Chairman’s chat

Hello everyone – and a Happy New Year to all

My fellow trustee Barbara Young and I were delighted to be able to join Upton cum Kexby WI at their 60th anniversary celebrations just before Christmas. Invites such as this are one of the pleasures trustees can enjoy. However, there are responsibilities to undertake in this role too and a new feature in the WI News for 2025 will focus on this. The first instalment is below. Later this year there will be the election for trustees to serve for the next three-year term; maybe you will be inspired to put your name forward.

Over the years, we have been very lucky to have some dedicated trustees volunteering a good deal of time in making sure our federation offers members a fulfilling experience. None more so than Sara Carter, who served as federation treasurer. Her multi-coloured jacket at annual meetings was legendary. We were saddened to hear the news Sara lost her four-year battle with cancer on January 15. Sara was a truly inspiring woman; a bright star who will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her. Our thoughts are with her husband, Bernard, and all the family at this time.

Take care as always
Dianne    

Inside the February newsletter

Page 2: Your Trustees
Page 3: Event reports
Page 4: Upcoming events
Pages 5 & 6  : Your reports from around the Federation
Page 7:  NEWS of things you wont want to miss
Page 8: Diary dates

Chairman’s Chat

Hello everyone
Where does the time go? We are rapidly heading towards Christmas and already well into the planning stages for 2025 events – indeed our events and activity team is already starting on 2026!
In last month’s WI News, we revealed our speaker for the Federation Annual Meeting in March will be Tracy Borman, something that seems to have had a very favourable response.
Over the past few years, numbers at the annual meetings have been steady at around the 280 member mark. While Skegness’s Embassy Theatre can comfortably hold a lot more than that, this year’s venue is more limited. So, to make it fair on everyone, each WI will have an initial allocation of FIVE TICKETS.
These tickets will be available until Monday 14th January, 2025. Any tickets not requested by that date will be reissued to those WIs requesting more than their initial allocation. This reallocation will be done by a ballot if there are more requests than we have tickets for.
We appreciate this is a very different way of doing things, but please bear with us. The important thing is to make sure you get your requests for tickets in early. It would be helpful if one person from each WI is responsible for ordering tickets so better track can be kept of who wants what.
The ticket price has been held at the same price – £13 – and payment, as always, must be made at the time of booking to secure tickets. However, if you are requesting more than your allocation of 5, please only pay for five tickets in the first instance. Bookings open on November 4.
I hope that all makes sense, but please just ask if you have any queries.
Take care as always
Dianne

Inside the November Newsletter

Page 2: Chairmans chat; 50/50
Page 3: Carriages & a Red Dress!
Page 4 & 5: Event notices & Reports
Page 6 & 7: Around the Federation
Page 8: Dates for your diary

Chairman’s Chat

Hello everyone

Well, at last we have had a bit of good weather  – you have been able to enjoy some of the
sunshine. Let’s hope it isn’t the last for this summer.
It has been a busy time with show season and I echo our catering officer Janet’s thanks to everyone who has helped in any way. It really is only possible to take part in these shows with the help of those willing to volunteer their time at the events or helping provide cakes. We really are lucky to have such generous members and friends.
Thanks also go to everyone who came along to the recent coffee morning at WI House – another opportunity to get together for some social time. Once again, it was in support of EDAN Lincs and more than £140 was raised through donations for refreshments. A further £60 was raised for the raffle and this will be split between EDAN Lincs and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.
Our next coffee morning at WI House will be on Thursday September 26. I am sorry to mention the ‘C’ word, but it has to be done, as we will be launching the Gifts to Go Christmas selection on this day. Thanks go to trustees Barbara and Paula who source the Gifts to Go stock – I have had a sneaky peak and there are some lovely items once again.
I was pleased recently to pay a visit to our newest WI – Bailgate WI in Lincoln – to give a potted history of the WI, focussing on the importance of resolutions over the years and looking at the organisation today and the opportunities it brings.
It was fantastic to see the display they have each month on federation events and national information, as well as the many activities they have planned for their own members.
I am looking forward to visiting more WIs in the near future and also to seeing lots of you at the events organised for the next few months.
Have a good summer and take care as always
Dianne

Inside the August Newsletter

Page 2: Chairman’s chat
Page 3 & 4: Events
Page 5: Reports
Page 6 – 9: Lincolnshire Show
Page 10: News and 50/50
Page 11: Your reports
Page 12: Calendar of events

Chairman’s Chat

Hello everyone

Well what a busy time it has been. We have had the Carrington Rally, the National meeting in London and the Lincolnshire Show.
As Janet says in her report on page 5, Carrington provided a number of challenges, not least the weather. My trainers took three days to dry out
The National Meeting was at the Royal Albert Hall and I think everyone attending would agree it was a truly inspiring event, While the theme running through the day was domestic abuse, there was also plenty of humour to be had. For me, the highlight was the morning speaker, former public prosecutor Nazir Afzal. His compassion to the victims he represented was evident and his delivery was rewarded with a standing ovation. A recording of the meeting can be found on mywi – well worth a watch.
As this newsletter gets ready for printing, we are in the throws of the Lincolnshire Show. A report and pictures will be in the next edition of the WI News, but keep an eye on the Federation’s Facebook page for some information.
Take care as always
Dianne

Inside the July newsletter

Page 2: Chairman’s chat; 50/50 draw
Page 3: Upcoming events
Page 4: The Red Dress; lunches
Page 5: Carrington 2024
Pages 6 & 7: Around your federation
Page 8: Calendar of events