14th May
Holiday and Tour Operators are always very keen to work with the WI Federations. It may be that the WI has a lot of members who are of an age to enjoy the "grey pound" and are widows or full-time carers who don't want to drive or plan the details of a holiday on their own but whatever the reason, these firms are in fierce competition for our custom.The Federations receive a commission which rises or falls depending on how much work the WI Travel Group puts into the outing. The amount of work by the WI depends on the commitment or enthusiasm of the local WI Travel Group.
It is an interesting and rewarding position which can be time-consuming but that time can be fitted into one's personal timetable : there are few deadlines.It is also possible to share the workload with a friend or with 2 others. Is there anyone out there who would consider volunteering to help BFWI in this role?
15th May
Today 3 coaches travelled to the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. Last night the weather forecast was diabolical and the south of the county suffered a thunderstorm between 6am and 7am which made several people rethink the idea of tramping around woods all day. What a pity! Once off the coaches at the Arboretum, we never had a drop of rain. Although we were all a little late for our pre-booked tours, the guides were welcoming and knowledgeable.The trees looked marvellous and the blossom, undamaged by the overnight rain, was beautiful. Even the bluebells were still in flower. Judging by the greenery carried on to my coach, I reckon the plant centre had a good day too!
It is a sobering thought to be told that the park was saved as a national site by only one vote when it was given to the Nation in lieu of death duties. Now it has developed new collections as well as taken on the preservation of trees 2000years old.
Many of the party today plan to return under their own steam for the autumn colours when the trees will look magnificent but there will not be the freedom from crowds which we enjoyed. After all,one of the purposes of WI outings is to encourage members to visit these places again either with family or with their own local WI.
17th and 20th May
The members of the local WI had been invited to set up a promotional stand at the Town Council's event at which the councillors hoped to launch a scheme to construct a Town Plan. Our stand attracted quite a lot of attention and comment and the occasion was good for talk between the various organisations in the town.There were certainly lots of comments and suggestions pasted up on to the boards by the visiting public.Unfortunately, the age group attending on the Saturday was predominately over 50 years old but in the evening there were a few more of the younger inhabitants of the town.When one considers that the 20-30 year olds are more likely to be around to enjoy the future of the town longer, it is a pity there were not more to offer an opinion. The display is going into the local primary school but the youngsters who are on the brink of being able to cast a vote in a national election are going to miss out completely. Mind, quite a few WI members were conspicuous by their absence too!
20th May
The Book Group met this afternoon and we have a new member which is a great delight. Differing views were held on Kate Atkinson's Case Histories and The Book Thief was re-discussed as other members had missed the previous meeting. We've come to the end of one list of sets of books from the County Library Service so we have been let loose this time to see what we pick up over the next month.
22nd May
The Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met over lunch in Prestwood to finalise details for the forthcoming Taste of Poland Day. There was a new face at the meeting which is always welcome but we could do with another couple to join us. The event sounds as if it will be excellent and very interesting. Maybe we are a bit late in our timing as the media tells us that the visitors from Poland are now drifting back home. The hospitals and hotel businesses will miss them: they weren't all plumbers!
23rd May
The local working party planning our annual fundraising event in November met this evening.It is always better to have a small group organising these things rather than waste time at the monthly meeting discussing the virtues of scones above cakes or the order of the programme. I wish the authorities would stop altering the rules about licences--who needs one, how to apply etc.It drives you silly and as for what one has to do to conform to Health and Safety rules...Nothing like a bit of risk and hazard to make life interesting.Whatever will we do without the unexpected?
Monday, 26 May 2008
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Resolutions and show promotion
7th May
Most WIs in May are busy preparing their delegates for the Annual General Meeting of the National WI in June this year in Liverpool. The Annual Review has to be accepted and the Resolutions discussed and voted upon. Personally I enjoy these meetings but I know others who don't. We always have to offer carrots to entice members to come along: wine helps the tongues to wag as well.This year every member was asked to bring an item of food which had a locality attached to it but which could be eaten in the fingers. We thought this would avoid a Lancashire Hotpot or a large plate of ravioli! It was amazing what turned up and how well it balanced out between sweet and savoury.
There was quite a good debate on the undesirability of imprisonment for mentally ill offenders. Probably this was because locally various psychiatric hospitals have been closed in favour of care in the community and there are 2 prisons in the area.Cases were cited of where long-term imprisonment had resulted in real harm to the inmates but also it was felt that the public needed to be sure that any hospital was properly secure.
Bottom trawling (although the resolution came from Bucks) was felt to be ambiguously worded so the members asked our delegate to be prepared for an amendment at the meeting in Liverpool.We felt that if the movers did not want a total ban on this type of fishing they should have said "where it causes catastrophic harm to marine life" not "which".Let's hope this is changed on the day as we are too late for an amendment ourselves.
