A holiday atmosphere prevailed when 190 members of the South Vancouver Island District Women's Institute set off on the MV COHO from Victoria to Port Angeles on August 7th to attend the Annual International Border Picnic. This year the Extension Homemakers Clubs of the Clallum County of Washington State were hosts to the Canadian WI members – and wonderful hosts they were!

Meeting, greeting and warmly welcoming the guests when they arrived were officers and members representing the 16 Homemakers Clubs, under the very able leadership of County President Mrs. J. Helmik of Forks, Washington.

On arrival at the Eagles Hall, each guest was registered and given a novel clam shell with her name and Institute printed on it; and in the hall the luncheon tables were daintily decorated in the “sea” motif; centrepieces of driftwood and at each plate was a delightful driftwood souvenir. These had been made by the Homemakers members and were very pretty and most original.

After a delicious lunch – at which 275 sat down, the District and Provincial Board members were introduced by Mrs. Helmik, suitably replied to by District President Bertha Austin. A gift exchange followed and then the entertainment began, starting off with a sing song and two delightful solos. These were followed by the Clallum County 4-H girls modeling outfits they had made themselves and had been judged best at County level and now will go on to State judging. All the outfits were very well made and a great credit to the girls.

The ladies, not to be outdone, then had their own fashion show. Some of the “originals” in the presentation  included 1) a “box coat” - in reality a large cardboard box with soap box sleeves all set off with a stunning pill box hat made of plastic pill bottles fashioned in the latest style. 2) an original “glittering evening dress” made of ladies comfortable nightwear adorned with the glittering tops of tin cans, 3) A “tea party dress”  was fashioned of tea bags with a tea strainer lorgnette, 4) a dress for casual in-between wear, light weight and cool, was made of discard nylons,  5) and there was a spring hat – made of, you guessed it, springs! There were many more styles shown, each ingenious and laughable!

It was indeed a happy group who departed for home after a very enjoyable day, made possible by our friends across the Border. We are looking forward to next year to having the pleasure of entertaining the ladies of Clallum County when they visit us --- and we reach “Hands Across the Border” in our unified work For Home and Country.

Sadly, these annual picnics are now history. The final one was in Washington State in 2007.

Ruth Fenner Provincial Historian, BC Women's Institute