392 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



INSTITUTES FOR WOMEN. 



In making the country home a special department in institute 

 organization and effort, through the organizing in rural districts of 

 societies composed altogether of women, the paramount importance 

 of woman's work as the home builder is recognized by the State, and 

 systematic effort made to aid her from the public treasury, equal to 

 that now given to workers in the field. 



That this work is coming into appreciation is shown by the fact 

 that 16 States held 444 institutes for women last year, or 299 more 

 than were held during the previous year. Before, however, they will 

 increase with the rapidity that their importance demands it will be 

 necessary for the State directors to send out organizers to call meet- 

 ing's for women and organize them into clubs as auxiliaries to the 

 farmers' institutes of the county and State. If this were done their 

 number would increase many hundredfold within a year. As soon as 

 the State directors come to see and appreciate the importance of this 

 phase of their work such organizers will be employed and women's 

 institutes established equal in number at least with those now in 

 operation for men. 



A method of organizing women's associations that seems to have 

 ■worked well has been put in operation in Oklahoma. There the 

 county farmers' institute is chartered by the State upon application 

 of not less than 15 farmers resident in the county and is continued 

 upon the payment of an annual membership fee of not less than 

 60 cents per member. 



A county woman's auxiliarj' of the farmers' institute may also be 

 organized in each county. These auxiliaries are empowered to organ- 

 ize separately from the farmers' institutes and work under separate 

 programs. To be entitled, however, to recognition by the State they 

 must charge and collect an annual membership fee of not less than 

 26 cents per member and must make report to the county institute 

 showing their membership and giving the name of each member. 

 No name can be listed unless the person shall have paid a membership 

 fee of at least 25 cents for the year. The statement must show also 

 the total amount of the membership fees collected in the county and 

 give an itemized list of the expenses of the auxiliary for the year, 

 accompanied by receipted vouchers showing payment in full of all 

 expenses so itemized. 



Upon compliance with these provisions the report of the auxiliary 

 is made a part of the report of the farmers' institute of the county, 

 and the auxiliary is entitled to its pro rata share of the county funds 

 appropriated for the support of the institute work. 



Branches of this county woman's auxiliary may be formed and 

 become a part of the county association. The §tate organizer or 



