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AGM 2008

AGM 2008 Liverpool Echo Arena full of members
More than 4,500 WI members attended the National Federation of Women's Institutes 2008 AGM at the Echo Arena Liverpool on Wednesday 4 June 2008.

Chair Fay Mansell opened the meeting that included speeches from: Honorary Treasurer Aleathia Mann: Denman College Chair Anne Harrison; Professor Averil MacDonald from Reading University; Baroness Susan Greenfields; author of ID: The Quest for Identity in the 21st Century and Sandi Toksvig; Author and Radio Presenter.Outside Liverpool Echo Arena AGM 2008
The results for WI Carbon Challenge, supported by Marks & Spencer, were officially launched at the AGM. The Challenge invited WI members and consumers to reduce their carbon footprints by 20%.  Over 10,000 participants of the WI Carbon Challenge have pledged to work towards reducing 19523 tonnes of CO2.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, these savings are equivalent to filling the Royal Albert Halls 108 times or to driving 59 million miles (in an average car). This would take you 2,300 times around the Earth!

The resolution on the inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill was passed by 97 per cent of delegates. The resolution on bottom trawling was voted against by 52 per cent of the delegates.
“We are pleased that the resolution on the inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill was passed by the delegates” says Fay Mansell, Chair of the NFWI. “The defeat of the resolution on the ban of bottom trawling illustrates the true democratic process of the WI. WI delegates heard very powerful arguments debated here today both for and against the resolution. They decided the arguments against the resolution were stronger.”

The organisation will start implementing the resolution on the inappropriate imprisonment of those with severe mental illness.