History is a most interesting subject - everyone has influence on their own history, but the true visionaries among us are those humans, men and women, who develop an idea and have the courage and drive to bring that idea to fruition.

The Women’s Institute has two such visionaries: Adelaide Hoodless and Madge Watt. Between them they set a movement in action that has been, and continues to be an exemplary influence regarding people helping other people throughout the world. Adelaide with the WI set the pattern within Canada, Madge took that pattern to England. And later gathered the rural women’s organizations from around the world under the banner of the Associated Country Women of the World.

This history of the Women's Institutes and the Associated Country Women of the World has been made by the members. Through their dedication to the vision of these two Canadian women, they have brought those ideas to life and thereby set a standard of promoting programs of assistance to women and families in underdeveloped countries. The projects varied from teaching better health and sanitation practices, to teaching better agricultural standards and self reliance, even to the building of maternity hospitals in remote areas of Africa and sending sewing machines and instructors for them to India. Numerous communities have had water wells drilled, providing their residents with fresh and healthy water, rather than having to use surface water which was too often polluted.

Now we have the visionaries, and the workers: But without the historians, the efforts would soon be forgotten. The stories of the fund raising for projects such as I have mentioned here are astounding. For example, in one 5 year span in the 1970's the members of the British Columbia Women's Institute raised the sum if $172,560.38! No bad for a membership of some 3,000 members!

So, who does record these efforts on behalf of others? The branch secretaries who record the stories in the minutes of meetings. This information then makes is way in the Women's Institute News and eventually into the Countrywoman magazine, and hopefully they will also be archived in a suitable place where a hundred years from now that idea and pattern of helping others will still be available for sharing with other generations of dedicated members.

Why is it important that these stories be recorded fir future historians? Because it shows the concern of the women in British Columbia fir those women on the other side if the world who desperately need assistance and how some effort on our part can meet that need.

So, a short review for you: How is your Institute's history being recorded? What projects will benefit your community? Your country? Or perhaps some aspect of the global community?

Submitted by Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, BC Women’s Institute