4th July
Our WI had a very interesting speaker this month. He is a local gardener who won the BBC Make a Garden national competition. He told us about the selection process along the way to becoming one of the 5 finalists and the extra stress of being filmed and quizzed on his knowledge while putting up arches, laying a little path and planting his chosen flowers and shrubs.I've watched some of those programmes and had no idea of the time it all took and how the presenters try to set the competitors at odds with one another in order to create that mean streak which they seem to like to have in all their programmes.We are going to visit the speaker's garden for our August meeting and then have tea with another WI in the area.
9th July
I watched the BBC 4 programme about Denman College. Here was another example of how much filming is done and how little of it appears in the programme proper. It was interesting how little information was given on Denman because the producers concentrated on the members attending and on their reasons for being there rather than on what they were doing. I think what I call the social services side of the WI was thoroughly aired as it has been in each programme. Do you think it will have attracted new members or made people shy away in case their private lives were explored in such depth?
It will have made members realise the problems of the upkeep of the buildings etc but did I nod off or was no mention made of how the Federations support their own bedrooms or part of the gardens? I still don't like the chairs in the bar and I have a nasty feeling there are some very similar models now in the drawing-room. OK, OK I'll go and have a look!
10th July
Today was the day for the BFWI Literary Lunch with Sandra Howard as the speaker. The Cheddington Village Hall has one of the most helpful caretakers in the county and he looked after us very well.The hall looked nice when laid out for lunch and the members arrived all looking summery and smiling. The caterers performed wonders as usual, the waitresses were very efficient but even so we ran late but no one seemed to mind. Sandra Howard is a lovely person and we appreciated what she had to say and she signed all the 50 copies of her book we had on sale.
All but two members were happy with the day: there is always someone, isn't there! In this case two but they came together so they count as one. The trouble is that afterwards it is only the criticism that the organisers remember, not the happy comments and encouragement to repeat the pattern.
Sandra donated her fee to a charity which helps fight alcohol and drug addiction. The event should turn out to be a good fund-raising event.This event is run by Executive for the members but organised by a small working party. Working Parties provide a good way to achieve successful results without spending a lot of time nor money on travel expenses. Members of the group do not need to be on Executive nor attend other meetings: no minutes, just notes back to Executive. One plans, organises help and runs things on the day then one is fancyfree again.
Would anyone like to help at a future event on this footing? It could involve writing letters, doing sums, cooking, buying whatever is needed, printing menus, waitressing, selling raffle tickets---all the things which you happily undertake in your own WIs.THINK ABOUT IT.
11th July
I took various items back to Stuart Lodge today after yesterday's Literary Lunch and immediately began to receive phone calls and e-mails saying how much people had enjoyed themselves."It's not what you do, it's the way that you do it".We have made these lunches into special occasions and everyone makes an effort and comes expecting to have a pleasant day. I only wish we could accommodate a larger number.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
BBC4:the WI as others are viewing us
25th June
Another evening in the pub! This was the final meeting to plan our literary event. We have got down to the details now: where to find 30 cruets etc.We are also rather shell-shocked by the popularity of this meeting and hating turning people away but it is absolutely impossible to cater for more safely so we shall have to plan another similar get-together as soon as possible.
Of course being out of the house we all had to miss the BBC4 programme on the WI and I am told that you cannot video from this channel. Let's hope it is repeated.
27th June
Tonight was the local WI committee at which we discussed plans for the town show and for catering in the garden for a neighbouring WI and whether we could undertake some sort of basic cookery skills course for young mothers and children similar to the NFWI Let's Cook idea.
There was much talk of the Hissing of Summer Lawns programme. Everyone seemed to think it was a good programme which left much to discuss. Apparently it centred on a new WI on the Isle of Wight which was proving very successful but so divorced from the accepted norm for WIs that it was in danger of stepping beyond the constitution.The general opinion among the committee members was that it was a mini war between the federation and the new president and their money was on the establishment to win!
28th June
The meeting of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee also chatted about the TV programme which I still haven't seen.Plans are being made for forthcoming events so this involves lots of letterwriting and phone calls to possible speakers and hall curators.I filled my car with equipment for the literary event and spent the evening at home practising with the Public Address system which must have given the neighbours quite a surprise! I think I have mastered it but these things are so sensitive that they need tender maintenance between events.It would also help if instructions were not written in Korean.
!st July
At last I have watched the Programme even though it meant sitting up until 12.30am. No wonder everyone is talking about it! I tried to look at it as a non-member and I could see how some of the views of young Amy would appear justified.And give her her due, she did pay her respects to what the WI had achieved and showed enthusiasm for current campaigns. What she didn't grasp was that much of what had been achieved had been done by people very like herself who had found the best way to tackle it.Amy thought she was breaking new ground by having controversial topics on the WI programme ("Look at me ruffling feathers" syndrome) when way back in the 1940s WIs were debating venereal diseases, divorced women, violence in the home etc.Every WI has always chosen its own programme and created itself to be what its members want.
