1924 - Annual Convention Report

              T E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 45
L O A N C O L L E C T I O N AND T R A V E L L I N G L I B R A R I E S .
T h e W o m e n ' s E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e L o a n c o l l e c t i o n w h i c h i s composed of reference
books, b u l l e t i n s , p a m p h l e t s and c l i p p i n g s f r om magazines a n d newspapers, covers
a vast range of subjects. This m a t e r i a l is not o n l y a v a i l a b l e for women a n d their
o r g a n i z a t i o n s but for anyone resident i n the P r o v i n c e of A l b e r t a . This year by
s p e c i a l request material was loaned i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a and O n t a r i o.
T h e W o m e n ' s E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e endeavors to keep i n t o u c h w i t h a l l a v a i l a b le
sources of i n f o r m a t i o n . We are o n t h e m a i l i n g list of m a n y of the u n i v e r s i t i e s of
C a n a d a a n d the U n i t e d States. In this way we receive the most recent a n d author­i
t a t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n o n r u r a l c o m m u n i t y interests, e d u c a t i o n a l topics, social questions
of the d a y a n d home economic problems.
D u r i n g the year 1923, 2,498 reference books a n d c l i p p i n g s were sent out from
t h e loan c o l l e c t i o n . Ninety- one women's o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e c e i v e d t r a v e l l i n g l i b r a r i e s
d u r i n g the year. Information B u r e a u , samples of dress d e c o r a t i o n designed w i th
the help of c o m m o n 12- inch r u l e r a n d spools of several sizes.
W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T E S.
F r o m W o m e n ' s I n s t i t u t e reports sent i n b y I n s t i t u t e s i n 1922 we have prepared
the f o l l o w i n g returns:
T h e r e arc 265 I n s t i t u t e s i n the P r o v i n c e , 246 of these have a membership of
7,010, g i v i n g a n a p p r o x i m a t e m e m b e r s h i p of 7,420 for t h e 265 I n s t i t u t e s.
T h e 246 I n s t i t u t e s have raised $ 63,463.83. This w o u l d give a n approximate
r e t u r n of $ 68,370.00 for the 265 I n s t i t u t e s . Fourteen n ew I n s t i t u t e s have o r g a n i z ed
a n d eighteen I n s t i t u t e s have d i s o r g a n i z e d d u r i n g 1923.
F r o m t h e r e p o r t s of 1923 w e h a v e p r e p a r e d the f o l l o w i n g r e t u r n s:
T h e r e are 264 I n s t i t u t e s i n the F r o v i n c e , 210 w i t h a m e m b e r s h i p of 5,365, g i v i ng
a n a p p r o x i m a t e membership of 6,732 for 264 I n s t i t u t e s.
T h e r e are 206 I n s t i t u t e s w h i c h have raised 844,717.56, g i v i n g a n approximate
r e t u r n of $ 57,309.12 for t h e 264 I n s t i t u t e s . Five n ew I n s t i t u t e s have been organized
s i n c e January- 1st, 1924, a n d s i x I n s t i t u t e s have d i e d.
W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T E S G I R L S ' C L U B S.
F r o m the r e t u r n s sent i n b y the G i r l s ' C l u b s we f i n d that there are t h i r t y - s ix
clubs, eighteen of these h a v i n g a m e m b e r s h i p of 297, g i v i n g the 36 clubs a n a p p r o x i ­mate
m e m b e r s h i p of 594. The e i g h t e e n c l u b s g i v e a t o t a l financial return of $ 1,845.96
g i v i n g for t h e t h i r t y - s i x c l u b s a n a p p r o x i m a t e r e t u r n of § 3,687.92.
O R G A N I Z A T I O N OF W O R K FOR 1925.
At the S o u t h e r n Conference of D i s t r i c t N o . 4 , 1 asked the delegates if t h e y thought
i t possible t h a t t h e y c o u l d o r g a n i z e as c o n s t i t u e n c i e s for the W o m e n ' s H o m e B u r e au
S e r v i c e w o r k . The suggestion t h a t I p u t before t h em was t h a t each C o n s t i t u e n cy
t a k e up b a s k e t r y , emergencies, home n u r s i n g , r a t h e r t h a n each o r g a n i z a t i o n t a k i ng
a different subject. I t h i n k that b y this m e t h o d we w o u l d get the work on to a
more c o n s t r u c t i v e basis. It w o u l d give a v e r y p r a c t i c a l i n t e r e s t to t h e o r g a n i z a t i o ns
as a whole a n d it might s t i m u l a t e a s p i r i t of wholesome c o m p e t i t i o n . The women's
o r g a n i z a t i o n s u s u a l l y c a r r y quite a h e a v y piece of w o r k at School and A g r i c u l t u r al
F a i r s a n d a C o n s t i t u e n c y m i g h t well decide to p u t o n a d i s p l a y of t h e i r w o r k a t the.
most important, m e e t i n g of this k i n d i n t h e i r d i s t r i c t . The S o u t h e r n D i s t r i ct
Conference passed a r e s o l u t i o n i n favor of o r g a n i z i n g i n this way. If y o u decide
t o t a k e a c t i o n a l o n g the lines suggested the D e p a r t m e n t w o u l d do e v e r y t h i n g i n its
power to assist y o u w i t h the necessary questionnaires. The v o t e on t h i s subject
c o u l d p r o b a b l y be t a k e n at the C o n s t i t u e n c y Conferences, I leave t h i s m a t t e r w i th
e v e r y confidence i n the hands of t h e meeting.
J E S S I E C . M A C M I L L A N,
D i r e c t o r , Women's Home B u r e a u Service,
D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e,
P R E S I D E N T ' S A D D R E S S.
A n E n g l i s h w o m a n of r a n k feeling t h e great need of c e r t a i n c h a r i t i e s , e x c l a i m e d :
" I f o n l y a l i t t l e b r i d g e c o u l d be t h r o w n over f r om the I s l a n d of W a s t e to the I s l a nd
of W a n t , h o w each w o u l d benefit."
Is not. each w o m a n who studies a n d practices true economy i n her o w n home,