. ALPHA YORK . Miss Grace Dutcher, of the Household 
     
     Science Dept. P.W.C. organized the Institute, on April 10th, 1911. 
     
     The first officers were President, Mrs. John Gill, Vice President, 
     
     Mrs. Amos West, Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. Peter Brodie. 
     
    

    
     . In the winter of 1910—11 acting under the advice and with 
     
     the support of the Hon. Mr. Richards Commissioner of Agriculture at 
     
     that time, and acting on a wish expressed by the men of Excelsior 
     
     Farmer’s Institute, the ladies of York decided to organize a Wo- 
     
     men’s Institute with the idea of following along the lines of work 
     
     taken up by Women’s Institutes in Ontario and other Provinces of 
     
     Canada. 
     
    

    
     Following are the minutes of the organization of this, the 
     
     first Women’s Institute on P. E. Island. 
     
    

    
     York April 10th, 1911. 
     
    

    
     The ladies of York met in the Hall on Monday evening, April 
     
     10th, for the purpose of organizing a Women’s Institute. Miss Eliza 
     
     Vessey was called to the chair, and the business of the evening was 
     
     proceeded with. Mrs. John H. Gill was unanimously chosen Presi- 
     
     dent, with Mrs. Amos West, Vice-President, and Mrs. Peter Brodie, 
     
     Secretary Treasurer. The following were then appointed as direc- 
     
     tors: Mrs. Isaac Holman, Mrs. Cephas West, Mrs. Bert Brown and 
     
     Mrs. Milton Vessey. 
     
    

    
     On motion, it was decided that the Institute be named the 
     
     “Alpha Women’s Institute”. The following motions were sustained. 
     
     That an annual membership fee of 25 cents be paid, that the In- 
     
     stitute meet on' the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month and the 
     
     meeting to open at 7:30 pm. and adjourn at 9:30 sharp. 
     
    

    
     On motion, it was decided to ask Miss Dutcher of the House- 
     
     hold Science Department of Prince of Wales College to visit our In- 
     
     stitute as soon as convenient. The Institute was organized with 17 
     
     members. Two members paid their fees. Meeting adjourned. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mrs. Peter Brodie, Secretary. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Since that time, almost 50 years ago, this Institute, thus 
     
     humbly organized has continued without a break to grow in mem- 
     
     bership, interest and influence in the community and has to some 
     
     extent, at least, accomplished its ideals. In the first days, we, at 
     
     times, received practical assistance from the Department of Agri- 
     
     culture through Miss Dutcher, teacher at Prince of Wales College, 
     
     who at that time was employed by them in the Domestic Science 
     
     Department. 
     
    

    
     At each meeting interesting papers, original and otherwise, on 
     
     various subjects were read and occasionally a demonstration was 
     
     given as well as talks on gardening, home decoration, preserving, etc. 
     
    

    
     Our first consideration was the improvement of our school. We 
     
     raised funds for the laying of a hardwood floor and placed a drink- 
     
     ing fountain and drinking cups in the school. 
     
    

    
     Hall improvement. Local Exhibitions, School Fairs, Temper- 
     
     ance Education, Tuberculosis and other problems came under our 
     
    
   
   
    
     --35-.-.—