I really felt for the girl when every president's nightmare came true and the speaker either doesn't turn up at all or is dreadfully late.
As a WI member who perhaps doesn't know what's what in the constitution, the programme might lead her to think it is OK not to keep accounts of the money, not to pay any notice of basic hygiene rules when preparing food and to fail to ask for nominations for the committee and president at the annual meeting.Also it came across that one needed to have a pretty substantial income to belong to the WI.Yarmouth may have the most members in the country but there was only 48 at the annual meeting. Are these members really members or just cherry pickers who pay their subs and don't attend ordinary WI meetings and therefore become an economic liability to the WI?
As an experienced WI member I was a bit surprised that the federation didn't ensure that the producer pointed out that Amy had been co-opted onto Executive ie invited to serve on the committee, not voted in. It will be up to the other WI members on the Island to elect her at the end of the next 2 year stint and she may well have upset a few people by then.
I don't know whether it was wise to invite the other three members of Yarmouth as well. Could have echoes of a Trojan horse there!
Actually like many other watchers of the programme I think that the relationship between the IOW Federation and the new president will be beneficial to both parties and that the establishment will be able to channel Amy's enthusiasm into a more traditional mode of operation and as her own member observed "She'll learn".
2nd July
The second programme was very different and highlighted another side to the WI. This was again someone thinking outside the norm in planning an outward bound event for a traditional WI with all the risks involved.It was very funny too.Did you notice the sparkle in everyone's eyes when they came in for lunch? They were really enjoying themselves.The main emphasis though was in the different personalities within the branch and the place of the WI within the village community.The social benefits afforded by a group helping each other recover from illness or trauma was acknowledged but we also saw the failure to consider the feelings of others which lost a member.
Here was another style of recruitment in the work of Mary, the WI Adviser.There was the fun element as well as the hard work and commitment at the Yorkshire Show and I bet there were many WI members who recognised the basic appeal of the WI from this piece of film.
Another evening in the pub! This was the final meeting to plan our literary event. We have got down to the details now: where to find 30 cruets etc.We are also rather shell-shocked by the popularity of this meeting and hating turning people away but it is absolutely impossible to cater for more safely so we shall have to plan another similar get-together as soon as possible.
Of course being out of the house we all had to miss the BBC4 programme on the WI and I am told that you cannot video from this channel. Let's hope it is repeated.
27th June
Tonight was the local WI committee at which we discussed plans for the town show and for catering in the garden for a neighbouring WI and whether we could undertake some sort of basic cookery skills course for young mothers and children similar to the NFWI Let's Cook idea.
There was much talk of the Hissing of Summer Lawns programme. Everyone seemed to think it was a good programme which left much to discuss. Apparently it centred on a new WI on the Isle of Wight which was proving very successful but so divorced from the accepted norm for WIs that it was in danger of stepping beyond the constitution.The general opinion among the committee members was that it was a mini war between the federation and the new president and their money was on the establishment to win!
28th June
The meeting of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee also chatted about the TV programme which I still haven't seen.Plans are being made for forthcoming events so this involves lots of letterwriting and phone calls to possible speakers and hall curators.I filled my car with equipment for the literary event and spent the evening at home practising with the Public Address system which must have given the neighbours quite a surprise! I think I have mastered it but these things are so sensitive that they need tender maintenance between events.It would also help if instructions were not written in Korean.
!st July
At last I have watched the Programme even though it meant sitting up until 12.30am. No wonder everyone is talking about it! I tried to look at it as a non-member and I could see how some of the views of young Amy would appear justified.And give her her due, she did pay her respects to what the WI had achieved and showed enthusiasm for current campaigns. What she didn't grasp was that much of what had been achieved had been done by people very like herself who had found the best way to tackle it.Amy thought she was breaking new ground by having controversial topics on the WI programme ("Look at me ruffling feathers" syndrome) when way back in the 1940s WIs were debating venereal diseases, divorced women, violence in the home etc.Every WI has always chosen its own programme and created itself to be what its members want.
I really felt for the girl when every president's nightmare came true and the speaker either doesn't turn up at all or is dreadfully late.
As a WI member who perhaps doesn't know what's what in the constitution, the programme might lead her to think it is OK not to keep accounts of the money, not to pay any notice of basic hygiene rules when preparing food and to fail to ask for nominations for the committee and president at the annual meeting.Also it came across that one needed to have a pretty substantial income to belong to the WI.Yarmouth may have the most members in the country but there was only 48 at the annual meeting. Are these members really members or just cherry pickers who pay their subs and don't attend ordinary WI meetings and therefore become an economic liability to the WI?
