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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-02-22, Page 15leisure, features "J uW. 01Cp»oxunum ryti 39�, entertainment Serving over 25,000 homes in Listowel, Wingham, Mount Forest; Milverton, Elmira, Palmerston, Harriston, Brussels, Atwood, L SHE'S A DOLL—During their recent eight-week course on baby sitting, Howick Township students practiced dress- ing and holding this baby - sized doll. The doll was on display graduation night. The young people shown are: Diana Van Den Broek of RR 2, Gorrie; Tania Smith of . RR 1, Gorrie; Ronda Bennett of RR 1, Gorrie; Wendy Winkel of RR 2, Gorrie; and Tasha Van Ankum of RR 2, Wroxeter. The course was sponsored by the Howick Junior Institute. NN dnkton, Millbank, Newton, Clifford, Walleristein, Drayton, Moorefield and Arthur. Wednesday, February 22, 1984 CHARTER EXECUTIVE—The Howick Junior Institute was formed in. February of 1978. Charter executive members were: front, Helen Smith, president; Lis Hargrave, first vice; Joyce'Lockie, second vice; back, Trix Denney, secretary -treasurer; Marian Feldskov, branch director; Ronna Lee Johnson, branch director; and Carolyn MacGregor, public relations officer. Since its inception six years ago, the group has been involved in a number of projects from a senior citizen�ss week, to a babysitting course for young teens and it will host a fashioi show April 26. The Junior Institute: meeting the by Margaret Arbuckle Things can get pretty hectic for young women today, from trying to juggle a career • and family to keeping up with technological advances. But there is an organization that is there to help: the Junior Women's Institute. Women's Institutes have served the needs of Canadian women for almost 100 years and, with the changing times, the Junior WI iS endeavoring to do the same for a totally new generation of women caught up in a rapidly changing society. The Junior Institute movement is gaining momentum locally. For example, the Howick Junior WI recently made headlines with its babysitting course for Grade 7 and 8 students. ghe group also is planning to hold a fashion show April 26. Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce counties have long been Institute strongholds. It is from these counties that several Junior Institutes have sprung over the past 10 years. One of the first Junior WIs in the area was the Lucknow chapter, formed in the early 1970s. Since then Junior Institutes have been founded at Howick, Molesworth and in the • Listowel -Atwood area. June Alton of Lucknow, a past president of the provincial Junior Institute and a charter member of the Lucknow group said the fundamental difference between the "senior" and Junior Institutes is age. The Junior Institute is open td young women from the age of 14 up, and, 'although there is no age limit, most Women's Institute members are older. ; Both groups are interested in promoting current concerns of women, but often in a slightly different manner. Mary Hall, a member of the Howick Junior Institute and charter president of the Owen Sound chapter, said both Institutes might study nutrition, for instance. But where the Junior WI might learn how to pack nutritious school lunches, the senior Institute mem- bers might learn how to cook healthy meals for one or two people. Miss Alton and Mrs. Hall are examples of two typical Junior WI members: onf is o young career woman, while the other is a homemaker with two Small children. Yet both are active members and in spite of their basic differences, say the Junior Institute has features which interest them. HISTORY LESSON There has been a world of change since Adelaide Hoodless of Stoney Creek formed the first Women's Institute in 1897 after her baby died as a result of drinking Con- taminated milk. Just after World War i began, many Institute members had daughters old enough to want to belong to an organization. Thus the Girls' Institute -was formed for the unmarried daughters of Institute members. Eventually the name was changed to the Junior Institute and the group be ame closely affiliated with the Junior Farthers, one being a group for young women and the other for young men. The Junior Institute even operated under life Junior Farmers' constitution. • In the late 1960s, the Junior WI members decided the group should break out on its own and become more autonomous. So in January of 1969, it adopted its own con- stitution and became a separate organization. Miss Alton said the Junior WI still has representatives on the board of directors of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario, but it is an autonomous group. ALIVE AND WELL The Junior Institute may have started out as an organization for the unmarried daughters of WI members, but today it incorporates young women from all walks of life, said Miss Alton. There are now 22 branches of the Junior institute across the province with 500 members, Compared to 3,000 Women's Institutes alone, that number seems rather small, but Miss Alton said the Junior Institute is growing steadily and members are in the process of making changes to its constitution. Like the Women's Institute, the Junior WI motto is "For Home and Country". There are some similarities between the two groups a9'id yet -there are some fundamental differences,as well. THEY LOVE THEIR SENIORS and the seniors obviously love them. Catherine Stewart of the Howick Junior Institute got a hug from Wellesley Strong, the winner ofa trip for two to the Parkwood Estates and Cullen Gardens, near Oshawa, courtesy of the Junior Institute. The draw was made at a special tea held last June by the Institute in honor of Senior Citizens' Week. needs of a changing society The next few years will be exciting and important ones for toth groups as the dif- ferences either will be reconciled and the ,two groups become as one, or they will become more separated and possibly even go their own ways. The membership of the Junior Institute is split over the direction the group should be heading. Some members want to sever all ties with the senior Institute and end the association. Others, like Miss Alton, think that since the two are working toward the same ob- jectives, they should become more closely affiliated. But that would require change, she said. The provincial directors of the Women's Institute seem open to change, she added, but Some at the grass roots level are not so eager. Another concern of the Women's Institute is that the Junior WI is stealing its would-be members. But Mrs. Hall said some mem- bers of the Howick Junior Institute also belong to the WI and they are starting to fill in the depleting ranks of the senior Institute. ISSUES AND CONCERNS Like the Women's Institute, the Junior Institute is a champion of women's con- cerns, be it in the home or in the workplace and is an effective lobby for pressing governments for change. Although patterned after the Women's Institute, Miss Alton said the Junior institute's meetings are often not. so structured and for that reason, a little less formal. Mrs. Hall said she even takes her children to the meetings, like her mother took her when she was young. A typical Junior Institute meeting could include a discussion on women's legal rights with a lawyer, an aerobics session or even a demonstration on cake decorating., Since many Junior Institute members have young families, groups often sponsor child -centred activities. For example, the Howick Junior WI sponsors a family dance each Hallowe'en and two years ago brought "Mr. Dress -Up" of television fame to the Howick Central School for the children. The most recent example of concern for the children of the community was its babysitting course offered to Grade 7 and 8 students from the Howick Central School. This intensive course eri all phases of child 'and infant care brought raves from local parents and parenting groups. , The Howick Junior Institute also holds a senior citizen tea annually which has been well-received by many Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich-area seniors. Some local seniors also will be modeling in the institute's fashion show this spring. The group holds a barbecue in June as well for members and their husbands or boyfriends. .Junior Institutes support local athletic associations, community centres and schools. Participation Lodge, a recreational centre for the handicapped at Holland Centre, and the cerebral palsy telethon are two other favorite charities. The Junior WI has started donating trophies for "murderball" champions at the Olympic games for the handicapped as well. A member can put a lot into the Junior Institute, but she can reap the rewards. For some women, especially those with young families, Junior Institute meetings are a chance to get out and talk to others with similar concerns. Group members can earn special merit awards for their participation and the Howick Junior Institute even offers a scholarship of $100 to any. member who goes on to further her education. FUTURE PLANS The next few years will be exciting growing years for the Junior Institute. Miss Alton said the group is in the progress of making changes to its constitution which \vill determine the direction the group takes ih the future. Naturally, she said, she would like to see more women join the Junior Institute and even see some new chapters formed. The idea of allowing men to join also has been discussed and probably will be -an issue over • the next few years. But in . the meantime, each Institute is content to continue along as before and as long as there are community projects to keep them busy, the Junior Institute will be in there pitching.