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Women’s Institutes E ighty-F ive Years Later February 19, 1897 was a day that made history, One hundred and one women and one man, Mr. Lee, were the newsntukers at the turn ofthe century. February 19, 1982, will mark the 85th Anniversary ofthefottnding ofthefirst ea. . . Mrs Adelaide Hoodless Women’s Institute in the world. , The family was the core-reasonforfounding Women's Institutes, and remains Co- Founder so, to this day. Women's Institute membersfor the last 85 years have stood by the concept of strengthening the family unit and encouraged women to go beyond their homes andfartns to help one another think as individuals. Theformatian of local branches quickly snow-bailed in Ontario and it wasn't long before the work spread into other Provinces in the Dominion. Men have played an important role in the Women’s Institute, especially, in the/irst thirty years. Although it is questionable ifany WI members would have enjoyed the benefits of the organization over the last 85 years without the support of their husbands. In Ontario, back as far as 1896, Mt: Erland Lee heard Adelaide Hoodless Mrs. E i D, Smith,first speak, and herein lies the key to the formation of Women’s Institutes. Just as the President family unit, back at the turn of the century, depended on the mother andfather for guidance, the Women's Institute would not have been organized without a woman (Adelaide Hoodless), who had a desire to tell the community about her 'problem and concern, and a gentleman (Erland Lee), who recognized the importance of the situation and encouraged a gathering of women, where she would have a receptive audience. In our 85th year, Ontario Wl's are encouraging members of FWIC and the Constituent SOCieties belonging to that group, to recognize and accept the fact, that thefirst WI in the world had coâ€"founders, Mrs. Hoodless and Erland Leei This will be on the agenda at the 1982 National Convention and Ontario members are hopeful bias will not shade the decision. With the formation of Branches throughout Canada, it was inevitable that the Mr. Er land Women’s Institutes were destined for overseas. The Ontario born and educated Lee, Madge Robertson, moved to British Columbia, married Alfred Watt, and beâ€" CO'FOWdel' came a dedicated member of the Metehosin WI, After his death, she and her sons moved to Englandjust before World War 1. After war was declared, Mrs. Watt could see that rural women, iforganized. could play an important part in planting garden plots from which the vegetables couldfeed the local residents. Willi the assistance of two influential men, a W! was organized in Flanfair, Wales, in 1915. The Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario have spearâ€"headed projects, such as, assuming ownership ofthe Erland Lee (Museum) Home. where history was made when the original Constitution was written. Thousands ofdollurs have been invested in the educational projects for the youth, not only in Ontario, but overseas, too. Assisting women in thirdworld countries has been beyond ques tion, an importantfltcet ofthe WI work, where strong support was given, along with other Constituent Societies, to the Associated Country Women ofthe World. Mrs. Chas. _ Maeoun, first Pro/(”1'”- FWIO NOW in I982, Where do we stand as an organization in our community? Secretary I‘ll-“00’ “’1'” record, in the beginning, the WI and the Church, were the organiza- tional m-mgths in rural areas of Ontario. Today, we compete with a host of other local organizations, as well as leisure-time activities, such as WE'VE ”WE" experienced before. Our role has become more difficult, so it bet'ottlt’S "WC/7 more important to define our goals and objectives. We cherish the past, but we cannot live on previous at'ctnnplishttll’mS- 14” those important rules we have played over the past 85 years WW6 ”01 i” "11"”- H0ng167‘, in the 1980's, our reasonsfor being, our objectives/tn existence. must be motivated toward the needs ofthe present»duv woman. A re-thinking of direction and a reede/ining of'struclure may be the answer. Mrs. Wm. Todd, first 7 7/ awn/A W F WIO President / p] Hone: ‘/ V. o 4! Mi 1' \/ /