1928 - Annual Convention

              A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
T H E S P R U CE
When Crees and Blackfeet made their truce,
They sat them down by a tree of spruce,
A n d there on the Peace H i l l ' s rounded crest,
They buried their hatchets and said " 0 rest!"
The spruce tree to itself had said—
" I shall be here when these men are dead."
So it lorded it over the prairies grand,
A sentinel guide in a peaceful land,
A n d often in its deep green shade
The pioneers' children happily played.
The balm and the poplar grew close by,
But the old spruce towered toward the sky.
Since childhood's days I'd known that tree—
' Twas just like a dear old f r i e n d to me.
Then I wandered back, but just to find,
By many friends I was left behind;
So I turned to the h i l l , my heart a load,
A n d they'd cut down the tree— to mend a road.
" Do's and Don'ts for Reports
( Suggestions from Mrs. J . F. Price)
F o l l o w i n g is a set of directions in preparing reports:
1. Write plainly, and in cases of names, where typewriter is not used,
print them.
2. In using names, use " M i s s " or " M r s . " with initials. In case of
" M r s . " use husband's initials, as that is the name known in the community.
3. Make copy brief as possible, to the point, w r i t i n g as you would tell
the story of the meeting to one who was not there.
4. Write the most important thing first,
, 5. Study good newspapers for style; compare printed articles with what
you have written and keep a scrap book for your clippings.
6. Get personally acquainted with your local editors. Find out what
they want and give it to them.
7. The earlier your report is in, the better your local editor w i l l be
pleased, and the earlier your reports get to the Department or to me, the
earlier do they appear.
8. Above all, be accurate.
9. Don't send a blank sheet. Surely you did something when you met.
10. Don't put " Regular business done." Tell what it was.
11. Don't refer to " One of the members spoke," or " The President gave
an address," or " We appointed a delegate to the convention," or " We pre­sented
our secretary," or " We had a reception for a member leaving the
d i s t r i c t . " In each case tell the names of the members.
P u b l i c i t y Material
As the majority of our stories concern the following subjects, I am
giving a few headings for reference.
Community Halls— Tell cost, how money was raised, a description of
hall, number of rooms, kitchen, stage, furnishings, etc., and send picture.
Presentations to Members— Names of members, gift, details of work done
by her, where going.
Clean- up Day— Describe campaign, what you intend doing, plan of work,
prizes offered and results.
Cemetery work— Buying site, its cost, location and plans for beautifying.
Hot Lunch Story— Number of children served, menu, equipment, cost
and benefit.
Debates— Name of subject, names of those who took part and the winners.