Elijay
Posts: 274
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 10:09:01
I'm aware that there are the likes of the Mothers Union and the Towns Womens Guild.
I belong to the WI www.womens-institute.co.uk and I also belong the the NWR www.nwr.org.uk
I enjoy National Womens Register immensely but am not so keen on the WI. I'm thinking of giving up WI as it's too expensive for what I get out of it. I don't like having the magazine - it's full of adverts - forced on me and at the beginning of every meeting there's far too much business.
To add to that in the three years I've been a member although I've tried I haven't found any like minded people to be friends with. At the end of each meeting to avoid any social embarrassment - like having no one to talk to - I always help wash up.
As I've made friends through Saga, U3A and NWR what is it about WI that makes them appear to be so cliquey?
I'd love to hear other peoples' views
Liz |
Bloggs
Posts: 7071
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 11:01:06
It's a wonder you've stuck it for so long.Going by the ratio of women to men in SZ I'd say you are in the top women's orgn. now as it allows men in as well.
|
beryl the peril
Posts: 1982
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 11:19:10
Never plant seed where there is no soil - Old Chinese proverb.
Get out now and find something else. Its later than you think.
Dont think they have not noticed that you wash up all the time and if no-one has invited you to join them then they are cliquey.
|
ChHRIS-LUND
Posts: 3149
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 11:25:37
bloke speaking, so obviously don't have a relevant view but you might find that the bonds are formed outside of the hours of group meetings rather than at the meetings themselves which I presume are somewhat formal affairs. Arrange to meet up with some of them at another time and place.
|
Elijay
Posts: 274
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 12:02:42
Thanks for your input but I have.
I've helped out at Jumble Sales and have helped out at other fund raising events. I have been on organised days out but none of them go solo because they always go on these trips with a friend. You know the saying 'two's company three's a crowd'. I even went on a 9 day Hampshire Federation WI Cruise
I don't think they're aware that they are being cliquey. Trouble is that they're very set in their ways and don't like stepping out of their comfort zones. Some even have friends from when they were at school.
They're in their 50's and 60's and I think they view me as being a bit too feisty.
As an aside I believe WI membership is actually falling.
Liz
|
ChHRIS-LUND
Posts: 3149
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 13:19:01
thats a shame, I'd always been given the impression the WI were capable of some far sighted ideas in terms of social policies. Oh, well, not for me to play a part it.
|
Elijay
Posts: 274
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 13:49:25
I give you an instance of what happened recently.
It's soon time for refreshments. Two of us are in the kitchen getting it ready, the person with me was the last President and I'll refer to her as 'M'.
The speaker was on her wind down and 'M' needed to visit the toilet. She didn't want to disturb the speaker so I suggested that it would be OK if she walked behind her.
"But then every one would know where I was going!!"
For goodness sake the need to visit the lavatory is universal so why be so coy about it?
The rest appear to be like her but it wouldn't have bothered me. Am I odd?
|
ChHRIS-LUND
Posts: 3149
|
Posted At: 08/09/2008 14:36:28
lol, we're all odd Eli!  |
Oldjim
Posts: 992
|
Posted At: 26/11/2008 20:02:39
That WI lot sound a bit (or lot) snobbish to me. From a male point of view tho I find older women do tend to be set in their ways and dislike even minor changes to their routine.
|
Chris1
Posts: 3138
|
Posted At: 03/12/2008 23:28:17
I use to belong to the WI when I first got married and for the first few years it was ok with a President who had been there since the beginning of the meetings and included everybody in everything. If a vote for anything like Christmas Meal was needed it was done fairly. Then we had another estate built at the top of my one and we had a lot of women join who were much younger and better off financially than most of the original members and when it came to the President being chosen, the outgoing President had a few family matters to sort out so never stood for re-election and one of the 'newbies' was voted in. Things changed drastically and not for the better. When it came to choosing where to go for the Christmas Meal, they had a list of about 3 or 4 venues - the original one not being on the list - and although I could see by the time I ticked for the one I wanted, which appeared to be the most popular, the one chosen was in fact the most expensive. This was in the early 80's when a meal of £5 a head was thought expensive and the one chosen was in fact something like £6 a head. A lot of the members did not go and it ended up our of a membership of at least 30, only about 7 or 8 went to the Christmas Meal. The previous year the majority had gone as it was local in one of the oldest restaurants in the town. It was cliquey and even though I left, a friend who did stay said it had gone down hill due to this group of younger women who always wanted things their way. I think it has since folded due to lack of membership.
|
Frisco
Posts: 240
|
Posted At: 14/01/2009 15:57:04
Sorry Oldjim, but don't class us all in the same boat, I for one like a change, the 'sameness' gets boring, and I think male and female meets make for more interesting and varied discussions
|
Samsnan
Posts: 4684
|
Posted At: 18/01/2009 21:54:25
I belong to a local women's group, not part of any national organisation, which meets once a fortnight in the community centre 10 minutes' walk from my house (one reason why I go) and I enjoy it. We have about 40 members, and there are usually around 30 at the meetings. Some of the speakers are better than others, naturally, but for only 2.50 a time, we get whatever's on the programme, plus refreshments and raffle, where else could you get that? We have an occasional trip, an excellent Christmas meal, and I have made some good friends there.
|
Mzmellowfall
Posts: 1565
|
Posted At: 22/01/2009 13:45:14
Your right Elijay the cost of membership with the WI is now outragious for what people get out of the meetings, As you say most dont want or read even the magazine and their memerships are on the decline. I think you will find with most groups of women some can tend to be a bit Cliquey.
