Delegates and Observers from Bucks left in two coaches on Tuesday for Liverpool to attend the NFWI Annual General Meeting on June 4th. On the way we enjoyed a short visit to Bridgemere Gardens to grab some lunch and to look at the WI gardens still maintained there after successes at the Chelsea Flower Show. We arrived at a pleasant hotel just outside Chester for an evening meal and a night's accommodation before the big event the following day.
An early breakfast and off to the arena for doors open at 9.30am.It is a lovely hall on the banks of the Mersey and the atmosphere was marvellous as coach after coach disgorged its load right outside the doors.
The singing of Jerusalem was inspiring in spite of a rather tinny piano. We were welcomed by Councillor Mike Storey to his city of culture and then it was down to business.NFWI Chair Fay Mansell stressed the need to continue to increase the membership and mentioned all the positive things achieved which are listed in the Annual Review. The WI was vital to the social well-being of the UK and was the glue which held society together. She aimed to make WI membership in 2015 stand at 250,000.The Hon. Treasurer Aleathia Mann told us the WI had a surplus of £434,000. The subscription next year would be £29 with £14 pooling of fares.
The resolution on the unsuitability of imprisonment for the mentally ill was carried by a 97% vote in spite of Government assurances that the matter was being addressed. Nobody seemed to believe him when family members and magistrates listed their personal experiences.
Averil MacDonald, a physicist from Reading University talked about the need for women in science.Although girls started off ahead of boys academically, they reached a glass ceiling at 30 years old. She pleaded for flexible hours of work and for part-time work not to be prefaced by the word "only". Change it to PRIME TIME WORK and see the benefits for everyone.
The resolution on deep sea trawling was well proposed by Bucks WI Chearsley and caused a lot of healthy debate. However it had a basic flaw in its wording so that although the proposers wanted to ban only harmful bottom trawling, it read as if they demanded a total ban on all bottom trawling. Amendments had been sent in but NFWI had not accepted them as it didn't see the ambiguity, whereas this had been pointed out both at Bucks Briefing Meetings and at the WI discussions in May. As a result, the coastal areas were up in arms in support of the fishing industry and the motion was not carried: 3051 to 3335.
Baroness Susan Greenfield (in a very smart trouser suit where the trousers were shorts) spoke to us about the way in which the human brain makes us all unique. This was a fascinating topic and really stretched the audience's understanding.She condemned the over-use of computers where children and adults could merge the real world with the cyber world. Everyone has the potential to be someone eg an individual, anyone eg part of a collective body, and nobody eg lost in a sensory world. Combine the three and you reach the EUREKA moment of creativity.
The improvements to Denman College were described. There were reports on the campaigns of the last year and then Sandi Toksvig took the stage. We were swept along from funny story to funny story and everyone loved her energy and sense of fun.The serious part of her message was that WI members should make sure to record their personal lives and those remembered of their forebears in our wonderful diverse language.
The National Chairman finished by launching the Big Tidy Up campaign and the search for a WI face or W-Icon for the Sky Learning Channels which will bring great kudos and about £10,000 to the NFWI.This was followed by a choir singing 3 items and then taking part in a concluding rendition of Jerusalem.
It was a great AGM to have attended, some controversy and some mind stretching presentations and some uproarious fun. We all travelled back in good humour even though it was a long ride home.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Premises old and new
23rd May
I know it is 6 months before the event but tonight the local WI had a planning meeting for our big fundraiser in November.Halls and speakers need at least 6 months pre-warning so we thought we might as well organise some of the detail at the same time. At present quizzes are very popular in our locality so we will need to make ours a bit different.Is this a case of "thinking outside the box"?
Every WI needs to make a little extra money above the subscription to pay for its meeting place and speakers during the year. Some WIs cater for other organisations or run money-making stalls at fetes and town events. We prefer to hold a large meeting which attracts the locals so that we can socialise at the same time.
28th May
I am a dual member of another WI which allows me to enjoy the events arranged over there. Dual membership involves paying the dues to that WI but not the part that goes to the County federation or NFWI. I can take an active part in my "second" WI's life but my vote on County or National matters has to go through my first WI.
