The Representative, Leduc, Alberta, Sept. 1, 1983
COUNTY
50th anniversary
may be the last
for women's group
The meal served up by t h e Genesee institute Wednesday may be one of t h e l a s t , unfortunately.
GENESEE - About 65 people celebrated 50
remarkable years of existence for the Genesee
Women's Institute Wednesday.
Unfortunately, the birthday luncheon at the
Genesee Community Centre may be one of the last
events ever organized by the small but active
group.
The uncertain future is due to several factors,
explains Mary Pickerl, a longtime member and the
granddaughter of a woman who helped found the
group in 1933.
" I n the last two years the membership has gone
down with Edmonton Power coming in and buying
out the f a r m s , " says Pickerl.
The other factors working against all women's
institutes are the changing role of women and
differences in the rural lifestyle.
Back in the ' 30s, the Genesee institute offered
farm wives a chance to get out of the house for a
day. " Now they don't need an out."
" For instance, our health and home economist
departments are supplying the needs that used to
be voluntary through the women's institute," she
says.
" I think that w e ' r e finding the role of the women's
institute is changing. It seems to be less and less
attractive to younger women."
Membership today is only seven; raising funds is
difficult and unless everyone can attend an event,
the small number hardly warrants getting
together.
Warns Pickerl, " unless we get some more
members, we just can't continue on."
" The younger people a r e just not interested, and
t h a t ' s all there is to it."
Although the future of the Genesee Women's
Institute beyond its 50th year is uncertain, the
carefully maintained budgets and records from the
past trace a colorful and important role in the
community.
A movement to organize institutes was first
initiated by a woman whose baby died from
d r i n k i n g unpasteurized milk, says Evelyn
Scheideman, a Genesee member for 24 years.
" I n the early days, it was a way for the country
women to get out of the house to do something, to
pool their resources and ideas in a serviceable way,
which they did in a variety of ways," says Pickerl.
Their motto is For Home and Country.
Membership that first year rose from six at the
organizational meeting to a total of 19 a t year end.
The founding members set out to meet the social
and recreation needs of the community, and
educate themselves in the process.
The Genesee institute has donated to charities
and organizations since day one. Maintaining the
local cemetery and helping keep the local hall in
shape soon became routine duties.
Scholarships at Warburg High School and the
local 4- H movement are awarded regularly. The
institute maintained close ties with the Genesee
school until it closed about 11 years ago.
Supplies for new mothers in the area, or supplies
for local men fighting overseas in the Second World
War were generated by the institute.
One entry in a yellowed record book shows a postwar
donation to the Hungarian Relief Fund of $ 10, a
small amount by today's standards, but a substantial
contribution at the time.
Among the first projects was a sick kit; a
package of medical items such a s bed sheets, pillow
cases, rubber sheets, a water bag and thermometer.
In a 1956 history of the institute, a writer recalled
the purpose of the kits: " This kit was at the disposal
of anyone in the district requiring it during illness
in the home."
The institute has sponsored children in the third
world since 1966.
In one humorous case, members decided to make
a wool afghan for t h e i r foster child. Recalls Pickerl,
with a laugh, " we just went through without
thinking of where we were sending it."
The group had second thoughts about the gift
after mailing it to its destination, Jamaica.
Word was soon received the warm blanket had
been converted to a mattress.
The foster parent program is one ongoing project
that would vanish if the institute folded, says
Pickerl.
Upkeep of the new hall will prove a major task,
especially without the aid of the institute.
Pickerl sees good reason to keep the 50- year- old
group alive and active.
" I still think there is room for women to be
learning m o r e , " she says.
The group has studied subjects like home
economics and law. " I t ' s these types of things that
people should get involved with."
" A housewife's job has always been in several
fields, it's not just three meals a day."
Among people attending the 50th anniversary
luncheon Wednesday were: the second vice-president
of the Alberta Women's Institute; the
District 3 director; Reynold and Yvette Jesse, a
former Genesee institute member and her husband
now residing in Saskatchewan; and representatives
from each of the four institute branches in the
Leduc district, Leduc, Breton, Warburg and
Conjuring Creek.
