The famous nude calendar and recent run-ins with the Labour Party have demonstrated how the increasingly publicity conscious WI is trying to modernise.

But despite these moves there are those who still see it as a conservative movement stuck in time, instead of a radical forward- thinking organisation doing its bit to appeal to today's young feminists.

And it's young blood that it desperately needs. For while it might be the largest women's organisation in the UK, the WI, along with many other women's organisations, could soon face an unprecedented membership crisis.

At the moment the organisation has around 240,000 members but that membership is ageing and declining. Older members are falling off at one end and it is not attracting young women at the other.

The problem is since the WI was formed in 1915, women's lifestyles and ambitions have undergone radical and far-reaching changes and many younger women today feel it has nothing to offer them.

Joan Cahill, 41, of Mixenden, Halifax, would disagree. She feels the WI has a lot to offer young women today and is trying to start a branch in north Halifax, an area not known for its blue-rinse brigade.

Joan, married with four children, is a community link worker with the Mixenden and Ovenden Initiative and feels the community would benefit from a women's group like the WI because it is a pro-active, galvanising force, pulling people together.

She already has the support of several women, including Moira Wadsworth, 56, and retired teacher Jan Huntley, 62, both of Bradshaw, Halifax. The three have already held several get togethers and want others to join them at their next meeting next Wednesday to get the new branch of the WI off the ground.

"We need 12 members to get started. If we get enough interest we will be known as North Halifax WI and hope to attract women from Shelf, Ogden, Holmfield, Ovenden, Lee Mount, Wheatley, Wainstalls, Highroad Well, Pellon and Warley as well as Illingworth, Mixenden and Bradshaw," says Joan, who adds the nearest WI branches are in Luddenden, Shibden, Ripponden and Wadsworth.

The meeting will be held at Illingworth Sports and Social Club at 7.30pm. Future meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, but the women hope to find an alternative venue.

Moira, who used to work for a Halifax solicitors but is now retired, says women who attend will be asked help shape the group. "We would like to attract as wide an age range as possible and get their thoughts. Joining will give members the opportunity to take part in new hobbies and interests and maybe further their own particular skills.

"We would expect fund-raising for local causes to be among the activities. Pearls and jam-making are not mandatory."

Joan says the WI does a lot of valuable work both on a local and national level.

"It gives women the opportunity to make their local community or the world a better place.

"By joining they have a voice and a chance to change things."

The WI campaigns on such issues as Third World debt, fair trade, elder abuse and genetically modified food. The movement takes its role as an apolitical multi-pressure group very seriously and lobbies politicians from a local level to a European one.

Jan Huntley believes there are a lot of strong, independent women in north Halifax who have a right to voice their opinions and be heard. She says as well as helping others, joining the group would also be good for their own self-esteem.

"I think the Calendar Girls film did a lot to help modernise the image of the WI and show women are capable of anything if they put their mind to it."

The three say while they have no plans to follow the women of Rylstone and strip off, they do have some fun ideas up their sleeves, and they hope women will make an effort to attend the meeting.

Anyone who would like more details can contact Joan on 07833520601.

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