ANNUAL MEETING OF NFWI  Echo Arena Liverpool 7th June 2017

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Braunston & Brook W.I  Oakham Afternoon WI. Oakham Evening WI. Uppingham WI.

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  We arrived in Liverpool at the Liner Hotel dead on 2pm (as scheduled) after a very smooth uneventful journey. Most members then went walkabout around the city. I found myself in the lovely Anglican Cathedral with another WI member after we had been blown by a gale most of the way. At one point I almost ‘took off’ but was caught by my new friend. The next morning we were coached to the Echo Arena.  Our bags were checked but they found our assorted bags of sandwiches uninteresting!

The Meeting commenced at 10.30am by our Chairman Janice Langley with ‘Jerusalem’ (0f course) then we were welcomed by the Mayor of Liverpool who, naturally stated that he was nervous of having the same reception as a certain Antony Blair!! I really do not think that any male speaker at any of our future Annual Meetings will not have those same thoughts. We were advised in our Programme Booklet that THIS would not be tolerated!

Next came the “Business section” Appointment of returning officers and Tellers.

Adoption of Standing Orders and the Chairman’s address of Welcome.                          

Huntingdon & Peterborough Federation wished to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and this was passed by a show of hands

As from the 12th June The NFWI Communications Web Homepage website will have been upgraded. This will be available to only WI members. Please make sure that your e-mail address is logged. Check with your Secretary / Treasurer

Subscription for WI Life is up but 88% of membership felt that it was ‘value for money’

35% of the members were not willing to subsidise Denman House from subscriptions even though it continues to provide great Educational  courses to members and non-members. There is now a new book “ on the 70 years of Denman” for sale to help raise funds for its upkeep

Further full account figures are available on line if your Treasurer wishes more information.

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Jo Fairley co-founder of Green & Blacks Organic Chocolate was our first speaker. (alas no freebies) She was very articulate and spoke very interestingly about how this organic chocolate  success came about. Her business in the setting up of this business happened after she took it upon herself to try one of two squares of chocolate on Adrian’s desk. Loved it both for the flavour and the fact that she did not develop a headache. Adrian and Jo’ became business partners, then later were married. Jo’ had much previous experience in Marketing strategy and then was able to raise funds for the new business by selling her flat

In London.  Because this chocolate was organic and suitable for anyone with allergies,  it soon became a hit on the world markets. Taken up by the UP-market Stores then soon taken on by the big supermarkets. One was because the wife of the CEO of one of the big chains had some of this Choc at a friend’s dinner party and insisted that her husband stocked it his chain of stores (? Sainsbury or Tesco) 78% of this choc’ is Cocoa solid and was found to be grown in Maya, South Africa.  I now s FairTrade.  MAYA GOLD has won “Cool Brands” 10years running.

The success of this company has enabled them to provide aid in many of the African countries . 80% of pupils in Maya now go to Secondary Schools. The women who grow the beans buy tins of sardines to supplement their diet (full of all their missing nutrients)

 Jo and Craig now have an Organic Bakery, A 9 Bedroom Wellbeing Centre & moved into Perfumes plus many other products. Too many for me to make a note of as everything had to move on so fast. I wished that I could write shorthand!

She has written a book. “Shoppers Guide to Saving the Planet”)

Her mantra is “Success”:  Work Hard, Do Good, Have Fun & Teamwork. 

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First Resolution         Alleviating   Loneliness

The wording of this resolution caused some concern to many members, as it did to many of the members of the 4 Institutes I represented

The Speaker Marcus Rand  (A Director of Communications) did not tell us anything that we, as members of the WI, did not already know. But stated that this situation  is only just being  recognised  as a growing problem! Two and half million people do not know where to go for help.

The Seconder for the resolution was a Nurse, Sociologist. Etc. and was introduced by our Chairman as being FOR the resolution but would try to put the argument for the ‘Against’

I can only say that everything she said was all that had been stated at our meetings.

We did not want politics to be involved when the WI members are already doing what comes naturally to them, ie Helping others. Any legislation would involve paperwork,  control, time and costs. Plus the Social workers would have trouble with the ‘Confidentiality Clause” She also stated that when she once asked an elderly lady if she wanted to have a Social worker to organise  visitors  as part of a package .She stated that she did not want or need to PAY for friendship!

The delegates who managed to ask questions from the floor still did not clarify exactly what the vote was for or against. But spoke of their personal experiences of loneliness.

1. Were we For  working with Health and Social Workers and possibly causing problems with any confidentiality clauses and costs.

2.  Or Against because as WI members we could become involved and help (Our ‘grapevine’ must be one of the best) and not give the Health and Social Workers more paperworkI, with the rest of the ladies in my row in which I sat, all voted AGAINST which was the way I had been  instructed by you all..

We were amazed that the final vote was     4,334    FOR

                                                                        1,119 AGAINST

These figures may not be accurate as they were read out so quickly and not repeated. But the result was obvious. Many gasped at the result!  These results of this resolution were given at the end of the afternoon session, but I felt that you would like to know at this point of my report.

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The afternoon session started at 2.30pm

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The second Resolution was on Plastic Soup

The First Speaker for the Resolution was very good and spoke clearly on this difficult topic.

She was an Oceanographer with a special interest in Langoustines and Scampi (aren’t we all!)

but especially in the poisoning of these sea creatures and therefore into our food chain.

She spends much of her time at sea studying the problem but stated that we do not know enough. She spoke about filterisation in the Waterworks filtration plants plus small ones in our washing machines. The ‘gung’ could then be burnt.

Manufacturers of textiles could be encouraged to use less harmful materials (There are some which are not so problematic)

The Seconder for this Resolution was equally as clear, stating that plastic bottles etc. etc. were only the tip of the iceberg. If they were the tip whatever was the bottom of the iceberg like!

The urgency of this matter must be passed to the Waterworks and their fellow professionals as many are completely unaware of the problem! Better filters in the manufacturing of Washing machines plus reducing the laundry piles.

WI members who spoke from the floor reiterated what had been said. One was a retired

Oceanographer with much knowledge of the problem and another has a daughter who spends a great deal of her time in a ship in the middle of the Atlantic taking water samples.

Until now this daughter showed no interest in her mothers’ WI activities. When she heard of this resolution she threw her arms around her mother stating that “You must do something”

Much applause from the audience.

Strangely there was no one to speak against this Resolution!

The vote For  6,132

            Against 157

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Our guest speaker for the afternoon session was Susie Dent known by most of us as the resident dictionary expert in Dictionary  corner on “CountDown”

She kept us amused by her stories of how words can be misused and muddled, “Malaphors”

She became interested in words as a Very young child preferring to read the dictionary instead of a children’s book. She felt that she needed to learn new words every day! Look where it got her!  The history of words and how their meanings change over the years were of further interest. I think that she could have gone on for hours but time was limited.

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The afternoon session finished with the results of the New Board as 5 members retire after this meeting.

Prizes were given out and cups presented by Chairman Janice.

The New members for the in-coming Committee were introduced to everyone and our Chairman gave her farewell speech after being Chair for 3 years.

She shared some memories with us and gave special thanks to her committee.

The afternoon was completed by a musical session by “THE RETROS” who regaled us all with the MERSEY BEAT. Who remembers Gerry and the Pacemakers, needless to say the floor and aisles were heaving with waving arms (and legs) and a great time was had by all. Even the Top Table were waving to the music, it looked great.

We were well warmed up for the final rendition of Jerusalem and Land of My Fathers (in welsh - we were given the phonetic version.) 

Then it was time to go home.