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IF I HAD KNOWN By Mary Carolyn Davies If I had known what trouble you were bearing; What griefs were in the silence of your face;_ I would have been more gentle, and more caring, And tried to give you gladness for a space. I would have brought more warmth into the place. If I had known. If I had known what thoughts despairing drew yon; (Why do we never try to understand?) I would have lent a little friendship to you, And slipped my hand within your hand, And made your stay more pleasant in the land, If I had known. * 1% * residents of homes for the aged and for the blind; scholarshipsâ€"both the regular Women’s Insitute scholarships for club girls and special scholarships such as those given at music festivals; assisting with the rehabilitation of boys in Training Schools; serving lunch at 4-H Homemaking Club achieveâ€" ment days; assisting in preserving historic homes, marking historic places in the district, establishing and maintaining museums, community parks; conâ€" ducting music festivals, drama festivals, public speaking competitions. Many similar projects were carried on at branch level with emphasis on sponsoring 4-H Homeâ€" making ClubSâ€"one branch reported sponsoring a Brownie group. There were reports of interesting international Days in February with new Cana- dians as guests. When newcomers become Cana- dian citizens some branches give a tea in their honour. When the question of financing was dis- cussed one delegate reported that her branch had found it a good practice, instead of giving a dona- tion to a cause such as the Cancer Society, to do the canvassing in the community. Discussing the question of getting new members and maintaining attendance, the old point of conâ€" tention came up, that women with young children find it difiicult to come to afternoon meetings and older women don‘t like to come to evening meet- ings. One branch solved this when the young women who drive cars volunteered to bring the older women to meetings in the evening. Per- sonal invitations seem most effective in getting new membersâ€"also invitations to short courses, family nights and special social occasions Some new members with young children were attracted because the Institute sponsored a baby clinic. Concluding her report, Mrs. Penney said: “Let us resolve to face up to the problem of continuing to be a vital force in our communities. Can we fit our programmes into a new and modern World? We must advance with the times and at the same time nourish and replenish the grass roots of our great organizationâ€"the branches. Only thus, as we seek new adventures in service shall we realize our great potentiality." Mrs. Haggerty’s Message It was with very evident regret that the delegates accepted the fact that this would be Mrs. Hag- gerty’s last appearance as provincial president at an officers’ conference. And it was characteristic 18 of Mrs. Haggerty that she should take theme “Carry on." “I am taking away so many fine things," Mn Haggerty said. “Other presidents have said 1W there is a great let-down after finishing a We“; dential term, but the only thing to do is to Lilrry on. Now 1 can take more interest in my bram,‘ which I have neglectedâ€"not to impose my mm but to carry on as any good Institute member would. To ‘carry on’ means to continuE II. We face of frustration and discouragement. .‘i-imc. times it would be easier to take the easy way- hm we must not look for easy ways." Referring to our common desire for pen in the world, Mrs. Haggerty emphasized the amt that we must have peace in Our homes and . m. munities and we must overcome Opposition mi prejudice. The pioneer women of the first n]. stitute, she said, must have faced many clinic: , M but they left us a heritage hoping we would . ,l-Y on in a broader way. They gave us a pattcn n} a Women's Institute programme which we at adjust to changing times and different com: it ties. Resistance to change seems natural to .[ of us but who would go back to the horn it. buggy days? And in such a difficult thing _i at reorganizing of sub-divisions, in most can _ even after making a protest -â€" the women .; working hard to make the changes work, Going back to the conference theme. . Haggerty said: “What a thrilling adventnri three years as president has been! It has b. .i pleasure to travel over the province at all 1 u and in all sorts of ways. On one of my trip r train was heated by a little pot-bellied wood C at each end of the car. “If I were to name one especially high a. n~ ture it would be the coming trip to Scotland \- it you have made possible for me. Or perm it would be the contacts I have had with In» n members through these last three years.” Mrs. Haggerty paid a tribute to the acl- ment of Mrs. Alfred Watt in getting the Wm M Institute extended into the international Asset Ll Country Women of the World, and urged ill ‘ stitutes never to forget that they are a part . u international organization; also to remember :I the most important woman in an Institute 1' it necessarily the woman who has held the = offices. In these days, Mrs. Haggerty suggested. I i: might be some danger of our underestimatin, it first part of our motto "For Home and ConI " and urged the women to take pride in their \ i as homemakers. She advised the women ‘ 1h homes and families whether they made it u i time job or whether they worked at iellL li-' school or some other work, to be first of 2' it homemaker. Mrs. Haggerty’s final word was this: “i ‘lti ltl liken my experience as provincial president i sail boat starting out on a voyage. It began Pleasant adventure. Sometimes the wind died Li v and I needed my oarsmen; but always with f "i hElp I was able to steer through. I expect to cm no to harbour next November and to hand over i,ship to another captain. with your help she ‘ 1” carry on to greater things." its her 21;: HOME AND COUN i‘tl‘t' 4g