History Supplement of the Alberta Women's Institutes

              HISTORY SUPPLEMENT OF THE ALBERTA WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
" How do we go about making the situation better? Where do we
start"?
Quite clearly, everyone must start where he is, with what he has.
This maxim, incidentally is the motto of an organization — The
Women's Institutes — which has probably had more constructive,
unobtrusive influence on this country than any other public or pri­vate
agency" — end of quote.
That is how Mrs. Alexander began the report of her four years as
President of the Alberta Women's Institute. Concerns and activities
continued to be on- going ones of the organization with new directors
and conveners taking the leadership. " Family Living" and " You and
the Family" studies were held with films, talks and group discus­sions.
Reporting and evaluation helped to focus on vital issues.
In 1969 a joint meeting of the United Farm Women of Alberta
and the Alberta Women's Institutes was held in Red Deer when Mrs.
Philip Matheson, Area Vice President of the Associated Coun­trywomen
of the World was guest speaker.
Mrs. Matheson of Prince Edward Island was returning from a
Seminar that had been held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
for the Northern Canada Women's Institute members. It was an
excellent opportunity for these two societies of A. C. W. W. to meet in
Alberta with Mrs. Matheson and to learn first hand of the work our
branches are doing in that area. Problems there are primarily the
shortage of adequate housing and alcoholism.
National Medical Services became a reality in 1970 — a long
standing concern of our organization.
Alberta Women's Institutes received a legacy of $ 534.00 from
the estate of Mrs. Alfred Claxton, a member of the Edmonton
Women's Institute to further the work of " Home and Country".
During Mrs. Alexander's term for the first time Council of Al­berta
Women's Institutes met with Cabinet Members to discuss
mutual concerns, and on several occasions also met with Mrs. Vera
Macdonald, Head of the Home Economics Extension Department of
Agriculture and some of her staff. A tribute was paid to the co­operation
received from the Home Economics Branch at all times.
A. W. I. CONVENTION — UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, EDMONTON
JUNE 8- 11, 1971
PRESIDENT: MRS. MARION ALEXANDER
BUSINESS:
It was approved with one dissenting vote that the Alberta Wo­men's
Institutes Council establish a Provincial Office and hire a
Secretary Treasurer on a part time basis.
This necessitated changing the Constitution from " the execu­tive
shall consist of the President, Vice President and Secretary" to
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