1939 - Convention Report

              T W E N T Y - F I R S T PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 83
REPORT OF DISTRICT No. 2
Mrs. £ . E . Morton, Vegreville, Director
It is with pleasure that I present this, nay first report, as Director of
District No. 2 of the A. W. I.
This District takes in all the country from Jasper on the west to Lloyd-minster
on the east; with an average width of sixty miles.
It has ten Constituencies with 57 Branches. Of these 49 have been or­ganized
for some years— eight have been formed since the 1937 Conven­tion.
They have a membership of about 975 and have raised over $ 16,000
in the past two- year period. One Branch has disbanded.
Since May 1937 the Conferences have been held in each Constituency,
under the guidance of the Constituency Conveners. These have been well
organized and planned to give the Delegates help and inspiration. The re­ports
of the Branches and Conveners of Standing Committees show marked
improvement and prove that W. I. work is a great factor in adult education.
During 1938 the Conferences were visited by Mrs. Stewart, our Presi­dent,
who praised our work, pepped us up a bit, sang Scotch Songs to us and
even scolded us a wee bit for the good of our souls. We all love her.
The work of the Constituency Conveners has been outstanding. They
have visited their Branches, supervising and advising. These women are do­ing
great work by building up the spirit of co- operation between the Branches
and the Provincial W. I., stressing always that the central organization is
only as strong as the individual Branches.
A District Conference was held in Edmonton in April 1938. Most Branches
were represented. The main discussion centered around the Radium Fund.
Dr. Malcolmson spoke on " Cancer, and What We Should Know About it." He
stressed that the W. I. could do much to educate people to face this problem
intelligently. This discussion was largely responsible for the enthusiastic
support that District No. 2 has given the Radium Fund.
I had hoped to be able to repoi't on the special objectives of each Branch
but time will not permit. All Branches are doing Community work of inestim­able
value: encouraging the schools by buying books and equipment and of­fering
prizes for outstanding work— preparing layettes— relief work— sending
Christmas hampers— holding baby, dental and tonsil clinics— visiting the
sick and by doing all in their power for Home and Country.
We have about 95 subscribers to the magazine. This falls far short of
our quota.
1. Alexandra, Vermilion E.— Convener, Mrs. G. W. Hess, Mannville, suc­ceeding
Mrs. W. Murray, Paradise Valley. This is the east half of the old
Vegreville- Vermilion- Alexandra Constituency. Eight Branches: Kitscoty, Ver­milion,
Creighton, Friendly, Bowtell, Paradise Valley, Ramsey. This is a
large district— very enthusiastic and active. A great number of new Branches
have been formed.
2. Camros' 3— Convener, Mrs. Damberger, succeeding Mrs. Oatway, Don-alda,
and Mrs. W. L . Mclntyre. Four Branches: Donalda, Ohaton, Bashaw,
Round Hill. This is a particularly well organized Constituency. Their reports
are model. Their handicraft display at their Conference is noteworthy.
3. Edmonton- Victoria- Sturgeon— Convener, Mrs. W. T. Wood, Edmonton.
Seven Branches: Edmonton, Pine Creek, Boyle, Thorhild, Fort Saskatchewan,
Warspite, Bon Accord. Two Girls' Clubs: Thorhild and Waskatenau. These