Presidents Report May 2019 – April 2020

Thank you to Jan for her full and interesting reminder of what we had been doing over the main part of this WI year.

Throughout the year our wonderful Committee continued to support me and help with a wide range of tasks, regular and one off. This may all seem to happen seamlessly but believe me there is a lot of hard work going on in between meetings, to bring you the best meetings and opportunities we can.  Thanks also to Sue V and Marguerite who have been doing our press reports and raffle and to Edwina and Rosita who have more recently become part of our telephoning team.

Our Membership has now increased to 37, higher than I can find records for in the archives. Eight of our ladies do not live in Leigh, so we thank you for making the journey across to Leigh for our meetings and other events, often on a wet dark evening, but your presence and contribution is much appreciated.  

The latter part of this year saw the unwelcome arrival of COVID-19.  This has massively halted our usual programme of events and regular meet ups. We are striving to find ways to keep in touch with you, update you on local and WI services and events and to offer entertainment, friendship and practical support where needed.  Who had heard of Zoom before March this year, let alone come to rely on it for contacting members, friends and family online in groups?

We have recently gained one new member during Lockdown and she is really enjoying getting to know you all.  So if you have new neighbours or ladies who chat on your walks, do gently encourage them to get to know us so they can hopefully join us in the future.

The future of meetings in the remainder of 2020 is unsure – we will have to adapt to whatever the guidelines allow us to do and find new ways to enjoy each other’s company and share stories and learning. Hopefully by the time of this report in 2021, things will have settled down, maybe a vaccine rolled out and meetings returned to a “new normal”.

In the meantime, please do make the most of the phone calls, emails, newsletters, Zoom meetings, training and talks online and any other opportunities to meet others in small groups.  We will be back and will all know each other better by then – I just can’t say when as yet. 

Take care, stay safe and keep in touch.

Mary Mears