Why the formality of elected officials?
As with each level of the WI, Shadforth WI is run by a committee of elected members. Roles on the committee can be very rewarding and can be undertaken by any member. They are essential to the running and planning for the group. Each institute needs at least a President, Secretary and Treasurer to continue. Why the singing? Singing in the WI is traditional and we feel it offers a nice start and end to the meeting, loosening members up for talking! At the beginning we sing William Blake’s Jerusalem and at the end the first verse of the National Anthem. Singing has always played a part in the WI. Some people view Jerusalem in a solely religious light, but the WI is non-sectarian and in fact Jerusalem has been sung by WI members at the beginning of many meetings since 1924 when it was first sung at the AGM held in The Queens Hall in London. It had been used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies in the 1918 celebrations of women’s enfranchisement, and many of the leaders of the NFWI
