1928 - Annual Convention

              F O U R T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 23
The travelling clinics are proving popular. A particularly successful
one was held i n the Coronation constituency, i n a district where there was no
doctor. Dental and baby clinics have also had their place on the programme
of activities.
Essay contests, prizes f o r punctuality, hot lunch equipment, are a few of
the many ways the schools have been helped. One W. I. arranged to have
children taught sight- singing.
The Home Bureau short courses have been well received, and local de­monstrations
in matters pertaining to household science have been given.
A i d has been given to school fairs and to the prohibition fund, the Sal­vation
Army, the Red Cross and Wood's Home.
Nine new Institutes have been formed during the year and one revived.
The new ones are: Endiang, i n the Handhills constituency; Kanata, in the
Stettler Constituency; Hughenden Village Institute and Czar, in the Ribstone
constituency; Neutral V a l l e y , i n the Coronation constituency; Centre Valley
and Iola, in the Lacombe- Ponoka constituency; Springvale, i n the Red Deer
and Innisfail constituency; Westcott, in the Didsbury West constituency.
The constituency conferences were much affected by the epidemic of
i n f a n t i l e paralysis last fall, only two being held on the dates set. A new
i t i n e r a r y was drawn up and the conferences held later. These were well
attended until the snow storms, after which the attendance was unavoidably
poor. Only one conference was postponed.
At a meeting of the delegates from this district at the provincial conven­t
i o n held in Edmonton last May, it was decided to try holding a district
conference. This had been abandoned a few years ago as our district was
so large and it was found too expensive to send delegates. The delegates
present felt the time had arrived to try again, and Stettler was selected
as the place of holding i t owing to its central location.
A very successful conference was held there on March 21st, 154 register­ing.
There were 13 conveners present, and delegates from all but one of
the constituencies.
The Stettler Institute of ninety- three members under the leadership of
our provincial secretary, Mrs. Mclvor, entertained the guests to a fine
banquet on the evening of the 20th, and provided a delightful programme
of music afterwards. The Board of Trade furnished cars to convey us to
and from the trains, and we were treated so royally that Stettler was
declared to be a splendid place in which to hold a conference.
The 21st was given over to three busy sessions. We were very fortunate
in having with us our president, Mrs. Huyck, Miss Macmillan, Mrs. A . H .
Rogers, Mrs. J . F . Price, Mrs. J . P. Ferguson and Mrs. M c l v o r.
It was unanimously agreed to hold one next year, and the invitation of
the Drumheller Institute to come there was heartily accepted.
The district fund will be raised by t a x i n g each Institute fifty cents, this
amount to be paid to the constituency convener, who w i l l forward the entire
sum received from her constituency to the district director.
REPORT OF DISTRICT No. 4
( Mrs. F. C. Alcock, Director)
I n some constituencies I found a lack of enthusiasm, but before the
conference was over, I realized it was because they did not understand the
duties of the different officers. The work of standing committees requires
explanation, so that the reports of the respective chairmen w i l l not overlap.
I wish I could impress the local representatives of standing committees to
send their reports to the constituency chairman, that they i n t u r n may report
to the provincial conveners of their respective committees in time for these
officers to prepare their reports for the annual convention. By allowing the
constituency conveners two minutes each for their reports at the district
conference, i t w i l l give us more time to discuss resolutions and Institute work
i n general.
The constituency flower and vegetable shows are wonderful and should
be encouraged, but I do not think they should be held the same day as the