My WI group folded this week

[Mauvish1]

The vote in my WI group was 4:1 against signing the new WI declaration, which would have obliged us to sign that we agreed with the WI upholding the law on being single sex (well yes, obviously!) but also that we agreed that TWAW and should be allowed to join, if only the pesky lawmakers hadn't clarified biological sex for the hard of understanding.

The person from the NFWI who was there to oversee our suspension told us that it was obvious from our refusing to sign that we all had friends or loved ones who were trans! This produced a roar of dissent! She also told us that if we left the WI, we would each be a lone voice to whom no-one listened. The look on everyone's face as she patronised us was a sight to behold.

Comparisons were made with brownies, and some people felt that the WI and brownies should simply open doors to men and boys - but there are plenty of other mixed sex groups to join, and very few other female-only groups.

So, another WI group bites the dust, and it's not the only one in my area.

But the national federation has decreed this an "inappropriate use of moneys" and has demanded we repay them the amount we've paid to advance book (as well as already having taken our money, which was of course stuff that we'd raised with our monthly raffle, cake sales etc as well as the subs).

Surely if some of that money membership fees for a year, and that are now telling those who have paid the membership fee you have to leave, they should re-imburse you based on how many months since they sent the money.

They have changed the rules on which you gave them money, and telling you you are no longer welcome they should pay a refund.

(Sorry, not necessarily something top most on your mind, but it all seems so arrogant and complacent. No expression of regrent that their mismanagement has created this situation.)

There are unlikely to be any fees paid in advance at this point in the year - fees for the next year are due on 1 April, and they disbanded rather than sign the form which we have to sign to remain members and pay our fees.

Has anybody tried getting investigative journalists interested in this?

Thanks, I was so enraged that I didn't think about the date etc..

Would have been worth it if each member had joined up on different days.

And they are getting the money you generated through your volunteer work.

Set up your own group. We have a women's group where I live that has monthly speakers, trips to NT houses, quizzes, etc. So pretty much like a WI but doesn't have to follow any silly rules. We meet in a local hall once a month.

Jenny Janet Murray has written a couple of articles about the WI.
IIRC, she also posted on this forum asking women in the WI to get in touch with her.

Do you have the link to where on MN this is?

I'll have a search.

This thread.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5496673-the-new-wi-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-policy-its-worse-and-includes-the-thought-police?page=12

Thanks - I hadn't realised it had been on FWR!

Not that I am part of WI but do hope some women will contribute.

“The ballot box was immediately removed by our official visitor and she counted the votes in private, refusing anyone overseeing the count. (the manager of our meeting place, who is not a WI member, could have done this as an inpartial observer). She then told us that we'd voted out so our group was, as of that moment, no longer part of the WI, and neither was our healthy bank balance
.….

The room in which we met had been prepaid for several months in advance so we plan to carry on meeting there for the moment. But the national federation has decreed this an "inappropriate use of moneys" and has demanded we repay them the amount we've paid to advance book (as well as already having taken our money, which was of course stuff that we'd raised with our monthly raffle, cake sales etc as well as the subs).“

Wow, this all seems like rather suspect behaviour! Is it a lot of money they are asking to be repaid? If so, I would be thinking about seeking legal advice! And as for inappropriate use of money, well the irony is off the scale!

Slightly off topic, or rather related.

I wonder what Soroptimists International are doing in relation to membership. Or maybe they never strayed from the original intent and biological reality of being for women, ie biological females.

https://sigbi.org/get-involved/membership/

No one forces you to be in a church or chapel, no one forces you to celebrate Christmas.

Very different from sharing a changing room with someone born male who still has a penis, which is what TWAW advocates. Very different from sharing an event about women's health which someone cannot possibly go through as they are not born female.

I agree, except that I don't see the relevance of "still has a penis". If someone took a knife to mine I would still be a man. And if they stitched it onto a "transman" it would not make it appropriate for her to share a changing room with men.

I'm appalled to read this.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably ignore them. It won't be worth their while to try to pursue it with any legal action.

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My local group closed with much public handwringing on their Facebook page about wanting to be inclusive and kind. A transwoman from nowhere near the area is on their facebook page thanking them for their solidarity. AFAIK they didn't have any trans identifying members in the first place. I think they are planning on starting up again outside of WI.

“I'm appalled to read this.”

Do you mean what they’ve done rather than me saying I’d seek legal advice?

“If I were in your shoes, I'd probably ignore them. It won't be worth their while to try to pursue it with any legal action.”

Ah yes, the one time I phoned a solicitor’s about something, they advised me to wait until if/when the other party started legal proceedings against me (they didn’t) because even advice would cost me.

Yes, appalled to read what the WI have done to your group. Sorry for not being clearer.

I don't know which I'm more shocked about, the closed ballot counting or the demand for repayment of funds for a venue's hire.

This is outrageous. The WI will destroy itself, and given recent behaviour, their demise can't come soon enough.