Policy

Minute books and administrative files.

Policy making in the National Federation Women's Institute (NFWI) was ultimately the responsibility of the members through the Annual General Meeting. This was organised and administered by a number of different subcommittees.

The Executive Committee was established in 1917 as the Central Committee of Management. From 1917 it was elected at the Annual General Meeting of WI branch delegates. In 1923 this was changed to an annual election by postal ballot of all WIs and County Federations. Its role was the general management of the movement, the administration of its funds and the execution of policy decided at the Annual General Meeting, to which it was answerable. It was composed of varying number of elected members of the WI, additional co-opted members and representatives of several government departments. Meeting a minimum of six times a year, it was responsible for the appointment of special Standing and Ad Hoc Sub-Committees created to consider and make recommendations regarding areas of interest and special issues. The Chair and the Honorary Officers are elected by the members of the Executive Committee on an annual basis and can be re-elected after one period of office has expired. After the incorporation of the NFWI in 1990, the Board of Trustees replaced the Executive Committee. It is now made up of members elected to the positions of Chairman, vice chair, which existed under the Executive Committee.

The Consultative Council was established in 1919. It was a forum where the Executive Committee and an elected Consultative Council representative from each County Federations met to decide national policy, comment on budgetary and other financial issues for the organisation and make recommendations to the Executive Committee by majority vote. It was also given responsibility for receiving reports from the Executive Committee annually, considering resolutions submitted for inclusion in the proceedings of the AGM and advising the Executive Committee on which ones should be placed on the final agenda. From 1976, also became responsible for deciding the amount and division of the annual subscriptions of members. From the 1920s, Voluntary County Organiser's could attend these council meetings but had no voting rights. The body was replaced by the National Council replaced in 1981 and is currently made up of a NFWI Board of Trustees and the Chairmen and Treasurers of all the Federations.