It took Elsie Karl nine years to rise from British Columbia Women’s Institute newcomer to president of the organization last month.
Karl said her main goal during her three-year term is to get more younger members.
“We’ve been trying and trying; we want to encourage women and to advertise more what we do,” she said. “We’re 100-plus years old.”
Karl’s path to the BCWI is proof of a successful recruitment, which started with an invitation to a local WI Christmas luncheon.
“It was upbeat. It just felt like you belonged.”
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She attended a few meetings, joined and then began taking on more responsible roles. At the branch level she has been president for five years and secretary for one. At the district level she has been director and president and at the provincial level she recently finished three years as vice-president.
Karl and her husband raise pheasants at Little Fort, B.C., and operate a private hunting club. They moved to the area from B.C.’s coast in 1994.
Karl lives 90 minutes north of the BCWI office in Kamloops, where the office moved last year from Langley.
The move was intended to save costs, reducing rent to $186 month from $600.
Funding will be the other burden for the BCWI’s new executive, considering that the provincial government has hinted BCWI’s most recent annual grant might be its last. Karl said the decision will force members to do more fundraising.
During the organization’s annual meeting held May 27-29, members heard a presentation about bequests from wills and Karl said this could become a source of funding for the organization as its members age.
She said the annual meeting was also a success because of member response to a national appeal for clothing for babies in Labrador. Karl will take boxes of clothing with her when she attends the next board meeting of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada in July in Newfoundland.
The FWIC will also be holding its triennial meeting in 2006 in Red Deer. Karl said several BCWI members will attend the national conference, considering its proximity to B.C.
In another piece of business at last month’s annual meeting, the BCWI approved an updated goal for its constitution that outlined three broad goals: help rural and urban women receive the skills needed for today’s society; assist women in becoming aware of issues affecting them and preserve traditional arts and crafts while encouraging the learning of new skills.
