The Book of Ideas

              to great strength. They become a vital part of the nation's life. Through the F.W.I.C. the Members speak." From Mrs. I. PhDIip Matheson, President F.W.I.C. 1964-67 "Every worthwhile idea, which has grown or will grow into a project, had its origin in an. individual. Never let yourself feel that you are unimportant. Remember that it was the vision of one woman that began our movement and so, today it is the vision of women like you that keeps, interesting, worthwhile programmes and projects before our Members, You

are the Grass Roots, so to speak.

.

"Hold your mind's door open to NEW IDEAS, ALL KINDS OF THEM. A new idea needs to be encouraged, give it hands and feet. Bring it up in your Branch where its jagged edges may become smoothed, and if adopted there, it will have gained momentum which could send it on to your Area, to your Provincial, to YOur National and ultimately to. the International level. "Ideas will be the means of finding solutions to the ills which beset mankind and will pave the way for the future development. of a world where the age-old scourges of war and want are replaced by a new era of peace and plenty. "Always remember though, that you, the individual, are the most important link: and that if you keep enlarging the stock of ideas in your mind, then, maybe one of them will one day SWEEP THE NATION." From Aroti Dutt, President Associated Country Women of the World, October 31, 1966.68 "The need and scope for international work to create better understanding among the peoples of all nations, has never been. greater than what it is today. We stilI seem to lay more emphasis on what divides us. than on what unites us. In the modem world of today, prejudice, tension and distrust are spoiling the harmony of human relationships. Thousands of years ago the thought of unity was thus expressed by an Indian Sage'A lamp has different types of containers, different types of oil, different varieties of wicks, but ultimately the flame emanating from it is just one and the same flame.' "This is the type of Unity which has to be created out of the diversity of the world today. When one gets conscious of the flame within oneself, one feels the unity with other human beings. This spirit of unity can help us to get over the differences in color, creed and ideology. World consciousness, which makes us realize the essential oneness of mankind, strives for a union of hearts on a person-to-person basis. An international organization such as the Associated Country Women of the World, is based on this union of hearts on a personal level. It aims to remove all artificial barriersl and to open out new avenues of service to women in different countries. "We, the Homemakers-The Country Women-all over the world, are striving to create better understanding and a better life for ourselves, our family and children. We may look different, dress different and our way of life may be different but unity of purpose has given us similar basic values of life. Our path is not easy, but our ideals, like a Beacon. Light, will show us the way and help us to create a better world for unborn generations. " 28