HOW THE ANNUAL RESOLUTION PROCESS WORKS

  1. Stage I

    Between July and September each year, WIs and federations submit resolutions about current issues they are concerned about, to the NFWI.

  2. Stage II

    In early autumn, the submitted resolutions are discussed and debated by federation and member representatives and reduced to a shortlist.

  3. Stage III

    Between November and February, federations and WIs hold meetings to discuss the shortlisted resolutions, giving every member the chance to have their say on the shortlist. Each member casts their selection for the resolution they support the most.  Note: at this stage you are giving individual member votes.

  4. Stage IV

    The NFWI Board of Trustees reviews the results of the member selections and agrees on the resolutions to go forward to the Annual Meeting. This is usually one resolution, but sometimes more than one is taken forward. These resolutions are then again discussed by each WI to determine how they wish their delegate to vote at the AM.  Note: at this stage you are giving a single vote by your whole WI.

  5. Stage V

    At the Annual Meeting, delegates (who represent all the WIs in their “Link”) hear from the resolution proposer, seconder and experts on the topic before they cast votes on behalf of their Link WIs to adopt a resolution. If a resolution is adopted it will go on to form the basis of a WI campaign.

How does my WI cast our vote?

All WIs get one vote for each resolution. This means your WI shouldn’t vote for one resolution over the other but should vote for or against each one independently. If both resolutions are passed at the AM, the NFWI will campaign on both issues.

Your WI can also choose to give discretion to your delegate to decide how to vote after hearing the presentations and debate at the annual meeting.

Only votes cast for and against the resolutions will be counted, in accordance with the voting procedure set out in the NFWI Memorandum and Articles of Association. Abstaining means that a delegate would not cast a vote, and therefore this abstention would not be counted.

What resources are available to support WI discussions?

To support members to get involved the NFWI Public Affairs team has produced a range of resources:

  • Detailed briefing notes about the resolutions
  • PowerPoint presentations 
  • Quizzes to test your knowledge

If you have any questions about instructing your delegate please contact our Public Affairs team at: 

If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting resolution or the resolutions process please contact the NFWI Public Affairs Department via publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk.

October 2018: Celebrating 100 years of WI Resolutions

October 2018 marked 100 years since the first WI resolution was passed. This was an Essex led resolution, and proposed by Epping WI about the need for Social Housing

campaign 1
 

What can WIs do to mark this occasion?

  • as a WI, take this time to look at past resolutions from your WI or Federation and to see what impact they have had on our society
  • why not organise a discussion event or coffee morning, within your WI, to consider the progress we have made over the last 100 years
  • discuss what still needs to change
  • share ideas about what you can do at a grass roots, every day level
  • you could also use this event to think about and maybe plan your own resolution to submit

For further ideas and support with resolutions, please contact Andrea or Lindsey at FEWI.