HAMILTON, Ont. – The West will be prominent in the future of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.
At the 100th anniversary convention held here last week, 700 delegates chose a president-elect and a convention site on the Prairies.
Faye Mayberry, a farmer near Red Deer, Alta., and executive member of FWIC, was elected as the president-elect for the next three years. She will take the post in the year 2000 at the next national convention to be held in Brandon, Man. Mayberry defeated Joyce Johnson, of Manitoba, and Margaret Munro, of Ontario, in the June 18 election.
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The major issue for convention delegates was whether the WI movement will survive another 100 years. A dwindling, aging membership, now at 24,000 in the 10 provinces, and reduced funding are worrisome. In a panel presentation discussing the WI at branch, provincial, national and international levels, five women outlined their views.
Ontario WI member Hilde Morden said while other farm women’s organizations may look like a threat to WI survival, these newer groups are issue oriented, as opposed to the diverse interest WIs maintain.
“We’ll stay around to see these other organizations have their 100th anniversary,” Morden said to the audience’s laughter.
Alberta past-provincial president Elizabeth Rushton said when people ask her what the WI is she explains it as an educational organization that builds knowledge “at whatever level you want to achieve.”
Branches carry out “local good deeds” ranging from fund-raising for hospitals, writing community histories to raising awareness of agricultural and environmental issues. Past services by branches have included lobbying for 24-hour phone service, supplying cod liver oil pills to local schools and running a caterpillar contest for children. Rushton said the unofficial title of the WI branches is the rural women’s university.
Rushton said the local branches do not exist to provide volunteers for local fund-raisers or to fight to keep the local library open. She said WI offers leadership, training and political lobbying.
At the provincial and national levels, the WI members get more involved in making changes in government services such as health and education. Breast cancer screening, osteoporosis and rural child care needs are some of the lobby efforts said Deris Hallot, of Newfoundland.
Pauline Meek, of Nova Scotia, noted the WI birth is the story of the power of one woman to change the lives of many. Adelaide Hoodless turned her grief at losing a son who drank unpasteurized milk into a movement to teach rural women how to cook and clean, but also support one another and learn about the world.
Peggy Knapp praised WI member donations to the Pennies for Friendship fund that pays for international projects. Some of these include paying for goats to make AIDS orphans in Uganda independent by developing their own dairy, knitting squares for Zambians to sew together and sell as clothes and blankets, and digging village water wells.
WI members in North and South America are working on a project that will see women in the North raise money for a project in Latin America that trains women to give workshops in raising their self-esteem and learning to take charge of their lives.
Convention tidbits
- Agriculture Canada was on the agenda of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada but its chair was empty at the table. Ralph Goodale, who was minister before the convention, was expected to come but following the federal election and cabinet shuffle Lyle Vanclief got the post. The new minister was scheduled to bring greetings to the group June 22.
- Twice the FWIC asked Canada Post to designate a stamp for its 100th birthday this year. It was unsuccessful both times. But delegates at the convention asked its executive to go once more to get approval for a stamp marking Stoney Creek, Ont. as the birthplace of a global organization that has seven million women members.
