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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-13, Page 17e. c��^~}�� !47v��' ' ‘,1 = , • Younger me ` DEttTMARIC .. The live year search for more and younge0 members ended 'last month when the 0,--,611epieh Womenranstitute was forc- ed to CloSe down its organization. At its final Meeting on OCt. 10, the 12 members sang 1116- WoMen . Institute's Ode and repeated the Mary Stewart Collect for the last time, four months short of its,75th an- niversary. "We were broken-hearted over it all but we didn't think we could carry on," says Celia Taylor, who was curator for the group. "We were at our wits' end about how to boost membership and have been for quite a long time." Helen Morley says she knew the end was .near when she was forced to become presi- dent for the second time in 10 years since the aging membership could not fill the of- ficers' positions. "The members we had were not able or willing to take office. It's a lot of work to be an officer and our members ranged from 65 to 90 years of age. They've already done their ork contributing to the Institute and they eel they're too old," she says. B th Taylor, who's been a W.I. member for 60 years and Morley, who's been a member for 30 years, say they're baffled about ideas to attract younger women to the organization. "My daughter tells me we're not doing enough to interest young people and there are so many things springing up for them to do. And, these days, it takes two pay cheques for a lot of couples to keep going so many women are working, says Taylor. Though the GoderiCh W.I. talked about moving its meetings to the evenings to ac- commodate younger women, they didn't change the time since most of the older women said they wouldn't attend evening meetings. . The fact that there are un4-B groups in Goderich has also hurt the loca1uuitute, they say. 'The rural places are keeping on and 4-H has a \ot to do with /t.'' says Taylor. Taylor remembers when she joined the Institute in Auburn in 1925 and par- ticipated in the various plays the W.I. per- formed. ep[ooued. "Plays were the big thing and we had concerts every year and raised quite a bit of money. We also interested the young people. We had a lot of fun but that's gone now.''she says. Card parties and picnies were also very popular years ago, said Morley. During both the First World War and the Second World War, the W.I. did volunteer work, hniLdoK, sewing and working for the Red Cross. Though the Institute has speakers, courses ancl resolutions it passes on to the Women's Institute office in Toronto, Morley wonders whether the Goderich W.I.was able to meet the needs of the women ofGoderich. "We don't think we were meeting womens neecls since we had to close up. Weve kind of been slipping on our resolu- tioris mth t fyeuro.''uhesuys. Im afraid more lnstitutes will do what we're doing and close up. [ don't know what you can do for the young peop|e" says Taylor. Though the Clinton W.I. has also closed up, Jane Muegge, the home economist for the Huron Ministry of Agriculture says there's no reason why the rest of the In- stitutes in Huron will be in any danger. "In Clinton, the age of the membership was the problem. But, decreasing Members of the Goderich Wwinen'mInstitute from 1983 to 1984 in- cluded Hawkins, Irene Oke and Mary Clairmont in the front row and Celia Taylor, Phyllis McTaggart, Gertrude Steckle, Jean Cook, Elizabeth Sittcr, Lois Wilson, Irene Young, Helen Morley, Jean membership is a problem for all groups throughout Ontario; many are getting smaller and amalgamating," she says. ' The 24,000 W.I. members across Ontario do all kinds of community work including 'offering scholarships, sponsoring 4-H groups, participating in local fairs and donating money for playground equip- ment. It continues in the tradition of its founder Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, who in 1897 campaigned for the pasteurization of milk and the education of rural people in basic life skills. "It hasn't stopped its ivist roleThe W.I. has sent resolutionkto. the provincial government recommending crossing guards, tarps on gravel trucks and pro- testing beer and wine being sold in corner stores," says Muegge. "The work they do is amazing. It's a far more worthwhile organization than most people paint it," she adds. Muegge admits that for the past three years, the W.I. has been attempting to at- tract younger women to their organization and has managed to begin Junior Women's Institutes in some areas with an average age of 30. Those groups that are closing, like Goderich and Clinton, have been unable to attract the younger members 'The members are getting