Get Out! Get Active! Get Involved!

OPENING HOURS

The office is open from 9.30am - 1.00pm Monday to Thursday. The telephone is only open from 9.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Thursday. Our staff working hours extend either side of these times on the four days and if you wish to call in, collect or leave items outside of these hours, please make arrangements with them to do so. As from Thursday 6 September and every first Thursday thereafter, the WFWI telephone line will be closed for the duration of the day.

COPYRIGHT LAWS - INFORMATION FOR WIS

All WIs need to ensure that copyright Rules/ laws are upheld when using any photographs/ illustrations, from the internet, for any form of advertising platform.

PHOTOGRAPHY PERMISSIONS
Please note that anyone sending in photographs to WI House and/or the website have implicit permission to use from everyone visible in the photograph. The onus is on the WI/photographer to check those being photographed are aware that the picture may be published.

GOOD PRACTICE - FIRST AID

It is good practice that WIs check the First Aid facilities in their meeting rooms, ensuring that they are complete and fit for purpose, in case the need to use them should arise.

MCS – NEW CHANGES

MCS is the NFWI database that holds the records of all individual members in the UK. You are now able to log into your own MCS record to amend your personal details and add your interests. However, please note that only MCS Reps will continue being able to add new members and remove leaving members from the system.

Any member who has a valid email address on the MCS, and has not yet received an email containing their login details, should go to the NFWI website, click into ‘Log in to My WI’, and click on the link: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/ to request access. This will also then give you access to the new ‘My WI website.’

MCS REPS _ IMPORTANT
Please ensure that the database is kept up to date – add, remove and amend any changes to members information as quickly as possible. Once you have added your new WI member(s) to the MCS, let WI House know the name and address so that a WFWI Welcome Pack to be sent out.

Please, Please, Please check for duplicates when adding someone’s name to the database – do not assume they are new to the WI organisation just because they are new to your WI. After entering the lady’s name and postcode, ALWAYS click the ‘check for Duplicates’ box to see if the lady’s name appears in the drop-down box, usually along with her last WI’s name. If so select her details, which will then lead you to select her address. This process will link her details correctly on the system and avoid duplication. A member can only ever be a full member at one WI; any other membership will be dual.
Dual Membership – Please inform WI House of any new or changing dual memberships – Do not attempt to adjust on the system as this creates duplicates.

CLASSES AND EVENTS

Please remember to send these to WI House for the attention of Trudi Tayloe and to email events@worcsfwi.org.uk and
for general admin queries contact Fiona on admin@worcsfwi.org.uk. Don’t forget to send the appropriately sized stamped addressed envelope for any reply. Please send payment for all events on individual WI cheques. Details for all events and the application forms are available on our website. Please also note that ALL meetings and events held at WI House will take place upstairs. If access is a problem, please inform the office immediately in order for alternative arrangements to be made, as ALL members attending will need to be notified. We always endeavour to cover the County when holding events but due to size and facility restrictions, at venues’, this is not always possible. Please note that we are not responsible for external information published in this Website.

POSTAGE
Please check you have paid the correct postage when sending post to the office. We have had a few occasions recently when we have been charged extra by the Royal Mail for mail coming into the office. Thank you.

REMINDER
Please use WI cheques and not personal cheques when sending payments into the office.

REPLY SLIPS
The contact details should be completed by the person who is happy to receive the information that will need to be passed on to the members/non-members attending the event.

CHARITY COMMISSION RULES REMINDER
A WI may ONLY be seen to support a LOCAL CHARITY. The charity rulings prohibit national charities supporting each other.
WFWI WEBSITE
There is a lot of information to be found on this website, both local and National. Please check regularly as this is constantly updated. If you wish to put any of your WI events or activities on the website then contact Jill at worcswi@yahoo.co.uk. Don’t forget to post your WI news on facebook, Instagram and add your tweets on Twitter – follow us on Worcestershire Federation of WIs and @worcsfedwi.

AROUND THE COUNTY
Has your WI had an exciting meeting or been out on a trip? Then please let WI House know so we can include in the County News for other members to read about. Where possible please send a digital photo to illustrate your brief account; not forgetting to make sure anyone in it has given their permission! Send to: admin@worcsfwi.org.uk.

POSTCODES FOR MEETING HALLS

Please ensure that the Village Hall or Meeting Room has its postcode clearly displayed in case the emergency services are needed as it is a requirement for them in order to proceed with the emergency provision.

2018 SUBSCRIPTIONS

The subscription charge for 2018 is £41.00 for a full member and £20 for a dual member.

2018 AFFILIATION FEES
The remitance forms for 2018 Affiliation Fees are available to download on our Form Downloads page.

WFWI PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE CERTIFICATE 2018
You can download a copy of our Public Liability Insurance Certificate here.

2017 DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR NEWLY APPOINTED CHARITY TRUSTEES
FOR WI COMMITTEE MEMBERS
You can download a copy of the above declaration here.

PROXY VOTING FOR WI PRESIDENT AND WI COMMITTEE MEMBERS

As a result of requests from WI members, the NFWI board has reviewed the policy on voting for the President and WI Committee Members at WI Annual Meeting. In line with current practice, the board has agreed that WIs can decide whether or not they would allow proxy voting at WI Annual or Special Meetings.

The suggested procedure is as follows:
• The WI should take a vote whether or not it wishes to allow a proxy vote.

• If it does, those members who are unable to be present at the Annual or Special Meetings would be allowed to leave a proxy vote for one candidate for the role of the President, and one proxy vote for each committee vacancy.

• The member carrying the proxy vote would continue placing the absent member’s vote until the candidate is either voted out or wins the election.

• The WI should decide who the proxy vote should be left with to place in the elections; it may be a WI member attending the meeting chosen by the absent member, or it can be the WI Secretary for all proxy votes. Alternatively, a WI can give its members a choice.

• The member carrying the proxy vote would place the absent member’s vote in the ballot box with her own. She must not disclose the proxy vote and fully comply with secret ballot voting.

Download a copy of this information here.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BUDGET FORMS

Please note that copies are kept in stock– if you require a Financial Statement and Budget Form please contact WI House in order for us to add to your next WI mailing or if required sooner then send a LARGE LETTER SAE with a cover note.

GUIDELINES - ACCESS OF CARERS TO MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES TO WI MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Some recent enquiries received by the NFWI have highlighted a lack of knowledge among WIs about their legal responsibilities to ensure accessibility of WI meetings and events to all members. This is an important issue which, if not handled correctly could result in damage to the reputation of the WI, and unnecessary distress to those involved. Please click here to download a copy of the guidelines.