As an experienced WI member I was a bit surprised that the federation didn't ensure that the producer pointed out that Amy had been co-opted onto Executive ie invited to serve on the committee, not voted in. It will be up to the other WI members on the Island to elect her at the end of the next 2 year stint and she may well have upset a few people by then.
I don't know whether it was wise to invite the other three members of Yarmouth as well. Could have echoes of a Trojan horse there!
Actually like many other watchers of the programme I think that the relationship between the IOW Federation and the new president will be beneficial to both parties and that the establishment will be able to channel Amy's enthusiasm into a more traditional mode of operation and as her own member observed "She'll learn".
2nd July
The second programme was very different and highlighted another side to the WI. This was again someone thinking outside the norm in planning an outward bound event for a traditional WI with all the risks involved.It was very funny too.Did you notice the sparkle in everyone's eyes when they came in for lunch? They were really enjoying themselves.The main emphasis though was in the different personalities within the branch and the place of the WI within the village community.The social benefits afforded by a group helping each other recover from illness or trauma was acknowledged but we also saw the failure to consider the feelings of others which lost a member.
Here was another style of recruitment in the work of Mary, the WI Adviser.There was the fun element as well as the hard work and commitment at the Yorkshire Show and I bet there were many WI members who recognised the basic appeal of the WI from this piece of film.
Bucks WI look North
June 15th
En route to Scarborough with 38 other WI members and friends. We travelled happily up North through what used to be the industrial towns of the Midlands which is now reclaimed as green and pleasant land. We passed through rain but were quite oblivious of the torrential downpours the rest of Yorkshire was experiencing.
What a lot of cars on the motorways carry just one passenger! It was lovely to see the sea and to hear the seagulls and to discover that the hotel was welcoming. The food was good too.
June 16th
Today we were off to learn about the lovely city of York and to see the first evidence of the flooding overnight.The locals informed us that this was nothing out of the ordinary for them but it certainly impressed us.We had a very amusing and knowledgeable guide for the morning and then went our separate ways to explore whatever interested us.I was most impressed by the York Minster and the work done to underpin it.The embroidery on show is very fine and the modern work of stonemasons equals that of those who went before.It was wonderful to hear the service in progress with the choir singing in the midst of tourists from all over the world.
The party is beginning to jell as the travellers get to know each other which is an important part of these holidays.
June 17th
We travelled up the coast today visiting Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby and then home across the moors. It was very atmospheric on the moors as the mist came down bringing a shower of rain.Our guide gave us an historical account of life among the fishing fleets and the abbey communities. Lots of people just had to have fish and chips in Whitby and then sit and watch the clog dancing on the pier.We were there at the end of the festival and when the dancers finished with an eight group communal dance on the beach they up-skirts and rushed into the sea!
June 19th
We received a bit of reflected glory today with the publication of the article about the WI impact on Marks & Spenser in the Daily Telegraph. Some of the hotel staff knowing we were from Buckinghamshire wondered if they were harbouring members of the focus group.I wish they had been because that was wonderful publicity and such a well written piece. Some of us considered an invasion of the local branch to receive the grateful thanks of the shop staff for saving their stores but a sense of decorum prevailed and we went off to learn about Pickering and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway instead.
There is no doubt about it that the WI is constantly appearing in the media these days. Someone somewhere is working the system to good effect.
June 20th
We visited Castle Howard where two gentlemen on the staff made us very welcome because they had both spent time in Buckinghamshire schools either as pupils or staff. We had a lovely day with a guided tour of the house with all its treasures and there were guided tours of the marvellous Italian, rose and vegetable gardens. I have never seen such a good vegetable garden and the House boasts that the restaurant and cafe on the premises uses all its own local produce.There was a wonderful choice of honey and jams and cakes in the shop and soups all homemade in the restaurant. There was also a wonderful chocolate shop! Temptation!
We could not look around two of the rooms in the house because they are filming a remake of Brideshead Revisited.There were people milling around with cameras and stars reading their lines in secluded corners and every now and again everyone had to be absolutely silent while some tiny bit of film was made. The only thing that refused to keep quiet was the peacock! We are all going to have to see the film to see how it turns out.
Home tomorrow with new friends made and a nice break away enjoyed because the worries and concerns that many of the passengers have in their private lives are left behind for a few days.
En route to Scarborough with 38 other WI members and friends. We travelled happily up North through what used to be the industrial towns of the Midlands which is now reclaimed as green and pleasant land. We passed through rain but were quite oblivious of the torrential downpours the rest of Yorkshire was experiencing.
What a lot of cars on the motorways carry just one passenger! It was lovely to see the sea and to hear the seagulls and to discover that the hotel was welcoming. The food was good too.
