Get Out! Get Active! Get Involved!

It is said fairly often how time flies - this year seems to have started at a pace!
  We have been busy in the office at WI House having started the year with a “resolution” to keep our heads above the accumulated paper mountain which, I am delighted to report, has now been considerably reduced. We have been ably assisted in this task by Mary Davis, one of our Federation Holding Trustees, who looks after our archives, so rest assured we have all that needs to be kept.
  I know that members who attended our October Council meeting were pleased to hear from Mary Davis about our Holding Trustees. Good things are always worth repeating and the following report enables us to share this with all our members. The help and support of our Holding Trustees is valued and very much appreciated.
  The three Holding Trustees are appointed by the Board and until recently had to be elected at a Council Meeting. Charity Law has changed, the positions are now permanent and they are appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Federation. If the Federation were to become incorporated at any time in the future, there would be no need for Holding Trustees.
  Any official documents relating to the Federation are held in the names of the Holding Trustees. The deeds of WI House and any leases etc. have to be signed by them and if any investments are made in stocks or shares, these also have to be held in their names. This gives continuity, as the members of the Board of Trustees may change. When Holding Trustees are appointed they have to sign a special deed drawn up by the WFWI solicitor.
  Holding Trustees attend two Board Meetings a year, the first is when the half-yearly accounts are presented to the Board and discussed. The second meeting is to scrutinise the end of year accounts, after they have been to the accountant and before they are sent out to the WIs for approval at the Annual Council Meeting.
  More recently the Board have voted that they can attend any Board Meeting they wish - they do not have a vote and are purely there in an advisory capacity. They have been more involved in the last few months because of the changes to our structure. When the WI Office was moved from Pierpoint Street the Holding Trustees were very involved with the decision making and actual move to Hallow. All three trustees are past Federation Chairmen.

Does your WI have a member appointed to look after your archives? It doesn’t have to be a committee member. If you would like information on keeping your archives and records please do contact your WI Adviser who will be happy to assist you.
I am pleased to announce that we have arranged a visit for WI members to Hartlebury Castle in July, which will include a tour and a fashion show by House of Fraser. I am looking forward to meeting with you at many of the forthcoming WI events. Please read all the news and make sure that you don’t miss anything!

Chris Hickman-Smith

Mary Davis (a member of Wells and Wyche WI) was Chairman from 1990-1993, she has been WI President and Treasurer and also Federation Treasurer from 1987-1990. She is also the WFWI Archivist.

Greta Mitchell (a member of Habberley WI) was Chairman from 1984-1987, she has been WI President and Secretary and also Chairman of the Organisation Committee (now renamed Advisers Committee), Fund Raising Committee (now Leisure and Pleasure) and Sport Committee.

Suzanne Owen (a member of Little Witley WI) was Chairman from 2002-2005, she has been WI President and Secretary and also is a WI Adviser and past Chairman of that committee.