Every WI is placed in a group of local WI's for the purpose of their Spring Group Meeting where one WI acts as convener and organises the meeting with the help of the other WI's in the Group. This meeting has a 'special' speaker or good entertainer and sometimes an entertainment takes place as well as a speaker. These Spring Group Meetings are a chance for the smaller WI to hear a speaker from further a field who they could not afford and also to meet up with friends from other WI's. Competitions which are of help to those in need are often organised, items for hospitals and premature baby units and sewing kits for Africa etc. When you add together all the items, Essex members really must make a difference! The meetings usually have excellent refreshments and a good time is had by all.
Area Activities are another group, quite separate from the Spring Group. Any WI may belong to any Area Activities Group. They were formed to give access to outings, classes and sport, enabling WI's to join together. Their finances are quite separate from any of the participating WI's. Each Group is self-financing.
WI Advisers, although Advisers are allocated a certain number of WI Groups to look after, they are happy to give advice and guidance to any WI, if approached.
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On 7th November some of the members from our new WI's came to the Federation. They were able to see the offices and had the office procedures explained. We then held an informal meeting explaining about Links, Groups, Annual meetings etc. Soup and roll, followed by cake was served before they departed. All seemed to find the morning beneficial. |
