Chair's Letter - February 2026

Firstly, I would like to wish you all a slightly belated but

very Happy New Year. Welcome to the February edition of

Oxfordshire Inspires – I hope you feel well rested after the

Christmas festivities and are looking forward to all the WI

and 2026 have to offer.

Thank you to those of you who have applied for tickets

(delegates or observer tickets) for the OFWI Annual Meeting – you very kindly kept me company last year and I am glad you are doing the same this year. So, I hope that you have not only booked your ticket, but that your WI has submitted a picture of your banner and you have purchased a prize draw ticket or two so that you can win that rather lovely quilt! It’s also that occasion in the year when you can network with other Presidents and representatives from WIs in our Federation.

I know over the last few years that many of you have enjoyed the range of courses offered by the Learning Hub. Many of you will have read in the last edition of WI Life about the launch of the new learning hub – VIA. Signing in will be quick and simple with each member having their personalised user profile automatically created through the link between VIA and the MCS (Membership Communication System). This should offer a much smoother journey. This does, of course, require your email address to be correct on MCS. Fortunately, here in Oxfordshire we have been undertaking our own direct mail project and our wonderful team at Tackley have been working hard to ensure that MCS is as up to date as it can be. The team have been liaising directly with you and your MCS reps so that we can reach as many of you as possible. If you change your email address or acquire an email – do let your MCS rep know. VIA launches on the 9 February at VIA.theWI.org.uk.

As it’s the start of a new year – so it is the start of my introducing you to the Board of Trustees so that you get to learn a little more about them and their experience

of being a Board member. Starting us off is Alison Jenner who is not the newest member but has been on the Board for a year! Alison says “I recently joined the Board and have

found it fascinating to see how the organisation of the County’s WI business is arranged. The range of experience of the Trustees and staff is wide, bringing multiple points of wisdom to bear on the issues the Federation has to address. I have found a lovely atmosphere in the Board, with a collegiate approach.”

Now I really must end as my last letter was very lengthy, but I wanted you to know all about the Denman Grant Funding Project – so a huge thank you to those of you who attended

our first pilot workshop. You are the vanguards and we are hugely proud to have launched two of our 15 workshops funded by this wonderful scheme!

With love and best wishes.

Tracy

Tracy Strain

OFWI Chair

01235 765285

tracy.strain@oxfordshirewi.co.uk