Women's Institute
meets in Cam rose
Flag b e a r e r s p a r a d e d t h e flags of Canada, Alberta, a n d t he
Alberta Women's I n s t i t u t e out of t h e m e e t i n g hall as t h e organization's
a n n u a l convention a t Augustana University College
came to a close l a s t Thursday.
by Dan J e n s en
Approximately 200 delegates
from over 100 Women's
Institute branches across the
province gathered for their annual
convention, last week, at
Augustana University College.
The June 11 to 13 event was
the Alberta Women's Institute's
second in Camrose. Before that,
the organization held its conventions
at Olds College.
Keynote speaker for the convention
was Brenda Pinley, of
CBC TV, who spoke of her travels
throughout European countries
while covering important
events.
Other speakers were Catherine
Cole and Judy Lemar, who
are rompiling a history book on
the Alberta Women's Institute
entitled, Our History Comes
Alive; Charlotte Johnson, president
of Federated Women's Institutes
of Canada; Peggy Knapp,
Associated Country Women of
the World area president ( Canada);
and Rose Bibby " The
Hayshaker's Wife," who recited
many poems about humorous
farm incidents.
Delegates also had the
oprx) itunity to take in two enrichment
SEMINARS: Researching and
Writing Resolutions, led by
Aileen Kritzinger, and Breast
Cancer Info Link, led by Joanne
Pawelek
Focus of resolutions discussed
at the convention were the
Red Deer River corridor integration
management plan; discrimination
against the elderly, the
water management policy and
legislation review; medical costs
for self- abuse diseases; water and
water management; and the
Alberta Women'S Institute's
involvement in government policy
making. Past resolutions by
the Women's Institute have
resulted in the provincial government
introducing mandatory
child restraint legislation,
upgrading the existing provincial
pediatric cardiac facilities, and
instituting a program to supply
private line telephone service to
rural subscribers at reasonable
rates.
Tied into the convention was
a handicraft display. Twenty- six
branches entered 539 articles,
with the Heather Brae Women's
Institute receiving the award for
best rug. Dora Courtney won in
the over- 70 group for her sewing,
while Bertha Hartman took second
place in the non- fiction category
for her story, The Legend Dried Meat Hill.
Alberta Women's Institute is
a non- partisan and non- sectarian
educational organization for
women working under the motto
For Home and Country. Its goals
are to help discover, stimulate
and develop leadership; to assist,
encourage and support women to
become knowledgeable and
responsible citizens; to ensure
basic human rights for women,
and to work towards equity; to be
a strong voice through which
matters of utmost concern can
reach the decision makers and to
network with organizations sharing
similar objectives; to promote
the improvement of urban and
rural communities; and to safeguard
the environment. The 28
Alberta Women's Institute constituencies
have 117 branches,
and a total of 1600 members. The
Ohaton constituency is made up
of branches at Heather Brae,
Round Hill, Ohaton, Lougheed,
Argyle, Hughenden and Provost.
Alberta Women's Institute is
a member of the Federated
Women's Institutes of Canada,
established by Adelaide Hoodless
in 1897, and internationally, the
Associated Country Women of
the World.
