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If they can get the proper amount of protein in their diets until they are five yearsâ€"old, it gives the children a much better chance to learn in school. I’ll admit, I was surprised to find our Women’s Institute so active in Africa. My hat is off to these wonderful ladies working with so lit- tle. They surely use their imagination and are very creative. I would like to offer my praise by having this letter printed in our Home & Country and I will then send a copy to Nina Atkins. Thank you for printing a very inâ€" teresting and informative Home & Country. Mrs. Bruce Sager Rutherford Branch Croton, Ontario Questions about F W10 policies A copy of the following letter. sent to FWIO President Charlotte Johnson, was delivered to Home & Country for inclusion in the magazine. Dear Mrs. Johnson: We the members of Ruscom Women‘s Institute are collectively composing this letter to inform you of our recent problems. In early March we organized a first time public exhibit at Devonshire Mall in Windsor in conjunction with Agri- Food Week. This was done to pro» mote and improve our image and perhaps gain new members. In order to achieve this we listed branches in our district with names and phone numbers for interested people to con- tact. When the fliers were put on the table we were emphatically told we couldn’t hand out numbers or names! How were people to contact us? We find this regulation too restrictive and out-dated for 1984. We also Were informed we couldn’t raffle anything, so we decided to purâ€" chase things to “give away" as door prizes. Again we were frowned upon and told we couldn’t do even that! How. then are we to improve our im- age and encourage new members? This give-away was not to make money but to get people to stop at our exhibit and learn about Women‘s Institute. We were the only exhibit there without a gimmick or a give? away. We emphatically disapprove of these limited restrictions. How can we increase membership with such a negative image? Our suggestions are: I) rewrite the bylaws and constitution allowing more freedom with regards to raffles, etc. 2) We must be able to advertize our branch as we see fit so we sugâ€" gest restrictions regarding phone numbers and names to be removed. 3) Update the handbook so it is easily read and easy to refer to. In conclusion we hope you will give these suggestions your immediate attention. Bonnie Popov President Ruscom Women's Institute Here is Mrs. Johnson’s reply. Dear Mrs. Popov; I am sorry for the delay in answerâ€" ing your letter. I am in sympathy with your dilemma. I would suggest that you read page 89 of your handbook. the section referring to raffles and binâ€" gos. It states that the Provincial Board. F.W.I.O., does not encourage holding raffles or bingos to raise funds. As far as giving out the names and phone numbers. the policy of the Provincial Board is. at that level. it not be done, because we would be inâ€" undated with requests and other com- munications if we allowed it. At the local level. and for the reasons you state. I personally can see no harm. Door prizes and giveaways should be at the discretion of the Branch. I think. The yellow sheet with the ac- complishments of the various Women‘s Institute branches was very good. I hope that you got some positive response from it. Con- gratulations on your efforts. You may be aware that the Con~ stitution is reviewed every three years. and we will be in the process of receiving any recommendations for revisions. I agree. there are sortie things that we must review. to con» tinue to be a useful and modern organization in modern times. Thank you for writing, and I hope that I have helped. Please don‘t hesitate to write at any time. I shall try to be helpful to you. Charlotte Johnson F.W.l.0. President Committee on WI of the future A Committee on Women‘s Insti- tutes of the Future (C.W.1.F.). was established by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario Board at its semiâ€"annual meeting in 1984. This committee has the mandate to look into various aspects of the organization about which some con- cerns have been voiced. It is to con‘ sider several matters and make recommendations with a view to im» proving and updating existing pro- cedures. It is asking individual members. W.I. branches. districts and areas to submit their concerns and any changes they would like to see effected. Submissions may be made to any committee member or sent to the FWIO office (address on page 2). A questionnaire has been sent to the branches. The committee hopes the members paid special attention to answering the questions and return- ing the questionnaire as requested. The committee wishes to receive many suggestions. ideas. briefs. let- ters regarding the future structure and functioning of the Women‘s In- stitute as a meaningful modernvday organization. Here is a list of the committee members and their addresses. Mrs. RB. Johnson. (Charlotte) Box 1180, Cochrane, POL 1C0 Mrs. Verna A. Maluske, (C.W.I.F. chairman) Box 74. Chesley. NOG 1L0 Mrs. Agnes Foster. Box 613. Maple, 1.0] [B Mrs. W. Kell. (Sandra) RR. #1. Churchill, LOL 1K0 Mrs. R. W. Payne. (Joyce) Warsaw, KOL 3A0 Mrs. Barbara Carter. R. R. #2, Carleton Place, K7C 3P2 Mrs. G. Barr. (Mary) 115 Baldoon Road. Chatham. N7L IE2 Mrs. A. E. Dae. (Margaret) RR. #4, Woodstock. N48 7V8 Mrs. Rebecca Johnson Sunnybrook Farm. RR. #6. Thunder Bay P7C 5N5 Mrs. Beulah Hamilton 1144 Airport Road. RR. #1. North Bay. PIB 802