Women's institutes seek to
shed ' old ladies club' image
BY MARY MACARTHUR
Western Producer staff
CAMROSE, Alta. — Shortly after
joining the Alberta Women's Institutes
in 1952, Doris North ey
dreamed of becoming president.
She had just heard Martha Beil-ish,
the first woman senator from
Alberta, talk at the provincial convention.
" I thought ' I would like to be
president of this organization,' "
said Northey.
Forty- four years later Northey
was elected president of the Alberta
Women's Institutes.
" The time was just right," said
Northey, a retired Red Deer farmer.
Not everyone may think the time is
right to be head of the organization
celebrating its centennial next year.
Many people see the women's institute
as an organization of old
ladies only interested in handicrafts.
Government recognizes AWI
But Northey sees it differently.
When the Alberta government
wants an opinion
from a rural
group they turn
to the women's
institute.
" We're becoming
recognized
as the organization
representing
rural
and urban people
now," said Northey.
" The government is recognizing
us," she said referring to governments
coming to the institute to organize
farm safety and child- care
programs.
There are 1,600 members in 117
branches around the province. Almost
300 members were at the
provincial convention at Augus-tana
University College in Cam-rose.
As president, Northey sees her
job as trying to let women know the
organization is not just crafts.
" Our programs must fit the
needs of the younger generation,"
she said.
Resolutions during the convention
covered everything from Alberta's
water act to discrimination of the elderly.
Sessions during the convention
ranged from creative writing to
help members write their family
histories to resolution writing to
help formulate resolutions at
conventions.
Alberta Women's Institutes - Collective Memory