June 16th
Today we were off to learn about the lovely city of York and to see the first evidence of the flooding overnight.The locals informed us that this was nothing out of the ordinary for them but it certainly impressed us.We had a very amusing and knowledgeable guide for the morning and then went our separate ways to explore whatever interested us.I was most impressed by the York Minster and the work done to underpin it.The embroidery on show is very fine and the modern work of stonemasons equals that of those who went before.It was wonderful to hear the service in progress with the choir singing in the midst of tourists from all over the world.
The party is beginning to jell as the travellers get to know each other which is an important part of these holidays.
June 17th
We travelled up the coast today visiting Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby and then home across the moors. It was very atmospheric on the moors as the mist came down bringing a shower of rain.Our guide gave us an historical account of life among the fishing fleets and the abbey communities. Lots of people just had to have fish and chips in Whitby and then sit and watch the clog dancing on the pier.We were there at the end of the festival and when the dancers finished with an eight group communal dance on the beach they up-skirts and rushed into the sea!
June 19th
We received a bit of reflected glory today with the publication of the article about the WI impact on Marks & Spenser in the Daily Telegraph. Some of the hotel staff knowing we were from Buckinghamshire wondered if they were harbouring members of the focus group.I wish they had been because that was wonderful publicity and such a well written piece. Some of us considered an invasion of the local branch to receive the grateful thanks of the shop staff for saving their stores but a sense of decorum prevailed and we went off to learn about Pickering and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway instead.
There is no doubt about it that the WI is constantly appearing in the media these days. Someone somewhere is working the system to good effect.
June 20th
We visited Castle Howard where two gentlemen on the staff made us very welcome because they had both spent time in Buckinghamshire schools either as pupils or staff. We had a lovely day with a guided tour of the house with all its treasures and there were guided tours of the marvellous Italian, rose and vegetable gardens. I have never seen such a good vegetable garden and the House boasts that the restaurant and cafe on the premises uses all its own local produce.There was a wonderful choice of honey and jams and cakes in the shop and soups all homemade in the restaurant. There was also a wonderful chocolate shop! Temptation!
We could not look around two of the rooms in the house because they are filming a remake of Brideshead Revisited.There were people milling around with cameras and stars reading their lines in secluded corners and every now and again everyone had to be absolutely silent while some tiny bit of film was made. The only thing that refused to keep quiet was the peacock! We are all going to have to see the film to see how it turns out.
Home tomorrow with new friends made and a nice break away enjoyed because the worries and concerns that many of the passengers have in their private lives are left behind for a few days.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
WI Annual General Meeting and ballots
31st May
I spent the evening in a local pub making plans for the next big Federation event. We often find it easier to arrange a meeting centrally in a pub rather than in someone's house. The bigger the pub the less the staff notice that you are spending more time discussing paperwork and less time ordering food and drink.It also reduces the cost of running a sub-committee if it meets centrally and so cuts the cost of mileage. These costs have to be built in to the cost of the event so this system helps keep the prices reasonable for the people attending.
6th June
Annual General Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall--the big event of the WI year.
This was the first time that our coach has ever arrived just as the staff were opening the doors. How different from the notorious time when we were singing Jerusalem somewhere in North London when we had encountered horrendous traffic congestion on the motorway!
And what good seats! The Bucks Observers were situated in the second tier and five of us were in the box just above the royal coat of arms above the Royal Box.It really is a lovely hall and the singing of Jerusalem was inspirational again.
I thought our National Chairman Fay Mansell appeared more relaxed at her second AGM and she delivered a very upbeat address concentrating on the successful campaigns and the introduction of WI Life which had been achieved without quite as much fuss as the initial run up had suggested.
The main theme of the meeting seemed to be about differences. The National Treasurer Sally Roberts had a positive report to make on the finances where for once the VAT had helped rather than been a burden. The NFWI is now zero rated for VAT and staff numbers are down though costs are much the same.Next year the WI subscription will be £27 and pooling of fares £13.The rise of just £1 was welcomed and the rise in pooling of fares not surprising.(This system spreads the cost of travel to the AGM fairly across WIs from all over the country).
Baroness Hayman, the Speaker for the House of Lords, spoke of her admiration for the work done by the WI which she compared to the role of the House of Lords in government. The Upper House recognises female expertise, is really outside politics, being a revising chamber where open debate when scrutinising legislation is welcome.She said that the WI was part of the nation's framework and acted as a vital glue-- an interesting idea.
The resolution about fighting the closure of community hospitals was well presented. A member from Broughton Pastures in our Federation seconded it without the slightest hint of nerves and Graham Stuart MP, representing CHANT, also endorsed it.A civil servant from the Dept of Health, John Pope spoke very well explaining the Government view but poor man, he didn't stand a chance! The mandate is now in place with an almost unanimous vote.
