Leaders inspire

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: May 2, 2002

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – The Manitoba Women’s Institute knows it has

a lot to offer women in both rural and urban areas of the province.

The challenge remains getting that message out so that more women will

join the organization. MWI focuses on personal development, the family,

agriculture and rural development, as well as community action, both

locally and globally.

“Our members are aging and unfortunately we’re not replacing them with

younger members,” said Diane Hall, of Gimli, Man., who was installed as

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president during the Manitoba WI’s annual convention in Portage on

April 24.

Hall said part of the difficulty is recruiting members when many women

are working full time and have fewer hours to spare for activities

outside their families.

However, the MWI remains strong, said Hall, and there’s a determination

to see it made even stronger. Last week, the MWI amended its mission

statement to include agriculture and rural development as part of its

focus.

“I just hope I can make a little bit of a difference,” Hall said.

Vivian Campbell, who last week completed her term as MWI president, had

a hard time summing up all the merits of the organization.

She spoke of the energy and commitment members give in dealing with

urgent issues facing rural areas today.

“I watched and listened in awe of so many women’s stories of courage

and determination. The courage to take a step into the unknown and the

determination to do something about a situation because it needed

changing.”

In her retirement speech, she left the members with a thought that has

inspired her during the past two years.

“To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure –

but risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk

nothing. The person who risks nothing is one who does nothing, has

nothing, is nothing. A person who takes risk is truly free.”

About the author

Ian Bell

Brandon bureau

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