Angry members of the Rhydycroesau branch of the WI have taken a vote of independence from the national body in a conflict brought to a head by the imposition of a magazine and subscription rises.
By a decisive vote of 20 to 3, members decided to go it alone and ditch the national federation which members felt had become excessively bureaucratic and dictatorial.
They ignored the blandishments of WI representatives to stay and fight from within with members queuing up to criticise the executive.
The reasons for ceding were numerous; many members said they did not want a magazine; that the national organisation did not offer anything to small rural groups; that the WI nationally had become far too hierarchical and too far removed from ordinary members.
However the change had an unexpected price when the branch then learned it would have to hand over all its funds to the WI and begin its independence from a zero bank balance.
The meeting was told that after the immediate bills were settled the money had to be handed over to the County which held it for 3 years in case another WI branch should start up in Rhydycroesau, after which time it would be absorbed into County funds.
Some members said they would have preferred to donate some funds to charities, because the funds had been raised by members themselves, but they were told that this should have been done before the special meeting.
Programme for
2005
13th January - Mrs Ray Pinder
A Teacher's Life in London
10th February - Mrs Shelley Wilde
The Gardens of Chatsworth
Competition - Bird Ornament
10th March -Me and T.V. Dr. John Thompson
Competition - Snapshot - Sunrise/Sunrise
14th April - Island in the Back of Beyond Mr+Mrs John & Paddy Martin
Holiday Souvenir
12th May - Mrs Marjorie Evans
Cooking Demonstration
Competition - Apple Pie
7th June
An extra meeting at Upstairs-Downstairs, Oswestry with demonstration given by Mr Gilksman - 7pm for 7:15pm. Everyone to pay individually.
9th June - Mrs Dilys Gaskil
A year as Mayor of Oswestry
Competition - Pretty hankerchief
14th July - Mrs Jan Baddiley
Demonstration - Corn Dollies
Competition - Pretty Jug
12th August
Victorian Oswestry - Town Trail with Mrs. Sue Ellis - £3 per member. Meet at Festival Square 7pm
8th September - Mrs Teresa Sharpe
Hands On
Competition - Home made birthday card
13th October - Miss Christine Ashford
KIDZ for KIDZ
Competition - Child's Toy
10th November - Annual General Meeting
8th December - Mrs Elizabeth Bickerton
Best dressed parcel - value £2
Competition - Best wrapped parcel.
ALL MEETINGS TAKE PLACE
IN RHYDYCROESAU VILLAGE HALL AND BEGIN
AT 7 PM. REFRESHMENTS ARE PROVIDED AND VISITORS ARE WELCOME
