The World outside

31st January
Just in case you imagine that I have gone into hibernation which I would dearly love to do, I am going to add some not-exactly WI things which I have been spending time on. Those of you who were in at the beginning of this blog will know that its real function is to illustrate the various events and activities in which an average WI member in Bucks would or could be involved.The list of possible resolutions to go forward to the AGM in Liverpool in June 2011 includes one about the closure of libraries in order to meet the demands of the Government for savings in the public sector.My local town has a library which is under threat so, along with several other members of my WI, I attended the meetings to see what can be done about the situation. These were run by the Town Council and were well attended.After much discussion a Friends of the Library management Committee has been formed to explore ways of co-operating with Bucks Library Service to set up a "community library" with a lot of volunteer participation.This may or may not be the solution: we must wait and see.If you wish to read an excellent article on the subject read http://falseeconomy.org .uk/blog/save-oxfordshire-libraries-speech-philip-pullman.
The local branch of the Lions held an open meeting on another subject on which the WI has been campaigning viz. "Care not Custody".Actually this meeting was about sentencing in general in magistrates' courts but it touched briefly on the specific problem. I thought WI meetings were difficult to control but try the Lions! There were some fierce views expressed on what to do with various offenders but I think we were all made to understand the difficult decisions the courts need to make and the important role of the probation service.Some of us are going to visit a neighbouring WI whose next monthly meeting has another magistrate as its main speaker.This interest came about following the NFWI campaign and our local WI's discussion group.
One final snippet of information from the national press last week---did you read the interview with the WI National Chairman, Ruth Bond as an Eco Hero in the Telegraph? She was talking about our other campaigns on COOL labelling of foodstuffs and the use of hazardous chemicals.The public relations team at NFWI seem to manage to keep the WI in the public eye and to present a positive image. No wonder we are gaining members again.