On 8^th June over 5,100 members attended the 90^th Anniversary AGM of The National Federation of Women's Institutes at The Royal Albert Hall.  We were very pleased to welcome to our monthly meeting Anne Overton, President of Busbridge WI, who was our delegate and gave us a comprehensive report on the day.

We learnt that 49 new institutes had been formed since last year, including one that meets on a Sunday evening!  A farmer's wife spoke passionately on Farmgate Milk Prices, one of this year's Resolutions, and a representative (speaking in connection with the other Resolution on Care of our Environment) who spoke on behalf of a packing company was very persuasive by reminding members that more packaging was used in shops as families and single people bought smaller amounts but more of them.  Also, a point mentioned was that there were more toxic emissions from the Millenium fireworks than from all the incinerators in the country.  Both resolutions were overwhelmingly carried.

Jane Fonda, looking absolutely stunning at the age of 67, spoke on the danger of trying to be perfect and the need to educate women in order to eradicate poverty, letting them then handle finances.  Baroness Helena Kennedy QC spoke very powerfully on various subjects - genetics, miscarriages of justice, and then the famous American author, Bill Bryson, was very endearing and extremely positive in his attitude to the British people, their beliefs, sense of humour and history.  He is an officer with English Heritage, married to an English woman, and his enthusiasm for his job was impressive.  The AGM concluded with the singing in Welsh of Hen Wlas Fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers) in anticipation of next year's AGM in Cardiff.

Anne was warmly thanked for her comprehensive report.

President, May Deaville, then welcomed our speaker for the evening, Mr Riley, who gave us a very funny and thought provoking talk on 'Women are from Selfridges and Men from B & Q'.  He explained that men and women's brains have developed differently over thousands of years.  Men were primarily the hunters and are right-brained and logical, while women learnt to multi-task and be more sociable from living in cave communities and developing skills in the care of their children and talking to build up friendships and trust.  He said that men find it difficult to express their innermost feelings, as hunters are not 'romantic' and women's brains have developed with speech centres on both sides and a young girl's vocabulary is much better than a boy's of the same age.  Mr Riley also mentioned that gay men's feminine side enables them to be caring and handle people, that is why they are so good at nursing, hairdressing and the design of clothes. 

The 'Out and About' visit this month is to Haslemere Museum followed by Waverley Abbey on 16th August.  Members were reminded to bring a friend to Sue Holmes' garden party on 13^th August and Venetia and Keith Pierce would be leading the Thursley walk on 15^th July.

Finally members were reminded to bring examples of their hobbies and collections to our meeting on 6^th September, and tell everyone about their interests

Diane Tulett