Booking Speakers
Finding a speaker
Finding speakers for your meetings can be fun and nerve-wracking in equal measure. Researching interesting topics, finding a speaker, and then worrying if they will be interesting enough for your members! To make life slightly easier for Programme Secretaries FEWI produces the Panel of Speakers book. The book contains hundreds of speakers and entertainers, with a list of their talks/demonstrations/entertainment and their contact details. You can of course book any speaker you like, there is no requirement to only use those in our book!
Speakers who are listed in the Panel of Speakers book are auditioned at our New Speakers events which are held regularly – some in person at WI Centre and some on Zoom for those that only do Zoom talks. These events are open to members and attendees help FEWI trustees decide if the speaker has the right attributes and talk for the listing. Prospective new speakers are asked to give a 20-minute snapshot of their talk or demonstration and the attendees give their feedback to the trustees.
To see if we have any New Speakers events scheduled, please go to the Events page, or go straight to our booking platform www.ticketsource.co.uk/FEWI.
Successful auditionees are then added to the listing and their details are sent out to committees with the bulletins from FedSec. Programme Secretaries can rest assured that speakers listed in the book have been auditioned by like-minded members and trustees and can book in confidence.
We are always grateful for feedback on the speakers that you have. Please complete this form and send it in to us at WI Centre – we use these when we are compiling new editions of the book. Equally if you can recommend a speaker for the book, please do let us know or ask them to contact us directly at admin@essexwi.org.uk to request an audition application form or you/they can download it below.
Each WI receives one printed copy of the Panel of Speakers book and committee members may request a pdf version of the book by emailing admin@essexwi.org.uk.
Booking speakers
You may like to send invitations, confirmations and/or reminders to your speakers and we have templates of all three for you to download.
Charity speakers
We have compiled a list of contacts from many local charities who provide speakers for WI meetings. Many are free or ask for a small donation. Remember that in many instances the WI cannot donate to the charity – you must pay the speaker individually who can then pass on the donation. Find the NFWI 2022 Fundraising guidelines on MyWI here to read more about charity donation rules.
If you have any charity contacts that you think should be added to the list, please email admin@essexwi.org.uk with their details.
Charity speakers (last updated 10 April 2024)
Speakers Comment Form
It is very useful for us to get feedback on the speakers that you have so please do consider submitting these forms regularly to us.
We sell copies of the Panel of Speakers book to external groups or individuals for £25 per copy (including p&p). If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please email admin@essexwi.org.uk to request one.
Are you a speaker?
If you are a speaker or craft tutor and you would like to audition to join our Panel of Speakers listing, please download and complete the form below and email it in to admin@essexwi.org.uk or post it to Federation of Essex Women’s Institutes, WI Centre, Whitelands, Terling Road, Hatfield Peverel, Essex, CM3 2AG. We look forward to hearing from you.