Activities and Forthcoming Events

  Each committee has separate aims and events, communicating with every member via a monthly newsletter known as News and Views. While each WI has extra meetings amongst its own members, the county is responsible for organising larger events that might otherwise be difficult for smaller groups to arrange or finance.

A Selection of events to look forward to

NORMAN ROCKWELL 29 February

FENCING TASTER DAY 14 MARCH

OFWI ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING 28 March

TRIP TO WORCESTER 17 April

DICKENS LONDON 24 April

MALVERN SPRING SHOW 11 May

ANGLESEY ABBEY, CAMBS 17 May

See newsletter for more details.

  Most events are by ticket only. Members can obtain these through their own WI. Occasionally, events are open to the public (marked *) giving non-members the chance to see a small part of what we do and join in with our activities. Non-members are advised to check with the Office (01869 331081) for ticket availability.

Please visit our site again for regular updates.

Activities within the OFWI

Events Each year we try to find new and interesting places for our members and their friends to visit. In 2011 we had a successful visit to St Fagans Natural History Museum in Cardiff and explored the county town of Dorset, Dorchester. By request, we offered a return visit to Hidden London which included Blue Badge guides and a trip on the Regents Canal. In July we visited the quirky and unique Hellens Manor at Much Marcle combined with the delightful market town of Ledbury. We visited Eton & Windsor in the school holidays and enjoyed a tour of the famous school. We visited the superb Shugborough Historic Estate in September and finished the year with a visit to Birmingham and its Christmas Market, which is now the largest in the country. We are always looking for ideas for day trips and welcome suggestions in order to provide a selection of interesting and varied days out.

Home and Garden tries to encourage high standards in home-craft, horticulture, food production and presentation. The subjects covered include cookery, crafts, flower arranging, gardening and interior design. Workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations are arranged for members to watch and have a go. Competitions are organised county-wide to help further these aims.

Rural Affairs Committee

The Rural Affairs committee has taken over some of the interests of the Environment and Agriculture Committee - we are concerned with the state of agriculture and food security, the well-being of our farming community, as well as farmers world wide. Our current resolution SOS for Honey Bees is of great interest to us, and we will keep you up-to-date with any developments.

As villagers, we are also concerned with problems which particularly face those of us who live within the rural communities - transport, lack of affordable housing, closure of village pubs and shops, lack of broadband connection - issues which do not impact upon urban dwellers, or indeed, upon those members of rural communities who do not really 'live' within their villages, with working and social lives outside their communities.

Combined Arts From poetry to painting, theatre tips to music appreciation talks, this Committee covers all aspects of the Arts.

Foreign Affairs organises events which highlight specific countries and their culture and education. This year these have included a day on Italy and an evening when we learnt about 'The Shakers'. We also learnt about Russia and the Antarctic and enjoyed a fun Caribbean Evening. The work of ACWW, see Links, is included in the brief of this Committee. The aim is to help women and their families in the developing world. Each year OFWI choose an overseas project to sponsor and this year we are sponsoring two projects which aim to provide safe drinking water for communities in Kenya and Uganda.

The Membership Committee plays an important role in the OFWI by being the team directly concerned with the well being of all WIs in the Federation.

  This committee consists mainly of WI Advisers, with support from Trustees and co-opted members. It is responsible for all aspects and development of WIs. It offers help, advice and training to members and encourages the promotion of the aims of the WI movement on friendship, truth, tolerance and justice.
  All WIs are formed into geographical groups as a basis for promoting friendship and support to each other locally. Advisers endeavour to visit individual WIs at least once on a 3-year cycle but are always available to visit anytime in between, on request. The Federation Resolution Adviser is a member of the committee and her role is to give advice and help on any social issue likely to form the basis for a Resolution which a WI would like to take forward to the NFWI AGM for debate. The process is a long one and begins in the August before the AGM the following June.

Formations of new WIs is one of our great pleasures and in 2011 we opened four new WIs and hope to continue this trend in 2012!

  

Purchase and Retail.   The committee is responsible for offering an ever-increasing range of cards, fancy goods, some kitchenware and tea towels.   Our full range of goods is available at all of our large meetings and functions throughout the year and a reduced selection at many of our other events. Individual WIs are encouraged to collect a box of goods from our office to sell on our behalf at their meetings.   As most other committees we serve a dual purpose, to offer something fresh and innovative for members at an attractive price whilst raising funds to boost the operating income of our Federation.

One of our most popular sales items is the OFWI calendar. This useful appointment calendar with tear-off postcards is very favourably priced and can be obtained from the OFWI office on 01869 331081. The 2012 calendar, entitled Hidden Oxfordshire, is pictured on the right.

400+ CLUB

  The Club exists for WI members, WIs and Country market shareholders and now has over 400 subscribers. Half of the funds raised are given back in prizes and the rest is given as a donation to the Federation. It costs £10 per year to join and the year starts in January with a draw every month and bumper ones at the Annual meetings of both the Club and the Federation. Contact the Federation Office to 'join the Club'.

  How sporty are you ! This committee aims to promote, and encourage OFWI members to take part in, various sport and leisure pursuits, whatever their age and abilities.
  It also encourages them to take matters of health and fitness seriously. Various tournaments and competitions are arranged throughout the year and include golf, skittles, table tennis, bowls and darts. Any new suggestions are always welcome. Pictures here show members having a go at bowls, archery, flying and table tennis.

The Year Book Committee is responsible for the production of the Year Book, which is the "Who, Where, and When?" of Oxfordshire WIs, covering the Office, the Board of Trustees, Committees, Groups and individual WIs. The Year Book contains a list of speakers and demonstrators on a wide variety of subjects. The Year Book Committee arranges Speaker Selection days, when those wishing to be on the Speakers List are auditioned and the audience, comprising WI members, are asked for their comments on whether or not a new speaker should be included. A popular speaker in Oxfordshire is Chrissie Harper who speaks on Owls, their history, behaviour and conservation. Chrissie is shown here with one of her owls.