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The following speech was given by Geraldine Campbell at the Elgr'n West District Annual in May 1987. Mrs. Campbell is the president of Elgln War and Public Relations Officerfar London Area. The theme of the district annual meeting was The Next 90 Years. The past and the future of the Women's Institute is a bit like these two dolls. One is 85 years-old and still dressed in its original clothes, was loved and cared for and was the latest and most fashionable in its time. The other is my daughter's Barbie Doll. dressed in its atemise outfit. It is also loved and cared for. Both dolls serve the same purpose for their generation yet the outward appearance is oh so different. The Women’s Institute is like that. When it was founded 90 years ago it was founded as an organ< ization to educate the rural women and promote change in the rural com- munity. That remains the same today and will remain the same in the future. The big push 90 years ago was pasteurization of milk â€" something we take for granted now. Into the next 90 years Guest Editorial Geraldine Campbell 1“ 5‘ A i .. . _ J" For the Women‘s Institute to survive the next 90 years. we must look at our roots. WI members should not adopt the thinking that because something was done IO. 20 or 30 years ago that it is standard Women's Institute policy now. To quote the Past Presi- dent of Federated Women's lnstiruics of Ontario (FWIO) Charlotte Johnson, “No constitution is carved in stone.“ FWIO looks at its constitution at least every three years. Sometimes the changes made are minor and some- times major, as wc are experiencing at the moment. Not only must we look at structure and mclhods at the top but we must also look at cach level. This year we hope to have a major by-law change in Elgin West. In the term of each district president, the by-laws should be looked at, as well as all the activities of the district. Is the timing of our meetings and events meeting the needs of the branch- es and members? Arc the district functions actually fulfilling lhc purpmt‘ of a district? Some branches are not taking part in the district ucl i\ lllt‘s ;u the moment. “by not? Women‘s institute has trcmcndous talents within its own incmbcrxlup. however we often ignore them. I nus in a local craft store the olhcr dd). ll has high quality mcrcliandisc. a \\ idc range of workshops. and \wlcomcx organizations n ho want to hold lhclr meetings then: Thor lunc onc prnhlcm. They have support from across (in- lario. cxccpi for thc inuncdrulc. local area. This applies to \\'l in lilgin West. We have pcoplc \\ ilhin our on n bmnchcs who can and will spunk on a widc range of subjects. “c lizuc people who ham: succcssliilly organized provincial. nulionul and inlcruntmnul conl'crcnct‘s. Thcir lnlcrns urc rccoc- nimd oulsidc Iilgiu “cal. but are sometimes ignorcd \villtin lhc dlslricl. In thc next 90 ycurs wc must rL‘CUgIII/C 111C tulcnls of our own mcmhcrs. Thc ncxt 90 years will be out ol' cl‘lullcngt‘. chungc. hopc and continual work for thc idcnls cvlnlilishcd 90 years ago. W' all know thul Wonicu's lnstilulc has bccn huill on n won}.- l'oundulion nnd \vc will conlirmc lo work l'or l'lomc illld Country. Some thoughts on life memberships I have missed sending a message in several of the last issues of Home 8: Country so it is time to greet you all again. I have had the pleasure of attending two of the nearby district annuals and peaking atone. What splendid occa- ions they are for socialia‘ng, for shar- ng the activities of the past year and or perhaps getting new ideas for the ext! Then have been several anniversaries the local branches too, and a pedal feature of most have been the ring of life memberships. I have thoughts about life memberships at I would like to share with you. do we give these? Isn’t it because particularly want to recognize the ntribution of a member to her ch. Then, we are to assume that Bernice Noblitt she, having been over many years an active member, will continue to be very interested in WI. However. in many instances that member is elderly and not able to go to the meetings herself. In appreciation for all she has done then. do the other members of the branch make an earnest effort to take her to the meetings? If she is not ambulatory. do we send her WI material from the branch meeting with a short. interesting account of what happened at the meeting? Or do we phone. 1c|| llL‘l‘ wc Illlth‘tl licr :Ind kccp lrcr upiloAdalc will: llic WI news? Thcsc arc only :1 low wuvs III which we can show hcr wc really appreciated hcr conlrilvulion In Illc branch whilc shc was nhlc to do w, Another thought in [his rcgurd do give life mcmhcrships us won as a member quztlilics. Uni: of lhc soddcsl remarks l heard from on cldcrly lady who had come from a nursing harm to be given her life mcml'scrslup Wu", “This is lovely, but why didn‘t lhcy give it to me years ago when I could have had time to enjoy it." I hope to see many of you :n the 90m Anniversary Convention] in July. Bernice Nohlill FWIC Past President H 8t C July, August, September I987 3