Chat from the Chair
Dear members of Hertfordshire Federation of WIs, I write with an
important update involving a change of date for our Annual meeting
and Board appointments.
Presently we hold our Hertfordshire Federation Annual meeting in October of each year. Members of the Board are elected to serve for a 2 year term by you, as members, but the election for Officers is held annually at the appointments meeting, held in October, on the Monday after the Annual meeting.
A Board decision has been made to bring the appointment of the Board and the election of Officers in line with our financial year end. This means the Board will be elected in April, when the Appointments meeting will be held and the Annual meeting (election meeting) will be held in June each year. These changes will take effect in April and June 2027. The date for our Annual meeting in 2027 will be Saturday 12th June 2027 at Verso Vineyard.
This change means we will be holding two annual meetings in quick succession – our meeting planned for Saturday 10th October 2026 and Saturday 12th June 2027.
The current elected Board will remain in office until 1st April 2027 when Trustees-Elect formally take office. The duly elected current Officers will continue to serve until 1st April. I will remain as Chair, and Rahat Aboobaker as Treasurer. On 1st April, Rahat will be standing down as a Board member and our Treasurer.
This leaves a very important role to fill. We are now looking to recruit a new Treasurer and a vice-Treasurer. The Treasurer’s role is pivotal to the Federation.
If you feel you are able to offer to serve on the Board and could fill either role, could you please contact either myself, on the email below, or the office, at your earliest convenience. We could offer training support, from our Education bursary fund, if you feel your skills may need enhancing.
We hold Trustee Board meetings once a month, very often via Zoom and we are looking to be flexible going forward to accommodate the working woman. We need new Board members too. If you are curious to know what being a Board member means, you would be very welcome to join us at any of our meetings, as an observer.
Under the new constitutional roles, Board members are elected for 3 years but are not committed for 3 years as each role carries an annual election.
As Chair, I have been elected annually by my fellow Board members. In October I will have served 3 years in my current role, therefore I will be standing down in April 2027. I wish to remain as a Board member.
As a Trustee, there is no renumeration, many members are wrongly of the opinion that it is a paid role. We are able to claim out of pocket expenses only. The benefit you receive from serving may not be financial, but it is certainly fulfilling, very rewarding, educational and carries many of life skills. You work as a Team, you make new friends and meet many interesting people. I have gained so much over the years.
We know we have many like-minded women amongst you, women with so much hidden talent and skill – please share with us. We are a friendly bunch and we all help out in different ways plus the skills and experience gained from being in the Board are transferable to other opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you!
On a different subject, do you use VIA? Do you know what VIA has to offer you? VIA is the NFWI’s online learning platform, known as the VIA Learning Hub, which offers courses, webinars, recordings, and self-paced learning for WI members and the wider public. Topics range from crafts to wellbeing to technology, finance and WI leadership training.
Some examples of VIA content include:
* WI Officer induction training * Federation trustee training * Safeguarding training * Arts and Crafts workshops
* Digital skills and business courses * Health and wellbeing sessions
To access VIA to VIA website, click WI member login or WI logo. Enter the same email and password you use for MyWI.
I am very pleased to share with you that our own dear Pam Wright, a member of the Board for many years left the Federation a legacy in her Will. Pam requested £250 per annum to be used for Art or Drama awareness. This legacy will be put towards a visit to an art gallery in 2027 for members’ education and enjoyment. Pam contributed so much to the Federation during her life and, through her final gift, her support will continue to benefit future generations of members.
Kind regards
Mrs Jill Profit, Federation Chair, Hertfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes