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I hope everyone had a good Christmas and that you were able to celebrate it with your famiiies. For those of you who hadn't quite the Christmas you expected, 1 hope that you have had a good start to l988. I am sure most people. as usual, made New \bar’s resoiutions and, as usual. have already broken some of them â€" I know 1 have. Speaking of resolutions. we had 32 resolutions at the November board meeting. I am sure this is a record. Resolutions are an important part of this organization and they show our members‘ awareness of problems in society. The resoluâ€" tion were twill-worded and the meaning and intent clear. A weak area seems to be in the accompanying support material. Occasionally there is none at all. Don‘t be afraid to tackle the writing of a resolution. (Instructions are on page 83 of the new handbook.) If you feel there needs to be some actiat on a problem you have identified. the following is a guideline of some or the steps to be taken. I. Maltesure you raeateh the problem well. letter to the editor Many people suggest Women’s Institutes do something about some cause, sunechnger to the environment. some threat to our home and country. In our oomples world we usually find we must begin by trying for a nu step isto pass a resolution in our tllutat our district. and at the convention. Quite property the W] regulations w arealneed.Allthisistime ’ : andtheeritismaybepast. the patient dead before the .1. ram Resolutions are for everyone Between the Lines Margaret Munro 2. Decide whether it is a local, proâ€" vincial or national issue. 3. Does it require a resolution, or letter writing by the branch and/or individuals. 4. If a resolution is decided upon, collect data supporting your reasons Duties of the branch resolution eonvener and her committee are on page l9 of the new handbook, while district is c0vered on page 32 and area is outlined on page 40. The resolution goes from the branch to the district annual meeting. to the area contention and then on to the FWlO Board. It must be voted on and passed on at all levels. It is suggated that the arm resolution convener also have a committee. to review the resolutions prior to the convention and to make sure lhnl Neverthela the discipline of framing a resolution and shepherding it through the three levels forces our members to examine the wording in detail. The process is fair. Would it seem equally fair that an amendment to the resolution should have to go through the same steps? Otherwise it is possible for a brief amendment. hastily passed at the area convention. to make a toothless mockery of a good resolution. A brief sample will illustrate. The resolution called for a change in the Nursing Homes Act to make the manager open his itemized accounts. on request. to the general public. the media and to government inspectors. The resolution pointed out that a each resolution has been properly submitted. Even more important is that a member of the brunch submit- ting the resolution is present when it is being discussed prior to the vote. It is not enough to have just the written resolution. Delegates who are responsible to mic wunl questions answered to their satisfaction before they make their decision on how they will vote. Situations pertaining to the resolution may have already changed. it is a shame to get a good resolution as for as the area rind be lost hecutise the members need clarification. This often happens. We have ndcmucrntic prtx‘ess in which you prim: to members that lht: resolution is Worthwhile. It is the rcspt‘msil‘iilily of the urea resolutions converter to forward the pmpntod resolution with lllL‘ supportive mutcriul by Sept. 1 to the provincial converter who is lllL' prtwint‘iitl past president Charlotte Johnson. i‘ln‘s gives her time to chuck it and possibly gather more supportive mutt-rut] or check it' [he rusolulion hits been presented previously. L‘lllllfllli‘t’fl mt [raw [5 Amendments to resolutions deserve more nursing home is not 1] [‘lflV'tIIL‘ business. since $2 out of every $3 received comes from our lllXCh. Tmmhling, frightench by the idea that we might rock the hunt. or anger somebody somewhere. the words media and public were taken out. and II": resolution passed (at the (iuelph Aron Convention). If we continue to do this kind of thing. WC deserve all the patronizing fun that is mndc ol' Institutes. We deserve the dropping membership. All amendments should have the consent of the branch and district convencrs at least. Ruth Hunt Northgate Women's Institute H It C February. March 1988 5