All about Hemsby WI

Hemsby WI is part of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), & also the Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI). We have around 30 members, mostly from the village of Hemsby, & surrounding areas. Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of the month in The Barn Room, The Street, Hemsby. And the WI 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. The members (on a voluntary rota basis) serve tea or coffee & biscuits.

Subscription: For 1 year (2006) this is £22, which is divided between Hemsby WI, Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes & National Federation of Women’s Institute. We run a Savings Scheme and members are encouraged to save towards next year’s subscriptions.

The Harnser Group: Hemsby WI belongs to this group, which is made up of 9 locals WIs (Caister, Filby & District, Gorleston Evening, Great Ormesby, Hemsby, Rollesby & District, Sea Palling, Waxham & District and Winterton. Group Meetings are held twice a year. There is a group committee consisting of 2 members from each WI & the Group Secretary at present is Jan Howard. Filby WI. Group Link is Daphne Howlett. The function of the group is to encourage members from neighbouring WIs to get to know each other and enjoy excellent speakers.

Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes. Acts as an umbrella body for all the WIs in the County Federation and has a Federation Secretary who works in NFWI’s own Evelyn Suffield House, 45 All Saints Green, Norwich. NR1 3LY (tel. 01603 624580). There are several committees’ that arrange events & activities to cater for the needs & interest of members. NFWI produces a ‘Welcome to the WI’ leaflet for new members – please ask for one at the meeting.

National Federation of Women’s Institutes is an even bigger umbrella for all the WIs in England & Wales, & has an office at 104, New Kings Road, London. SW6 4LY (tel.02073 719300) A Triennial General Meeting to which every WI sends a delegate, is held every 3 years, in intervening years intermediate General Meetings are held, at which 1 delegate represents 4 WIs. Members can apply to attend general meetings as observers.

Resolutions on social & 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.

Denman College is the WIs own residential college near Oxford; you can look at the College Programme at the WI meeting – there are courses to interest everybody; The NFWI Training Unit is housed within the grounds.

ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) is a worldwide organisation to which NFWI belongs. Each WI donates small amounts to ACWW; this money is used to help under-privileged women in third world countries. There is a voluntary collection for these ‘Pennies for friendship’, as they are called, at our meetings.

WI Country Markets. Our nearest Markets are at Aylsham, North Walsham, and Harleston. (There are 20 Markets in Norfolk). Some of our members enjoy helping behind the stalls; others produce goods for the Market. Talk to Mrs Valerie Mackness, Francis House, Francis Lane, Blofield Heath. Norwich. NR13 4SP, if you are interested.

WI Publications There is a Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institute Newsletter (The Gazette), which Hemsby buys for all its members. There is also a National Federation of Women’s Institute Newsletter. Home & Country is a monthly magazine published by NFWI.

WI Books publish & sell books on various subjects, which are available from Federation House, at federation events, & sometimes at our WI meetings. WI diaries & calendars are available each autumn.

Press reports of our activities are sent to the local papers by Doreen Frost.

Activities This year we have visited the Theatre Royal, Norwich, to see Jesus Christ Superstar. A trip to The Lavender Fields at Heacham, a visit to the Time & Tide Museum in Gt Yarmouth, and many other events are in the pipe – line.
If you are thinking about joining Hemsby WI, do come along & get to know us. Please telephone Marjorie Mingay (Secretary) 01493 730198 or Peggy Sutton (President) 01493 731378 or any member.

We look forward to welcoming you to our WI.