The Rural Voice, 1981-09, Page 35The Junior
Women's
Institute
You can start
your own branch
by Bev Brown
If you are a young woman in your
twenties or thirties and would like to meet
other young women in your community
who have similar interests and aspirations
you should find out if there is a branch of
the Junior Women's Institute in your area.
The home economist at the county office of
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture can
tell you if there is a branch near you.
Already there are nineteen Junior
Women's Institute branches in Ontario,
spread from Hastings County in eastern
Ontario to North Grey County to Lucknow
in Bruce County. When the first group was
organized in 1915 in the Manitoulin
District, they were called the Girls'
Institute. Later, the name was changed to
Junior Institute and they were affiliated
with the Junior Farmers' Association until
January, 1969. Then a new constitution
was developed (similar to the Women's
Institute) and a provincial executive was
elected to be responsible for planning
provincial events and administering fi-
nances.
Mary Hall of the Howick Junior
Institute (Huron County) is currently
secretary -treasurer of the provincial or-
ganization and in 1971-72 Marion Feld-
skov (also of Howick) was the provincial
president. Donna Clark from Walters Fall
JWI is currently the president of the
provincial organization.
"We are a \ idespread organization,"
Mary Hall says, "but we all strive for
common goals."
These are: to assist young women in
personal growth and to develop leadership
abilities; to promote approved practices in
homemaking and a better understanding
of the ideals and standards contributing to
a successful home life; and to assist and
encourage young women to become
knowledgeable and responsible citizens.
About four times a year a Junior
Women's Institute booklet called " The
Enthusiast" is published by the provincial
public relations officer and sent to all
members includes branch news, recipes,
thoughts, special events and more.
Programs are planned for each month
with the members' interests in mind. Each
branch is also involved in fund raising and
donations are made to local community
ventures.
In 1974 all of the branches collaborated
to publish a book called "A Little Bit of
Everything" and it sold so well that in
1979 the group published a second book
called "A Little Bit More of Everything."
The book contains sections on crafts,
entertaining, party games. household
hints, a children's corner and literary
section including thoughts, quotable
quotes and poetry. Approximately 4500
copies have been sold and some of the
profits donated to The Hospital for Sick
Children in Toronto to purchase equip-
ment.
"If any group of young ladies is
interested in forming a branch, they
should contact their local home econo-
mists abouts details and procedures."
Mary Hall explained.
May Hall, left. sec.-treas. of the provincial
Junior Women's Institute and Pauline
Afton. Howick Junior Women's Institute
president take a look at the Institute's
book. Copies are still available.
ALFRED
KNECHTEL
Spray Painting
Ltd.
—SPECIALIZING
IN FARM BUILDINGS—
(519) 669-2638
R.R. 2 WALLENSTEIN,
ONTARIO
THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1981 PG. 33