Westcott W.I. Branch History

              district for careers of their own, and the young women in the area were working outside
their home; on the farm, or in the community, or busy taking their children every direction
for sports etc. with the Centralized School system. They could learn everything they wanted
to know about homemaking and the world in magazines and on T. V. They no longer
needed the fellowship and visiting that had become so important to our group.
For the last 15 years, from 1978 to 1993, our membership has remained quite constant;
from a low of ten members in 1978 to a high of 15 in 1991, and a present membership of
twelve. But that doesn't mean we haven't had good attendance over the years. I didn't
check for each of the 40 years, but glancing over the record, more often than not, Ellen
Wilshusen, Joyce Topping, and Bea Weidner had perfect attendance. I know in 1968 Bea
Weidner was presented with a 15- Year Service Pin for perfect attendance and has had many
perfect years since.
Of our present membership, four are charter members: Jean Ford, Angeline Murphy,
Bea Weidner, and Ellen Wilshusen.
The other seven who are carrying the brunt of the load today have joined in the past 20
years:
Rejane Klinck 1973
Phyllis Bricker 1977
Dorothy Harrison 1981
Norma Vipond 1983
President Edna Edwards 1988
Secretary Shirley Goetjen 1990
Eileen Woytowich 1990, and
Wilma Rinehart is back and will be rejoining in 1994.
I would like to thank these members for their active participation in carrying on with
the W. I. spirit.
Twice in our 40 years we have lost active members by death. Gladys Klinck, who had
been a member for only six years but had taken a very active part, died when she was Presi­dent
in 1971. Then last year on April 28, 1992, Joyce Topping, a charter member who had
been with us continuously for 39 years, died. We miss her cheery smile, her unique
chuckle when she phoned to remind us of each meeting, and her years of dedicated service.
She never missed having knitting for Conference; even sending a baby outfit to Cremona