About our own W.I.
The mystery of W.I. explained!
The Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI is part of the National Federation of Women's Institutes [NFWI] and also of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes [OFWI]. We have around 35 members, mostly from Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor and surrounding villages such as Longworth. Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday in the month in Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Village Hall,which has wheelchair access and facilities. The WI also arranges visits, trips, classes & other activities for the members.
Meetings The main part of the evening is a talk or demonstration [sometimes with ‘hands on’ experience], preceded by some brief WI business. The members take a hand in planning the programme each year. Excellent refreshments are served by members on a Rota basis. We also have outings to various places of interest which we travel to either by coach, bus, train or car. Walks are also arranged and are proving very popular.
Subscription For 2008 this is £27.00, which is divided between Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI, Oxfordshire Federation of WI and National Federation of WI. Subscription covers an excellent magazine, 'WI Life' delivered to your door.
Press reports of our activities are sent to our ' Village News' and other local newspapers by our Press Officer.
The Riverside Group Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI belongs to this group, which is made up of four local WIs. You will hear it referred to at meetings as a 'Group Meeting'. We join together to get to know one another and perhaps have a more expensive speaker or tutor than individual WIs can afford. Group meetings take place once a year.
There is a group committee consisting of two members from each WI.
General Meetings A Triennial General Meeting to which every WI sends a delegate, is held every three years, in intervening years Intermediate General Meetings are held, at which one delegate represents four W.Is. Other members can apply to attend General Meetings as observers.
Resolutions on social and topical matters, submitted by individual WIs, are selected and discussed thoroughly at all levels. If carried at a general meeting they empower the WI to influence local & national policy making.
The Year Book. This annual publication is issued to every W.I. and contains information about speakers. Groups, sub-committees and lots more. The Secretary has a copy - Ask to see it.
Denman College is the WI’s own residential college near Oxford. Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI has a Bursary for members which is drawn at alternate Annual Meetings. Denman College Programmes are now sent with the 'WI Life' magazine and one is usually available too at the WI meeting. There are courses to interest everybody! The NFWI Training Unit is housed within the grounds.
If you are thinking about joining Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor WI, do come along and get to know us.
Any woman who is interested in the life of the countryside can become a member - and start making a difference to her own life, to the life of her community, and to the lives of countrywomen throughout the world. We have many outings arranged by our WI, another nearby WI or the Federation. These outings are great fun as you make new friends, and are stimulated by the visit to cathedrals, shopping sprees, theatres, luncheons and the sights of London.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our WI at Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor.