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Dear members of FWIO and the Jr. W.I.: It is my belief that one of the imâ€" portant functions of FWIC is to be a recipient of information and ideas from one province and in turn disâ€" seminate that information to all the other provinces. While attending pro- vincial conventions I have had an op- portunity to see many ideas put into action and to see the tangible results. One such I would like to share with you in this column. For many years in Ontario we have worked, sometimes with results. sometimes with little. to increase our membership and to create enthusiasm for W.I. projects. Other provinces have done this too. BCWI is one in point. but they did it with a dif- ference. They made it an organized provincial project involving leaders in each district who worked with the district president to carry out their objectives within the district, to publicize the W.I., enthuse the members and increase the memberv ship. They succeeded in forming nine new branches and added new meme bers to established branches. B.C.’s situation is made difficult due to mountainous regions. They have [57 branches and 2.786 members scat" tered throughout the province. 1 am sure that you. with me. wish them every success with their program as it progresses. Do you remember that many years ago our members in W.I. were in- volved in raising funds to help Dr, Lotta Hitchmanova of the Unitarian Church in her work to assist the needy in all parts of the world? Dr. Hitchmanova has retired now after giving a lifetime of hard work to helping others and after founding the USC. Mr. Raynond ven der Buhs has replaced her as managing director. USC‘s work has spread around the world but. as always. seeks money for support. We do give through ACWW for world wide development. but you might like to support USC again. if so, send your contribution to USC Canada, 50 Sparks St., Ot- tawa. KlP SB]. Your committee planning to host the national convention in June 1985 is working very hard. The convention is a joint effort between the hostess province and FWIC. Generally speaking. FWIC plans the program and the plenary sessions. We expect Reflections from ROS with Joyce Canning Elieherateh mnmn’a Elnattttttea nf Olanaha to have 14 workshops with excellent speakers on current issues. 1 hope that a full compliment of Ontario delegates will be able to attend. I will be thinking of you and your Fall W.l. activities and wish you all the best. Bernice Noblill (Rural Organizations and Services) Women's Institute members are always looking for good program ideas. Hardly a week goes by in this office. it seems. without someone writing in or dropping by for "help". It occurred to me recently that many of you might have a largely untapped resource sitting right in your own community â€"or nearby. lam refer- ring to your local library. or. more specifically. to your local librarian. These people are trained educators who can help you find information to create. expand or improve proâ€" grams. In addition to books, libraries now offer many other facilities and it might even be an education for your members to hold a meeting at Examination the library and have a tourjust to sec what it does offer. How does your group do its pro- gram planning? Do you poll your members to see where their interests are? Do you have a brainstorming session to generate some ideas? Does each Convener have a committee to work with so she doesn‘t feel the whole load has been dumped on her'? Does she know who her District. AFL‘EI, and Previitcial Convcncrs are so she can go to them for help if need be? If you're not doing any or all of these then today is a good time to start. You've all heard of E.T.. haven't you? That stands l‘or EN- TH USIASM and TEAM WORK. Are you an active member â€" one that would be missed? Or are you quite content if your name‘s just on the list'? Do you make friends with others and mingle with the flock Or just sit back in your case and criticize and knock? Do you take an active interest â€" do you help the work along â€" Or are you satisfied to be the kind that “just belong"? Do you ever. voluntarily. keep on from five to six 7 Or leave the work to just a few and then sneer at “the cliques"? When the officers go out for fun, do you sit home alone? Then try this simple remedy â€" don‘t just sulk and moan: Smilineg covoperate â€" help with hand and heart â€" Don't be "just a member" â€" take an active part! Think it over. member. and check me if l'm wrong â€" If you work WITH your fellows. they won't let you "JUST BELONG". m