The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

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Anniversary of Women's Institutes in Canada and a fitting programme was carried out. The Emergency War Fund was closed in 1946 and at the 1947 convention the delegates decided to back the cancer research work and to establish a Cancer Fund as a provincial objective, The A,WJ. school conducted at this convention gave the duties of the members and officers of branches and the provincial organization, and was one of the highlights of the meeting. At this time, the delegates voted that Mrs. Morton be Alberta's representative at the A.C.W.W. Conference to be held in Amsterdam, September 1947; the money for this to be raised by volunteer branch donation. As a result Mrs. Morton was an able representative at the Amsterdam meeting, where over 500 women gathered from many countries, in an endeavor to be of help in improving world conditions. The goals set were: (1) to improve the status of country women the world over, (2) to become a voice for women in international affairs, (3) to become the guardian of the integrity of the human spirit. The Million Membership Plan for raising funds for the A.C.W.W. at two cents per A.W.I. member is being continued. In June 1947, Mrs. E. E. IVIorton, Provincial President, and Mrs. A. B. McGorman, A.W.I. representative, attended the F.W.I.C. Board meeting in Halifax. On their way home they attended the Ontario Women's Institute celebration of the "Golden Jubilee" of the Institute movement, where 12,000 women gathered at the Guelph AgriculturaJ College to commemorate the organization of the Women's Institute by Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless in 1897. In 1948, Mrs. Morton had a circular letter sent to W.I. branches asking for contributions for the purchase of artificial limbs for crippled children in France. Within a few weeks, $1,500 had been contributed. What a power, her four-cent stamp had. The A.W.I. rallies to any legitimate need and lives up to its objective-"For Home and Country". The Home and Country magazine continues to grow and the number of subscribers increases, A.W.I. broadcasts still go on and several newspapers carry W.I. news sent in by the publicity conveners. Constituency conferences and provincial conventions feature handicraft displays. In 1949 two new contests started at the provincial COBvention. namely-a short story contest and a photo graphical competition. THE 1949 CONVENTION The 1949 convention of the A.W.I. was held in the University of Alberta Convocation Hall, May 25-27, with Mrs. E. E. Morton presiding. This convention was honored by the presence of Mrs. A. E. MacMillan, Federated W.I. President from Charlottetown, P.E.I. It was at this convention that the Dedication of the Book of Remembrance of the Alberta Women's Institutes took place. The names inscribed in the book at the time of its dedication -were: Mrs. Emily Murphy, Van-28-