WI Support Team
Chairman: Susan Spanswick
We have 5 WI Advisers
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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February:
Hello everybody, it’s good to be back and thinking about the coming year, but it was certainly a bumpy end to the old year and the beginning of the new one. However, there is still plenty to look forward too; I am already booking places on the events planned by the Federation in 2022, so fingers crossed.
The WI Support Team has also been busy planning a programme of events to help and support all our WIs. In March we are planning a Presidents and Secretaries workshop, always a popular event for both established officers and the “newbies” who are just taking on the job. I remember when I was new to both roles, there were so many questions I needed to ask and so many things I didn’t know. In May we are planning a workshop on how to publicise and promote your WI followed by a Treasurers Workshop in June and a Programme Planning session in July. To round of the year there will be a session on Archiving for WIs in either September or October. We are hoping to see as many of you as possible at these events, but at any time you are welcome to contact the team if you have questions or you need clarification about anything concerning your WI; we will do our absolute best to answer them as quickly and fully as possible.
One gentle reminder before I go, I know with all the upheavals caused by Covid, WIs may have had to amend their meeting venues when previous ones have closed and not re-opened sometimes resulting in a change of meeting time. May have also changed the month they hold their Annual Meeting. We fully appreciate why these changes might have occurred for whatever reason, but the Federation must be informed about them, if your WI has made any change, please let County Office know as soon as possible so that records can be kept up to date. You need to change your venue details on your WI MCS information as this will then change your website page.
Wishing you all the best until next time. Susan Spanswick, WI Support Team Chair
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Be BOLD, Be INCLUSIVE, Be FLEXIBLE and GROW
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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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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