We also spent a bit of time while the Treasurer presented her budget for next year and the Secretary is going to construct a survey for our local members to complete on what they want from the WI and what they don't want so that we can try to make the WI a little more tailor-made. This may be a revelation to the committee but we must be doing something right as we gained a new member even after what some describe as a boring meeting!
8th May
There was a small gathering of 6 interested members to plan our contribution to the Town Show in August.We want a corner site this year even though this costs more. We have been in the same place for years which may or may not be an advantage.We want to fly the flag for Winslow WI and for the County Federation so we have lots of ideas on what to display.The general public always expects us to be selling cakes but that is not practical in August and others do that anyway. We are looking for something to attract attention and keep people in the tent for long enough to take in what the WI is all about. So we need an attraction for children while their mothers read or something to make the adults linger but we are not out to make money and want to get away from the endless raffles and tombolas.Not easy.
In the afternoon 2 members went over to the group for young mothers to teach them how to sew, knit or crochet. This is a new undertaking so we are not yet sure how successful it will be. What we really need is financial backing to be able to provide a creche but that is proving difficult.It happened for the Let's Cook project so maybe we will be lucky too.
12th May
Back to the Town Show planning--this time the Craft Group's contribution. We think we will be able to make something eye-catching to draw people into the tent. The trouble is that everyone imagines the final outcome differently! It will need a bit of furious activity to finish in time but we like to have a joint project so it all sounds hopeful. Those who don't want to take part can organise the display of items made over the last year.I think we will need to borrow some of the display furniture from the Federation stores, banners and perhaps a piece of trellis--but that is why such things are kept there for WIs to use.
Most WIs in May are busy preparing their delegates for the Annual General Meeting of the National WI in June this year in Liverpool. The Annual Review has to be accepted and the Resolutions discussed and voted upon. Personally I enjoy these meetings but I know others who don't. We always have to offer carrots to entice members to come along: wine helps the tongues to wag as well.This year every member was asked to bring an item of food which had a locality attached to it but which could be eaten in the fingers. We thought this would avoid a Lancashire Hotpot or a large plate of ravioli! It was amazing what turned up and how well it balanced out between sweet and savoury.
There was quite a good debate on the undesirability of imprisonment for mentally ill offenders. Probably this was because locally various psychiatric hospitals have been closed in favour of care in the community and there are 2 prisons in the area.Cases were cited of where long-term imprisonment had resulted in real harm to the inmates but also it was felt that the public needed to be sure that any hospital was properly secure.
Bottom trawling (although the resolution came from Bucks) was felt to be ambiguously worded so the members asked our delegate to be prepared for an amendment at the meeting in Liverpool.We felt that if the movers did not want a total ban on this type of fishing they should have said "where it causes catastrophic harm to marine life" not "which".Let's hope this is changed on the day as we are too late for an amendment ourselves.
We also spent a bit of time while the Treasurer presented her budget for next year and the Secretary is going to construct a survey for our local members to complete on what they want from the WI and what they don't want so that we can try to make the WI a little more tailor-made. This may be a revelation to the committee but we must be doing something right as we gained a new member even after what some describe as a boring meeting!
8th May
There was a small gathering of 6 interested members to plan our contribution to the Town Show in August.We want a corner site this year even though this costs more. We have been in the same place for years which may or may not be an advantage.We want to fly the flag for Winslow WI and for the County Federation so we have lots of ideas on what to display.The general public always expects us to be selling cakes but that is not practical in August and others do that anyway. We are looking for something to attract attention and keep people in the tent for long enough to take in what the WI is all about. So we need an attraction for children while their mothers read or something to make the adults linger but we are not out to make money and want to get away from the endless raffles and tombolas.Not easy.
In the afternoon 2 members went over to the group for young mothers to teach them how to sew, knit or crochet. This is a new undertaking so we are not yet sure how successful it will be. What we really need is financial backing to be able to provide a creche but that is proving difficult.It happened for the Let's Cook project so maybe we will be lucky too.
12th May
Back to the Town Show planning--this time the Craft Group's contribution. We think we will be able to make something eye-catching to draw people into the tent. The trouble is that everyone imagines the final outcome differently! It will need a bit of furious activity to finish in time but we like to have a joint project so it all sounds hopeful. Those who don't want to take part can organise the display of items made over the last year.I think we will need to borrow some of the display furniture from the Federation stores, banners and perhaps a piece of trellis--but that is why such things are kept there for WIs to use.
Monday, 5 May 2008
Going round in circles
25th April
Another very good article about the WI appeared in The Daily Telegraph last week. This featured the new WI formed in Shoreditch which is trendy (according to the title) and yet is still interested in crafts. There is definitely a surge of interest in the WI movement which must be related to the fact that our magazine WI Life now has a huge circulation base which is attracting not only more advertising revenue but also informing every member of what is going on, out there, beyond her village hall. I keep hoping more of the doubters publicly will eat their words.
