Another successful AGM with our NFWI Chair, Ann Jones hosting around 3,000 women; some at the Liverpool Conference and some on Zoom. As we know as she settles in to her role, she is always calm, excited and smiley and leads with a positive vibe and her lovely Welsh accent!
Our Honorary Treasurer Jeryl Stone reminded all to try to get Gift Aid from your subscriptions and also ‘please mention leaving a legacy for WI in wills’.
We then heard from the Federation Chairman of the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland, Margaret Broome, who told us about splitting their 90th birthday celebrations in to nine separate events across the region.
Anne Kerr, President of the Scottish Women’s Institutes, talked about having COP-26 coming there and highlighted the SWI’s own campaigns for change and transformation.
Kate Garbers, founder of the anti-slavery organisation Unseen gave an excellent talk on Modern Slavery and the fact that in UK nationals make up a large proportion of the victims. Safe houses, help-lines, professional counselling etc can all be offered once a victim is identified – we need to learn the signs of this happening and Public Affairs holds support materials for your own WI. You can ring the Police (101) or Crime Stoppers too. There are dedicated helplines – this is happening all over the UK in so many forms. Anti-Slavery Day is on 18 October.
Our Guest Speaker was Sarah Clarke OBE, Black Rod, the first female Black Rod in 650 years. Moving on from managing major events career as Championship Director Wimbledon gave Sarah all the leadership tools needed for her new role.
She said that she hardly ever gives talks but knowing WI members herself, she knew she would have to accept this request!
Again, enthusiasm for the role and calmness and dedication gave her huge success at Wimbledon and to work on many other major events which carries her forward in her role today. She was most inspiring.
All of us will have considered and discussed and read our resolution on ASD/ADHD in women and girls. it was the alternative viewpoint that we maybe did not know about and an excellent talk was given discussing dependence on drugs/categorisation is not the key/remove diagnosis as a gatekeeper/lack of support services/long waiting lists and whether support is given to the right level of need of each individual. It was a brave ‘against’ but the audience gave huge credence to the points raised and learnt about how Devon authorities are trying new ways of approaching the diagnosis and level of needs of girls.
The 2022 resolution was carried by 96% and your own votes were cast as you requested.
