1924 - Annual Convention Report

              T E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I O N 27
It is A g r a n d a n d noble O r g a n i s a t i o n , ladies. Let us realize c u r d u t i e s t o our S o c i e t y,
pay our just dues, our P r o v i n c i a l F u n d and our C o n s t i t u e n c y F u n d , p r o v i d e for
delegates, after that, our r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s cared for, we m a y use our funds as we see
fit. Our o r g a n i s a t i o n w i l L b e strengthened thereby, we can do greater a n d greater
work. But if we neglect our O r g a n i z a t i o n , can y o u not sec h ow t h e entire f o u n d a t i on
w i l l be s e n s i b l y weakened! And l a s t l y , let us give a w o r d of w a r n i n g , the Women's
I n s t i t u t e is e n t i r e l y non- sectarian, n o n - p a r t i s a n , and n o n - r a c i a l , let ' us w a t c h care­f
u l l y that we kcop i i so, that every woman of the P r o v i n c e of A l b e r t a m a v feci that
she m a y be a member.
I w o u l d l i k e to say a word to the C h a i r m e n of the S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e s , each
y e a r more a n d more is being accomplished, but are we all d o i n g what we might?
T h i s w o r k is v e r y essential. We of A l b e r t a must s t r i v e to lower the rate of infant
a n d m a t e r n a l m o r t a l i t y . We wish to encourage i m m i g r a t i o n t o our s u n n y province,
TO make l o y a l c i t i z e n s of Ihe newcomers, to husband the resources of our wonderful
c o u n t r y , to encourage home industries, to develop the b r a i n and talents of our
c h i l d r e n and give t h em ihe same chances as t h e y w o u l d have i n a n y other c o u n t r y—
? hen* is w o r k on e v e r y h a n d for us and it concerns us a l l . y o u as w e l l as me— and every
effort counts even ( lie slightest. Besides is it not, that the work helps to broaden
<> ur | H> int of v i ew of life, our scope of interest, our interest i n w o r l d a c t i v i t i e s ? We
are a d v a n c i n g . Throughout the constituencies of D i s t r i c t N o . 4, splendid work,
wonderful work, has hern done, and in the coming vear let us s t r i v e to do even
l e t t e r .
As I have told y o u I was tremendously impressed while a t t e n d i n g the C o n ­ferences
w i t h the wonders that had been achieved by the different branches t h r o u g h ­out
the C o n s t i t u e n c i e s , hut indeed, our D i s t r i c t Conference which was held in
l e t h b r i d g e in M a r c h of l i t i s year seemed a c u l m i n a t i o n of a l l those wonders.
T o our D i s t r i c t Conferences do wc a t t r i b u t e the great development we have
n h i c v e d along the lines of ( he S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e s . Four years ago in 1021 our
tirst D i s t r i c t Conference W; LS held at Taber. in 1022 it was held at L e t h b r i d g e , in
1923 at M c d i ' - i m - Hat, and this year again at J x a h b r i d g c . Next year it w i l l be
m M a c l e o d Kaeh s u « i i ^ i v r Conference is p r o v i n g more successful in its effect,
am! year bv year we feel wc are d e r i v i n g more benefit f r om t h i s g e t t i n g together of
' i u * e n t i r e t l i M r i e ; mid ( lie general exchange of ideas.
T h e r i t v of L c t h h r i d g c . a l t h o u g h there is no I n s t i t u t e there, welcomed us
w a r m l y . l e e l . n e l h : i i the Women's I n t i t u l e s were meeting for the mutual benefit
a l l | x- opie The M a y o r in hi* h e a r t y address would have persuaded us that we
might even have defied the police force of the c i t y w i t h i m p u n i t y but I d i d not hoar
that any of us had taken advantage of this p r i v i l e g e . We enjoyed some p a r l i -
c i d a r l v excellent a d d n s s v s ( liven by the b u s i i n » men of L e t h b r i d g e , M a y o r Hardie.
M r . \ V A Buchanan of the Lethl'iridgv H e r a l d and M i Sheplierd uf i h t L e l h b r i d ge
B o a r d of T r a d e . These gentlemen paid us the compliment of speaking to us in
frank MTioiisness. p r i m i n g out the duties uf women as citizens of a c o u n t r y and
h a v i n g w h h us many i n s p i r i n g t h o u g h t s You k n ow some of us do not often have
she ( i p j H i r t u i i i l y of l i s t e n i n g l « > one of these- m a n - l o - m a n talks and 1 am sure they
• l i d untold good.
M i s s Bawden, of I^- ihbridge, in b r i n g i n g us greetings from the Local C o u n c il
iif Women, while i m p r e s s i n g upon us ihe necessity of a l l women s t u d y i n g the League
of N a t i o n * , " f t a k i n g to our hearis our new seiiler> and h e l p i n g t h em lo make happy
homes, expressed » he de> ire of the dilTerent o r g a n i / a l i o n s of the c i t y of L e t h b r i d ge
thai for the m u t u a l benefit of a l l the Women's Institutes s h o u l d enter i n t o a f f i l i a t i on
w i t h the Lo.- al C o u n c i l of Women. It was the wish of the Conference that this
s h o u l d he c o n s u m m a t e d and I have to report that for the benefit of the r u r a l women
and the W o m e n Ire- tilutes from outside points, a magazine centre a n d rest r o om has
been « - Mabli^ hed by the L e t h b r i d g e Local C o u n c i l of W o m e n at B a a l i m ' s Garage
w h i ' h i - convenient to the central and business part of the city.
M i s s M a e m i l l t i n of the Home B u r e a u S e r v i c e of Ihe D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e ,
wu* w i t h us at the D i s t r i c t Conference. We enjoyed an excellent address f r om her,
as well us ihe many p r a c t i c a l suggestions Miss Maci. nill. an h a d to offer us.
T h e s t o r y of the o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d business o p e r a t i o n of t h e L e t h b r i d g e N u r s i ng
M i s s i o n was given us most i n t e r e s t i n g l y by M r s . S t a f f o r d of L e t h b r i d g e . Also d id
we enjoy some most delightful accounts of pioneer days, " E a r l y D a y s i n L e t h ­b
r i d g e , " given by M r s . K e l l e y of S p r i n g Coulee, a n d " P i o n e e r W o m e n , " b y M r s.
P r i c e of C a l g a r y.
T h e excellent o p p o r t u n i t y to discuss the work of the different S t a n d i n g C o m ­mittees
was taken advantage'( if. Mrs. P o r t e r of P u r p l e Springs, P r o v i n c i a l C o n ­vener
of C h i l d Welfare and P u b l i c H e a l t h , u r g i n g us to give our serious a t t e n t i on