Ruth Bond, a member of the NFWI Trustees, then gave a resume of the progress in the national campaigns--the milk debate, Human Trafficking, packaging and introduced the Carbon Footprint Challenge to which Philip Selby from the Energy Saving Trust added information on renewables in building.
Next I was delighted that an added item was discussed and it was agreed to support the campaign on providing sanitary wear for the women of Zimbabwe. Imagine the cost of buying sanitary products in Zimbabwe is half the national monthly wage!
A new competition was announced to follow on from the Stepping Out Challenge =One Step Further. We are asked to produce a leaflet on a local walk. We could do that locally and I know several other Bucks WIs will be interested in having a go.
Then it was lunch and off we all trouped to bring the traffic to a standstill as we crossed to sit on the steps of the Albert Memorial. Luckily the weather was fine and hot so the grass was covered in people eating lunch and talking 60 to the dozen.
Stuart Rose from Marks and Spencer then introduced the Carbon Challenge which is being shared by the WI and M&S.He told us what M&S is planning for their Plan A campaign, what the firm has already undertaken and asking for active participation from the WI. He was an inspirational speaker.
We received a very good report from Denman College which has had a successful year and is planning structural additions eg a cookery school and modernising some of the halls of residence. Anne Harrison was keen to point out the refurbished seating in the bar and foyer saying how nice it looked.Personally I don't like it but perhaps others do. If it is good for Denman I'll try to go with the flow!
The new NFWI Trustees were announced and the results of the Cycle Cuba for Denman which were fantastic. Not just for the money raised £83,395 but for the personal achievement of those taking part.
Then Alan Cook from Post Office Ltd spoke about Post Office closures and the schemes planned to compensate for their loss. These included a link up with WHSmith in towns and mobile post offices, post and Go boxes etc and added services such as Broadband. He very bravely answered questions but at the end, the meeting decided to write to express its continued concern about closures.I bet poor Mr Cook went home and said "Why did I bother?" It was almost rude to appear not to have listened to a word he said but....
We finished with the most amazing event. Tony Christie came and for some reason sang "Is this the way to Amarillo?" . Perhaps he happened to be passing as it bore no relevance at all to the meeting and he didn't know the words to Jerusalem either. I couldn't help thinking that "Return to sender" would have followed on nicely to the Post Office but then he is dead, isn't he?
The arrangements for travel home worked well but we spent 20 minutes in Kensington High Street completely jammed because of road works. Never mind, it was a wonderful day as always and it re-enthuses one on what the WI is all about.
9th June
We held a garden tea party at home to raise some funds to cover the costs of our local WI's Milk Debate. It was a wonderfully sunny day and although there were only a few of us there we enjoyed sitting about and chatting.And we have now made enough to meet the expenses.
11th June
How can one make a ballot for tickets really fair? In the Federation we seem to chew over this problem and find no easy solution. I hate turning members away when they book for events that are over-subscribed: WIs that meet late in the month are penalised if one uses the first come, first served method; large WIs suffer if one wants every WI to be represented; small WIs suffer if you go by the highest requests; the amount of passengers per car messes up the ratio etc.etc.Two of us spent three hours tonight trying to cut over 300 applications down to 180 fairly and fearing for our lives when the WI secretaries open their post to find fewer tickets than expected.
Another similar event is the obvious answer but the organisers will be on their knees after this one so will need to be given time to recuperate before then--and then can we get the speaker?
I spent the evening in a local pub making plans for the next big Federation event. We often find it easier to arrange a meeting centrally in a pub rather than in someone's house. The bigger the pub the less the staff notice that you are spending more time discussing paperwork and less time ordering food and drink.It also reduces the cost of running a sub-committee if it meets centrally and so cuts the cost of mileage. These costs have to be built in to the cost of the event so this system helps keep the prices reasonable for the people attending.
6th June
Annual General Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall--the big event of the WI year.
This was the first time that our coach has ever arrived just as the staff were opening the doors. How different from the notorious time when we were singing Jerusalem somewhere in North London when we had encountered horrendous traffic congestion on the motorway!
And what good seats! The Bucks Observers were situated in the second tier and five of us were in the box just above the royal coat of arms above the Royal Box.It really is a lovely hall and the singing of Jerusalem was inspirational again.
I thought our National Chairman Fay Mansell appeared more relaxed at her second AGM and she delivered a very upbeat address concentrating on the successful campaigns and the introduction of WI Life which had been achieved without quite as much fuss as the initial run up had suggested.
