I Am Hoping to Join the Jam and Jerusalem Brigade!

Leannexxx oh Leanne, the W.I. has been around for 110 years and there are branches in Canada, new zealand, australia, scotland, northern ireland. It used to be old ladies knitting, making jam and singing hymns (not anymore). There was a comedy series on tv many years ago with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders called Jam and Jerusalem. Nowadays there are outings, crafts, speakers, too many to mention.

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Lynibis oh ok then at the end of the day I think it's a good idea for woman to come together and enjoy whatever you do there

Leannexxx I think it is great for older women who don't have many commitments but I am pretty sure you can join at any age. But if you have young children it would be hard to fully participate.

Lynibis thus is why I won't join. I keep thinking it's just for old biddies knitting and singing hymns. I know it's not but what is posted online for locals is still sterio typical as those involved are typical wi

Jerseydrew not these days. Members choose their pursuits and as the speaker said to us, look not a jar of jam in sight.

There are theatre groups, choirs, day trips and at this initial meeting there were many women of all ages, I saw a couple who couldn't have been over 30.

I think it depends on your needs. If like me you live alone and have no partner it is a good way to make friends and be involved. They also decide on issues to support, but can't remember all she said but local and national problems etc. I will come back to this topic as my journey progresses. The last email said they have 2 venues in mind and at next meeting I guess people will come who are serious about joining. (There are no hymns!)

lilyflower that caused quite a stir back in the day, with loads of older ladies in the nude discreetly covering their bits lol. Not sure I would be joining anything like that!

lilyflower I've seen that film I thought it was funny

julie781x I think people who move to villages often get the cold shoulder and are considered outsiders for many years. The WI has a waiting list that is why the meeting last night was to see if folk were interested in a new branch. In that case everyone will be starting on an equal footing. They were even encouraging us to put our names down as potential committee members, as even they will be new.

eyeballkerry I may be wrong but I think you have a partner? If you are in a family environment it may not be what you need but being a singleton I try to get involved in as much as I can in order to not just vegetate at home.

Lynibis No, you are right I do have a husband and also four children. But I do like to entertain myself. If I’m not being called on I love walking, gardening and crafting. I also have two cats and five kittens to look after plus come on here!

eyeballkerry I dread to think how much time I spend on here. I am going to have to start weaning myself off as these other things take over. I already go to a Tuesday club for Age Concern and have been asked to make cakes for them all the next three weeks!

Lynibis My mum used to volunteer at age concern, she was older than half the people that went there, she is still doing really well at 85. Unfortunately they closed it down. You can send me cakes if you have any left over, what are you going to make?

eyeballkerry well the lady who usually does them makes cupcakes so I will do same as I don't want to try and steal her thunder so to speak. She decorates them beautifully but I will do a swirl of buttercream with sprinkles of some kind. This is the group I do history talks for. They are mostly older than me but some younger and some who bring their aged mothers. There are only 4 men of the 24 attendees lol.

Lynibis That was the same at my mums group, very few men. Either they are dying younger or just not interested in joining in.

MelissaLee1 as I said in another comment I will comment on here on how it goes and it may appeal a bit more lol.

Auntielettie Our subs are £48 per year which at £4 per month I feel is very reasonable as all the crafts etc are free. You only pay for food and drink but can bring your own, and if there is a raffle at any time. I know I can attend all the meetings but I can understand that some maybe can't. Although I do not have cash to splash I can afford to lose say £8 if I couldn't attend say 2 meetings. Obviously you have to pay for theatre trips, days out etc but they are not mandatory.

I actually think it is very reasonable when they have to pay for the venue each month, printing, stuff required for chosen activities, all sorts of expenses. If it was pay as you go and you only attended 2 or 3 times it would be taking a space someone else might like as all the branches round my way actually have waiting lists, hence the need to start a couple of new ones, which will be run by the members and may be different to others.

When we attend next meeting we will be paying pro rata for what is left of the financial year. If I find it is not for me by the end of the year i will just resign.

EmmaWright762 nah, I have already volunteered for Secretary! I live in a very unposh area but you are right I think this happens in all club type things.