olderandit`x too much trouble for them," says Muegge. Though another Women's Institute group can start up again in Goderich after three yeors, the women who made the decision to close the present group are still disappointed. "It's a let -down to us to think we're not able to keep going. We're going to miss it very much," says Taylor. Schram, Parma Anders, ��MacKenzie in the backHenry)' nister, Myrtle Good and Gertrude Goldthorpe. At its last meeting in pctober this year, the W.I. had 19 members. ( photo by Robert . Celia Taylor, curator and Helen Morley, president of the recently folded Women's Institute in Goderich hold up a copy of the Huron County Atlas which outlines the accomplishments of the W.I. in Goderich for more than 80 years. The local chapter closed recently because of a lack of members. (photo by Susan Hundertmark WI had a service rich Goderich WI members worked with the RedCross during the war (lose to 85 years as an organization in Goderich, the Women's Institute was forc- ed tfold last monthBut, a histf its first 80 years compiled by ('elia Taylor and Mrs. A. McTaggart shows the Goderich W.I. during its liveliest days. The Goderich W I met for the first time in February, 1901 with Mrs. E|frrd as president and Mrs. Campbell Though the meetings had a small member- ship at first and were held in members' homes. a steady increase in membership necessitated a move to the Odd Fellows Hall, now the Legion. Meetings were again held in homes for awhile but for the t 55 years, they have been held in the MacKas Centre Member- ship has varied from l04ml93$1^7%ml947 to37ml980. Up to 1981. there were ]7presidents and 17 secretary -treasurers who were paid from $5 in 1907 tn$25ml98l In the early days. meetingsings were opened by singing a hymn and repeating the Lord's PrayerIn 1905, it was rerted that W.I.members, who were meeting on a member's lawn near The open the meemw with singing mcase they would alarm the citizens on The rp Early meetings had women bringing their fancy work andrec to ,ha In 1906. no one wanted to meet in May because it was house-cleaning month so the president held the meeting at her house. In 1914. meetings were opened with the Women's Institute Ode and in 1950. they were closed with the Mary Stewart collect. In January lU05`the W.l held an oyster supper for the public at m cost of 25 cents per person. lnl907.meetings were ,an~eU' *d because of a small pox scare and in 1909. the W.I. subscribed to the Ladies Home Joumnal and Good Housekeeping for members' use. As tittough it had a limit . � not a place in ��*��� in �m�w���:����w����u�m��� notitOpt a � ��^� w» There not ����-�� ^- w�� life, T ^ �w����� deaf or There's not ��� a feather's Withouta ��J� ���������� In 1911. the W { itioned town council for tabies and benches in Harbor Park for the convenience of picnic fanciers. Later it made donations towards a pubflc restroom in the Librarv. From 1913 to l9J7.the nV.I. served meals at the (;oderich fall fair. 1 1915, it charged 20 cents per meal for a soldier and 35 rents for the general public During the First World War. the Goderich W.1. suppliedlied the Red Cross with articles valuing $1.592.36. gave donations to Goderich boys who were prisoners of war and sewed and knitted scarfs and socks every week in the Red Cross rooms. In 1916. WI. members used eg) milkless and butterless recipes for Cana- dian War Cake. And, when the soldiers returned, the W.I., by request of the birth, �� ��� �Worth mayor entertained with a party including cards, daand lunch. W.I.In 1918, the town to explain women's voting. It also made donations to the Soldiers' Memorial in the Courthouse Park and to the building fund of Byron Sanitorium for returned soldiers. During the Second World War, the W.I. worked again with the Red Cross. A group of 10 women under the leadership of a W.I. member patched and quilted one quilt a week for British war victims. Donations were made to the British Fund, the Queens' Gift Fund, the Belgian Relief, French Relief, Walsh Miner's relief, the British Red Cross and the Canadian Legion. in - eluding donations of jams. The W.I. also bought a couch for the soldiers' recreation room in town. [nl946.the WI. held a banquet celebra- tion for the return of war heroes and beroines and their families.Up to the sent, the W.I. has made specialoonuoonu for poppies and wreaths on Remembrance Day. Since 1921, the W.I. has donated money for prizes to local schools. In 1928. it sup- ported music instruction in elementary schools and paid $100 to music instructors from 1929 to 1940. It has made all sort of donations towards hospitals and charitable organizations since its inceptionTowards the Alexandra and Marine