The Book of Ideas

              nearly all the Youth-serving agencies had committees which gathered facts about what was happening to children and youth, and they brought their findings to the Conferences. Then, too, Committees of Experts brought together the latest scientific findings with respect to the nature of the development of children and youth. The members of the Conference did not, therefore, come together merely to hear inspirational addresses and to swap ignorance or to give snap judgments on important problems in the field of child development. We in Canada, might well accept this principle that a Conference which is worth calling is worth preparing for by careful study over a considerable period." Another authority, Maud Kerr says, "It isn't much use submitting a lengthy agenda to delegates a week before the convention, otherwise the conference is likely to become a vacuum and will probably generate more heat than light. The same principle applies to any conference. Indeed, even the business of attending a lecture calls for some intelligent study of the speaker's subject beforehand." The following article by Mrs. C. A. Quail, written when she was Director of District Three and now (1967) the A.W.I. Provo Sec., is filled with ideas for Conferences and Conventions. Many of them may be used for Branch Meetings as well. ''Quest speakers should be contacted several weeks ahead of time. A speaker who is in great demand will require at least three months notice, perhaps more. Full instructions as to the length of time he will be allotted to speak, the date, the time, the place and full instructions on how to reach the meeting place should be included when contacting the speaker. It is very helpful for a speaker to have some advance information about the group he is to address. A small brochure on the Alberta Women's Institutes should be included along with the request for his services. It is also helpful if the speaker is given some idea of what you wish him to speak about. It is a nice idea to have the Constituency Chairman of the Standing Committee whose topic relates to his address, make the introduction. The Courtesy Committee should be prepared to thank the guest speaker when he is through and "Thank You" notes should always be sent right after the Conference. "Get-acquainted Ideas For Conferences-Name tags should always be given at the registration desk. These could be of assorted colors with a corresponding color card to be placed on the plates at noon luncheons or banquets. The colors are alternated and each person sits at a place card of the same color as the name tag she is wearing. A numbered seating arrangement may be used also at the banquet and luncheon. The name tags are numbered and also the place cards at the table. If the cards are numbered and the name cards jumbled, ladies from various branches are not likely to be seated next to someone from home. Announcements should be made of the numbering order of the tables, so that guests do not have difficulty finding their places. If numbers start at No.1 on Head Table, it will not be difficult to find No. 12 down the line, etc. "Paper plates with words of a song written on them are cut into four or five jigsaw puzzle pieces and each person receives a piece when she registers. She must find the other ladies to complete the pie plate and words to the song. These ladies sit in groups throughout the day and at various times the groups will be asked to sing the songs they have the words for. "Have an Official. Bostess--A Past-Constituency Convener if pos. sible, wh() can make introductions to as many ladies as possible. Autograph or Friendship Cards can be given out at the registration desk. These are
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