What Women’s Institute Means to Me

When I first came to this part of the country, my mother-in-law took me, one evening, to her monthly WI meeting. For one thing, I thought it to be a good way to get to know the people of this area. And as she had shown me a beautiful quilt the group had made, and I enjoy needlework very much myself, I was very enthusiastic in going with her. This was my first acquaintance with the British Columbia Women's Institute.

I then learned more about the first and most important part of the whole Women's Institute Organization: the local Institute. The older members would tell stories of the beginning of their group; how they met and what they did at these earlier meetings. I learned about quilts and made different articles for bake Sales, group entries at Fairs, the Annual Bazaar, articles for the children's hospital ...... I participated in the Fall Supper work, the Christmas Party for the community, the Annual Strawberry Tea in the spring. I even learned how to be responsible for these fund raising and social events through convenerships.

You are probably thinking this sounds like a lot of work and a lot of time consuming. But there are also moments of learning, entertaining and moment of laughing. I found there is something to take and something to give in the opportunities that a WI brings to its members; something to learn for our self and some comfort to give less fortunate. It's a way to find our talents and our liabilities. There is also friendship and a ray of peace to the world. Isn't  that time and effort well spent?

As I get more involved in the WI organization, I found how large and important its contribution to the world is. Cause a local Institute is part of along chain that encircles the world, its simple accomplishment is a contribution to the quality of life in its own locality and the world at large. The Associated Country Women of the World, a world organization with  8 million members in 68 counties, is like the trunk of a beautiful tree whose tiny roots are each of the individual members who are untied together in the Local WI, the District WI, the Provincial WI, the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada and finally the International movement; a tree that spreads flowering branches of help, education, health and welfare, citizenship, friendship, respect, love, serenity, hope and peace. It is also a contribution in its own time and the times that follow. Aren't the older members an inspiration to the new members? The history of our organization is a book of perseverance, love and action. Aren't we pursuing  the quest for betterment of home and country that our founder Adelaide Hoodless started?

To me, it is a privilege to belong to such a group. It gives me a chance to respond to a challenge: to do something about something in an atmosphere of fraternity. It adds pleasure and richness to my life.

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This was an entry in a Provincial Competition and I thought it contained a good message for members everywhere.

Yours For Home and Country, Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute