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4 HOME AND COUNIRY 51”“ 8‘ Summer. 1943 =â€"â€"â€"_â€"/’ The Ontario Women’s Institutes held ninety-nine district annual meet- ings during the weeks from May let until June 19th. The general impres- sion from the meetings the writer attended indicated increased interest and greater activity. One district re- ported four new Branches organized during the year and another had an in- crease in membership of one hundred. A typical press report reads as follows: “The church was beautifully decorated with flowers. The central basket contained purple iris and yel- low tulips. There are twenty-three branches in the district with a mem- bership of 810 and a cash balance of $2,016.19. Sixteen of the Branches adopted Women's Institutes in Eng- land and gifts of food parcels were valued at $150.00. The total amount of money given during the past year to groups outside the Institute total- led $1,866.50". Institutes have made generous do- nations of money and supplies to sev- eral hospitals. One Social Welfare Convener read a letter of appreciation of the welcome gift of One Thousand Dollars from the Institute which, with a previous gift of Five Hundred Dol- lars, will equi the obstetrical suite at the hospital? Save the Children Fund, Children‘s Aid Society, Salvation Army, Insti- tute for the Blind, Cancer and Th. Clinics, Navy League and many com» munity service groups have received financial assistance. The districts near Ottawa are stressing care of wards of the Chil- dren's Aid Society by organizing a district project whereby each Institute will provide clothing for one child and one wardrobe for each district will be on display at Ottawa Fair to stimu- late grenter interest in this much needed service. One Institute presents a fountain pen to the pupil receiving the highest marks in the Entrance Class of the {our schools within the area of their Institute and Kemptville W.I. have a permanent prize of six silver tea- spoons for the student obtaining the highest marks in the Home Economics Course at Kemptville Agricultural School. South Lanark has revived its in- terest in a Drama Festival and anti pates having all thirteen Branches competin next year. Severn districts were congratulated on having 100% reports received by conveners of standing committees. Tentative plans have been made by the counties in the south~western area to entertain an English guest from Hertfordsliire Women‘s Institute dur- ing a visit this summer and the recent visit of Lady Haworth from Cheshire. England, will long be remembered by all who had the privilege of hearing her during her recent visit to Canada. Many Institutes have arranged social evenings to welcome new ar- rivals irom other lands and presented them with gifts. These often includ- ed a membership in the local Women’s Institute and assurance of the good~ will to be found in Canada. We make an appeal that in our hearts we visit the desperately sick countries of Europe, wish the same sort of help we would extend to any neighbour- in-needâ€"to send all that we possibly can for food, medicine, and clothing. Not tomorrow, but now! The announcement that the Board had decided to keep the scholarship fund open for another year will be greatly a preciated by Junior Insti- tute and Elomemaking Club Members for whom scholarships will be pro- vided to encourage rural young women to continue their studies. Resolutions were passed asking for legislation to enforce confinement and medical treatment for sex ofienders; to request the Department of Health to order fumi ation of verminous houses; to e orce strict censorship of movie films. magazines, books and comic strips to help control juvenile delinquenc ; to provide pensions for permanent y dis a bl e d citizens; to pilow manufacture and purchase of fl HERE AND THERE WITH WOMEN'S INSTITUTES AT DISTRICT ANNUALS UPPER LEFT: EAST ELGIN ANNUAL AT SPARTA Dedication of hard ma le tree at Sparta. I . Left to rightâ€"Mrs. EFL. McDougull, min] Member; Mrs. Russell Mills. President, Sparta Sorosis Bram-Ii; Mrs. Williams and Miss Anna P. Lew , Director. UPPER RIGHT: OXFORD SOUTH ANNUAL AT VERSCHUYLE I I Left to rightâ€"Mrs. J. A. GillcttI retiring District Secretary; Mrs. Gordon Baskette, President, Mount Elpm W.I.: Mrs. Bert Litt, Board Director; Mrs. John Pollard, President. Verschoyle W.I. LOWER LEFT: MIDDLESEK WEST ANNUAL AT GLENCOE Left to rightâ€"Mrs. .I. Simpson; Mrs. W. L. Ferguson. President, No. 9 Mesa Women's Institute; Mrs. Hell!) Harman; Mrs. John Mitchell and Mrs. It. B. Moore. LOWER RIGHT: THUNDER BAY ANNUAL AT SOUTH GILLIES Left to rightâ€"Lady Dorothy Haworlh, Cheshire Federation of Women's Institutes, England; Mrs. J. BouIlI. District President; Miss Irene McBride, Women's Institute Branch. oleoniargarine when desired; to close Women’s beverage rooms; to decrease the postage rates for parcels of food and clothing sent overseas; to ask the Federal Government to increase exemption allowance for income tax purposes to $1,000 for single persons and $2,000 for married persons. Other resolutions of local interest dealt with a strict enforcement of Weed Conâ€" trol Act and dumping unsightly refuse on country roads and, as in former years, the rural people generally ex- press their disapproval of Daylight Saving Time and request its disconâ€" tinuance. A country woman is no longer in- articulate. Through the Women‘s In- stitutes she may make her voice heard and ensure that due attention is paid to calls for reforms which will lead to a better and fuller life in the country home. The homemaker is a vital factor in our Canadian way of life and life‘s higher values may be attained by the direct choice of the thinking women in the home. Ontario Women’s Institutes have entered upon the second half century of service “For Home and Country". Distances have been reduced by im» proved methods of transportation and communication, with the result that that events anywhere in the world are of vital concern to us. We are world citizens now and must face the challenge of the times. We can- not stand still, we dare not go back. Therefore we must move forward to even greater usefulness. A fine example of what women do when working co-operutively is shown in the announcement, "Operation Pro- duce” sent out by the National Fed~ eration of Women's Institutes in re- sponse to an appeal from the MI ~ istry of Food to increase production of food in Great Britain. “OPERATION PRODUCE" Once again the country people of Great Britain are called upon to pro- duce more food. The farmers have their targetilet us as Women's Institute members have ours. If every member increases her pro- duction by 10 lbs. that will mean a total of nearly 3,490,000 lbs. for the country. The National Federation Agricult» ural Sub-committee offers you this practical plan for your consideration. That every W.I. joins the “Opera- tion Produce" Campaign. That evcry W.I. adds one more agri- cultural activity to their already very full program. That if possible the effort be a co- operative one. That each W.I. keeps a record of achievements in food production. These will be collected by the County and forwarded to the National Fed- eration who will publish the result as a record of the W.I. contribution to the country's economic recovery. Here are suggestions for your co- operative eflort. Choose at lease one, or perfect one you have already started. If none of these suggestions appeal to you, think of others. Livestock I 1‘. Form a Pig Club, or get more indiridual members to keep pigs. 0r- gunize a collection of swill. 2. Organize a scheme encouraging members to kill off all unproductive hens and'replace with pullets bought co-operahvely from accredited breed- ers. Ask the farmers for permission to glean. 3. Form Rabbit Clubs. This is the quickest way to produce meat. ' 4. Explore the possibility of keep~ mg goats. These produce milk-but- ter~cheese and kids for meat. Fresh Produce 5. Take an Allotni co-operatively. ant and work it 6. Raise good seedlings for in the village and nearest marke . 7. Grow extra food for pigs (Ind poultry on spare land. 8. Grow herbs individually and dry them cooperatively. 9. Start a Soft Fruit Drive: ‘ (a) Clean up gardens by but mug diseased stock. (b) Buy certified stock coroner- atively. (c) Organize instruction. 10. Form gangs to help farmer .it busy times, i.e. fruit pickingâ€"pout" planting and lifting, etc. Preservation 11. Organize and register Prem- vation Centres. 12. Form Preservation Clubs. 13. Bottle surplus fruit in “our for sale at the London Exhibition. Marketing 14. Start a Market Stall. 15. Take part in a County lilallu’i- ing scheme. 16. Grow for Markets on ever)‘ 1”“ of spare land. These suggestions should be l'ull' sidered by every W.I. member and nut only by the Produce Guild. Produce Guild Extra instruction will be newled through the Produce Guild so that members will be better equiPPEd ‘0 help others. Make your lens quickly. remem' hering that thtiJ first three months of the year are the most difficult where food is concerned. Save waste-store, preserve or mar- ket everything available. Appoint someone in every W.I. to keep your “Log”. Look out for fur- ther particulars of "Operation PW- duce" in Home and CountI'Y- , Advance With All Speedâ€"0119mm" Produce (Mill E. M. Collins.)