co- founders
Eriand and Janet Lee elected to Hamil­ton's
Hall of Distinction. Co- founder
Adelaide Hoodless is already a mem­ber.
The workshop also found a lack of fo­cus,
that the Institute was spreading it
self in too many directions.
A glance at the current list of resolu
tions before the centennial celebra­tions
and international conference
Amazed
" As an Institute we've moved on from
issues like wrapping bread to the ma
Jor concerns of today." says member
Mary Whirwell. a retired teacher
And it's that emphasis on today's
worries for parents that has brought
Nicole Belanger. 38. into the Binbrook
fold The mother of three teenage chil
dren. she felt the need of a support
group with whom she could discuss
her concerns
She's amazed that other women
aren't beating down the doors to join.
" We have to be aware of how chil
dren are influenced. Where are the
women my age' Don't they need to
learn together?"
The branch also co- sponsors, with
Binbrook United Church, a MorninR
Out program at a local church for
young mothers with pre- schoolers.
A trained chdd- care worker looks af
ter the older children, while babysit
ting is done by WI " grandmothers" so
that the moms can take advantage of
classes in skills as diverse as bread
making to self defence and cardio- pul
monary resuscitation.
The branch is also known for its
fundraising through fashion shows,
silent auctions and catering for work
en> at the local fair
Knapp says she continually marvels
at the Women's Institute's achieve
ments over the past 100 years.
" When Janet and Eriand Lee escort
ed Adelaide Hoodless up the steps of
Stoney Creek Squires Hall that cold
February night, they couldn't have had
any idea what they were starting.
' To think, 100 years later, millions of
women all over the world are celebrat­ing
the Women's Institute."
been approved for use in Canada
An even more important concern is
the institute's falling membership. Ag-ing
members are dying off and fewer
young women are joining
Since 1990. Canadian membership
has fallen by about 30 per cent, to just
under 2- 1.000 from 34.700.
Some members believe part of the
problem is the WI image of women sit
ting around quilting, knitting or mak
ing jam Few outsiders realize the
strength of the institute's lobby, much
less th. it each branch conducts its
meetings according to parliamentary
procedure and follows an educational
program, with presentations in sever
al different areas including Canadian
industry, education and cultural af
fairs.
Membership has also fallen because
of the increase in urbanization and the
increase in the number of women who
work outside the home and have both
less time and more choice of clubs and
volunteer groups
According to Federated Women's In­stitutes
of Ontario figures, there are
1,628 WI members in the rural areas
surrounding Hamilton.
June Williams is president of the
Stoney Creek charter branch, which
has a membership of about 24, all but
three over 75.
" We're good Canadian antiques who
belong in a museum," she says.
Yet, despite the aging membership,
Stoney Creek members still raise
enough funds to provide cash prizes
for a local historical literary contest
and prizes for area schools.
Recently the branch funded the
planting of a centennial rose garden at
the Eriand Lee Museum, home of the
Lees. "
Williams admits to sadness at the
thought that the charter branch may
eventually fade away, but believes
strongly that the organization it
spawned will continue.
" Women need each other and the In­stitute
supplies that necessity"
Knapp also believes the Women's In­stitute
will continue and flourish. It
may also have a future role in urban
areas — there are already a couple of
branches in the Toronto area — where
women living isolated lives could Find
support and friendship within a non
sectarian organization like the WI,
which has a voice extending through
provincial and national governments
to consultative status at the United Na­tions.
" What other organization can offer
you this?" asks Knapp.
While it's true that membership is
falling, she sees younger women join
ing, if not yet in sufficient numbers to
offset the decline Many young profes
sionals are also returning to their rur
al roots and in the Hamilton area espe­cially,
recently retired professional
women arc joining and bringing with
them energy and new concerns.
Wendy MacDougal studied the
Women's Institute for her master's de
gree at Brock University and as a re
suit joined Carluke Branch
She believes that part of the Wis
dilemma is that societal changes have
resulted in reliance on " experts" to
solve problems instead of finding solu
tions through the kind of mutual self
help that is the very essence of the
Women's Institute.
" The ( WI) will have a role if someone
recognizes what they are and taps into
them ... They have a good message
Maybe the 100th anniversary will be an
opportunity to share that good mes
sage."
The Binbrook branch is an example
of a resurgence in interest and advoca
cy. With 35 members, ranging in age
from their late twenties to their early
thirties, the branch has a regular at
tendance of 25 at its monthly meetings.
Much of its energy is devoted to
fighting pornography and increasing
awareness about what it views as too-explicit
sex education in schools.
Concerns expressed last fall by sev
eral groups, including the Binbrook
branch, about a 20 minute sex- educa
tion video for ages nine to 12 led to the
inclusion of videos in the Wentworth
County school board's policy on the
handling of sensitive human sexuality
material. Parents must now give per­mission
for the video to be shown to
their children.