Tilsworth and Stanbridge WI is part of the National Federation of Womens' Institutes (NFW). It has about 30 members and meets on the second Monday of each month. At present we meet at Stanbridge Lower School or occasionally at the Community Hall. An outing is generally organised for August in place of meeting.

Meetings consist of some WI business followed by a speaker, demonstrator or other entertainment. Two members serve tea on a rota basis and they are to supply biscuits and milk. Two members supply a small raffle prize each. The programme planning is the responsibility of a small sub-committee.

Subscriptions:
The annual subscription is £27.00. This is divided between the Tilsworth and Stanbridge WI, the County Federation and the NFW. Members may save monthly for this amount during the previous year. Subscriptions are due in January. Members receive the National WI magazine, WI Life, eight times a year.

Denman College Bursary:
The WI awards a Bursary to Denman College; it can be used for a weekend course, or towards a one week course. The bursary is drawn every other year at the Christmas Party. Denman College is the NFWI's own college in Oxfordshire. Even if you do not win the bursary, do look at the programme and the variety of activities Denman has to offer.

Pennies for Friendship:
The NFWI is a member of the Association of Countrywomen of the World. Each WI makes an annual donation to the fund and the money is used to help under-privileged women in rural areas in poor countries.

Tilsworth and Stanbridge Group:
The group consists of 6 local WIs of which T S are one; the group holds meetings twice a year. The committee is made up of two members of each WI and a group secretary. The secreatry books the speakers, acts as treasurer and keeps all records. Each WI takes it in turn to be Hostess Institute, with their own president as chairman for the evening. The function of the group is to encourage members from neighbouring Institutes to get to know each other.

Bedfordshire County Federation of Women's Institutes:
The BFW acts as an umbrella body for all the WIs in the County. There is an Executive and six sub-committees: Combined Arts, Current Affairs, Home Econimics, International Organisation and Sport & Leisure. These sub-committees organise events during the year, to which all members are invited to attend. Charges for these events vary.

National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI):
A Triennial General Meeting is held every third year to which every WI may send a delegate. In the two years between, there is an Intermediate General Meeting at which one delegate will represent several WIs who are linked together. T & S are linked with Toddington and Houghton Regis. Resolutions on social and topical matters, sent in by individual WIs are put forward every year and discussed at every level. About 10 of the most relevant are selected by the Counties and a vote is taken as to the most popular. The results are taken to NFWI by the National Council members (Federation Chairman and Treasurer). Those suitable are then selected to be presented at the May Institute Meeting. WIs are given information on the background to the resolutions and have the opportunity to discuss them in the county at their own meetings. You can visit National Federation here.

WI Publications:

• A county newsletter is published and the WI buys a copy for every member.
• NFWI publish a newsletter which can be ordered through the county office.
• WI Books publish books on various subjects which are on sale to members at County meetings, or through WI House in Bedford.
• WI diaries are available in the autumn, ordered earlier in the year through the County Office.
• Bulbs may be ordered for your garden.

Activities:
The WI goes on organised outings, country walks, plays croquet, bowls and darts in County competitions. We have an Annual Dinner in May and hold a Craft and Produce Show approximately every 18 months.