Women Informed and Inspired

NFWI Chairman Ruth Bond was the afternoon speaker at the Cheshire Federation's Annual Council Meeting. She described her role as National Federation Chairman.

She talked about "What a diffference a day makes" - how her life had changed since taking on the role of Chairman. One day she was having tea with Sarah Brown at No.10, then another representing the WI in Malawi, and then yet another day being a delegate at the Climate Change Conference in Denmark.

She visited Malawi to see how the world has progressed in achieving Milennium goal No.5, Maternal Health, which is linked with our "Women Reaching Women" project.

She commented that the WI could have made a much better job of organising the Climate Change Conference. The WI delegation cut short their visit as they were unable to negotiate the red tape to gain entry, even though they had been invited!

She did say that everywhere she visited she found the WI held in high regard and our opinions were valued in decision making.

A little known fact about Ruth Bond is that her husband and son are both magicians!

The morning speaker at the conference was the Chief Constable of Cheshire, Mr. David Watton who had been in post for just over a year. He came over as very caring and very fond of Cheshire. He had to make a £5 million cut in his budget and was unsure of how things would be after the Election, but reassured members that he would continue to look after Cheshire.