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Editorial How can an organization Such as the \V’omen's lnstltutc assess its progress? Periodicth businesses and often individuals have to take stock to consider their net value and to lay plan: for the future. Since the \Vomen's Institutes are now celebrating a 75th Annchrxary tliig. may be a pmnt to their htstory when a close examination of the organization should iaku plate. some old concepts discarded and other guidelines strengthened and llhtlultt‘tl. \\"hat is the quality of the progress that has been matle? i One aspect of progress cannot be overlooked and that is the growth in number-n The organization that started as a. single thirty five member branch in Stone-v Crock in 1397 is now a society of over sixty thousand members in Canada and many thomaittls in organizatioth known as \X’omcn's Institutes all over the world. This growth seem; intlicatite that memherahip in this remarkable organization is something of value. For an organization an anniversary should be a time of looking forward as uell .1». looking back and not too much looking back either. Looking back can product.- complatt-nt'y anti smug self satisfaction. This must not be or the \\"omcn's lnstitute< established and twat-a In doughty, dauntless women will fade away, ‘ \Ve are living in a different world from that of 1897', The rural emphasis of thu organilation is giving away to a rural urban aspect with little difference bctnucn rural and urban tncmltcn. There is not the need for W’omcn's Institutes to provide a sotial outlet {or “omen although the social time provides a friendly, informal atmosphere bringing women more timely together and letting them get to know each other better, and this is important. All program planners for \‘l'omen‘s lnstilulc meetings should ttltct'l examine lltc‘ \[lll excellent objectives of the organization as they appear in the Handbook. That should assess their programs in terms of these objectives and in terms of our modern problems and the community and world environment. The dissemination of kntmlutlgc, tlisttmions and the development of skills and abilities must bc our aim. The \V"tttncn'~ Imtitutc tint-s not ask for women's rights; it aims at developing women to be capable of assuming thcir rights and fulfilling their roles. The \Vomen's Institute has within it the possibility of humming, ont- of [ltu Intnt pou‘t'rlul organizations in the world. It has no commitments to any other organization or institution. It has no religious, racial or political barriers, thus opening up the possibility of tntuntttntl cations with women of every race. every religion. every political :‘tlflllaliltlL Through its connections with A.C.\‘l’.\V. and the United Nations it Sl‘lll\\\ concern for \Huncn u ho hurt from the beginning of civilization lagged behind because of stain]. geograpltital and traditional barriers. The object of the Women's Institute: is not to makc large amouan of money. True we have to make money since we undertake projects. some of them tmtly. Then; on tan support only by contributing money, but any branch that finds making money its main ;uti\il)‘ will he clefeating its purpose. The \‘C’omen's Institute has become a stahiliying form in the ttltlln'tlltlity, In this tiny of large school areas. amalgamation of churches and changing municipal lines, tnuth lotal autonomy is lost. The \Vnmen's Institute remains a fotal point drauinp. lttgctltcr lhc wt‘linm of what is left of the local community and yet projecting its thinking into provincial. national and international affairs. We who are now members have inherited a great organi‘lation: it can he .I nuttlt greater Organization, and that is in our hands. But thinking in terms of thr- humhle beginning and thou considering the world wide organization with its many tomplutctl .tntl continung protects, its overall efforts to institute modern thinking, it is obvious that trcmcntlous progress has been made. Our mothers and grandmothers paved the way for all of tllix‘. It wasn't easy. It is ttttr organization now and we shoultl again recall the worth of the German pout (Hittite. "That which thy fathers have bequeathed to thee, came it ant-u if thou “'Itultlu rumth it.” W WINTER 1972