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PUBLICITY The subject of publicity should be of interest to all Institute members and Since every active organization is bound to receive publicity either good or had, let us as individuals see that the reputation of our local branch is Hood. The best way to do this is not by criticizing our Publicity Convener or by heaping more duties upon her but by asking ourselves. “Am I good Publicity for the organization which I represent?" Branches expect their Publicity Convener to send in reports of meet.- ings promptly and accurately, to the local newspaper and crhaps also to the radio station near y. This should not be a one-man job. Surely, at a time when friends know the convener is especially busy, worried or even ill, there is someone who could volun» teer to do the work for that month. When each member begins to feel a personal responsibility it will not be so difficult to find some one willing to act as Public Relations Convener at the next election of oflicers and there will be more and better reports at our Disâ€" trict Annuals. Your executive should be able to count on your support in all their endeavours, also on your attendance at all meetings possible. It is very poor publicity for a non-member (listening in on a rural line) to hear Women’s Institute members saying, “Oh. I couldn't go today. I‘m too busy!” or “Oh. is this the day of the Institute? I had forgotten all about it.” Nothing to entice strangers to meetings where the members are not interested! You know you helped to elect your executive, at least, you should have been at the annual meet- ing. When you hear that a member of your community is ill do you make a note to suggest. at the next meeting that a treat or card should be sent? Much better send a bouquet from your own garden or a card or note to say “We miss you at the meetings.” Are you a church attender? One cannot do her best for either Home or Country unless she is concerned with the spiritual welfare of Family and community. We should show our community spirit, too, by taking an interest in our local school and hospital. So long as our interest is constructive and not fault-finding the support of such a world wide organization is much appreciated by teachers, doctors and nurses, all of whom are human. Do you advertise the good things from your meetings and blot out the discordant or do you let little things get under your skin and make mounâ€" tains out of molehills? There are so few to tell how harmoniously we work together but so many who not only tell of the little disagreements but always contrive to make them a lot worse. “If all that we say in a single day, with never a word left out, Were printed each night in clear black and white, T‘would prove queer reading, no doubt. And then just suppose, ere our eyes we could close, We must read the whole record through: Then wouldn’t \ve sigh, and wouldn‘t we try A great deal less talking to do? And I more than half. think That many a kink Would be smoother in life’s tangled thread, If half that we say in a single day were left forever unsaid." Do you take an active part in your meetings or do you sit back and wonder why you wasted the after- noon? At a local meeting when an exhibit of articles made from flour sacks was planned there were four members and one non-member took part. At that meeting, there were nearly as many visitors as members. One could not call that good publicity. If, on the other hand, you out your talents in the Women’s Institute you HOME AND COUNTRY THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE HOLIDAY - - - O. A. C. Fall and Winter, 1949-50 Upper Ie’f: Group of W.I. members attending for the whole week at Guelph assemble for one of the many I‘ - tours arranged by the College. front row is Rev. Mr. Young, in charge of this party. Upper right: At the back left is Mr. W. D. Tolton, Director of Public Relations and in l Miss Louisa Brill. Macdonald Institute, demonstrates supper dishes. Centre left: Twenty from Hespeler Institute enjoyed a full and happy day. The tour was arrangai by MW» Olesen. sect’y., and with the group was Mrs. Hugh Marcn,one of our new Canadians from Estonia. Centre right: Aylmer \VJ. added spice to the 350 holidoyers assembled ‘Vednesday by their enthusiastic yell. is “Who are we? We are the bestâ€"We are the girls from Aylmer West; Cakes, pies, meat and slaw; Aylmer Ins ~ tale. Rah. Rah, Rah! Lower left: Members from Goldwater exhibit examples of the beautiful flower arrangements demonstrated ‘ Miss Heringa, of the Horticulture Dept, 0.A.C. Left to right are Mrs. Lane, Mrs. James Bell, Mrs. C. H, EDI“ Mrs. 0. G. Eplett. Lower right: 'l‘ivcrton women who attended the holiday. Back row left to right: Mrs. Wm. BrownI Mrs. Norm. Todd. Mrs. S. Hutton, Mrs. J. Gossell.... 2nd Row: Mrs. J. McDougall, Mrs. McRitchie, Mrs. F. Farrell. Miss ‘ Hendry, Mrs. Grant Begg. may be very sure they will multiply. Talents were given us to be used and if we do not use them we will lose them. It takes all members Working co-operatively to make our Women's Institute a success. Do you invite your neighbour to go to the meetings with you? When you do are you familiar enough with your programme to be able to tell her what is planned for the afternoon and what the roll call is? When another member. brings a friend do you wel- come her sincerely? The sincere wel- come extended to me at every branch where I have visited has been one of the greatest pleasures during my term as district president. If you can answer each of these questions to your own satisfaction there is no fear but your Branch will go ahead and you Will have no diffi- culty in securing a Publicity Con- vener. If, on the other hand. I have ‘got under your skin’ it may be a lift not only to your organization but to Institutes in general. The Oyster~By Betty G. Shaw. Thar? gnlcle was an oyster Whose story e Who found that some sand had got under his shell Just _one little grainâ€"But it gave him a pain! (For oysters have feelingsâ€"for all they're so plain!) Now did he berate the workings of Fate Which had led him to such a deplor- able state? No! He said to himself as he lay on a shelfâ€"- "Since I cannot remove itâ€"I’ll try to improve it!" The years rolled alongâ€"as the years always doâ€" And he came to his ultimate destiny â€"stewl And the small grain of t bothered him so sand but had Seated in front: Mrs. D. S. Buchanan. Mrs. Eldrid Reid. Was a beautiful pearlâ€"all I'll’lI)’ aglow! , , . The tale has a moralâ€"for isnt it grand What an oyster can do with a int“ 91 of sand? What couldn’t I do, if I'd only be' " With all of those things that under my skin”? 7 (Contributed by Mrs. TM liv Clugston, Markdale) Algomu Centre, South TarentorIIS. had a Christmas letter from Gash“ Bentz, the French child they adaptor]- Dundas. Matilda: A special fl'P-I' ure of the December meeting “'95,” reception for New Canadians Within the township, and the husbands 3“ friends of the members. Chrism‘."S carols in English and in their uni-“'9 language were sung by the Chlldm.‘ of the new residents. Refreshmenb were served.