The WI is very much part of the community, offering women of all ages lively, interesting and stimulating opportunities. As you travel through our varied  county you will see posters on village hall notice boards, community centres and schools advertising forthcoming WI events. Every WI is different, some having nearly 100 members and others much smaller  but all share the common purpose of enhancing women’s lives.  WIs meet on a monthly basis but many of them run craft class, a book club, a walking group and arrange outings to theatres and other places of interest.

 All our WIs welcome visitors to their meetings. If your local one is not convenient for your time schedule, try the next nearest, as there is no requirement to live in any catchment area. Look at ‘Institutes’ to find the most suitable one for you.

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE - OCTOBER

October is a time when our thoughts begin to move towards the coming winter months and inevitably Christmas and the New Year.

I often think of the old adage "use it or lose it" and apply that to the WI at this time of year as you elect your officers and committees. It is OK to "use it" but you do need to have one to use and so, if your WI is having problems recruiting new officers or committee members, please think about what you can do to help. Otherwise the second part of the adage may well come true. It is a pity when a WI closes simply because no-one will take on a little more responsibility. If you are having any difficulties in your WI with forming a committee, please get in touch with your link WI Advisor or with Federation House and we will arrange to give some help or guidance to help your WI resolve the problem. These jobs are often not as burdensome as members think and you can gain a great deal of pleasure from being slightly more involved, as well as retaining your WI.

This is also the time of year I begin to think about putting the garden to bed for the winter. I am really hoping for a long Indian Summer, or a least a lot less rain than we have had this summer, to try and get ahead of myself. Many of you will be dealing with the same problems and I wish you well.

I look forward to seeing many old and new friends at my first Autumn Council Meeting this month and I am hoping for  a smooth, successful day which everyone can enjoy.

I do hope that you all like the enlarged Corunna News which gives us more opportunitry to print articles and photographs from around the WIs. Please keep sending items to the editorial team.

Best Wishes

Jan Wade