Anyway, my second WI had arranged a walk this afternoon and booked a Blue Badge guide to show us round the Roman villa and Bradwell Abbey. I bet you didn't know that within yards of the concrete cows in Milton Keynes is the remains of a Roman villa. It was an interesting walk not just for the history but also because the river had burst its banks and we ended up having to make a diversion and paddle along the redway.
The local WI's committee meeting in the evening ended off a rather full WI day. I shall be sorry to miss next week's meeting when a group of handbell ringers is booked to entertain us but I will be up in Liverpool for the Annual General Meeting.
29th May
What a week! This morning we were off to the Oxfordshire Federation WI headquarters at Tackley for a meeting for members of county federations' Education and Current Affairs sub-committees arranged by NFWI. I was interested to see this federation's answer to having to move from an inconvenient premises in Oxford to somewhere cheaper and more suited to modern WI use. It is ideal in a converted farm courtyard set up in an attractive village. Is this the way Bucks should go? What kind of letters did their members write after negotiating a single track road to get to their headquarters? It isn't true that our members don't reverse---well, not the majority of us!
It was an informative meeting where we learned about the many educational opportunities in the WI and the various schemes that are up and running at the moment. There is money available out there if only one knew how to get hold of it in time for arranging local courses etc. Federations attending were from as far away as Cambridgeshire and Avon and they had all managed the minor roads OK.
I know it is 6 months before the event but tonight the local WI had a planning meeting for our big fundraiser in November.Halls and speakers need at least 6 months pre-warning so we thought we might as well organise some of the detail at the same time. At present quizzes are very popular in our locality so we will need to make ours a bit different.Is this a case of "thinking outside the box"?
Every WI needs to make a little extra money above the subscription to pay for its meeting place and speakers during the year. Some WIs cater for other organisations or run money-making stalls at fetes and town events. We prefer to hold a large meeting which attracts the locals so that we can socialise at the same time.
28th May
I am a dual member of another WI which allows me to enjoy the events arranged over there. Dual membership involves paying the dues to that WI but not the part that goes to the County federation or NFWI. I can take an active part in my "second" WI's life but my vote on County or National matters has to go through my first WI.
Anyway, my second WI had arranged a walk this afternoon and booked a Blue Badge guide to show us round the Roman villa and Bradwell Abbey. I bet you didn't know that within yards of the concrete cows in Milton Keynes is the remains of a Roman villa. It was an interesting walk not just for the history but also because the river had burst its banks and we ended up having to make a diversion and paddle along the redway.
The local WI's committee meeting in the evening ended off a rather full WI day. I shall be sorry to miss next week's meeting when a group of handbell ringers is booked to entertain us but I will be up in Liverpool for the Annual General Meeting.
29th May
What a week! This morning we were off to the Oxfordshire Federation WI headquarters at Tackley for a meeting for members of county federations' Education and Current Affairs sub-committees arranged by NFWI. I was interested to see this federation's answer to having to move from an inconvenient premises in Oxford to somewhere cheaper and more suited to modern WI use. It is ideal in a converted farm courtyard set up in an attractive village. Is this the way Bucks should go? What kind of letters did their members write after negotiating a single track road to get to their headquarters? It isn't true that our members don't reverse---well, not the majority of us!
It was an informative meeting where we learned about the many educational opportunities in the WI and the various schemes that are up and running at the moment. There is money available out there if only one knew how to get hold of it in time for arranging local courses etc. Federations attending were from as far away as Cambridgeshire and Avon and they had all managed the minor roads OK.
Monday, 26 May 2008
Out and About
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?
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?
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!
Monday, 21 April 2008
Women who do things
4th April
I am very pleased that the article which appeared today in the Daily Telegraph did not appear on 1st April . Otherwise several people would have read it as an April Fool. The heading "The WI ladies off on tour in search of prostitutes " would not have been believed.However it is true and it is not the first time that the WI has tried to protect the health and well-being of the ladies of the night. It is part of a campaign to eliminate some of the violence perpetrated against women which is itself part of the campaign against the dangerous lives that some women live at home as well as on the street.The WI has been trying to get brothels legalised and has secured support from unlikely sources such as the Roman Catholic bishop of Portsmouth.
I think these ladies from Hampshire deserve a lot of credit and I wish them luck in their research.
