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The Director Writes. . . Miss Molly McGhee, Director Home Economics Branch A glance at the calendar tells me that the first year of to 80‘s will have ended by the time you receive this sue of Home and Country. I do hope all of our readers Ltd a very enjoyable festive season and that 1981 will ring good health and happiness to each and everyone. It is my wish that 1981 will be a very successful year r the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario. Per- inally. I am delighted that I will have the opportunity 7 get to know your new president. Mrs. Keith Hiepleh. .:tter as we work together in committee and. travel to c area conventions in the fall. In her quiet and :asant way. I feel confident that Mrs. Hiepleh will be competent and active president. a person whom .cmhers will be delighted to have represent them nvincially. nationally and internationally, I want to sure members of the Women's Institutes in Ontario ’.ll we in the Home Economics Branch are always Iling to help the president and the provincial board on request. At the beginning of December, I attended the first (rm Women’s National Conference in Ottawa. as the y"Icial observer for the Ministry of Agriculture and ind. It was good to meet several Wl. representatives m across Canada. as well as delegates from the ferent farm women's organizations. In her opening narks. the chairperson of the conference. Dianne trkin of Winchester. Ontario. made two important :tements, 2c said: "I believe that farm women are this country‘s richest untapped resource. a resource that must be utilized. It's time we reached out beyond our own fence lines. to share our talent. abihty and knowl- edge with others. Never before has unity among farmers been more urgent, I believe that this unity will come through the efforts of farm women." nd: “We provide our fellow Canadians with the lowest prices. greatest variety and highest quality food in the world. Those who scorn farmers. those who are indifferent to the agricultural industry. have for gotten who opened up and built this great country. and made it a prosperous nation . . . . . people built this country and those people were farmers." Ms. Harkln's remarks suggest to me that Wl. members. through their Agriculture and Canadian lnâ€" dustry Conveners at all levels, could do much to improve the status of Ontario agriculture and accurately present the facts to non-farm people. We know that. for the 1980 production year, farm cash receipts will be over $4 billion. a four per cent increase over I979. Thus, Ontario is the largest agricultural province by far. in terms of receipts at the farm gate; a fact often not realized by urban people. An important piece of federal legislation affecting many women is the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Canada Pension Plan. These amend- ments. if passed. will enable small family businesses to allocate a salary to the spouse for income tax purposes, and contribution to the Canada Pension Plan will be made in relation to that salary. If the amendments are passed. wives who participate in small family businesses and farms will be able to have Canada Pension Plan protection in their Own right. I would suggest that you keep your eyes and ears open to learn if and when this important piece of legislation comes into effect. In the new year. we will have finalized the number of adult courses and 4-H Homemaking Club projects we will be offering in the fall of 1981. Information will appear in the next issue of Home and Country. The Home Economics Branch docs rely heavily on the Women's Institutes to publicize our programs. Please do make an effort to let as many people as you can know about our work. I wish you and your families a very happy. healthy and prosperous New Year. lira] /Q%ea DIRECTOR HOME ECONOMICS BRANCH t ll‘ I; 1 .| HOME ECONOMICS BRANCH STAFF Front row â€" Margaret Roberts. Secretary to Miss McGltee,‘ Ruth Marcatt. Regional Supervisor: Lorraine Holding. Asso- ciate Director: Miss Molly McGhee. Director: Carol Cremr, Regional Supervisor." Joyce Canning. Regional Supervisor. Back row â€" Margaret Zoeller. Editor, Home and Country: Mary Campbell. FWIO Secretary,- Sol Allen, Supervisor Clothing, Crafts. Housing; June Meloche, Supervisor Foods and Nutrition. Lit