1931 - Annual Convention

              14 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
The after- dinner program sparkled w i t h witty anecdotes and entertaining
narratives; the tables were then removed and the latter part of the evening
was given over to a concert program of orchestral music, instrumental solos,
fancy dances, bright songs and impersonations. The entire program was
d e l i g h t f u l l y snappy and entertaining, w i t h no delays between numbers, and
was greatly appreciated by the audience. Informal dancing climaxed a most
happy evening.
Friday Morning, May 22nd
The last meeting of the session was called to order at 9 o'clock, M r s .
Montgomery and Mrs. W . C. Short, Director of District No. 2, presiding. Mrs.
W e l l i n g t o n Huyck, Strome, presented a comprehensive report of the work
of the standing committee on C h i l d Welfare and P u b l i c H e a l t h . Judging from
this record, no branch of Institute work received more attention or produced
more satisfactory results than this department. See page 40 for full report.
At this time Rev. G. H . V i l l e t t was granted the privilege of the floor to
briefly explain the nature and purpose of the W o r l d Disarmament petition,
w h i c h is being circulated under the auspices of the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom.
Mr. D. E. Cameron, L i b r a r i a n , U n i v e r s i t j 7 of A l b e r t a , then addressed the
convention on "' Modern L i b r a r y Service in A l b e r t a . " The address appears
on page 79.
The final report for this session was read by M r s . J . P . Ferguson, T r o c h u ,
Convener of the Standing Committee on L e g i s l a t i o n , in w h i c h statutes recently
enacted by both provincial and federal governments were reviewed. See page
43 for report.
Discussion of various topics relative to policies, finances and numerous
resolutions was introduced at opportune moments during the session. In
planning the budget for the coming year, the convention voted to reimburse
the official delegates to the amount of their r a i l w a y fares to the convention
only, the branch paying the return. This w i l l mean the saving of a large
sum, approximately $ 1000.00 to the provincial fund, as compared to the former
method of refunding the full fare.
F u r t h e r saving w i l l be effected through not sending a representative with
the AAA'. I. exhibit to the Canadian National E x h i b i t i o n in T o r o n t o . A smaller
display in connection with the other provinces w i l l be placed in one large
booth and expenses will be greatly reduced thereby.
The annual discussion re a biennial convention and discontinuing the
publication of the A n n u a l Report met w i t h the customary defeat, the delegates
deciding that it would be most detrimental to the progress and best interests
of the organization to make a change in either instance.
W i t h careful discrimination between essential and unnecessary requests,
the convention relentlessly tabled numerous resolutions; some were deemed
too expensive to ask of the government at the present t i m e ; others indicated
lack of thought and care in preparation, wrhile s t i l l others required further
investigation before an intelligent decision could be made.
A l t o g e t h e r it was a very sane and conservative c o n v e n t i o n ; not afraid to
tackle the most serious problems with earnest intelligence and ready to r i p p le
w i t h merriment at the suggestion of a joke. Optimistic i n spite of the ever-present
financial depression and courageous in the determination to meet
future difficulties w i t h faith and fortitude.
W i t h all business completed, the Seventeenth Annual Convention of
A l b e r t a Women's Institutes adjourned at noon on F r i d a y , M a y 22nd, 1931.