16th April
There was a lively Group Meeting this evening where a young woman came as the guest speaker. She was an excellent speaker and entertainer. It was hard to believe that someone so slight had rowed across the Atlantic twice! What fortitude and bravery and all to raise money for the National Epilepsy Society! I must admit that I went along expecting an obvious athlete with bulging muscles and there was this slip of a girl.Everyone was full of admiration for her and for her mother who rowed with her.
17th April
Today two members of my WI went along to see whether we could set up a Let's Sew project in a school near us.We came back full of enthusiasm to get going. The staff were keen and felt sure it was possible. However we really need some funds to finance the creche as we don't fancy playing about with sewing machines and needles and pins knee deep in toddlers. I am hoping we can come to some arrangement similar to the Let's Cook scheme which was promoted nationally by NFWI last year.
The WI is still respected for its work with crafts and who better to pass on the expertise than the WI members?
18th April
Another Group Meeting tonight when the WIs concerned celebrated their 80th birthday and what have they just done? Made themselves an embroidered banner. This is a beautiful example of the traditional and the modern techniques available. I keep on saying how the WI must maintain its traditional skills and hand them on. It was a very happy evening with good food, a little drama and singing and a lot of chatter. Some of the previous members had travelled large distances to attend and to join in the celebrations.
From these members I learned that some Federations have given up having groups which seems a great pity. The reasons cited were financial complications and the lack of time for 2 extra meetings a year. How pathetic! Groups have always been outside the Federations and gone their own way and it seems a shame to close them. A meeting of 4or 5 WIs enables them to afford a more expensive speaker and to show off their individuality beyond the confines of the WI constitution.
I hope our federation doesn't plan to abandon our Group scheme.
I am very pleased that the article which appeared today in the Daily Telegraph did not appear on 1st April . Otherwise several people would have read it as an April Fool. The heading "The WI ladies off on tour in search of prostitutes " would not have been believed.However it is true and it is not the first time that the WI has tried to protect the health and well-being of the ladies of the night. It is part of a campaign to eliminate some of the violence perpetrated against women which is itself part of the campaign against the dangerous lives that some women live at home as well as on the street.The WI has been trying to get brothels legalised and has secured support from unlikely sources such as the Roman Catholic bishop of Portsmouth.
I think these ladies from Hampshire deserve a lot of credit and I wish them luck in their research.
16th April
There was a lively Group Meeting this evening where a young woman came as the guest speaker. She was an excellent speaker and entertainer. It was hard to believe that someone so slight had rowed across the Atlantic twice! What fortitude and bravery and all to raise money for the National Epilepsy Society! I must admit that I went along expecting an obvious athlete with bulging muscles and there was this slip of a girl.Everyone was full of admiration for her and for her mother who rowed with her.
17th April
Today two members of my WI went along to see whether we could set up a Let's Sew project in a school near us.We came back full of enthusiasm to get going. The staff were keen and felt sure it was possible. However we really need some funds to finance the creche as we don't fancy playing about with sewing machines and needles and pins knee deep in toddlers. I am hoping we can come to some arrangement similar to the Let's Cook scheme which was promoted nationally by NFWI last year.
The WI is still respected for its work with crafts and who better to pass on the expertise than the WI members?
18th April
Another Group Meeting tonight when the WIs concerned celebrated their 80th birthday and what have they just done? Made themselves an embroidered banner. This is a beautiful example of the traditional and the modern techniques available. I keep on saying how the WI must maintain its traditional skills and hand them on. It was a very happy evening with good food, a little drama and singing and a lot of chatter. Some of the previous members had travelled large distances to attend and to join in the celebrations.
From these members I learned that some Federations have given up having groups which seems a great pity. The reasons cited were financial complications and the lack of time for 2 extra meetings a year. How pathetic! Groups have always been outside the Federations and gone their own way and it seems a shame to close them. A meeting of 4or 5 WIs enables them to afford a more expensive speaker and to show off their individuality beyond the confines of the WI constitution.
