WI Memberships (?)

The WI residential college close for ever during lockdown. Yes, Itwas expensive, but it was really nice to take a little holiday learning about this and that. I took about one course per annum, and learned patchwork in my last course.
WI has online courses now, free to members, £5 for non- members.
I loathe competitions because they are so subjective; my taste isn’t yours…

If I'd been the judge llizzie Yours would have been in a class of its own!

Does the WI go on for competitions?
Perhaps they do.

Here we had the Horticultural shows twice yearly for 100 years, where there was fierce competition for the biggest vegetable etc. This stopped recently when nobody was prepared to organise it.

Lifestyles change and we don't always want to follow our parents' choices.
I put off joining U3A for years because it was my DM's thing. How could I be old enough!

Primrose53 Fri 26-Apr-24 17:04:42

I agree with you Primrose. It is some years since I entered a village fair with judging produce. I entered the knitting class, I put a card on my sweater saying that the wool is from local sheep, my son helped the shearer, his MIL spun the fleece from a Jacob's sheep into wool, skeined it, I rolled it into balls and designed and knitted the garment.
It came second. The First was a beautiful garment knitted from a Rowan kit, and the judge said ''what beautifully chosen colours.
Now don't get me wrong, it was a lovely garment, but.....?

I rest my case.

What happens to the charity funds and buildings nationally when so many local groups are closing down?

The WI has it's own college and runs courses. When a branch closes down, there are obviously more chances for courses - from cooking to all sorts, for the members who are left.

I find it very concerning that women who want to join are discouraged, because all women should have the opportunity to join and go on courses. Nationally, there are grants for courses and any woman who wants to take them should be able to join a branch, whatever creed and colour they belong to.

If you read about the history of U3A
Zoe you will realise it is a self-help group.
If there isn't anything fir you, you can always start something.

My late DM started 3 groups in Cambridge when she retired in the 1980s. Portrait painting, poetry reading and opera appreciation!

I think people nowadays expect everything to be laid on for them and aren't prepared to roll their sleeves up.

Woukd not waste my time on the u3a.As someone else said they are full up with older baby boomers so as a new retiree you have no chance of joining anything you might want to do and all interesting classes are full .
Same everywhere

Frogs

Happily the WI that I’m a member off is thriving. We used to have to limit the membership to 40 because of the size of the room so there was a waiting list. We recently moved to a larger room and our membership has doubled in just over a year.
When I started WI 20years ago I was one of the ‘younger’ members - obviously not now - many of our new members are in their 40s and 50s and are very enthusiastic.
I was also a member of the U3A for 10 years but had to give up my membership after COVID as I couldn’t fit everything in so had to chose between the two. I much preferred WI over U3A.
I can’t believe that the WI you emailed would deliberately ignore your request. Perhaps the email address is out of date.

I’m not sure why they would use about if date email , but considering that the President or whatever emailed on my behalf previously it seems quite rude . Also may be as others have said because they are quite a closed group .
My SIL moved to a village & had thrown herself into all manner of activities, beginning with pub life quizzes etc & seems to be thriving . Maybe I’ll move to a village community 😂

dragonfly46

Crafting!

I was wondering if our local NWR did rafting.

I can't imagine any of them crafting.

Crafting!

keepingquiet

NWR is open to women of all ages. The reason why I joined is that anyone can set up a new group and so I find that easier than joining an established group, There is great support available and a really good web-site and monthly magazine too.

My group is still in the embryonic stages but I want evening meetings, younger women and very open discussion topics; no crafting, baking or walking. Trans women would also be welcome- no one has told me they're not!

Maybe that's a bit different to WI?

We do some rafting, baking and walking - nothing wrong with that but we do many other things as well.

keepingquiet

I think NWR may be the way to go. I am in the process of setting up a new group in my area. They are more open ended than WI which I know isn't for me and less restrictive than U3A.

I second this. I found them a much friendlier group than WI.

Mum was on her local WI committee for years but eventually they all decided to give up as they got more elderly and no one volunteered to take over. So they folded and joined the one in the next village which was not so easy to get to.

I always wanted to join but the one in our small village only had 6 members and the meeting mil and I went to was sooo boring we didn’t go again and it died. The larger group in the next village was/is very cliquey. Some officers transferred from our village and one became chairman so I put out feelers I would really like to join. They invited a friend of mine however
but not me. As I didn’t feel welcome I gave up on the idea and my friend rarely went.