The main theme of the meeting seemed to be about differences. The National Treasurer Sally Roberts had a positive report to make on the finances where for once the VAT had helped rather than been a burden. The NFWI is now zero rated for VAT and staff numbers are down though costs are much the same.Next year the WI subscription will be £27 and pooling of fares £13.The rise of just £1 was welcomed and the rise in pooling of fares not surprising.(This system spreads the cost of travel to the AGM fairly across WIs from all over the country).
Baroness Hayman, the Speaker for the House of Lords, spoke of her admiration for the work done by the WI which she compared to the role of the House of Lords in government. The Upper House recognises female expertise, is really outside politics, being a revising chamber where open debate when scrutinising legislation is welcome.She said that the WI was part of the nation's framework and acted as a vital glue-- an interesting idea.
The resolution about fighting the closure of community hospitals was well presented. A member from Broughton Pastures in our Federation seconded it without the slightest hint of nerves and Graham Stuart MP, representing CHANT, also endorsed it.A civil servant from the Dept of Health, John Pope spoke very well explaining the Government view but poor man, he didn't stand a chance! The mandate is now in place with an almost unanimous vote.
Ruth Bond, a member of the NFWI Trustees, then gave a resume of the progress in the national campaigns--the milk debate, Human Trafficking, packaging and introduced the Carbon Footprint Challenge to which Philip Selby from the Energy Saving Trust added information on renewables in building.
Next I was delighted that an added item was discussed and it was agreed to support the campaign on providing sanitary wear for the women of Zimbabwe. Imagine the cost of buying sanitary products in Zimbabwe is half the national monthly wage!
A new competition was announced to follow on from the Stepping Out Challenge =One Step Further. We are asked to produce a leaflet on a local walk. We could do that locally and I know several other Bucks WIs will be interested in having a go.
Then it was lunch and off we all trouped to bring the traffic to a standstill as we crossed to sit on the steps of the Albert Memorial. Luckily the weather was fine and hot so the grass was covered in people eating lunch and talking 60 to the dozen.
Stuart Rose from Marks and Spencer then introduced the Carbon Challenge which is being shared by the WI and M&S.He told us what M&S is planning for their Plan A campaign, what the firm has already undertaken and asking for active participation from the WI. He was an inspirational speaker.
We received a very good report from Denman College which has had a successful year and is planning structural additions eg a cookery school and modernising some of the halls of residence. Anne Harrison was keen to point out the refurbished seating in the bar and foyer saying how nice it looked.Personally I don't like it but perhaps others do. If it is good for Denman I'll try to go with the flow!
The new NFWI Trustees were announced and the results of the Cycle Cuba for Denman which were fantastic. Not just for the money raised £83,395 but for the personal achievement of those taking part.
Then Alan Cook from Post Office Ltd spoke about Post Office closures and the schemes planned to compensate for their loss. These included a link up with WHSmith in towns and mobile post offices, post and Go boxes etc and added services such as Broadband. He very bravely answered questions but at the end, the meeting decided to write to express its continued concern about closures.I bet poor Mr Cook went home and said "Why did I bother?" It was almost rude to appear not to have listened to a word he said but....
We finished with the most amazing event. Tony Christie came and for some reason sang "Is this the way to Amarillo?" . Perhaps he happened to be passing as it bore no relevance at all to the meeting and he didn't know the words to Jerusalem either. I couldn't help thinking that "Return to sender" would have followed on nicely to the Post Office but then he is dead, isn't he?
The arrangements for travel home worked well but we spent 20 minutes in Kensington High Street completely jammed because of road works. Never mind, it was a wonderful day as always and it re-enthuses one on what the WI is all about.
9th June
We held a garden tea party at home to raise some funds to cover the costs of our local WI's Milk Debate. It was a wonderfully sunny day and although there were only a few of us there we enjoyed sitting about and chatting.And we have now made enough to meet the expenses.
11th June
How can one make a ballot for tickets really fair? In the Federation we seem to chew over this problem and find no easy solution. I hate turning members away when they book for events that are over-subscribed: WIs that meet late in the month are penalised if one uses the first come, first served method; large WIs suffer if one wants every WI to be represented; small WIs suffer if you go by the highest requests; the amount of passengers per car messes up the ratio etc.etc.Two of us spent three hours tonight trying to cut over 300 applications down to 180 fairly and fearing for our lives when the WI secretaries open their post to find fewer tickets than expected.
Another similar event is the obvious answer but the organisers will be on their knees after this one so will need to be given time to recuperate before then--and then can we get the speaker?
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Antiques of various kinds
24 May
I went this evening to another WI Group Meeting which had been thrown open to neighbouring WIs from other groups.The speaker was Charlie Ross the antiques adviser whom we know from TV's Flog It and the Antiques Roadshow.The advantage of these larger meetings is that the hostess WI with the help of the Group Convenor can afford to invite speakers who appear either on TV or on the stage. The fact that a lot of these speakers donate their fees to their pet charities is an added feel-good factor to the WIs concerned.Mr Ross entertained everyone and involved us all in a mock auction which revealed how much and how little the audience knew about the antique world.
