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From the Provincial Program Co-ordinator By Glenna Smith he Area Program Co-ordinator’s Reports are coming in now and there certainly have been some interesting meetings held across the prov- ince. An observation] have made. however. is that speakers. slides and videos seem to be our most commonly used tool Ior program. One report stated, ‘We seem to gain new members when we keep our programs interesting and active." How can we keep our programs active? How can we involve our members? The lollowlng are a lew suggestions. If you have guests, encourage them to participate. What does your community know about the Women's Institute? Roll Call: The answer you received Irom a mem- ber of the community when you ask them. ‘What does the Women's Institute mean to you?" Record all the answers on a flip chart. Discussion: It necessary. break into small groups and have a good discussion on the responses. Then determine the image you want the commu- nity to have of the Women's Institute. Now compare - are the responses to your question to members of your community the same as the image you want the community to have at the organization? It not. start a list of actions to be taken to improve that image. and then get to work! Background: A group within the Township where | live produced a Directory. A very useful booklet. but all five Women's Institutes were listed under Recreation. I was very upset. I thought. it the WI Branches in our Township have not made a bigger impact on others than to have them think ol the WI as a recreational group, we had better get to work and tell the WI story. Restructuring the WI Have you had a meeting on the restructuring of the Women's Institute? Members at the Branch level have lots of good ideasI and here is your opportunity to express them. Please. it you have any ideas on the restructuring of this organization. write them down and pass them on to the Restruc- turing Committee. The Committee consists of Marg Eberle, the Provincial Coordinator, and a representative lrom each of the four regions: Mae Craig » Eastern, Pat OSZVaIl - Southern, Sandra Kell - Western and Marg Atkins - Northern. Their addresses are listed on page 16. Women's History Month This year marks the fourth year of celebrating Women's History Month in Canada in October. Women's History Month provides Canadians with an opportunity to recognize and highlight the achievements of women from all backgrounds and in all areas of endeavour. The goal of Women‘s History Month is to write women back into Cana- dian history. The theme for this year is “Leaders. Scholars. Mentors: the History of Women and Education" This theme not only highlights the many accomplishments women have achieved in and through education. but also emphasizes women's achievements in non-traditional careers. While October is officially Women's History Month. please take the opportunity to do some research on women in your community at any time. Be sure to put your findings in your Tweedsmuir History. It you would like additional information or want to know how to approach the history ol women. contact Karen Robertson.Status of Women Can- ada. 360 Albert St. 7th Floor. Ottawa ON K1A 103. Phone: (613)995-3817. Glenna Smrlh is the Program Cir-ordinate! Iar the Federated Women‘s insiriures o! Ontario â€"_â€".â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€" Lelrgce... continued from page 8 Besides my busy farm life. I manage to keep involved in other areas of interest. At present. a large part of my life and my family's is my involvement with the Junior Women's Insti- tutes of Ontario. I have been a member of the Norfolk South JuniorWI Branch for fouryears and was a regular guest for almost a year prior to joining. Currently, I am in my second icrm as Branch Secretary. I also decided tojump in with both feet and volunteered to be the first year Junior Board Director. My position on Board led me to being persuaded to accept a position on the Home & Country Editorial Committee. It has all been immensely enjoy- able and an incredible learning experience. I now know the answer to the often heard ques- tion, “What is Women's Institute?" and am very proud to be a part of it all. I also find time to volunteer as a Guide Leader in my eldest dau ghter’s Girl Guide. Unit and help when I can with the Parent Teacher Group at our local public school. Many ofmy best friends. including those involved in the Institute. I have met through activities with my children. be it swimming. helping at school, or our summer holidays camping together. I have joined the local Norfolk Quilters Guild and take courses at the local college that interest me. such as landscaping. tolc painting and puppet making. I love to sew. knit, crochet and cross stitch but can never find enough time to do as much as I like, And one of these days] plan on taking a tatting course through the Women's Institutes; tntting is something I have wanted to do since I was l3 but my grandmother would not teach me until I be» came a good Crochetcr! There is always more to learn; Institute has helped me in many ways. and I hope I have helped others along the way as well. Sue Her/is is a Junior Board Director with the Federated Women‘s lrrslrlules oi Ontario and Brandi Secretary wJIh the Norfolk South Junior Women's Insiiiule. Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada International Project. 1994-1997 Knitted Squares for Zambia To Support the Axsm lullnil for the Dit‘rrbled in Mazribirku uiirl also the Ceritrefrir Rehabilitation in Mririzc. he Mazabuka Assomation for the Disabled is a non-governmental or- ganization whose aim is to help the disabled in the Mazabuka district in Southern Zambia. In the past. a success- iul knitted square prorect was sponsored by the Women‘s Institutes ol Mazabuka. however. they are no longer able to sup- port it to the same extent. They suggested that the Mazabuka Assomaiion lor the Disabled ask other someiies to panic» pate. The proiect has a two-fold ooiective Firstly. to ease the burden on the Asso~ ciation‘s lunds so that they can purchase other needed items. such as teaching aids. wheelchairs and callipers (etc) Secondly. an imponant part of the proiect is to provide desperately needed employ- ment for some of the disabled women. who are paid to assemble articles made from the squares. The nights are very cold in Zambia. especially for the young, old and disabled. and blankets and yarn are very expen- swe. Leftover yarn will also be apprecrated. so canvas yourcommunity lor wool. Invrle everyone to participate » young and old. Membership in the Women's Institute is not a requnement. participation is Stipulations: I: I: Squares should be 3 to 4 inches in Size Do not sew the squares together Branches and mdivrduals are to send all squares directly to’ Mrs. JM. Spittleler. Hon Sec Mazabuka Assocration lor the Disabled P O. Box 670428 Mazabuka, Zambia In order lor the Mazabuka Assocration to avord customs duty‘ parcels should weigh no more than 500 grams customs labels should be marked -GifttoCharlty -No CommerCiaIVaIue - Knitted Squares from Remnants Please. report to the FWIO Provmcral Ot‘lice the number of squares you Or your Branch send to Zambia For clarification of any ol the above de- tails. please contact the FWIO Provincial Office. Submiiisd by Margaret Munro. lnlernalronal Convener. International Com/misc. F WIC Home 8. Country. Fall '95 9