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Profile: .Noblitt says friendships are the binding force of the WI By Janine Rodeos-Grant ernice Noblitt grew up in Waskatenau, Alberta. sixty miles from Edmonton. Her parents moved to Alâ€" berta in 1909, shortly after it became a province. Bernice explained that her mother was very interested in the Women‘s Institute when it was formed a few years later because there just weren't any other organizations out there for women, “There were five girls in my family," she said. “and we would take turns going to the meetings with mother. The Women‘s Insti- tute was the only source of information for pioneer women. Mother was able to get literature on all kinds of household needs â€" cooking, preserving, curing meats. She ven got seedlings one year to plant as indbreaks." “I remember there was a knitting ma» chine; one knitting machine for the community that was passed around. Mother would knit big heavy stockings and in the winter she would put feet on them" And she added. “They were coarse as all get out!" “All through my life the Women's Insti- tute was an accepted fact of life." proclaimed Bernice; although she didn't actually join until after she married and moved to Ontario. Her husband, Harvey, was a Mining Engineer and Metalurgist and they lived in mining camps for the first four years of their marriage. But after they settled in Combermere, sottth of Barry‘s Bay, Bemicejoined her first W'I Branch. When asked about recollections of her first Women's Institute meeting. she re- membered travelling over a rickety, old bridge over the Madawaska River en route to the meeting, and then suggesting that earning funds towards its repair would be worthwhile WI project. QE'Ibday, Bernice lives in Gloucester. a droom community of Ottawa. She said that the WI Branch shc belonged to for many years in this area was the only or- ganization that helped form any semblance ofacommunity. The feeling ot‘community was lost. she said, when the Branch dlr banded. But Bernice remains an active member of the nearby Leitrim WI. When Bernice states that the WI has been her life, she means it. She has been in- tensely involved at all levels of the Women's Institute Some of the positions she has held include: Branch and District President; Board Director for the Feder- ated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO); President of FWIO; President of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada (FWIC); and. council membcr ot' the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). “The greatest value of the Women ’s Institutes at any level is the friendships that one makes. I think it is its binding force. " Bernice recalls that at the time she was elected to the FWIO Board, Eastern Ontario lacked a real interest in matters provincial. She worked hard to enthuse Branches. she said. but it was when she became FWIO President that Women's In- stitutes in Eastern Ontario took up a “renewed interest.“ “I think I can take credit for that," she stated. For the Year of the Child, the FWIC felt that it was a good idea to document all of the laws as they pertain to children. It involved two years of research and the result was a document an inch thick. “it was a monumental task." commented Bernice. “I feel this is one of my really big contributions to the WI." Bt'rlllt't’ Nnhlifl As a model ol‘ her “action through edu- cation" philosophy that shc cspouses, Bernice has prcparctl and presented a numa her of bricls to the Federal Government. the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Royal Commissions Bernice thNt‘thL‘tl her e\pcricnccs at thc FWIC level as broadcning. “Doors opened all around me because of the position I held." she said “And thc travel.” she added. "was a rcal education in itsclt',” Hcr community iox‘obemcnt and work Willi the Womcn‘s Institute has brought hcr u ounihcr ol honours ovcr the years: Life Memberships at the Branch. District. provincial. national and world Icvclsz the establishment ol lhc licrntcc Ii Nohlitt Award, givcn annually to thc winncr ol a craft. paintingI and crcalivc u ritmg contest; the Quccn's Mcdul In W77. and. thc Ordcr ofOntario in 1088. Bernice has gt'cal faith in the future ot'thc Women's lnslitulc,Throughout itshistory. she cxplaincd, tltc Women's lnstitulc has served when it was needed, the list ol'thc FWIO rcsolutiom attest to this fact. “It‘s objectives," shc concluded, "arc applica» ble at any time in history; we are homemakcrs. and there will always be homcmakers." “But when all is said and done," she said. “the greatest value of the Women's Instiâ€" tutes at any level is the friendships that one makes. I think that is its binding force." Home a Country. Winter '93 11