The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

10 THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1996 Women's Institutes change with the times BY FRANCES NIBLOCK The Georgetown Gemini Although the Women's In- stitute (W.I.) was formed in 1897 to better educate rural women, the organization, like the Silver-Wood Branch in the Georgetown-Acton area, is still relevant in today's high-tech world of working mothers, single-parent fami- lies and labour-saving de- vices. "Women's Institutes are for women who are curious and want to absorb knowl- edge and learn about the world around them," ex- plained Silver-Wood mem- ber Eve Martin recently. "There really isn't a typi- calmember. We have women in their 20s and women in their 90s and if they have anything in commons it's a desire to learn. "Some of our members havea Grade 8 education and some have university de- grees, butno matter what their background their opinions are accepted and they are wel- come," Martin said. The first Women's Insti- tute came into being after Adelaide Hoodless' baby died from drinking contami- nated milk and she felt that there was a need to better educate rural women. Through the efforts of Erland and Janet Lee and Hoodless, the first group be- gan in Stoney Creek with the objective of promoting the knowledge of household sci- ence to improve home sani- tation, more scientific care of children and raising the gen- eral standard of health. From that beginning the organization now has a world-wide membership of 9 million women, with 40,000 ASBUILT A AECHANICAL REPLACE SAL COME IN SEE OUR SHOWROOM OR CALL KEITH OR ART FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR A FR SHOWROOM 12 TODD RD., GEORGETOWN 905-877-8023 in Canada and 223 in Halton District. Over the years the W.I. has influenced governments to make important changes through resolutions includ- ing Canada-United States acid rain control, recycling and the environment, agri- culture in schools and a cur- rent proposal, the Living Will. Today's aim, in part, is to assist and encourage women to become more knowledge- able and responsible citizens and discover, stimulate and develop leadership. Through speakers, tours, workshops, (Hwy. #7) Guelph St. Todd Rd. McDonalds Y Mountainview Rd. N 51008. THE PURCHASE OF FIREPLACE ' Expires Oct. 19//96 i seminars, conferences and regular monthly meetings the W.I. presents a wide range of topics to all women. To Martin, who followed her mother's footsteps into 'the W.I., the best part is the ° fellowship. "We meet once a month in each other's homes and have apre-determined topic to hear about. The last one was a presentation on the interna- tional origination Sleeping Children, which provides bedding to children in third World countries," Martin ex- plained. Another large part of the W.I. work is compiling the story of small communities in Ontario, known as the Tweedsmuir Histories, named after Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of Cana- da's Governor-general in 1935. Currently Martin is at- tempting to save some early W.I. documents that were damaged by a flood. "What we are trying to save are old minute books of meetings that have occurred in the branches and the dis- trict. "Tn them are accounts of what occurred in those meet- ings, how the decisions were made and the standards that we still go by today," Martin said. Martin added that future goals of the W.I. are to main- tain the membership and try to relate to working women. The W.L always welcomes new members. For more in- formation call Martin at 853- 1382. HANDFUL OF HISTORY: Eve Martin holds open some of the historical records for the Silver-Wood chapter of the Women's Institute. (Karen Wetmore photo) 'Our Town' Christmas cheques back again The Our Town Christmas Cheques are back again. This program has been so successful that the Halton Community Credit Union, in co-operation with the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, will be launch- ing the program to local busi- nesses in November. The program encourages resi- dents to shop in town. Halton Credit Union is prepared to write loans of between $500 and $1,500 to qualified consumers ata zero per cent interest rate for six months. This money may be spent only at participating retailers in the Halton Hills area. The names of participat- ing merchants will appear on 10,000 Our Town Christmas cheques, 20,000 flyers (in- cluding a map with business locations marked), and ad- vertising in local newspapers. To join this program or for more information, call the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce at 877-7119. The cost of this program is $100 for Chamber members and $150 fornon-Chamber mem- bers.