I hope our federation doesn't plan to abandon our Group scheme.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Busy,busy meetings
25th March
Today three of the local WI members travelled South to visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge. Although they planned to buy a few items, the main reason was to view the BFWI Offices. They were really impressed: of course, it was post a bank holiday weekend but the level of activity was amazing. Besides the usual three members of staff and the shop people, there were some judges working on some secret mission and members of Executive popping in for paperwork and equipment for forthcoming events. If all Bucks members could visit Stuart Lodge, they would understand just what running a WI Federation involves and also be able to put a face to the voice on the phone.
It was great to see the finished upstairs bathroom and to view the redecorated committee room.
26th March
Local WI committee tonight, the main purpose of which was to plan next week's Open Meeting. We want to cover everything in as short a time as possible because, hopefully there will be lots of visitors.We also want to fly the flag a bit. We don't usually have a timed agenda but for this we must and take the record of the last meeting "as read".However, the committee refused to abandon Jerusalem as part of the time-cutting exercise!
31st March
What a day! In the afternoon the local Book Group met. Everyone was very pleased to be in print in WI Life but not so pleased to have been given away to another County! We discussed the "Book Thief" which all rated highly.
Then it was a short meeting to sort out a ballot for a couple of the WI summer rambles which are oversubscribed. Anyone involved with running an event hates to turn any members away. BFWI has been criticised for opening events to non-members but sometimes we need those extra bodies in order to actually hold the event. If the number of tickets is cut, it is up to the WI to locally distribute the tickets on the basis of members first, non-members next.
In the evening three members of the local WI attended the Briefing Meeting in Aylesbury. This is when experts are called to give information to the delegates to use at their own WIs in May. It was a lively meeting and there was lots of informed discussion which augurs well for the AGM in Liverpool in June.
2nd April
I may be biassed but I think our Open Meeting was a success. We did have lots of visitors and also we had an excellent speaker who appealed to a general audience. His subject was his experiences around the world while in the diplomatic service. We kept to time and there was a healthy buzz of conversation during social time. We were also able to arrange some dates for working party meetings and fix attendance at the Town Council's meetings to produce a Town Plan and to attend the Bucks CC day school on Closer Links with the Community. All part of the social conscience of being a WI member but it does make for a busy couple of months.
Today three of the local WI members travelled South to visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge. Although they planned to buy a few items, the main reason was to view the BFWI Offices. They were really impressed: of course, it was post a bank holiday weekend but the level of activity was amazing. Besides the usual three members of staff and the shop people, there were some judges working on some secret mission and members of Executive popping in for paperwork and equipment for forthcoming events. If all Bucks members could visit Stuart Lodge, they would understand just what running a WI Federation involves and also be able to put a face to the voice on the phone.
It was great to see the finished upstairs bathroom and to view the redecorated committee room.
26th March
Local WI committee tonight, the main purpose of which was to plan next week's Open Meeting. We want to cover everything in as short a time as possible because, hopefully there will be lots of visitors.We also want to fly the flag a bit. We don't usually have a timed agenda but for this we must and take the record of the last meeting "as read".However, the committee refused to abandon Jerusalem as part of the time-cutting exercise!
31st March
What a day! In the afternoon the local Book Group met. Everyone was very pleased to be in print in WI Life but not so pleased to have been given away to another County! We discussed the "Book Thief" which all rated highly.
Then it was a short meeting to sort out a ballot for a couple of the WI summer rambles which are oversubscribed. Anyone involved with running an event hates to turn any members away. BFWI has been criticised for opening events to non-members but sometimes we need those extra bodies in order to actually hold the event. If the number of tickets is cut, it is up to the WI to locally distribute the tickets on the basis of members first, non-members next.
In the evening three members of the local WI attended the Briefing Meeting in Aylesbury. This is when experts are called to give information to the delegates to use at their own WIs in May. It was a lively meeting and there was lots of informed discussion which augurs well for the AGM in Liverpool in June.
2nd April
I may be biassed but I think our Open Meeting was a success. We did have lots of visitors and also we had an excellent speaker who appealed to a general audience. His subject was his experiences around the world while in the diplomatic service. We kept to time and there was a healthy buzz of conversation during social time. We were also able to arrange some dates for working party meetings and fix attendance at the Town Council's meetings to produce a Town Plan and to attend the Bucks CC day school on Closer Links with the Community. All part of the social conscience of being a WI member but it does make for a busy couple of months.
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