WI Support Team
TEAM LEADER: Helen Ainley
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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MAY
Welcome to May everyone, this month marks the full bloom of Spring and the beginning of Summer when we have the long lighter evenings to enjoy. We are also getting nearer to our Annual Meeting which had to be postponed until Saturday 14June. I hope you are all looking forward to this in the new format we are trying this year, of workshops in the morning with the AM business and excellent speaker in the afternoon. It promises to be an enjoyable day. Can I please remind everyone who is thinking of entering the Sheila Norris Rose Bowl competition that entries can either be sent into Federation Office before the AM or taken on the day but must be submitted before 12.30pm. We have had some lovely entries sent to Federation Office already, but you still have time to get creative and show us what fabulous talent we have in Nottinghamshire.
May is also our resolution month when we decide if our individual WIs are going to support the resolution that has been chosen to go forwards to our NFWI Annual Meeting in June. This year's chosen resolution is “Bystanders can be Lifesavers.” Each WI has been sent an information pack about this via your secretary which contains lots of information plus details of other resources that are available for you to look at so you can make an informed decision. It also gives details of how this resolution, if passed, could be worked on at a local level and how NFWI will take it forward. I do hope you all have this scheduled for this month's meeting.
As always, your WI Support Team are available to you if you need any advice or support, if you do, please contact me via helenainley@nottswi.org.uk or via Federation Office.
APRIL
Welcome to April everyone, I hope you are all looking forward to the arrival of the Easter Bunny and all those chocolate treats, personally I can’t wait. Apologies to those who aren’t chocoholics! We must not forget though why we give eggs; it symbolises new life and new beginnings.
Also, at this time of year a lot of WI’s are starting their new financial year with new officers. I would like to remind those officers that they can find a considerable amount of advice and training on MyWI and in the WI Handbook as well as contacting the WI Support Team and the Independent Financial Advisers (IFE’s).
I have been asked to remind Treasurer’s that on the spreadsheet or accounts book, each separate receipt/payment should be on a separate line with no lump sums; each item must be documented on its own line. Also, it is recommended that you reconcile your accounts to the bank statement each month as this way it's so much easier to find errors than at the end of your financial year.
We realise a few of our WI’s are suspending for various reasons, but before going down this route please consider amalgamation with a neighbouring WI. If you feel your WI is struggling in any way the Support Team are always available with advice as it is so sad to lose a WI if we can find a way to avoid it. As always you can contact me at helenainley@nottswi.org.uk or via Federation Office.
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MCS REGISTER
After your Annual Meetings you may possibly have changes of officers, please can I remind you that these changes must be logged onto the Membership Communication System (MCS) as soon as possible after your meeting. This ensures that the details are carried forward, so the Yearbook is kept up to date and that mailings etc are sent to the correct person. The office also needs to update changes to passwords on Office 365. If you need any information about running your Annual Meeting it is worth having a look in the WI Handbook, it should be your go to for anything WI. You can find this on My WI or if you prefer a paper copy that can be requested from the Federation Office for a small charge for printing and postage.
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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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