1937 - Convention Report

              2$ ALBERTA WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
Medicine Hat— Mrs. Ed. Gosselin, Winnifred, reports four Branches, 85
members, and receipts for the year $ 532.00. They have assisted the local school
and needy families, purchased a boot for a crippled boy, while donations have been
made to the radium fund and community work of different kinds. One Branch
has a hobby of making toys and selling them.
Redcliff— Mrs. Bruce Silverthorne. Bindloss, Convener, reports two Branches,
30 members, and have raised over $ 200.00. They held a very interesting Confer­ence
in the Social Plains school last summer, where many fine papers were given.
Their activities include, co- operating with their Girls' Club, donations to the
Empress Hospital and the Radium Fund. Despite complete crop failures the last
several years, these wonderful women are able to give cheer and inspiration to
each other, and their Institute means a great deal to them.
Bow Valley— Mrs. M. Muir. Chancellor, Convener. Has three Branches
with membership of + 4, and receipts for the year are $ 307.74. Donations were
made to the Not- forgotten Fund, Radium Fund, swimming pool, skating rink,
school prizes, Fruit and Flower Fund, Wood's Christian Home. A handicraft
exhibit was held in connection with a well attended Conference held in Bassano
last summer.
Gleichen— Mrs. Duncan Clark, Cluny, Convener, reports seven Branches with
127 members, and $ 862.64 raised during the year. Their Conference includes a
handicraft exhibit. A great deal of relief work has been done, one Branch paying
for a nurse for a needy case, treats for school children, and prizes for good work
done. Demonstrations and Remembrance Day programs have been held, neigh­bor
Institutes entertained each other, and donations to radium fund given.
The past two annual District Conferences were held at Lethbridge, with
good attendance. One session each year has been broadcast for the benefit of
our members who are unable to attend. Mrs. J, A. MacQuarrie, of Barons, was
elected Director.
Our District project is sponsoring the raising of a $ 5,000.00 fund to purchase
radium for the free use of all persons in Southern Alberta needing it. The
Southern Alberta Radium Association has been organized and incorporated
under the Benevolent Societies Act of the province. Time and space do not
permit any details, but at present there is $ 1,587.00, and drives are starting in
Lethbridge and neighboring towns.
Thirteen half- hour broadcasts have been given over CJOC, known as " Home
and Country" programs. In this way, and through the press, especially through
the generous amount of space given Mrs. Norton, Publicity Secretary for the
Lethbridge Herald ( averaging nearly two columns every week), the Institute
work in District No. 4 has received splendid publicity, which is of inestimable
value to our organization. It pays to advertise, you know.
As my term draws to a close I am well pleased with the progress made in
District No. 4, and urge still greater efforts in the years ahead. The human
element keeps the work from ever becoming monotonous, though the summer
driving is physically tiring. The past two years have not been good on the farms,
from a financial standpoint, but most Branches have been able to pay their dues,
which, after all, is the first obligation. True happiness comes from service to
others, and our movement offers us many opportunities. It is a question of sink­ing
our right, our individualism, and giving from each according to her ability,
to each according to their necessity.
May I take this opportunity to thank you all, and particularly those closely
concerned in District No. 4, for the splendid co- operation you have given me
during the past four years. You have done all you could to lessen the anxieties
and responsibilities of my office, and I am sure that the years ahead can prove
years of great development, provided that we, ourselves, show wisdom, courage
and strength of purpose necessary to go forward.