what's your WI like?

My WI is small, about 22 of us, age ranges late 40s to 100. It is in a small friendly village institute so we join together with 6 other WI’s to form a Group so we can afford more expensive speakers at least twice a year and annually have a group walk, quiz and Harvest Supper. At our own WI we have speakers, do a litter pick through the village and hold 2 activities a year for the village. We are a very welcoming WI, a few of us do not live in the village but travel, so it must be good, our latest initiative is combating mental illness. May I suggest if you do not like one WI. you try another, you can sit where you like at mine, no offer of help is ever turned down and every member is valued.

I have only met some of the committee of our village one. They were very pushy and made me and my fellow members of the library committee feel very uncomfortable when we couldn't accommodate them. That put me off joining them.

I joined a local one for a year and that was enough. I was amazed they still sang Jerusalem and when I queried it the reply was "oh we have always done that" and in the next breath they wondered why no "young" women joined the group.

It was a group of older ladies extremely set in their ways, aghast and judgemental of my lifestyle (travelling alone leaving OH at home and so on.)

Having said that it did provide a mutual support system for those needing it and a lot of the ladies obviously gained a lot from being part of a group. It left me screaming and fearful for my future Should I ever get the same.

Our village is in the process of trying to resurrect WI meetings and lots of younger women have shown their interest. We have several new estates surrounding an older established community. However we are two and a half miles from the nearest town; have a village hall and a population around 1500 so I am keeping my fingers crossed that something positive will result from our next meeting.
I am sure Facebook community has encouraged this involvement.

Jane10 we have quite a few author guest speakers like yourself, in fact they are usually the better speakers, certainly the most interesting ones.

Oh dear Chewy that doesn't sound great.
there are designated tea makers and washer uppers every month, usually two or three, which is likely why help was turned down.
when new it's sometimes good to join the committee, you really get to know people then.

My WI has about 50 members and about 70% of them are very elderly and have been members for decades. I've only been a member for about a year and haven't felt particularly welcome. The established members have to sit in the same seats, at the same table, with the same people, every month and scowl if you try to join them. They're even resistant to offers
to help wash up after tea and cake because it's "their job". Speakers have sometimes been very interesting but some have failed to turn up and we've ended up playing bingo instead. Doubtful I'll be renewing my membership in January.

I'm not in a WI but I visit a lot of them doing talks. They always seem to me to have very nice members. Often ladies who have known each other for years. Usually a welcome is extended to several potential new members who sit looking a bit embarrassed!
There's frequently competitions or raffles. Sometimes I'm asked to judge a competition or contribute to a silent silver auction for eg best single bloom etc. So far I've won a packet of biscuits and a box of (on its sell by date!) Turkish delight in raffles.
I can count on my visits being interesting and good fun. There hasn't (so far) been one where I haven't wished I could join!

My own group has about 50 members, is mainly older in age [50 to 80's] but has some brilliant speakers to visit and outings and also hosts coffee and cake mornings to help new villagers integrate.