THE WI is an organisation of individual Institutes each belonging via a County Federation, in our case Berkshire, to the National Federation of Women’s Institute (NFWI). The NFWI belongs to the Associated Countrywomen of the World (ACWW). This structure enables each Institute to organise itself according to member’s needs with a small selection of NFWI rules (e.g. about committees and finances).

YOUR MEMBERSHIP entitles you to serve on any of our committees or working groups, to take responsibility for a particular activity, to enter National competitions and to take advantage of the learning opportunities offered at all levels of the WI. You may also represent our Institute in any of the County of Federation meetings to which we are invited.

DEAN RISE WI was formed in 1992 as it was felt there was a need for a Women’s Institute which could meet in the morning. It is a member of the Thames Group of Institutes which comprises Cookham Dean, Cookham, Remenham, Cockpole Green, Mill Green and Knowl Hill, which all meet together once a year.

MONTHLY MEETINGS
We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 9.45 a.m. at Cookham Dean WI Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean, Berks SL6 9PD (next door to Cookham Dean Village Hall). The meetings finish at approximately 12 noon. There are 10 meetings a year at the Hall, and usually two more informal house meetings. The meetings begin with coffee and proceed to general Institute business before our speaker is introduced.

COMMITTEE

Its members, the Trustees of our WI, are elected at the AGM which is usually held in March. They meet a week or two before each monthly meeting to conduct the business of our WI, to administer its funds and to discuss suggestions for policy and plans of action. The conclusions of its activities are presented to the membership for their approval at the Monthly meeting. A small Sub-Committee drawn from all members of Dean Rise arranges the yearly programme of Speakers.

BOOK GROUP
Our Book Group meets bi-monthly on the first Thursday of the month from 10am - 12pm on an informal basis at a member’s house. We read a varied range of books and this is followed by a lively discussion. There is no fee. Contact Mrs Maureen Lawrence.

BRIDGE GROUP
This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 10am - 12pm. Contact Mrs Kath Pinto.

MAH-JONG
The Mah-Jong Group meets last Tuesday of the month 9.30am - 11.30am. Contact Mrs Ruth Daniel.

SCRABBLE

Scrabble is held each fourth Thursday at 2.00pm. Contact Mrs Christine Miller.

T'AI CHI

T'ai Chi classes are held at the WI Hall each Monday from 10.15am to 11.15am. Contact Mrs Christine Miller.

TENNIS GROUP
The Tennis Group (Summer only) meets every Tuesday at 9.15am - 10.15am weather permitting. Contact Mrs Ruth Daniel.

WALKING GROUP

This group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10.00am. Contacts Mrs Eileen Aspinall.

SOCIAL EVENTS
From time to time outings are arranged to places of interest. There are many social events in which to participate and at some of these husbands are welcome. Members can also take part in Berkshire Federation outings and events as publicised in its monthly Newsletter. Contact Mrs Ann Wale for Outings and Mrs Val Hewitt for Garden visits..

DENMAN COLLEGE

There are daily and week-end Courses at Denman College, the WI’s own residential Adult Education College situated in Marcham, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Every year some 5,000 members take 400 or so two to four day Courses which cover a wide range of subjects and activities. A copy of the Denman brochure is sent to members.

SUBSCRIPTION

Our subscription is £29.50. as from 1^st January, 2010. About half of this is paid to the National and County Federations and the rest pays for our own meetings. Visitors are charged £2 per meeting.

We welcome you to Dean Rise and hope that this short summary will help you to understand our activities and that you will enjoy our meetings.

WI GARDEN MEETING AUGUST 2007

OUR 2010-2011 PROGRAMME

We meet at Cookham Dean WI Hall, Church Road, Cookham Dean, starting at 9.45am on the first Wednesday of the month, unless otherwise stated.

2011
May 4	Resolutions - Coffee, Cake & Conversation
June 1	A Two Year Transcontinental Bike Ride - Mrs M Bryant
July 6	Mercy Ships - Mr K Brazier
August 3	Garden Meeting
September 7	Gardening with Perennials - Mr B Davis
October 5	Working with Ex-Offenders - Mr D Williams and Ms J Wheatley
November 2	Working at Heathrow Airport - Mrs S Kennedy
December 7	Christmas Party

2012
January 4	My Sister Ruth Ellis - Mrs M Weller
February 1	20th Birthday Celebration
March 7	Annual Meeting
April 4	Improve Your Memory - Mr K Churcher

WI members also organise and participate in various other events. These are arranged periodically when a speaker is invited to give lectures on a chosen subject and a lunch is served. To date there have been lectures on The Glories of English Watercolours, Treasures of the Ashmolean, Queen Victoria and her Doctors, Furnishing an 18th century Home, Symbolism in Art and Toulouse Lautrec.