What a fabulous day we had at The Questors Theatre in Ealing for our 2023 Annual Council Meeting on Monday 20 March.
It was amazing to get back together in person for the first time since 2019 in a lovely venue, only made even better by two truly fabulous speakers. Presenters stood at the front of a thrust stage with the set of Death on the Nile behind, adding an exotic atmosphere to the proceedings!
To echo Angela’s comments, members who were not there really did miss out on a lovely time. We’ve had much lovely feedback from so many of our members, which is very reassuring.
Enjoy these photos of the day!
Scroll down for our Federation Archivist Liz Alcock’s take on the day.
Liz Alcock’s ACM Reflections
Boss: So, the ACM… Would you introduce and thank the morning Speaker?
Me: No probs… after all I was President of Finchley WI for a few years AND faced classes of boys for 19+ years!
Boss: Oh! And can you give a report on archiving?
Me: Sure thing!
The ACM day arrived, and me—with a spare folding table and folder of Introduction & Report. But (you knew there’d be one, didn’t you?), after a brief chat with the awesome and very friendly Bonita Norris I took the spotlight at the podium… and started shaking! I really had no idea how I was progressing with my short contribution, but I assumed the delightfully kind audience laughed with me rather than at me, but laugh they did. To be honest, it was a relief after all the serious facts and figures of business! Bonita was fabulous, as were her magical slides.
Lunch break gave time to wander, reconnect with old friends and make new ones then it was onto the afternoon session. Shorter (no business except me again; I do hope everyone got the message to contact me with any queries) and extremely well entertained by the versatile actor, Eliza McClelland. Such professional skill, relaxed and fun. Could have listened (and laughed) with her for hours!
Then—all too soon—we were folding away tables, loading cars and wandering off with silly grins stuck to our faces.
If you attended, thank you for generous tolerance of a newbie. If you thought it wasn’t worth coming—you were wrong! You missed a treat, but don’t beat yourselves up—we’ll do it all over again next year and will welcome you with the open arms of WI sisterhood!