The annual reports of the WIs in the group were worth listening to and proved once again that the WI enjoys its food, its walks and its meetings on all sorts of varied subjects.Several WIs cater for the general public in their towns and villages so the members have to keep their hygiene certificates up to date: there must be at least one among the caterers involved. I often look around garden fetes and wonder whether these rules are followed by other organisations.The BFWI is planning some more basic hygiene courses and refresher courses--in the north of the county this time. Halls are always a problem for during the day as most halls have resident playgroups but I am sure somewhere will be found.
28 May
Listening to the test cricket commentary on radio I was surprised to catch the commentator discussing the WI calendar. Of course the match was in Yorkshire! Anyway he was explaining that the calendar's appeal had been because it featured real women (like they had at home!) and because the whole idea of posing naked was bucking the nation's image of the WI. How true!
Later in the evening did you watch the Zimmers making their recording which will rocket to the top of the charts for exactly the same reason?Here is a group of people over 70 years old refusing to lie down and conform to what everyone thinks they should be doing at their age. They should be sitting in a circle clutching at crocheted multi-coloured blankets vaguely aware of a TV which is blaring out rubbish.
The real purpose of the programme was to make people think about the standards of care for the elderly in society--physical and mental. It was so sad and I hope WI members took note and will re-vitalise all our mandates on the care of the elderly because we do have them--mandates, I mean. How can these care homes slip through the net of inspection? Can't the families see what is wrong when the old person is literally dying of boredom because his/her body has worn out before the mind? We all know of cases where grandparents bring up children or regularly child-mind. This has always happened after family tragedies but nowadays many are expected to do it in order to meet the mortgage requirements of the parents. Is this a just reward to look forward to for our generation?
As the song says "Let me die before I grow old".
30 May
Good Lord! My husband has looked at Ceefax which is announcing the cast for the next series of Big Brother. It includes a lap dancer, a female MP and a WI member! Please may I be excused from watching that. I bet she wins however they judge these things.
I went this evening to another WI Group Meeting which had been thrown open to neighbouring WIs from other groups.The speaker was Charlie Ross the antiques adviser whom we know from TV's Flog It and the Antiques Roadshow.The advantage of these larger meetings is that the hostess WI with the help of the Group Convenor can afford to invite speakers who appear either on TV or on the stage. The fact that a lot of these speakers donate their fees to their pet charities is an added feel-good factor to the WIs concerned.Mr Ross entertained everyone and involved us all in a mock auction which revealed how much and how little the audience knew about the antique world.
The annual reports of the WIs in the group were worth listening to and proved once again that the WI enjoys its food, its walks and its meetings on all sorts of varied subjects.Several WIs cater for the general public in their towns and villages so the members have to keep their hygiene certificates up to date: there must be at least one among the caterers involved. I often look around garden fetes and wonder whether these rules are followed by other organisations.The BFWI is planning some more basic hygiene courses and refresher courses--in the north of the county this time. Halls are always a problem for during the day as most halls have resident playgroups but I am sure somewhere will be found.
28 May
Listening to the test cricket commentary on radio I was surprised to catch the commentator discussing the WI calendar. Of course the match was in Yorkshire! Anyway he was explaining that the calendar's appeal had been because it featured real women (like they had at home!) and because the whole idea of posing naked was bucking the nation's image of the WI. How true!
Later in the evening did you watch the Zimmers making their recording which will rocket to the top of the charts for exactly the same reason?Here is a group of people over 70 years old refusing to lie down and conform to what everyone thinks they should be doing at their age. They should be sitting in a circle clutching at crocheted multi-coloured blankets vaguely aware of a TV which is blaring out rubbish.
The real purpose of the programme was to make people think about the standards of care for the elderly in society--physical and mental. It was so sad and I hope WI members took note and will re-vitalise all our mandates on the care of the elderly because we do have them--mandates, I mean. How can these care homes slip through the net of inspection? Can't the families see what is wrong when the old person is literally dying of boredom because his/her body has worn out before the mind? We all know of cases where grandparents bring up children or regularly child-mind. This has always happened after family tragedies but nowadays many are expected to do it in order to meet the mortgage requirements of the parents. Is this a just reward to look forward to for our generation?
As the song says "Let me die before I grow old".
30 May
Good Lord! My husband has looked at Ceefax which is announcing the cast for the next series of Big Brother. It includes a lap dancer, a female MP and a WI member! Please may I be excused from watching that. I bet she wins however they judge these things.
