Village Squire, 1979-02, Page 19marketing boards speak about their views in introducing the
topics of discussion. It is easy to imagine how much the
partipants learn from one another. "This is what learning is all
about," says Victor Morrow; the very likeable program director.
Can you imagine the spectacle of consumers advocate Wendy
Holm, free enterprise cattleman Graeme Hedley, National
Marketing Council's James Boynton, and the chairman of the
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, all on the same program?
These were the people and many more, brought together by RLA
and when these people go home they unavoidably are more
aware of the problems they unwittingly create for one another.
The RLA considers it one of its more important jobs, to bring
rural and urban people, who have drifted apart so much in the
last 25 years, closer together again:
As past president Armande Seguin said in her address to the
1977 annual meeting:"As society evolves with its technology and
speed. we run into unforeseen problems and binds. We have to
keep our eyes and ears open constantly to learn something new
every day. in order to fit in tomorrow. The average citizen has to
readjust at least every decade, retrain, qualify, rehabilitate,
readapt and reorganize."
Further: "1 feel strongly that courage. compassion, caring and
assertion. if transplanted from individual to groups, will suggest
a whole new actualizing experience. It can be applied on a
community scale or on a world scale. Do we agree we need each
other?"
The well known writer -philosopher Dorothy Henderson quotes
in her book "Look to this day for tomorrow," "Some fo9d for
thought harvested from the ages, from Elizabeth Barret on the
word "Rural". "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every
common bush is afire with God. But only he who sees. takes off
his shoes."
On "Learning". she quotes from Carl Schultz: "Ideals are like
stars. You can never touch them with your hands, but, like the
mariner. you take them as your guide, and following them reach
your destiny."
Lester Pearson. when talking about "organization" said:
"Consultation means the oportunity to participate in the give
and take of ideas. the weighing of the pros and cons, and the
formulation of policy based on the highest common denominator
of agreement."
Mrs. Henderson is a strong supporter of RLA and -her farm
retreat "Strangewood". near King City. is a frequent meeting
place for the RLA board of directors.
"The aim of RLA", according to Betty Jefferson of Guelph,
the president and also the editor of the quarterly newsletter, "is
to encourage personal growth and awareness for the benefit of
all mankind. and not just for personal things. Individuals are
given encouragement and support to develop and strengthen
their own abilities to take action on issues that are affecting their
own lifestyle. Every annual meeting there are some individuals
with a genuine concern who want RLA to take action on issues
that affect their lifestyle. However." says Mrs. Jefferson, "this
is not the purpose of RLA. While sympathizing with many of the
concerns, the RLA is not equipped, physically or financially to
organize the necessary actions for programs of this nature. RLA
provides the opportunity and atmosphere for learning as a
vehicle to supply information and education on topical issues,
thus becoming a springboard for action. The back-up action is
then up to the individual to develop our support in his own way."
In explaining folk school philosophy. it seems best to quote
from a letter by David Smith, a member of RLA: "...the
commitment we make to one another to create viable
communities through co-operative action. This is the philosophy
of the co-operative movement. This is the orientation of the fold
school." Mr. Smith goes on to attack what he calls "personal
growth cults" that serve only the individual. "The parlor
training games of much modern training and the inward looking,
self -preoccupied search for personal growth are dead -ends so far
from co-operative action of the kind of community we claim we
want to live in. And they don't do much for personal growth
either. as the parade of nostrums in this fashionable business
indicates."
The association, with a staff of only two people. program
director Victor Morrow and secretary -treasurer, office manager.
organizer etc. Kay McNaughton, put on two big seminars. the
two earlier mentioned for marketing boards and leadership. and
as many small seminars and folk schools as are requested. The
quality of the seminars is demonstrated by the quality of the
resource persons who come to help at the behest of RLA. Just to
name a few such as Dr. Ed. Pleva, Dr. Doug Hoffman, Dr. Art
Haas and politicians as Bob Eaton and Jack Riddell, farm leaders
Elbert van Donkersgoed, Bill Benson and Joe Casey. These were
at the land use seminar that was attended by municipal
government people, farm leaders, ministry personel, Consumers
Association of Canada, Junior farmers etc.
Any rural group may call on RLA for help in organizing a
seminar or folk school, and many do just that. It may be a one
day or a two day affair, for a large or a small group. It may be on
how to improve the group's image or how to get better press
coverage. How to deal with metric or how to write press
releases. Whatever the problem, the RLA finds someone
qualified to enlarge upon the subject.
Bud Weaver, a past president, in explaining the need for an
organization like RLA, said:
'...in the past we were able to learn what our parents and their
parents knew. We could live a protected life and take part in
decisions that affect us daily. This could be done with relative
ease by completing some board of education schooling and
spending time working alongside our parents. This has passed.
Today, even if we complete university, the rate and quality of
change soon leaves us with as much to learn in order to survive in
any profession. We are in effect in an era where nothing else will
suffice but continuous and lifelong learning in an organized
fashion. The formal education ipannot fill this need. Money alone,
if nothing else. will prevent it. Several choices are:
1. to let the experts make, all decisions for us,
2. stumble along in an unorganized unfulfilling manner,
3. rebel and demonstrate without being able to offer any
constructive alternatives.
4. or to get involved in learning.
"In order to get involved, we need a process for learning how
to learn on our own, and ways of determining what we need to
learn, in order to keep ourselves, and the organization we belong
to, capable of making constructive and positive decisions that
affect the future."
This quote from an address to the 1976 annual meeting sums
up very neatly what the RLA is trying to do. In one sentence it
means that RLA is an organization that helps people to help
themselves.
That the concept works is demonstrated by the many people
who have become more or less prominent members of their
organization or their community.
One shy. youngster, who never dared open his mouth at a
meeting, is now meeting the public constantly as a policeman.
He gained his confidence at a folk school. An Indian housewife
found out at a folk school that she was capable of many things
she never before thought possible. Soon she was teaching
reserve children their ancient Ojibway language and history,
giving them in this manner a pride in their heritage. She didn't
stop there and now she is the driving force in several provincial
organizations.
Dozens of young people have been rescued from a life leading
to hopeless alcoholism through the efforts of graduates of RLA
organised folk schools. The truth of two millenia ago is still the
same truth today. as past president Armande Seguin quoted
from the Chinese sage Kuan Tsu:
"When planning for a year, plant corn;
When planning for a decade, plant trees;
When planning for a lifetime, train and educate people."
["Look to this day for tomorrow", is available from The Book
Room, 85 St. Clair Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario. M4T 1M8. The
author donates all proceeds to U.N. Refugee work.
The address of RLA is RR#1 Hastings, Ontario. KOL 1Y0]
February 1979, Village Squire 17