As for being on a Committee I found that the older members always do it their way and the newcomers are to be seen and do the dogs body work but heaven forbid they should come up with new ideas or try to change things!
|
fireangel
Posts: 34
|
Posted At: 22/04/2009 12:25:51
Hi to elijay,
I have belonged to NWR at various times and parts of the country since it was NHR (and even then we complained about the name!) I have always enjoyed the meetings, the speakers and the outings. The problem joining a long established group of any kind is that the friendships are already well established and even tho' people are friendly sometimes the friendship never seems to extend outside the meetings. This is probably true of many organistions and is one of the reasons I am trying to make friends thro sz. We are all looking for new friendships be it online or even if very courageous (or rash ) actually progressing to meeting. Wow!!
fireangel
 |
whirley4me
Posts: 3400
|
Posted At: 05/08/2009 22:44:28
Elijay - I have replied to your other topic on WI. I cannot fault the ladies in the Attleborough WI in Norfolk they were brilliant. They witnessed the horrors of the abuse I had and they were just so so supportive - they covered for me when I went to meet my case worker at the Women's Refuge in Norwich - I was so lucky and so grateful to them.
Maybe they see me as a threat down here I do not know - being a young 61 I just cannot bear like you not having anyone to talk to. I do try. I even took 3 ladies to a do at Michelham Priory - celebration of the foundations 90th anniversary. Well they just zoomed off to find their other pals and I was left on my own till I went and sat for the fashion show and two came to join me then shot off again. Ok with my other group I suppose I knew most of them very well and could always sit with, tag on with or would just be grabbed to join a group - then did ensure that I was not on my own. I was a member for 10 years so I feel I was very lucky. Every month we had an outing or event - February to see the Snowdrops at Wallsingham Abbey and then lunch in Wells next to the sea, theatre, trip on the broads to name but a few.
I do not like the idea of an afternoon meeting - I much prefer and evening it seems much livlier.
I have joined the Bexhill Theatre Group which is great and have been to some great shows already. We have a coffee monring every month and I have met some very nice ladies. Yes indeed the ladies outdo the men and the men that do come are attached.
I also have joined the U3A and am part of the lunch group, craft group and in September will be joining the Geneology group. Maybe Elijay that might be one for you.
What is the NWR please I have not heard of it.
|
Aura
Posts: 1901
|
Posted At: 13/08/2009 08:52:46
Whirley, the NWR is the National Womens Register.
Eileen
|
CeeCee
Posts: 13564
|
Posted At: 17/08/2009 11:55:48
I do not belong to any women's group. For a while I was a member of the Soroptomists International, but it cost a fortune as they dined out monthly. There seemed to be a lot of talking but nothing concrete achieved in the way of charitable work, so I left.
|
whirley4me
Posts: 3400
|
Posted At: 17/08/2009 12:15:55
Oh National Womens Register - what do they do please?
It is just annoying that I have missed a couple of WI meetings due to other committments and I may even miss the next one as I may be in France - plus they have the local butcher bringing sausages to try and I cannot eat any only gluten free ones.
|
Titina
Posts: 55
|
Posted At: 28/11/2009 23:09:22
Hi Liz.
When i retired, all the people i knew was working therefore i never felt so alone and miserable with myself until i joined the U3A (Hemel Hempstead).
Now i have a reason to get up in the morning. I enjoy the group meetings and i have made very good friends, not an easy thing for me to do, MAKING FRIENDS, because i am Italian and don't always express my self well and as i have often been told I PUT MY BIG FOOT IN IT.
Me and my new friends don't live in each other pockets but when we meet is pleasurable and unselfish.
Do you think we can be friends too?.:
|
smudges
Posts: 293
|
Posted At: 23/01/2010 19:02:46
Thanks for your input but I have.
I've helped out at Jumble Sales and have helped out at other fund raising events. I have been on organised days out but none of them go solo because they always go on these trips with a friend. You know the saying 'two's company three's a crowd'. I even went on a 9 day Hampshire Federation WI Cruise
I don't think they're aware that they are being cliquey. Trouble is that they're very set in their ways and don't like stepping out of their comfort zones. Some even have friends from when they were at school.
They're in their 50's and 60's and I think they view me as being a bit too feisty.
As an aside I believe WI membership is actually falling.
Liz
Loved the line about you being too fiesty. You sound just the job for a committee member, after all, who would want to be thought of as cliquey? not me.  |
