The Book of Ideas

              FOREWORD
Here is your Treasure Chest of Ideas! Throw back its lid; explore the contents to the very bottom; help yourself; come back again and again; you'll always find something new, something you overlooked when first you rummaged. It is literally packed with treasures, the more you use the richer you will be. Ideas, like seeds, possess life, in them rest potential miracles. These have come from far and near, some from quite specialized environments. This is a project of conserving them and making them permanently available for use. In many cases, variations from the original may be contrived with astounding, delightful success. This is especially true of some of the picnic games and fun. One thing true of everything herein, is that it will not do a bit of good merely sleeping between the covers of this book. You have to take it out and put it to work. The project of compiling an Idea Book was adopted in 1963 by the Alberta Women's Institutes as a way of benefitting all Branches through a Province-wide exchange of experiences, thoughts and suggestions. Borders and National boundaries have not stopped it. The thoughts so generously sent for this co-operative effort are scattered throughout the book where they best fit into the organized presentation. We sincerely thank all who took part. While we have, in a measure, classified the material received, remember this is simply a compilation, not a treatise. It opens windows to wider views and improved procedures. Today is a challenge to organizations of all kinds. With the even current of life rudely changed, many a craft formerly sailing along smoothly now finds itself shipping water and threatened with disaster. It is easier to listen to the radio than to study world problems, but if we are going to take our place in this changing world, we are going to have to study. We hear it said that our organization has outlived its usefulness; that it is not needed as in the day when it was first organized. Was there ever a time when the challenge of the times and the need for education was greater? Back in 1949, Mrs. Raymond Sayre, then President of the Associated Country Women of the World, told us, "The old garment of our living does not fit any more. If we are to live comfortably in this tight world, we must let out the seams of our thinking." How much farther can we let the seams out, we do not know, but the more knowledge and understanding we gain, the more the garment will stretch. Our Women's Institute offers us knowledge through study in our various Standing Committees. Our contacts through the Associated Country Women of the World develop in us, broader understanding of other countries; we withhold criticism and judgment, and find ways of being helpful and of expressing good will. Offering these, has the WI outgrown itself? Immeasurable the gain through our close and world-wide affiliations! They fill a vital need in our lives. Individually, we are not much, collectively, we are great! Our ideas and ideals, our opinions and actions, affect all with whom we come in contact. This book, besides being a guide, is an answer to the frequent request for a clear statement of what the WI really is, and what it stand~ for. The Branch gets its strength, purpose and opportunity from its mem7