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We cover a huge geographical area from the more industrial south, along the beautiful coastline and into the more rural villages in the north of the county. We are the largest Federation with 9500 members in 225 Institutes Our Aim is: To offer
opportunities for all women to enjoy friendship, to learn, to widen their
horizons and together to influence local, national and international
affairs. About us:
The WI Centre is at
Whitelands,
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We are a limited company with Charitable status and are governed by our written Constitution. The Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, known as the executive committee, consists of 12 women who are elected by the members biennially. It is their responsibility to oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation. This committee is headed by the Federation Chairman, Julie Alen.
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PHOTO OF NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2008 - 2010 |
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From left to right -Front row : Liz Buxton, Susan Tyler Damon (Treasurer),
Julie Alen (Federation Chairman), Judy Monk (Federation Secretary),
Pauline Michaels. Back row: Margaret Smith, Margaret Astley-Cooper, Jill Warner, Kay Lodge, June Ward, Lesley Grove, Janice Baldwin, Val Stone and Hazel Ridgewell |
Organising the various events and functions which are open to all members are the sub-committees comprising of:
Arts & Leisure, Current Affairs and Home Economics and Members Advisory.
A Show working party is brought together each year.
We also have a Catering Ad-hoc committee.
We are affiliated to the National Federation of Women's Institutes which is the largest women's organisation in the country. It is both non party political and non sectarian
MEET THE STAFF AT THE WI CENTRE
From left to right. Maureen (accounts), Sandra (Reception), Judy (Federation Secretary) and Sheena (Assistant Federation Secretary)
A short history of the W.I.
The Women's Institute started in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada in 1897 as a 'self help' group for farmer's wives. Adelaide Hoodless's youngest child had died from drinking contaminated milk and she was determined that it shouldn't happen to other children. She set up the Women's Institute with the aim of educating and supporting its members which is a tradition the WI upholds to-day. Since its inception the WI has been non-sectarian and non-party political. However, as the largest women's organisation in the country, we are a force to be reckoned with and continually campaign for changes and improvements to the position of women and that of their families. We pride ourselves on the fact that all members pay the same subscription and are equal in all ways.
Mrs Alfred Watt brought the idea of W.I. to Great Britain in 1915 and the first meeting was held on September 16th in Lanfairpwll on the Isle of Anglesey. Subscription to the WI was set at 2/- (10 pence).
The organisation spread quickly throughout England and Wales and The Federation of Essex Women's Institutes FEWI, was formed in 1917 and now has around 250 WIs with some 9,500 members. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar organisations in The Scottish Rural Women's Institute and the Northern Ireland WI.
