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.
-------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------
AUGUST
Firstly, I would like to thank all those that entered a patchwork square in our Sheila Norris Rose Bowl Competition this year, the entries were quite exceptional and our judge, Joan Ware, had a very hard job as they were all an excellent standard. I would like to send a huge thankyou to Joan who was meticulous with her judging, she went above and beyond what we expected of her. The results were.
1st & 2nd Kim (Orston & Thoroton WI) who will hold the Rose Bowl until next year.
Joint 3rd Elizabeth (Newark Palace WI), Denise (Wollaton WI) and Lesley (Forest Town WI). Congratulations to you all.
We held a very successful Programme Planning meeting this month, where members got together to network and share ideas to improve and develop their programmes. There was lots of sharing and discussions which was followed by a light Ploughman’s lunch and homemade cakes. We will be repeating this next year, so look out for the enclosure coming out if you would like to join us.
The new WI Constitution is now available to download on MyWI, we hope that everyone, particularly WI Committees/Teams have a look through it. As good practice we will be asking WIs to sign the back page of the new constitution, as would have been done when your WIs were formed, and return it to federation. We will be contacting each WI regarding this.
Lastly, please can I remind you of our Coffee & Chat at Maxey’s Farm Shop, Hockerton Road, Kirklington on Monday 15th September. We will be having a talk by their butchery staff which I believe is very interesting, I hope you will join us.
As always if you would like a visit or advice from your WI Support Team, please contact us via Federation Office or myself directly at helenainley@nottswi.org.uk
JULY: July, the second month of the Summer, was named after Julius Caesar who reformed the Roman calendar making it a solar calendar. July is known as the start of “dog days”, the start of hot, sultry weather. Let's hope that is the case!
I hope everyone who came to the Coffee & Chat at Brookfields Garden Centre enjoyed themselves and any questions you had were answered. All your WI Support Team enjoy meeting members at these events and getting to know you, we hope you feel the same and that they are worthwhile. We have another Coffee & Chat scheduled for 15th September at Maxey’s Farm Shop (Kirklington)A617, where we will be having a talk from their farm shop butchery department; pop it in your diaries. It will be a chance to hear about all the different cuts of meat available and how to make the best use of them, it may tempt you to make a little purchase to enjoy at home. As usual we will be there from 10am until 12noon, please do come along.
I am sure you will all be aware that a new Constitution has been launched by National after consultation with WIs and Federations. This was ratified at NFWI Annual Meeting in June. There have been several changes but the one that affects WI members most is the change of name from Dual Member to Multi Member, this is where members can have memberships with more than one WI. With this change, a Multi Member can hold Officer Positions in all their WIs, if elected, and can vote in all their WIs. It is felt that, even though they are technically voting more than once, it will not alter the outcome. The changes to our Constitution are to make it a modern document which is consistent with the benchmark of other organisations.
If you would like any advice from your advisers or request a visit, please contact us via Federation Office or I am available at helenainley@nottswi.org.uk
JUNE: My goodness the year is passing too quickly, we are nearly at the midsummer solstice. I hope you are all making the most of the longer days.
I would like to update you on the next Coffee and Chat get together that the WI Support Team will be holding on Monday 16 June. This time we will be at Brookfields Garden Centre (431 Mapperley Plains, Mapperley, NG3 5RW), in the café from 10-12 noon. We have chosen another garden centre after receiving feedback that you enjoy this type of venue which allows for a little retail therapy as well as the Coffee and Chat. Please come along and join us, we will be happy to talk through any WI queries you have or just for a lovely chat and get together; I am told they have delicious cakes available! It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet members from other WIs and maybe get hints and tips to use at your own WI. Also, your WI Support Team enjoy meeting you and getting to know members better.
As always, your WI Support Team are available for you to contact via, Federation Office and you can email me at helenainley@nottswi.org.uk
--------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------