1924 - Annual Convention Report

              T E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON II
' " We discussed all sorts of plans Had At last struck on the happy idea of holding
what we are pleased to call " Park Conventions." We chose Jasper Park for several
good reasons. First, we were able, through the Y . W . C . A . of Edmonton, to procure
their chef, their tents and their bedding at a reasonable figure and while we realize
that we are holding the Convention rather far North, we also realize that no matter
where we met all could not come; second, Jasper is & wonderfully beautiful place
and we could on that account advertise our Convention easily So at Jasper WP
meet o n July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. and I hope we shall have three ideal days for we have
made plans for both an educational and playful meeting. Business and work will
611 the morning hours, hikes, swims, rowing, stones, gymnastics, stunts, campfire
parties and a pageant will take up the tune of the afternoons and evenings We
should have a good time and we hope this will be the beginning of some real " Know
Alberta Park Conventions" We may even spread out into British Columbia
some time— who knows?
I cannot toll you the number of Clubs or our population for we propose to couni
only live Clubs. We believe the live ones will germinate and make moro live ones
but if a C l u b wished to die we shan't prevent it from going to its Happy Hunting
Ground for while a half alive Club may turn into a real live one, those that arc
bound to die may just as well do so for we haven't the time, opportunity or monev
to waste on dead timber
I cannot tell you, at this Couvention, of our plans for Club work for all these
will have to be discussed at the Convention by the girls It is our aim to take up
two or three real lines of work so that all Clubs will have something worth while to
work for We also will talk program work for I bchevc a Club without a carcfulh
planned program is like a man walking in the dark— apt to get lost
As to how the Institutes mav help in this Girls' Club movement, we have quite
a definite idea We need the help of the Women's Institutes and they can take up
no better work than to faster a Girls' Club. If you have a C . G I T or a U . F A
Bovs' and Girls' Club in your district do not organise a W I . G . C . for we do not
believe in trying U i destroy what is already built. If however there i s no club for
the girts, put forth all your energy to organise one then, let the girls choose from
your number, a leader to direct, help and guide them— not to boss them— and you
will be doing your community a good service. There should be a good discussion
here as to the relation between the Institute and the Girls' Club. I shall leave the
remaining time for this discussion
It w our sincere hope that the girls and women may each help the other— and
they ran do so-- it all depends on the courtesv and tact of both
INAIIF. I, N O B LE
R E P O R T O F P U B L I C I T Y C O N V E N E R .
If you do not see regular rejxirts of news of vour branches appearing weekly
in four Alberta papers, T h e Medicine Hat News, The Lethbridge Herald, The Calgarv
Herald and the Edmonton Wevkh Journal, len to thirteen columns monthly, it
is for three reason*:
1 1 do not receive am news of vour Branch which means that your secretan
does not report to the Department
2. Your reports arc too late I F o r instance the story of your Christmas
functions is too late when it i- omes in several months later )
3. Your reports are too general— you have left out names— you have said
" general business discussion" or " a pleasant tunc was had " These do not make
live news items.
I want every Women's Institute worker to feel that if her branch is not written
up the responsibility rests wiih the branch N'eithcr the papers nor I turn back
live news. 1 therefore welcome complaints liccausc they show interest and because
I can then investigate and invariably locate the cause of the non- appearance of news
I have had many requests asking the Women's Institutes' news of northern
branches appear in the Edmonton Daily Journal I am asking all northern members
to send this request to the Editor of the Journal thus proving to him the desires of
a certain group of his readers and I am sure the request will be granted.
It is not necessary to burden your branch with a special press reporter unless
you have some one specially fitted for t his work and anxious to do tt The secretary
can combine this work easdy with her monthly reports. Please see that the follow­i
n g directions are placed in the hands of that member of your branch who is re­sponsible
for reports.