More comments from other WI members about the issue of subs this year

 Valerie Hughes

It is not the WIs fault that covid is keeping us apart. I just wish that people would stop thinking about themselves and what they aren't getting from their subs. As I see it subs are keeping an over 100 year fun, educational, social group just for women going. It took a while for it to be established and grow to what it is now. If it dies because people don't think of those who set it up and those who gain great benefit from it now, and those for who it will be a life line in the future, then I think those who cause this by not rejoining should consider how selfish they are being  it will be the little groups that suffer, in the small out of the way villages without access to other forms of socialisation that will be the hardest hit keep paying up for them, please

Ruth Ainsworth

Our last face to face meeting was in Feb since then we have held 11 virtual monthly meetings, 10 virtual book clubs, 9 virtual supper club, 5 virtual social saturdays doing activities such as gin tasting, macrame and scavenger hunts, 10 monthly newsletters, 9 virtual desert island discs, 2 lots of goodie bags delivered, ran a litter pick for the great british clean, collected food for the foodbank twice and toiletries for local refuge. Plus adhoc virtual meet ups ( usually elevenses) We also have a members only Facebook page. Costs for us have still been the same as we have utilised our hall fees else where to ensure our members feel they are receiving value for money. There is naturally going to be a drop in renewals this year my personal opinion is if we don't charge members then it will be the beginning of the decline of the WI. Our uptake in alot of these activities is low but I'd rather show up and deliever for 1 member than non at all. Our Committee have worked their socks off the last 12 months and I really hope people rejoin so their work has not been for nothing. We all need to support this institution whilst we can xx