When government needs a credible comment from a rural farm organization, they should ask the women’s institutes.
Women’s institutes are across Canada, have grassroots members, and have a long history, said Faye Mayberry, president of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.
“We want to be more visible and meet with government at the national level,” said Mayberry during a break in the Alberta Women’s Institutes convention held last week in Camrose.
Resolutions passed at WI conventions across Canada are a good snapshot of trends in small communities and rural areas, she said.
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Mayberry recently traveled to WI conventions in Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan. She said the resolutions reflect what’s important in each province.
Newfoundland members discussed the use of cars and cellular phones. In Prince Edward Island the emphasis was on health care. Alberta’s convention dealt with several resolutions about children and sex offenders. Saskatchewan discussed telemarketing scams.
“The resolutions are different in each province.”
The one issue that is similar is declining membership, as their key members get older.
Mayberry said the provincial WIs want to recruit women who have recently retired from work and are looking for an organization to join.
She said they also want to encourage younger people to come to a few meetings. Then when they retire, they will feel comfortable joining the women’s institutes.
“When they have time, hopefully they will join as members.”
