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fls L * * eBaucnt Blackstock. May 1st, 1935 3 REPORT OF THE INSTITUTE 8 On May lith, 1918, the Victorian Womens Inst;tute was organized at â€" the home of Mr#, Frank Stingon, our 1#t Pr851d§nt being lrs, James | Henry Freeborn. Since then we have had 9 Presidents. & As the time of our organization was about the beginning of the World War, we immediately entered into Patriotie Work and a Patrioctic Committese was appointed. The first work was not recorded but in 1916 thers is a record of a Gontribution of Clothing and Quilts to the 5 Belgium Relief, also a bale of Clothing, weight 560 lbs., valued at $208.50 to the Northern Ontario Firs Suffereyg. We alsg sent 102 qts of Fruit Jelly, Syrup and Pickles to the Soldiers‘ Hospital Overseas. We bought flannel and distributed it among the members to be made into shirks, also yarn for socks, at the January Meseting 1917. ’ The montbh‘s work was 75 pairs of socks and 12 shirts, and on Jan. Slst a Enitting Contest was arranged to cover two months, during which time 900 pairs of Socks, 15 flannel shirts and 18 chegse §1oth shirts were made. Miss Collins, the Departmental Speaker said that she never before met such enthusiasm in soldiers knitting. f We regularly sent Boxes to the Boys Overseas ana on one OCC&Sl?n the | Committee reported sending 38 Boxes costing §69.99; we also had a Prisoner of War who was remembered, his box was sent through the | British Red Gross. I notice that in May 1917 the Patrioctic Committese reported Recsipts $648.81 Hxpenditure $648,75 & I believe the Receipts were, Grant from Municipal Council Donations and Social Functions sponsored by the Institute (why we went into the junk businsss). A Jex agresd to pay $300,00 for the privilege of collecting in the Township. Also a Girls Basket Ball { Game between Blackstock and Nestleton rsealized a net profit of $37.00 to send Fruit overseas. % We also sent Bibles, Newspapers and Scrap Books. We continued actively engaged in this work until the War was over, During this time we also took advantage of several Short Gourses in the Community Hall which were sponsored by the Institute. We remembered the sick and shutâ€"ins with fruit and flowers in cur Community, Spoons to the Brides and Bank Books or Baby Spoons to new Babies. We also send Bales to Northern Ontario and the draught areas in Western Canada, and help the needy in our own Community. After the War was over and Peace declared we still remained very much interested and contributed, I believe, $300.,.00 to the erection of a MNemorial to the Memory of the Boys who died in Flanders Fiel4. 1 We also assistsd in buying the Tablet erected in honour of the soldiers who returned, and since then have taken care of the lMemorial Park, paying the Caretaker, paying the Hydro for the Light and buyiung flowers for the Flowerâ€"Beds. We assisted in the erection of the Grandâ€"Stand, in buying the Piano and the Curtains for the Hall, also the Rug for the Stage and the chairs. Kow therse are a great many things we have been interested in that I have nokt mentioned, but I sincerely hope that the Vietorian Womens Institute may long continue to serve Our Home and Country. By lxzs, W. A, Van Gamp ‘ Items of interest J915 â€" 1920. 1916 â€" Iunch committees werefFor meetings. Delegates were sent to the Prov, Board Convention in Toronto. 1917 â€" Several members subscribed for a magazine recognized by the W.I. and called the Home Journal. An autograph quilt was made. § Miss Ethel Chapman was a guest speaker at a meeting, 1918 â€" The first District meeting was held in Blackstock. 4 1919 â€" The first Fair Exhibit was made)consisting af ; 1 light cake 1 dark cake, light biscuits, 2 pies. Prizes were $3 and $2.