Westcott W.I. Branch History

              nearly twice as many small children as members, and this would be " Mom's night out!"
Mrs. Hogg then explained about Women's Institute. Membership would be $ 0.25, and
during the year we must raise money for Constituency dues, District dues, A. W. I. Fund,
Federated Fund, and Old Folk's Home ( the Constituency Project). After the meeting
closed, Mrs. Hogg taught us to knit nine inch squares for the Old Folk's Home. So you
see, we were in there with both feet right from the first meeting.
The Westcott Senior group remained a W. I. until 1961, then became a Town arid
Country group which disbanded in 1968. Sometime after that we dropped the Junior, but
I'm not sure when; perhaps when we no longer felt Junior, or when we applied for our 20
Year Certificate, and Mrs. Lifraud asked for a brief history of our group. Our answer to
that letter is in the minute books.
Over 40 years we have conscientiously paid all our dues, but we have been more inter­ested
in our branch members learning from our local reports on the six topics ( I think you
call them Educational Committees now), whether it be Handicraft, Home Economics,
Canadian Industries, or whatever. We have enjoyed our garden tours and other trips; social
evenings; and all the things we do as a group, but mostly the fellowship and visit with our
neighbours over coffee.
Most secretaries have emphasized the fellowship and visits in their annual reports.
Joyce Topping perhaps expressed it best in 1969:
This closes 16 years of W. 1. work - what we get from each
meeting is what we put into it; ideas and changes for programs
are always welcome.
We are so " branch- oriented," we have never even been able to get a member to be a
Constituency Convener until Phyllis Bricker, who just finished her term.
The first ten years showed the largest growth in our group, going to 16 members by
1958. It was then we decided to hold our meetings in the Westcott School. By then there
was power, and we bought an electric kettle, and each donated 2 cups for tea. There was
room for speakers and demonstrations, etc.. We were also into quilting after having won
$ 50.00 in 1959 for a patchwork quilt at Provincial ( displayed today). After that honor, and
one other embroidered quilt which we raffled, most of our sewing was quilts for Unitarian
Service Committee and Red Cross service. You remember those pieces, cut four inches
wide and any length, we cut by the dozen? Filled with old wool blankets, or flannelette
Sheets, backed With flannelette and tied at our meetings? Heavy as lead, but they didn't
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