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[ ‘l'he “hint-It's Institulc I Celebrating 100 Years On February 19, 1897 a group of women met in Stoney Creek, Ontario. From this meeting came the organization of the first Women’s Institute branch. Throughout the past 100 years the Women’s Institute has become a worldwide orga- nization of women striving to improve their homes and communities. The 9 branches that make up Prince Edward District Women’s Institute are celebrating this centennial with the following activities. Anyone wishing to join with us on February 19, 1997 or to learn more about the Women’s Institute organization please call 968-3320, 393-2052, or 476-5125. For ilomr and Count!) Cherry Valley will meet at 1 pm. at Athol Twp. Hall in Cherry Valley for special centennial celebrations. Hillier, Consecon, Wellington will celebrate together at Hillier Township Hall at 1 pm. with a commemorative pro- gram and special centennial menu. Former W.I. members, interested friends and neighbors most welcome. Wear a centennial costume if you wish. 3 SaaCtim’s 9Wl From horse and " W «buggy to space \gshuttle - Convention chair Peggy Knapp has announced that the keynote a? speaker for the Women's Institute (WI) Centennial Celebrations Q’s in June will be Dr. Roberta Bondar. Bondar will address the ex- pected 4,000 delegates celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ”Q formation of the first WI branch in Hamilton on Saturday, June QZI' f The theme of the convention is lndebted to the Past; Com- mitted to the Future. In her announcement, Knapp noted, “The symbolism of the change from horse and buggy days at the 562w \turn of the century to the present space age is profound." In \st February, 1897, Erland and Janet Lee travelled by horse and \; buggy, inviting women who had no public voice, to a meeting l‘ where Adelaide Hoodless suggested an organization where ,\ they could meet and learn from each other, thus developing 3 their minds and their practical skills. These women were fac- ing the changes brought on by the industrial revolution. In the - § 100 years of the history of the WI, society and the WI have tr) undergone many changes; those being faced today are a result <1; of the tremendous advances in science and technology, as il- W lustrated by the space navel of Roberta Bondar. Q3 W1 is an international organization for personal growth and community action. X Bondar is a national role model who is a proponent of Q higher education for females in particular. She believes it is k critical that Canadians, young and old, embrace science just Q to live in this world. Dr. Bondar, Canada’s first woman in E space aboard the space shuttle Discovery in I992, is at 3 present conducting research into the effects of weightlessâ€" Q,‘ ness on the blood flow to the brain: she is doing this research Demorestville and Gilberts Mills invite you to a ittheUniversityofWesternOntarioinLondon. Centennial Tea from 2 to 4 pm. at the Christian Education Centre, Friendship United Church, Demorestville. ne County uulae, Feb. 22, 1997 Rednersville and Mountain View will be meeting at Cunningham House in Ameliasburg at 5:30 pm. for supper followed by commemorative program. , Rural force This week Federated Women's Institutes all over the County celebrated the 100th Anniver- sary ol the founding of the Institute. The W.I. idea started with one small meet- ing a hundred years ago, but the idea was quickly embraced in rural areas where the local W.|. meeting was often the only place where women, normally isolated, had a chance to meet with other women. The social aspects were protound for these women. It was a place of comfort, a place of communication, but even more importantly. a Women’s Institute celebrateleOth anniversary , _’nf’/I/'C,Z/:’ r ,735' â€" Survrval attributed to Simple goa 0 [mg members’ needs Over 15,000 women are expected to gather in homes and community halls across Ontario to celebrate the 100th anniversarv of the ,Women's Institute on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997. An agenda for those branch meetings was designed by a committee from the Eastern Area of Ontario to celebrate the impressive history of the Women’s Institute. On Feb. 19, 1897, 101 women and one man, Eriand Lee, met at Squires Hall in Stoney Creek. The outcome of this meeting was the organization of the first Branch of the Women’s Institute in the world. The Wl's grew steadily across Canada, and today offers women the vehicle and the ANNIVERSARY environment to make deci- sions which will improve the quality of life for them- selves, their families, their communities and the world. Throughout the past 100 years, not only has the Institute developed the per- sonal growth of its mem- bers, but it has also been instrumental in initiating government legislation to 15' protect the environment, and the citizens of Canada. Survival of the organiza- tion for 100 years can be attributed to its very simple goal to fulfil its members‘ needs. Despite constant changes through the decades, the WI throughout the world continues to adapt to meet the new chal- lenges, place of challenge. Whether it was providing practical, matter- "oi-tact support for those in need, or addressâ€" ing an issue that was impacting on their com- munities, the WI. was one of those rare, early places where women found their voices and learned about strength in numbers. The W.l.'s political agenda has remained the same over the last 100 years - making their communities a better place for them- selves. their children and their neighbours. Did you know, tor example. that mandatory stop- ping tor school buses with flashing lights exists because the Women's Institute worked tire- Iessly for it? In the political world, this may seem a small victory, but the WI. has always realized that every journey begins with one step. For the women who have been involved in the WI. over its hundred years, the Institute has provided a forum tor their personal growth as well. Many rural women have written that the WI. meeting was a place where their hori- zons were expanded and where they began to realize their potential for the first time. Here's to another 100 years of working "For Home and Country".