Sorry to hear about WI groups that are not welcoming .
I am on the committee of our local WI and enjoy the meetings very much. We have a variety of talks, some serious and others definitely not.
We have a book club, a walking group , coffee mornings. Also a knitting group and sewing group that make items for various charities.
Our committee does its best to be welcoming and does its best to support members who need help in any way.
We often combine with other WIs for different meetings.
We do sing Jerusalem ( not my choice) and there are always delicious cakes.
Hope you can find a WI that suits you.

You might be interested in the NWR, National Women's Register. Very similar to WI. I was going to join my local WI but, unfortunately, at the time it was not well run here. I met a lady while out walking one morning and she told me about the NWR. I was made very welcome and am enjoying my time with them.

I was in the NWR when my children were little. I thought it was for younger women. It certainly was then for mainly SAHM to help prevent loneliness and to keep our brains active.

I joined U3A a few years ago when DH became ill and there was a walking group, which I loved and still do. I joined 2 other interest groups.

The WI, which I think is the Women's Rural around here, is struggling if not stopped altogether due to the costs going up. I was told the National fees on top of local fees are too much for most people, which is rather sad.

There are various other groups in my town so you could be out every day and evening!
I'm just home from the community cinema, run by the Development Trust. Tomorrow I shall have to miss a talk about the horticultural society which the historical society is running, as I am at a church meeting!

I think sometimes you need to be proactive. If the groups are full, suggest starting another one.

Our art appreciation group has gone from 6 to 26 very quickly.

NWR is open to women of all ages. The reason why I joined is that anyone can set up a new group and so I find that easier than joining an established group, There is great support available and a really good web-site and monthly magazine too.

My group is still in the embryonic stages but I want evening meetings, younger women and very open discussion topics; no crafting, baking or walking. Trans women would also be welcome- no one has told me they're not!

Maybe that's a bit different to WI?

Townswomen’s Guild (too doddery)!

Oh, we might be doddering but there's plenty of life in us yet!!
Interesting speakers, social gatherings, trips out, lunches etc.

Dempie55

Could someone explain how the NWR is different from the WI? Would you say it’s for younger women? I have tried U3A (bit cliquey) and Townswomen’s Guild (too doddery)!

NWR members here are mainly retired women.

They discuss different subjects at meetings, one member researches a topic, presents it and it is then discussed at the next meeting. They also have a national quiz (very enjoyable).

Could someone explain how the NWR is different from the WI? Would you say it’s for younger women? I have tried U3A (bit cliquey) and Townswomen’s Guild (too doddery)!

Happily the WI that I’m a member off is thriving. We used to have to limit the membership to 40 because of the size of the room so there was a waiting list. We recently moved to a larger room and our membership has doubled in just over a year.
When I started WI 20years ago I was one of the ‘younger’ members - obviously not now - many of our new members are in their 40s and 50s and are very enthusiastic.
I was also a member of the U3A for 10 years but had to give up my membership after COVID as I couldn’t fit everything in so had to chose between the two. I much preferred WI over U3A.
I can’t believe that the WI you emailed would deliberately ignore your request. Perhaps the email address is out of date.

GlendaMayCooper

I am a member of the National Women's Register (NWR) which I love. Have been a member since my children were little when I lived in Essex and I am so lucky that they have a local group where I live now. There are not groups everywhere but you will be able to enquire via their website and you can attend a couple of meetings free to see if it is for you. Meetings are very informal discussion/social based get togethers and the topics are decided by the members in the group. Just a suggestion

I joined NWR when I moved to a new area. I've made new friends, done new things and discussed many interesting topics! Well worth investigating.

I am a member of the National Women's Register (NWR) which I love. Have been a member since my children were little when I lived in Essex and I am so lucky that they have a local group where I live now. There are not groups everywhere but you will be able to enquire via their website and you can attend a couple of meetings free to see if it is for you. Meetings are very informal discussion/social based get togethers and the topics are decided by the members in the group. Just a suggestion

Soniah

Primrose53 Denman has been closed for some time and no longer belongs to the WI

I know. Several people have already said that.

Our oldest WI member is 97, dresses fashionably and isn’t slow to make her voice heard. She joined our trip to Chenies Manor recently and insisted on climbing the stairs to see the upper rooms. She is a trouper 👍

Our group meeting went so well yesterday that we over ran on time! One of our newer, still -working younger members sent an email to say how much she is enjoying being a part of such a lovely group. Yes, we are trying to recruit younger members but our latest joiner is 79 and we don’t mind! We try hard to mix daytime and evening meetings, to include everyone and have trips, cafe visits and meals out, as well as speakers. And we do the business as quickly as possible at the beginning of the meeting!
Instead of Denman, there are a wide range of online courses including IT, craft, Art, history and more, mostly free to members.
Give your local groups a try!