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Original poster

I've joined the W.I

25 replies

SecondhandRose · 16/10/2004 15:27

Next month we have to take home made chutney for a competition. I think I'm out of my depth.

Do you think they'll notice if I soak the label off the Branston?

They were very pleased to have a "young" person join them. Next month we're having a talk on sheep too!

OP posts:

Angeliz · 16/10/2004 15:35

take some lime pickle instead, they won'y know what's hit them++

shortcake · 16/10/2004 15:37

Hope it goes well - I went to ours and found it so culturally alien to me that I didn't go again! They had brought in three items of glass - all very ordinary pieces and people went up and put a peeny by the one they liked most - all very strange - I guess they raised about 26p by doing that!!!!

SoupDragon · 16/10/2004 15:44

LOL!

Essbee and I read the write up by the WIs (we have at least 2 in the area) in my residents association newsletter. It was simply hilarious.

hatter · 16/10/2004 22:40

Don't go bashing. My mum (who is a special needs teacher) went to Romania twice to meet,exchange experience with, offer advice to, special needs teachers and orphanges, through her local WI. And at the grand old age of 73 she spends one day a month with about 6 other WI-ers, doing a top qulity home cooked 3 course lunch for about 100-odd pensioners, and charges them about £3.50. not one to put her feet up, my mum

hatter · 16/10/2004 22:43

and nationally WI is the biggest women's membership group in the country and has an influential voice - at the moment it has campaigns on isues that come up here many a time - supermarket dominance and impact on small businesses amd overseas traders, GM foods, children's diets.

agy · 16/10/2004 22:57

Their cakes are to die for!

marthamoo · 16/10/2004 22:59

I think WI members are pretty on the ball though - transfer the Branston to another jar, 2ndhandRose

JoolsToo · 16/10/2004 23:02

when's the calendar out?

tigermoth · 17/10/2004 07:49

Any group that can seriously heckle Tony Blair while taking pride in making fab cakes has to be a good thing.

My MIL belongs to the WI. I am so unlike her, I cannot imagine fitting in. If I ever join a WI group I will instanty feel middle aged. Ok I am middle aged, but don't feel it at the moment.

Hulababy · 17/10/2004 09:27

Good luck. My MIL has been member of WI for years. Don't think she has ever made jams or chutney in her life though! MIL definitely sees it as a social event, and has been on some good trips and listened to great speakers over the years. She is always saying that there isn't enough young people joining and that it's a shame.

I know they have been doing some big things on salt, and especially salt in children's food.

Last year MIL's group all did monthly dinner parties - just for 4 or 5 people. And they made money from them (charging each other) for charity.

And we all know about the calenders...they do some good stuff.

Certainly in my MIL's experience there isn't any of this nonsense stuff, and they aren't all baking and cooking, and doing odd stunts. All seems good fun TBH. MIL has a huge social like through it.

SoupDragon · 17/10/2004 09:40

When do you become old enough to join the WI do you think?

edam · 17/10/2004 09:42

since moving to the country (OK everyone commutes to London but there are fields and everthing) I shop at the WI market every week... there are cakes and plenty of jam but also home-grown veg, local free-range eggs and one member who makes a gorgeous curry. Can't stand the handicrafts, though

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 17/10/2004 20:10

Soupdragon - I'm 37 but I'd say the next youngest was in her mid 50's. Don't know what all the rest of us do in the evenings. Have just retired from 9 years of NCT work so needed something to get my teeth into.

OP posts:

Skara · 17/10/2004 20:11

me too Edam, yum yum...gorgeous home made cakes which are no good for the post baby diet

fisil · 17/10/2004 20:13

MU, me. Biggest group in the world, millions of members, and they do loads of excellent work for women and communities in places not as fortunate as us. Still, I'm not going to the Xmas crafts meeting this week!

Tanzie · 17/10/2004 20:39

I make jam and chutney and I am still in my 30s angry]

SueW · 17/10/2004 21:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 18/10/2004 10:52

Tanzie, why are you angry?

OP posts:

welshmum · 18/10/2004 10:54

IS the W.I restricted to more rural areas then? They must have them in the cities?

Branster · 18/10/2004 10:57

hatter
your mum sounds like an absolutely wonderful person. God bless her! I'm impresed with her and wish her all the very best in the world. How wonderful!

I was thinking of taking part in the local WI Market by selling home-made cakes and jam just to make a bit of pocket money (as I cook this sort of stuff anyway). I've never plucked up the courage to go and enquire what I need to do though. Would I need to be a member?

SoftFroggie · 18/10/2004 12:44

I recently read an article about selling stuff at markets.

WI Markets are now called 'Country Markets'. Membership for the markets costs 5p for life (honestly, based on average farm workers wage in 1900). They take a % of your sales, but don't charge a fixed fee for your stand - so good if you do't have lots to sell and you don't have to sign up to go regularly. HOWEVER, you need a basic food hygiene certificate to sell baked goods / preserves at a WI Country Market (some markets run the courses themselves).

Contact 01246 261508, or their website www.wimarkets.co.uk has quite a bit of info.

Branster · 18/10/2004 18:14

thanks for the info SoftFroggie
I'll contact my local WI and take it from there. it seems pretty straightforward. now it's just a matter of me finding free time for 1h without dd when the market is taking place here!

Davros · 18/10/2004 18:17

I've always fantasised about joining the WI as assume its a good organisation, supporting women and not as fuddy duddy as people think. Must Google them BUT not sure I've got room for membershp of another organisation in my life!

Branster · 18/10/2004 18:35

well, i wasn't going to join WI, only wanted to sell some cakes at their market. i'm still under the age

Original poster

SecondhandRose · 11/11/2004 09:18

Well, I went again last night. Had a talk on Wimpole Hall in Cambs it wasn't about sheep after all, the Hardwicks were a family that used to live there, it's now part of the NT.

There were only 3 chutney entries so I didn't feel too useless and next month it's bring a Christmas table decoration so I should be able to manage that. We're also having a Christmas night with a quiz.

So get out there girls and join your WI, they are desperate for 'young blood'. Membership takes place in December and costs £21 for the year.

They also have a residential college in Oxford that anyone can go to member or non but for members it's slightly less. Take a look at www.womens-institute.org.uk . They run all sorts of courses either during the week or weekends.

OP posts:

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