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By Verna Thompson Another organization entered the Crow Rate debate when the Sas- katchewan Women's Institute at its annual meeting passed an emer- gency resolution calling for the fed- eral government to leave the Crow Rate unchanged. The emergency resolution was passed by a narrow majority dur- ing the organization's 72nd annual Convention held in early June at the University of Regina campus. . Another emergency resolution passed at the meeting called for the provincial government to make seat belts mandatory in school and highway transportatiOn buses in the province. More than 220 delegates attended the convention at which president Ivy McVicar of Prairie River, Sask., in her opening address told delegates that when Adelaide Hoodless founded the women's in- stitute movement in 1897, she 'opened a window on the world.' Now, McVicar said, we in Sas- katchewan must open the window wider and go through and become more active in our community and the world community 'even if that involves shaking up our image and is controversial.' The SWI is at a crossroads, she told the delegates, as over the next few months the organization will be taking-steps to become financially independent and, for the first time, to hire an executive secretary. Addressing the delegates on the topic of 'Agriculture and Canadian Industry,' Cheryl Van Blarlcom and Barbara Cox who work for Sas- katchewan Agriculture promoting and marketing Saskatchewan's Own. products. called for more producer and consumer feedback and support for their efforts to promote Saskatchewan agriculture products. ' Larry Brandt of the Saskatche- wan Safety Council announced the inauguration of a family farm safe- ty course to include parents and children, especially teenagers. Ma- chinery safety, power lines, chemi- cal use and first aid would be some of the topics covered. He said the final course content should be set by January and asked the SWI to assist in promoting the courses and to select the site for the first one. Huntley Schaller, executive director of Mental Health, Sas- katchewan told the delegates that 30 years ago, Saskatchewan was in the forefront of innovative mental health treatment. This is no longer so, he said, and steps are being taken to try to recover that leader- ship position. ' Tanya Olson of the Native Women's Association in Regina re- minded the delegates that we should "treat all people as individu- als whatever their color or race." Both whites and Indians have to come to terms with this, she said. In the international relations seg- ment of the program, Polish immi- grant Andrei Kostecki challenged the SWI members to urge the Cana- dian government as a signator of the Helsinki Agreement to exert pressure on the Polish military gov- ernment to stop the persecution of innocent Polish women. s shaing ' 0 Speaking at the annual banquet, Saskatchewan Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services, the Hon. Joan Duncan, urged more women to take part in local boards and govem- ment. Indicative of the broad-based in- terests of Women's Institute mem- bers, other resolutions called for increased grain shipment from the port of Churchill and retention of item pricing in stores. The federal government was called on to retain jurisdiction over divorce legisla- tion. The provincial government was asked to provide a nutritionist in each of Saskatchewan's 10 health regions and appoint home econo- mists in each of the six agriculture regions. Municipalities were urged to post 4 no smoking signsuin all public buildings and to encourage their enforcement. In the area of education, the SW1 moved to actively advocate family life programs in the schools and in-service training for teachers as well as the establishment of local school advisory committees to study the educational objectives and programs of schools in a com- munity. A further resolution caled for the organization to continue to assume leadership in promoting pro- ducer/consumer dialogue and awgreness. Finally, the delegates passed a otion naming Erland Lee co-foun- er with Adelaide Hoodless of the omen's insitute movement in donates over $25,000 Saskatchewan Women's Insitute branches last year made donations to a great variety of community organizations totalling at least $25,- 000, Sylvia Robinson, executive sec-- retary of the SWI, told delegates to the 72nd annual meeting. "It must be noted that this does not include donations of time, hand- icrafts or food. It also excludes contributions of branches which did not specify amounts on their annual report forms." c. One half of the branches report- ed they have a continuing involve me'ijit with youth groups, Robinson , Sal . "4-H was the most popular recipi- ent of this attention, but branches also lent assistance to camp Easter Seal, other Camps, band associa- tions,.SCh°°15i music festivals Brownies and scholarship funds "As well as moneta ' ' members se ed ry sapwn' 1 TV lunches, acted as eaders and donated trophies." _0ther community service occu- pied a. Significant amount of time, including care of cemeteries, halls and parks, volunteer service to li-- bFfimes. baby clinics and senior citizens services. . "Perhaps most important is the investment branches made in keeP~ mg their communities alive, ""159"!- el'_ through commemorative Cairns or donations to needy persons In the community." Robinson reported a membership in swr of 1910 as of January 1, "only a five per cent decrease from last year." "The decline in membership wit- nessed for many e earns, through members di'ligerrft (Saffofls' to be tapering off," she Sal-d. )