Luckily for us, this year’s National Federation Annual Meeting was held in Liverpool, on 11th June, so Elaine, Pauline, Emma and I were able to hop onto the train for a jolly day out. It was a powerful start to the meeting, the M&S Arena filled with the sound of hundreds of women singing Jerusalem together. The total attendance was 3,000, though asthis was the first ‘hybrid’ meeting, some ladies took the opportunity to attend virtually.
Ann Jones, the NFWI Chair, welcomed us all with a warm and engaging address, telling us that there are currently 26,000 more WI members than there were this time last year, though with several WIs having closed since the pandemic, we need to encourage more ladies to join. Then it was on to WI business: appointment of returning officers and treasurer’s statement, followed by updates from Margaret Broom, chair of Northern Ireland federation, and Ann Kerr, president of Scottish WI.
The first guest speaker was Kate Garbers, author of Unseen Lives and founder of the UK-based modern anti-slavery charity Unseen, which she was inspired to set up after working in an orphanage in Ukraine. In her pre-recorded talkshe spoke movingly of the plight of the victims ‘hidden in plain sight’ and about the ways to recognise when this is happening.
After lunch and an opportunity to visit the variety of stalls in the venue, there was the prizegiving followed by the resolution vote, which involved an interesting debate about this year’s nominee: the diagnosis of ASD and ADHD in girls and women. The first speaker on the subject was the proposer Alison Long, who spoke from the heart about her own experience of autism. Next up was Rebecca Chauhan, who also put forward an impassioned argument as she seconded the proposal, but not until she had overcome her obvious nerves with the help of a supportive round of applause from the audience and some kind words of encouragement from the president. Professor Francesca Happé provided her expert opinion in favour of the resolution via video link, and then, for the sake of balance, Professor Ginny Russell gallantly took to the stage to reason against it, or at least its wording, her argument being that it is more beneficial to focus on support rather than diagnosis. After that, it was over to the audience, with several members gathering at the microphones dotted around the auditorium to give their views on the subject. Votes were then cast by the delegates.
While the votes were being counted, we were treated to an excellent talk by Sarah Clarke, former championships director of Wimbledon and now Parliament’s Black Rod; the first woman in either post. We heard that she rarely gives interviews or speeches but, for her Mum’s sake, this was one she couldn’t turn down. And we were so lucky. For the next hour Sarah entertained us with the lessons she had learnt during her fascinating career, giving out helpful tips along the way. My favourite was to make sure you have a good laugh every day (and pay attention to those that aren’t able to join in).
The day rounded off with the results of the vote – theresolution was passed by 96.5% – and along with a (slightly less confident) rendition of Land of My Fathers, the meeting was brought to a close with a challenge from the Chair: go to every woman you know, and if she isn’t in the WI, ask her why. After a day spent immersed in the support, friendship, humour and stimulation that is the WI at its best, it’s hard to understand why not.
Karen Marland