General Hitu\.theW.l.huy donated jams. noarma\mdeo, silverware. ohina, dixhey, niAh(iea, h\anketx, money towards a new wing and an x-ray machine and cards and fiowers to the sick and shut- ins. Community work has included sewing for the needy families of the town in 1914 to donations to the Maitland Cemetery to the publishing of a recipe book in 1954. Money has been raised with oyster suppers, box socials, card parties, dances, teas, bazaars, bake sales, plant sales, ploughing matches, rummage sales and meals. The W.I. has also educated local women with demonstrations and courses on household matters including presening fruit and vegetables, boning fish, tailoring, needlepoint, textile printing, leather ft and soap -making. In its 80 year history book, the authors of the Goderich W.I. history express pride at its contribution to the community. "When women work together for the common good, we can determine the direc- tion of human history. Neither guns nor Tarn to page 2 pT Don't worry the �N��� Barbara, ~�`� job'sallyours The feeling has returnein my right hand, my sniffles are under control and I think I've just about worked out the stiff - in my shoulder. Though ` maladies were caused by covering the Huron -Perth senior boys' football cham- pionship in Goderich on Saturday, I real- ly felt like I'd been playing in the game when I woke up on Sunday. I felt like I'd been tackled hard more than once. Yes, I was one of the crazies standing in the rain, cold and mud and chasing up and down a football field on Saturday. But, crazier than most, I also had a five pound (it felt like 50 pound) video camera resting on my right shoulder for an hour and a half. How did I get myself into this situa- tion? It all started last Friday when one of my colleagues in the Huron -Perth press club phoned me in a panic, It seem- ed he was going away for the weekend and could find no one to cover for him. Since I had (foolishly) told him of my basic training in broadcast journalism, he wondered if I'd give his weekend assignment a shot. Thinking back on my days at jour- nalism school with nostalgia and looking forward to a challenge, I agreed to give it a try. But, once alone With the equipment and three-year-old memories of how the stuff works, my optithism and en- thusiasm waS slowly replaced by panic. And, I suddenly remembered why I chose a career in print journalism in- stead of broadcast. Oh, I managed to piece together a 60 second story on the football champion- ship and write a decent script to accom- pany it. And, I believe the television sta- tion even aired the story. But, I really doubt the CBC will be calling me during . the next week to ceplace-Barbara•Frum on The Journal': really have mixed feelings about the whole experience. While broadcast jour- nalism intrigues and challenges me, it also brings out many of my insecurities. Though I'm not very mechanically - inclined, I love to work with the vide() machines and editing equipment. But, aim any camera, especially a video camera, my way and I'm sure to freeze in panic or generally make a fool of myself. It all takes me back to my first attempt at reading a story "on the air" during one of my first broadcasting classes. When the film was played back, many of the students looked foolish but several seemed to warm to the camera; their poise and personality shone while the camera rolled. I, of course, was mortified when my at- tempts were viewed by the whole class. There I was, blemishes and all, in living technicolor, speaking in a high, squeaky voice and wearing the facial expression of a trapped animal. While the camera brought out the best in some of my classmates, I was sure it brought out the worst in me. When my teacher assured many of thc women in the class that we could lower the pitch of our voices with practice, l faithfully practised reading news stories into my tape recorder every night for a month. But, instead of the deep, authoritative voice of a professional broadooeter, all l developed was a sore throat. `` Convinced l lacked the '��arquu|ky necessary for a bruudcustor, l remained behind the scenes doing camera w,,rk, editing and research the rest of the year. Though the class was assured televi- sion was the me9lium e|evi'yionv"aythenm*diuno of the future, l felt much more corrlfortable with print jour- nmliann. With newspapers and magazines, [ felt there was much more time to get your facts strni8ht, do in- depth research and even make some analysis of the news. [ wondered about the effectiveness of broadcast journalism to accomplish the sensitive, human interest stories 1 love to do. Cmnoeray, it seemed to rne, could be very intrusive and discouraging of the looking