Annual Meeting & Members’ Supper
November has traditionally been the month for the WI’s Annual Meeting plus ‘a something’. And November 2021 was no exception – much business was followed by a soup and dessert evening meal prepared and served by Lisa Harrington, Anne Hulse and Pat Bevan.
The Annual Meeting was preceded by a normal monthly budget of business in which the President announced that Asby WI had been successful in obtaining a £100 grant from Asby Parish Council; Susan Renshaw and Pat Bevan had an honourable mention (equivalent to joint-second) in the Federation’s biennial Reading Aloud Competition; and those representing Asby at the Federation Quiz Night had enjoyed an evening of fun and good food at Soulby.
Sudan Renshaw reported on the Federation Annual Meeting which had been very well attended, had excellent guest speakers, and at which the Federation Treasurer reported a slight deficit for the year. This was not surprising considering all the Covid restrictions and additional communications that had gone through the Federation.
Annie presented the draft programme for 2022 and explained the committee’s suggestion for a change in hostessing arrangements – that only tea/coffee and biscuits would be served with Louise Reeve responsible for the bag of provisions and members helping out in an ad hoc fashion rather than on a fixed rota. She also mentioned the Carol Service being held in Appleby in December and that the schedule for the Northern Show in March was now available. Show themes for 2022 are ‘For Queen and Country’.
The 2021 Annual Meeting began with the Treasurer’s Report in which Anne Hulse reported a deficit for the year of just £67.94 and a healthy balance of £1,297.61. Because meetings had only restarted in July, Louise’s Secretary’s Report was comparatively brief.
The President then introduced three topics for the meeting to discuss. These were all agreed as follows:
a) a change in monthly meeting times: for a year’s trial, from January 2022, meetings would begin at 2.00 pm.
b) a change in the WI’s financial year from September to March – linking this with the change to April nationally for subscriptions. This would mean the Annual Meeting would move to May with the Resolutions debates the same day.
c) that there would no longer be a monthly competition – entries had been very sparse since 2019 even allowing for Covid and a break from this tradition made sense.
Institute Byelaws were updated as follows: i) members to opt for paper or digital copies of WI News. ii) visitors to pay new rate of £5. iii) speakers requesting a donation to continue to receive £30. iv) auditor to continue to receive her choice of whisky or wine. v) January would continue as the ‘holiday’ month, and vi) provision of birthday posies would continue until June 2022.
Annie thanked the Committee for the tremendous support given during the difficult times of Covid. She especially thanked Pam Cowey and Carol Smith who were now retiring from the Committee and welcomed Lisa Harrington as a new Committee member. Helen Cooper announced the competition winners – vase: Annie Johnson; plaque: Pat Bevan.
The Officers for 2022 were announced – President: Annie Johnson; Vice-President and Minutes Secretary: Pat Bevan; Secretary (Mailbox): Anne Hulse; Treasurer: Lisa Harrington; Craft & Competitions: Louise Reeve
Finally, before the evening meal mentioned above, on behalf of members, Susan Renshaw also thanked the President and her Committee for all their hard work in the previous year.