A South Canterbury Rural Women New Zealand branch is considering its future.
The Otaio branch is down to just six members, the youngest aged 68 and some in their 80s.
President Elaine Taylor said members had agreed to continue in the meantime, but at their annual meeting in July next year they would discuss the prospect of closing after 79 years' existence.
The difficulty of continuing with dwindling numbers and ageing members was being experienced all around New Zealand, Mrs Taylor said. Younger women were mostly in the workforce or busy with other commitments. However, the local preschool group was booming, with many young families involved in the dairy industry.
Mrs Taylor said she would welcome queries from anyone interested in joining the Otaio branch. It was flexible about its meeting times, so it could gather in the morning, afternoon or evening depending on what suited members.
Monthly activities were planned, along with participating in national RWNZ campaigns including school bus safety awareness, Women Walk the World, and the Fairlie Mid-Winter Seminar.
Mrs Taylor said the branch combined with its Lyalldale counterpart this month to discuss India, the organisation's ''country of study'' for 2013. Mrs Taylor can be phoned on (03) 612-6483.