This morning our area of the Bucks County Council held one of its Getting Closer to Communities sessions. The local WI was invited to attend. The idea was for the organisations within the community to meet and exchange ideas on what was good and what was lacking in their locality.There was a lot of officialdom present using all the right sort of words but even so I think something useful was achieved. The thing that worries me is that it was very similar to the Area Focus Groups that have been being held and also to the local Town Council's Town Plan meeting which is yet to come.Surely one layer could have been cut out? These events are not cheap to run as the carrot of snack refreshments has to be presented.
This evening was great fun. The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee held a Hoedown in one of the Aylesbury schools.I think a lot of people cannot tell their left from their right nor clockwise from anti-clockwise but who cares? The supper was suitably American, the caller knew what he was trying to get us to do and the atmosphere was great. I suppose this committee has got to the end of its regional evenings and we will be able to start again with a Caledonian Evening. I for one look forward to it.
30th April
Today was the event which has been occupying the minds of a small Working Party for several months--The Literary Lunch at Cheddington. This was the fourth in a series but it was slightly different in that the WI Catering Committee was not doing the refreshments. We called in the professionals which was a blessed relief to the caterers but meant that the price had to go up.Unfortunately none of the WI caterers can be expected now to lift the pans of a size necessary for over 150 diners so it will have to be either outside caterers or a simpler meal. When we started, we wanted to offer something really special, something different and we did! WI catering is second to none.
Anyway the meal today was excellent, plentiful and hot.I was impressed by the serenity in the kitchen. The hall manager is one of the best in the County and the room looked really attractive.Our speaker was very good too. Salley Vickers is a well known novelist, highly thought of in literary circles, a keen supporter of the WI and an entertaining speaker.She will be a hard act to follow.
1st May
My poor little car struggled down to High Wycombe because it was full of everything but the kitchen sink from the day before. It was the first meeting of the new 2 year term of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. This is a small group which could do with some more volunteers. It has an interesting remit: but not the domain for blue stockings. What WI sub-committee is? At the moment we are working on an outing to the Arboretum at Westonbirt and a day event called A Taste of Poland which unfortunately is taking place in Bucks --not in Poland. Of course the visit to the Terracotta Army was arranged by this committee too so there is off-site work as well as keeping up with NFWI campaigns when we have to write letters to MPs or Councils for this, that and the other.Come and join us, please!
Another very good article about the WI appeared in The Daily Telegraph last week. This featured the new WI formed in Shoreditch which is trendy (according to the title) and yet is still interested in crafts. There is definitely a surge of interest in the WI movement which must be related to the fact that our magazine WI Life now has a huge circulation base which is attracting not only more advertising revenue but also informing every member of what is going on, out there, beyond her village hall. I keep hoping more of the doubters publicly will eat their words.
This morning our area of the Bucks County Council held one of its Getting Closer to Communities sessions. The local WI was invited to attend. The idea was for the organisations within the community to meet and exchange ideas on what was good and what was lacking in their locality.There was a lot of officialdom present using all the right sort of words but even so I think something useful was achieved. The thing that worries me is that it was very similar to the Area Focus Groups that have been being held and also to the local Town Council's Town Plan meeting which is yet to come.Surely one layer could have been cut out? These events are not cheap to run as the carrot of snack refreshments has to be presented.
This evening was great fun. The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee held a Hoedown in one of the Aylesbury schools.I think a lot of people cannot tell their left from their right nor clockwise from anti-clockwise but who cares? The supper was suitably American, the caller knew what he was trying to get us to do and the atmosphere was great. I suppose this committee has got to the end of its regional evenings and we will be able to start again with a Caledonian Evening. I for one look forward to it.
30th April
Today was the event which has been occupying the minds of a small Working Party for several months--The Literary Lunch at Cheddington. This was the fourth in a series but it was slightly different in that the WI Catering Committee was not doing the refreshments. We called in the professionals which was a blessed relief to the caterers but meant that the price had to go up.Unfortunately none of the WI caterers can be expected now to lift the pans of a size necessary for over 150 diners so it will have to be either outside caterers or a simpler meal. When we started, we wanted to offer something really special, something different and we did! WI catering is second to none.
Anyway the meal today was excellent, plentiful and hot.I was impressed by the serenity in the kitchen. The hall manager is one of the best in the County and the room looked really attractive.Our speaker was very good too. Salley Vickers is a well known novelist, highly thought of in literary circles, a keen supporter of the WI and an entertaining speaker.She will be a hard act to follow.
1st May
My poor little car struggled down to High Wycombe because it was full of everything but the kitchen sink from the day before. It was the first meeting of the new 2 year term of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. This is a small group which could do with some more volunteers. It has an interesting remit: but not the domain for blue stockings. What WI sub-committee is? At the moment we are working on an outing to the Arboretum at Westonbirt and a day event called A Taste of Poland which unfortunately is taking place in Bucks --not in Poland. Of course the visit to the Terracotta Army was arranged by this committee too so there is off-site work as well as keeping up with NFWI campaigns when we have to write letters to MPs or Councils for this, that and the other.Come and join us, please!
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