W.I. speakers

heretolearn_2

Hi

Any WI members/speakers out there?

I am applying to join the list of speakers for my local WI Federation and they want further details from me to put forward to the Executive Committee to decide whether to offer me an audition. http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/forum_smilies/sport-smiley-001.gif

I would LOVE to see some examples of other speakers information just to get an idea of the sort of fees they charge, whether the talks I'm planning are what they want etc...anyone got any examples/copy of their local feds list they could let me see? Email over? Post a few example of? They also want a list of talks but only one to audition - one is related to work and providing advice, one is a talk on an unusual hobby of mine, and one is to give a talk on a charity (hoping as a fundraiser, should I still charge a fee and donate that, or no fee but ask for donations on the night if people want?)

Or if you are a speaker - can you share any advice?

thank you

THIRZAH

I don't have a copy of our federations list but if you belong to a WI you could ask whoever arranges your programme. It's the one job I've always avoided as would hate to have to ring people up and ask them to speak.I know we don't get all our speakers through the list-we also rely on personal recommendations and use speakers who have spoken to other local groups like the U3A.

Our WI tends to pay between £30 and £50 per speaker.Some speakers charge for petrol too.There are rules about making payments to other charities so check that out with the federation if you want to speak on behalf of a charity.

heretolearn_2

Thank you, yes the local fed did have something on their information about charities, so I know how to approach that side now.

The idea about how much you pay was great, thanks, I honestly didn't know if it would just be a token £5 or something! Those sorts of fees would make it worthwhile, especially on the charity one - it's def. worth spending a couple of hours to 'earn' that for them.

Any more info very welcome

Lazy_Liz

New speakers are always of interest to WI's, especialy ones who are not too expansive, our WI only has 11 members and we simply can't afford £30-£50 per speaker more than once or twice a year. We look for people who will do it for a donation to a charity, (we pay them the cheque and trust they wil give it to the charity to get around the Charity Commission rules) we alos look for people who will do things for free or just expenses like the Firebrigade or Police.

Lazy_Liz

edit: we give £10-20 for a charity donaytion but you can ask for a specific amount, we just might not be able to have you visit us.
Besdt perk of visiting WI's thoug is tea and cakes afterwards.... our guest always love them

mrsmadmand

Hello - I'm the President of our local WI. We tend to try to only pay for speakers once or twice a year too as it gets very expensive otherwise. Like the earlier post we would prefer to donate to charity (but even then we can only realistically afford about £25). We tend to use local contacts or recommendations. The WI Speaker list that we are provided with annually has some (in our opinion) over-priced and over-egged speakers which our members wouldn't necessarily be interested in. However I'm sure there are lots of WI's who do pay every month. We certainly wouldnt pay upwards of £50 for a speaker. Its just not worth our while!

PixieDust

is anyone else running through the Good Life episode "Our Speaker Today" at this point?

Margo: I'm SO sorry Lady Truscott I really am DESPERATELY SORRY...this is my husband Jeremy

heretolearn_2

tea and cakes sound good too :-)

thanks, I guess a lot of it depends on the size of the branch and how many members for fees. £30 split 10 ways is a lot but 40 ways is nothing much...does anyone know if speakers can charge different amounts for different size branches. That seems fair to me.

heretolearn_2

Ok - which do you think for my audition

1) the charity talk - bearing in mind it might be a bit of an upsetting subject although handled positively - the charity provides a very professional powerpoint presentation and all the speakers notes plus stickers/balloons etc to volunteer speakers. So professional and easy to do but not exactly me personally to the same extent.

2) (partly I must admit for a subtle marketing activity for our firm - but not just plugging away, information on our services available afterwards to those interested) how to set up your own small business. Would this be of interest? Keep it informative and also entertaining with anecdotes from the two businesses I've owned. Special emphasis on small 'part-time' businesses involving crafts/cupcakes (ha, see all the millions of posts on here for those) but also using existing skills/contacts to start a business when you have started a family/retired.

3) A talk about a rather weird hobby/volunteering/working holiday I've done for the last 20 years - humorous one - this is probably the best I would guess as most personal but the hardest one to pull off well.

Can do presentation/slides etc for all of them.