WI Support Team
Chairman: Susan Spanswick
We have 6 WI Advisers and 2 Adviser Support
We all help and support WIs throughout Nottinghamshire - we can start a new WI, help an existing WI, and will put on training events for new Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers.
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If you would like to join one of our WIs in Nottinghamshire or start a new WI, Please contact the County Office 01636 673550 or email: secretary@nottswi.org.uk
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June 2021
Your committee has been sent detailed information about completing a Risk Assessment prior to holding a WI meeting. However, as a member you need to do your bit. Before attending a get-together, ask yourself if you are feeling OK and Covid free; had the two jabs; and not been in recent contact with anyone with Covid? This will enable us to resume our WI life safely.
This year’s resolution is close to my heart as my mother died of ovarian cancer. A good year before she died, she complained about losing weight quickly. Lucky her, I thought, but possibly not as it was most probably the first silent sign. Even if the resolution is not passed it would be worth our while to learn the silent signs and spread the word when we can. Remember this year you do not have to have voted in May but can wait until after the National AM in June, when there may be more information, before you vote. Your WI then must contact your Link delegate with your vote. Delegates then must register votes with NFWI by 9th July. Next month this column will be coming to you from the new WI Support Team Chair, Susan Spanswick. My best wishes Susan. Kind regards Helen
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March 2021
I love musicals, so the BBC’s Musicals: Greatest Shows from The London Palladium the other night was a joy. No audience, so what did they do? The pit is too small to space out the orchestra, so put them on the stage, in the stalls and at the sides of the circle; There’s not enough room for the groups and the chorus, so stick them in the middle of the dress circle to strut their stuff.
What about the compere? Put her in the Royal Box. The Queen isn’t there. We want stars from America. Then use Zoom. So, let’s think about restarting our WIs for where there is the will, there is the way!
Come and join your WI Advisers on Thursday 18 March @ 7.00p.m. as they share their thoughts on restarting our WIs. National has thought outside the box with subs, now let’s find the will and the way to jump start our WIs.
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February 2021
What a treat it was to listen to Toto James from National telling her WI story.
A woman of countless energy and dynamism and with a great WI message. The WI has given her a sense of belonging, a chance to meet others and opportunities to give new ideas a go.
Those of us who have taken the opportunity to meet together on Zoom have continued the sense of belonging and tried new ideas. None of us had used Zoom before. Few of us had little idea what to do. We fiddled with different keys, even ended up sideways at one point, but together we have continued our WI journey.
If you have access to the internet, or if you have a phone to listen in, we strongly urge you to stop saying " I can't" and have a go. It really is worth the effort, and if you tell us you might need help, then we will try and help you along the way.
A Checklist & guidance for all WIs is being sent this month to WI Committees to help and give ideas on how to maintain contact with their members.
The WI Support Team are organising a Zoom event, "WI Meetings 2021' on
Thursday 18th March@ 7pm. What is best about our WI but look to a new future.
Join with the WIST team, see how we can use what we have learnt from lockdown and start to rebuild our Wis. Open to all members.
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WI Meetings
What’s the situation with pink elastic? The constitution says, “A minimum of 11 meetings open to all WI members should be held each year in whatever month or months and at whatever place or time decided by the members or the committee”. The first thing is should not must, and this is an unusual year. The second thing is whatever month or months. So if members are to receive value for money then 11 meetings should be held during the year, even if this meant two or more in one month or even all of them in one month. As long as all the members are told where and when, and the meeting/event/activity is free [apart from refreshments and/or raffle] it can be whatever you like, after the pandemic is over of course – a walk, a picnic, kurling, visit to art gallery etc. WIs with pending year-ends are requested to extend their financial year to 31st July. Any WI not able to hold their Annual Meeting is to postpone it until September. We have been advised by NFWI that refunds for subscriptions are not being considered.
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Be BOLD, Be INCLUSIVE, Be FLEXIBLE and GROW [P.21 WI Life}
Be BOLD – Have you had a speaker talking about the achievement of a woman? Has your WI offered members the opportunity to do something different?
Be INCLUSIVE – Are you really friendly and welcoming to new members or do you have to sit where and with whom you always sit?
Be FLEXIBLE – Have you surveyed your members to see if the time and place of meetings, including committee meetings and activities, are convenient for everybody?
GROW – Is your WI on Facebook and is it used well for promotion? If not, apply for funding from your local MP and for 3- 6 months send out a newsletter to 50-100 houses in the area.
These are just a few suggestions, we bet you can think of and do more.
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Data Protection for ALL members. When sending out emails to more than one WI member it is important that you put all recipients in BCC (blind carbon copy) not CC, as you are breaching data protection by showing other members’ email addresses. We are sure that everyone knows that members’ emails are for WI business only.
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The Annual Meeting Paperwork is under review and will be available shortly
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How many committee meetings should be held in a year. The constitution says a minimum of 6 meetings a year should be held. However, your WI may well need more meetings in order to keep up to date with news and events and of course planning for your main meetings may take some time. Remember the saying that "If you fail to plan then you plan to fail". I am sure that doesn't affect your WI but planning is an essential part of running a good WI and this is generally done at your WI Committee meetings.
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Question
My new member hasn't received WI Life why is this?
Answer.
In order to receive WI Life your new members' details need to be added to the MCS register with a date of joining. After her details are added she will start receiving WI Life, she will receive a New members pack from the Federation via her email or the Hornblower envelope sent to your WI and she will also receive a new member pack sent to her from National but only if her details are put on within three months of her joining. It is important that the MCS is kept up to date not only by adding new members but deleting members who are no longer in your WI.
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We have a page to help WIs - WI Guide and Promotions.
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