Chair's Letter - October 2025

I can’t believe that Autumn is now upon us. Soon it will be

C…….s! But let’s skip over to March and let me tell you about the OFWI Annual Meeting. We are returning to Worton Hall on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Please don’t let me be there on my own! The day will follow much of the successful format as previous years and we are busy confirming speakers for the day – more on that next month. We have listened to your comments and hopefully we will again bring a day for you to enjoy, meet fellow members, learn something and network with other

members – that includes all Board members as we wouldn’t be on the Board if we weren’t active WI members. And remember there is still room for you as a Trustee or subcommittee member!

I just wanted to say a few thank yous – some of them a little belated but better that, I can hear my mother saying, than not at all! Thank you to those of you who attended the

Zoom meeting in July to ratify the Governing documents for our Federation as a CLG Federation (Company Limited by Guarantee); thank you to those of you who came and

joined us for WI Day on the 16th September which gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase our wonderful OFWI Archives depicting our history over the last 110 – no, not the

Trustees, we may be old but not that old! This gives me the opportunity to thank the Archivist team for caring for all our historical artefacts which is important as caring for our past

helps us for the future. And a huge thank you to those of you who have filled me with tea, cake and other enjoyable refreshments over the summer. I can confirm that I am now

a slightly more padded Chair! A massive thank you also must go to our staff team for they have been tidying, re-arranging, sorting and shredding – all the jobs that need doing. They did have the odd day off, but they really have done a magnificent job.

I wanted also to welcome Teresa Allen from Wendlebury WI to the Board – we wish you a very happy Trusteeship.

So, what does the Autumn bring? Plans are no doubt afoot in WIs across Oxfordshire in readiness for Christmas celebrations and other important dates in your programme of events. Before we turn to such thoughts at the Board, October is the time to review our Policy and Strategy documents, Business Continuity and Five-Year plan. A bit dry I hear you say but having these in place underpins the operation of the Federation and supports you as WIs and keeps the brain cells working!

You may of course prefer pumpkin carving but for those of us challenged in the craft

area …………………

With love and best wishes.

Tracy

Tracy Strain

OFWI Chair

01235 765285

tracy.strain@oxfordshirewi.co.uk