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(continued from page 11) By now you most certainly have a good understanding of the project‘s structure and objectives. With that knowledge under your hats. we’ll pause to explain the fund- mg. The Foundation for Rural Living has accepted the responsibility of fund-raising for AALP. Donations are handled through the foundation. an organization whose purpose is to educate the public about the impor- tance of rural Canada and the agri- cuitural industry to the economic and social well-being of the country. It undenakes projects and research to strengthen the agricultural industry and the rural community. lnitial sponsors have pledged sup- port for this program to cover apâ€" proximately 25 per cent of the total cost of the first group of participants. Each of the participants must also pay $2,000 â€" which will contribute to about 25 per cent of the operating cost. The total cost for the first group of participants over the twoâ€"year period is roughly 5400.000 (including salaries and other overhead). To fund half of the costs. those in Ontario who are COmmitted to the development of agricultural leader- ship are being called upon to provide private support. This means roughly 5200.000 must be raised from rural organizations, corporations and in- dividual donors. And this is where the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario come into the picture. According to Jack Hagarty. execu~ live director of Agricultural Leaderv ship Trust. the FWIO was the first group to be approached for financial support. “I had occasion to speak before a number of WI branches across the province when l returned from a three- year stay in Ghana in the late W705." explains Mr. Hagarty. “As I visited the various Women's Institutes. I became very impressed with the sin- cerity of the members â€" and l was impressed to discover they planned a year ahead. I saw the WI members as visionaries, and that's what the par- 12 ‘Sponsorhip woul raise WI image’ ticipants in AALP will become, too. They'li also be visionanes'â€" able to see beyond what is happening tn their own communities and able to help others find solutions to common con- cerns. " _ “It was the WI that prcmded that lead to me. and I believe the WI could give a signal to a lot of other organizations that the W1 thinks the AALP is important. and that the AALP is worth supporting." Mr- Hagarty says. “A lot of people perceive the WI today as being behind the times, but their support of a project like this shows the W1 is. in fact, very much in tune with â€" and even a little ahead of â€" the times." Mr. Hagany notes that nine of the current 30 participants are women, and. he says AALP could well be training “future Wl leaders. as well." “ll'any group knows about nurtur- ing, it should be the WI - it would be very significant to me if I could say the W] has given 310.000 to sponsor a seminar because l think other or- ganizations would look to their lead and say, ‘We‘d better do something similar.‘ " Mr. Hagany stresses AALP is dew signed to run forever, and. he says being one of the original supporters will be "like starting a new college or university. it is just like being a charter member or a founding father or mother." He adds there would also be signif- icant media coverage in recognition ol'the Wl contribution and that a W[ representative would be invited to outline the Wls goals or objectives during the seminar they sponsor or at a banquet in the group‘s honor, FWIO president Charlotte Johnson told Home Gt Country she can‘t think of a better way to raise the image of the Women‘s Institutes than to spon~ sor an AALP seminar. "One of our objectives is to devel- op leadership in the community. What better way to do that than sl’onsor a seminar to help these rural leaders get first class. professional training to develop their leadership abilities." Diane Duncan believes mg “0.1mm Institutes should jump at the Chum: to sponsor an Advanced Agllt‘llllural Leadership Program Semllldi. To lend financial support [0 m. program. explains the Aim;th M man. would be very much m let-pt... with the WI’S long-standing L‘Dmml; ment to the improvement 0: rural in: and the education of rural pcopig "The WI can play 41 “Till _ir ml: I setting up a whole educutmns! cess to help farmers keep for: _ what is going on in the ttrbu. builny. world. The WI can be part talus: ing the trend from farming .15 u of life to farming as a busll‘lt ., Tm; is a way to blend the [no 7 the M. of life and the bUSlnE\\ i mum: one outweighing the other " She also sees the AAI l‘ Llldbiiil,‘ future generations of farm ,-hiitlr.:. to compete more closely u 1h [heir urban classmates. "Tl1c\\ i .sn hat; US examine Sll'LlCELll'L’S l‘. lll’l ill; farming community. ‘Jthl'l .. ldill‘th. and help us find ways to =-.-I hm Children Started From 21 Ulalmlu equal position with regitl'~‘ in iii! experiences. How can he u»th {him with travel OppOrtunitics .tnd w forth? These are the kinds ll ll'lll‘lgx Wl support could help tn \JC' tmmu “ Just who is [his Dutnc Human anyway, and what makes h< w \Hit the W] is interested in the iwtcx ~hv't described above? Well. for one thing. hlrx Dunm is one of the 30 lllle'lL'itifli~ talent; to participate in AALP. .1 amour program designed to Pl'k‘l‘t'it" Wt leaders for tomorrow's citsllcngo (See main story IVOT a (mind-31c Jr. scription of the progrnmJ That certainly make» her tun“: cdgeable about AALP r hit: thew more. Mrs. Duncan is also a “IF-16ml“? and as such, she's well unnrt‘ W W Federated Women's institutes Ontario‘s objectives. resoums JIM potential for achievement. "My grandmother has a clutter member or the Baldcrson \\ I and m'-