The Book of Ideas

              From Mrs. Nellie W. B. Schroder, A.C.W.W. Area Vice-President South PacUic 1959-65 "As one travels round the world, meeting Members of AC.W.W. Societies, one is struck by the basic similarity of their problems and of the basic similarity of their approach to the solution of those problems. Whether this is in Fiji where effort is being made to weld clubs into a Natonal Society, or in Canada where it all began so long ago, the keynote is service. As the Australians so aptly put it in their oft-repeated motto'Service to Countrywomen, for Countrywomen, by Countrywomen,' or as a New Zealand Society has it, 'Not by ladders unto heaven or allegiance to a creed, but by service simply given unto each in time of need.' "The spirit which prompted this book of Ideas seems to me to be another facet of that same motive-the wish to serve others. Modem transport and communications have so expanded the area in which our service is effective, that we now think in terms not only of our usefulness in our own villages, but also how best we can serve in the world family. Because of our basic similarity of approach no matter where we live, the Ideas expressed in this book will serve others in their time of need and forge a further link in the chain of friendship and understanding which is AC.W.W." From Mrs. una Wickbom, A.C.W.W. Area Vice-President Northern Europe 1962-68 "I have been thinking of how important an organization like AC.W.W. is as a guide in 'How to Behave Properly Internationally.' This was talked about at the Council Meeting in London last June during one of the informal gatherings. It started with Mrs. Farquharson, who had just returned from a speaking tour in Czechoslovakia and had been a little shocked by the frankness with which the public inquired about her age. In Czechoslovakia this was not-rude. Mrs. Van Beekhoff, World President of AC.W.W. then told that in her country it was considered very impolite to ask a farmer the size of his estate. We went on talking of customs in our respective countries, quite a long tale of variations in etiquette. "There are so many traps in International relations, it is inevitable not to fall into some of them. If you are aware that there are numbers of them, you can perhaps avoid some and also make it easier to climb out of some. AC.W.W. offers very concrete lessons in International behavior. It also teaches Members not to judge people too quickly, if their manners differ from those in their own country. It might be small matters of etiquette, but it might also concern important matters of principle. "I have leamed a lot since I started working with A.C.W.W. in 1948. Everytime I have met with my A.C.W.W. friends, I feel full of new ideas and thoughts on this subject. Isn't A.C.W.W. one of the best schools in the world?" From Mrs. Annie G. Haggerty, President of F.W.I.C. 1961-64 "This powerful force of good, the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada had its beginning from an idea of a woman with a vision. Clever and understanding women have fostered its growth until its influence is felt not only across this great Canada of ours, but in countries around the world. Ideas spring up in the hearts and minds of women everywhere, but if kept only in the heart and mind, they stagnate and die; if they are shared with others and put to work, they bring forth much fruit and become a force in the world. They command respect and admiration and multiply 27