ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 681 



HiKM OF ORGANIZATION. 



No uniform system has yet been adopted for the organization of 

 women's institutes. In most instances they are conducted along the same 

 lines as the general institutes for men, except that the subjects for dis- 

 cussion are specially selected with reference to women's life and work. 



If institute work for women is to be undertaken in any extended 

 or comprehensive way, it will be necessary to adopt some method for 

 conducting it that will secure the best results so far as imparting in- 

 struction is concerned, and also insure its perpetuity and development. 

 While no single form of organization could probably be devised that would 

 be equally well adapted to all the various conditions existing in the sev- 

 eral states, there nevertheless is some advantage in having at hand a gen- 

 eral outline that might be pursued in whole or in part if circumstances 

 were favorable to its adoption. 



Although a number of plans are in operation, any one of which would 

 be serviceable in directing the women's institute movement, there is one 

 in particular that has Tjeen quite definitely worked out and tested until it 

 may safely be suggested as worthy of special consideration by institute 

 directors. It is the plan in use in the state of Illinois. In that state 

 institutes specially for women have been organized in connection with 

 the farmers' institutes and have been in successful operation since 1898. 

 The system of organization is precisely the same as for farmers' insti- 

 tutes; that is. one woman's organization for each county working in 

 conjunction with the county institute for men, and conducting at least 

 one session for women at each annual meeting. Any number of additional 

 local organizations or auxiliary clubs may be formed and conducted 

 in a county, upon any plan that may be considered most convenient and 

 helpful. The feature in the system that specially commends it is the 

 county organization of women working in connection with the county 

 farmers' institute organization for men. 



The following form of constitution adopted for the women's county as- 

 sociations shows the character of the organization its purposes, and its 

 relation to the institutes for men: 



CONSTITUTION FOR COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 



Article I. 



Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The Association 

 of Domestic Science. 



Article II. 



Section 1. The object shall be to promote the interests of the home 

 by a careful study of the following subjects: 



Sec. 2. The composition of foods and the combinations and prepara- 

 tions best calculated to meet the needs of the body, and to insure 

 its highest efficiency. 



