branches of the armed services. Parcels of food and clothing were 
     
     sent to friends overseas as well as to the boys serving in the Armed 
     
     Forces—especially those from our own province. The following 
     
     quotation bears witness of their services: “The Women’s Institutes 
     
     of Prince Edward Island are to be congratulated upon the most gen- 
     
     erous donation which they have recently made to the Canadian Red 
     
     Cross Society, in the form of a cheque for $1,750.00 which is to be 
     
     used by them to purchase an ambulance. This ambulance is the first 
     
     to be donated from this province, and the women deserve a great 
     
     deal of credit for the wonderful response which they have given to 
     
     this humane cause. The Women’s Institutes have also forwarded a 
     
     donation of $200.00 towards the purchase of a similar vehic’le by the 
     
     Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     Other organizations which have received our support and 
     
     co-operation are Federation of Agriculture, Rural Beautification 
     
     Society, Farm Forum, T.B. League, Cancer Society, Adult Education 
     
     Committee, Teachers’ Federation, Polio Foundation, Canadian Leg- 
     
     ion, Home and School Association, the Hospitals and Orphanages. 
     
    

    
     The first Rally for District Presidents was held at Charlotte- 
     
     town in November 1948 and was well attended. Since then a Rally 
     
     has been held each year. 
     
    
   
   
    
     TRAVELLING VAN — The Women’s Institutes requested 
     
     the Government 0 make available to the rural women of Prince Ed- 
     
     ward Island a Travelling Van (equipped and staffed) which would 
     
     go to different centres through the ProvinCe to give instruction in 
     
     Handcrafts such as dressmaking, glove making, weaving, leather 
     
     work, etc. This has been in operation since 1950 and needless to say 
     
     is a most popular service, resulting in the exhibits at local and prov- 
     
     incial Exhibitions being much improved. 
     
    

    
     Each year during “Old Home Week” the Women’s Institutes 
     
     are responsible for the fine display of flowers, fancy-work, crafts, 
     
     cooking and home—made articles. 
     
    

    
     Many local Institutes assist the Department of Highways in 
     
     establishing roadside tables and picnic nooks. Improvements to com- 
     
     munity halls, churc‘hes, cemeteries, etc., are due mainly to local Wom- 
     
     en’s Institute groups. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Both Music and Drama Festivals have been promoted and 
     
     primarily originated in District Convention areas. These Festivals 
     
    
   
   
    
     are held annually and are highly successful. 
     
     The “Jubilee Guilds” in Newfoundland requested a member 
     
    
   
   
    
     of the Prince Edward Island Executive to speak to their groups; we 
     
     were justly proud to have our own Mrs. Michael Doyle represent 
     
     the Province; she also attended Civil Defence courses in Arnprio-r, 
     
     Out, as a representative of P.E.I. W.I. 
     
    

    
     For several years the poetry contest was very popular and 
     
     most successful. It was open to all Women’s Institutes members in 
     
     the Province as was the Program Planning project — complete pro- 
     
     grams are planned for the year and judged for content and artistic 
     
     appearance. 
     
    

    
     The Institute News is the official publication of our organiza- 
     
    
   
   
    
     _9_