Saturday, 19 May 2007
grumpy old woman meets new WI
May 14th
Local WI book club today. We are trying a new system for choosing the books to read. Originally we tended to follow the Daily Mail selection and buy copies over the internet as a group at a reduced price but then we heard that the County Library had sets of titles which could be ordered monthly. So we perused the list and marked what we had already read. It is a long list, very varied and in some ways rather strange. Anyway we sent up our list and Lo and Behold nothing which we considered was available. I think we were all amazed at the obvious popularity of reading groups in all sorts of different organisations across the county. I began to wonder whether this was the right way to spend the book fund on sets of 20 or so of several hundred titles when money was so scarce in the public libraries.
We were given a latest list of five to choose from and chose Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I know it has won prizes and is wonderfully written about an unusual topic but really I wonder about the novel having a place in the core collection. It has the capacity to shock readers of a sensitive disposition who are not forewarned of its content.Our readers are a broadminded group and we certainly found it educational but should it have a place on the list?
May 15th
I went off this evening to visit one of the newest WIs in Bucks. I was scheduled by the Art and Home Crafts sub-committee to take along the Craft basket to the meeting. This is a fine collection of craft work collected over the years which has been done by WI members. Apparently there are 14 different crafts to exhibit in the basket.It is a popular item to have at a meeting--and fairly cheap too! One arranges its loan through the Federation Office in High Wycombe.
Without wanting to appear a grumpy old woman, I just wish that the examples exhibited more modern practice of the traditional techniques. No one is interested in making crocheted doilies or smocked romper suits today but there are marvellous modern crochet patterns for clothes and they appear in fashion shops at exorbitant prices.The skills shown in the basket are amazing but could be put to use in much more appealing modern items.
This is probably our youngest in age WI in Bucks. The members are interested in crafts and a fair smattering have mastered several skills, even tatting, and what was their competition that evening? Cake-making! And the standard was very high indeed--nothing from Marks and Sparks here! They discussed the resolution about community hospitals; the members are involved in their new local community; they are making a banner and took some ideas away from the craft collection; they have an appealing WI website. They are taking what the WI has to offer in the way of learning and appreciate what has been achieved in the past but are going their own way with the programme and activities for the year.So you see it isn't just Fulham and Islington that can set up such a WI!
May 19th
After all the rain of last week, it dawned clear and bright for the first of the Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee's summer rambles.This was based on Emberton and the local WI (shortly to be celebrating its 70th anniversary) provided a light lunch for the 40+ walkers.It is lovely rolling countryside at the northern extremity of the county and we walked across fields and along ancient bridleways. Of course there was too much chatter for birdwatching but that wasn't the object of the exercise--just the companionable exercise which is so enjoyable. Many WIs now meet together for gentle walks between meetings and actually these walks do encourage new people to join. One has time to talk and explain what the WI is about and swap useful information on speakers and activities---and enjoy a bit of gossip as well.
There are several other rambles planned about the county and I do recommend them. They blow away the cobwebs and I returned with nothing to grumble about!
Local WI book club today. We are trying a new system for choosing the books to read. Originally we tended to follow the Daily Mail selection and buy copies over the internet as a group at a reduced price but then we heard that the County Library had sets of titles which could be ordered monthly. So we perused the list and marked what we had already read. It is a long list, very varied and in some ways rather strange. Anyway we sent up our list and Lo and Behold nothing which we considered was available. I think we were all amazed at the obvious popularity of reading groups in all sorts of different organisations across the county. I began to wonder whether this was the right way to spend the book fund on sets of 20 or so of several hundred titles when money was so scarce in the public libraries.
We were given a latest list of five to choose from and chose Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I know it has won prizes and is wonderfully written about an unusual topic but really I wonder about the novel having a place in the core collection. It has the capacity to shock readers of a sensitive disposition who are not forewarned of its content.Our readers are a broadminded group and we certainly found it educational but should it have a place on the list?
May 15th
I went off this evening to visit one of the newest WIs in Bucks. I was scheduled by the Art and Home Crafts sub-committee to take along the Craft basket to the meeting. This is a fine collection of craft work collected over the years which has been done by WI members. Apparently there are 14 different crafts to exhibit in the basket.It is a popular item to have at a meeting--and fairly cheap too! One arranges its loan through the Federation Office in High Wycombe.
Without wanting to appear a grumpy old woman, I just wish that the examples exhibited more modern practice of the traditional techniques. No one is interested in making crocheted doilies or smocked romper suits today but there are marvellous modern crochet patterns for clothes and they appear in fashion shops at exorbitant prices.The skills shown in the basket are amazing but could be put to use in much more appealing modern items.
This is probably our youngest in age WI in Bucks. The members are interested in crafts and a fair smattering have mastered several skills, even tatting, and what was their competition that evening? Cake-making! And the standard was very high indeed--nothing from Marks and Sparks here! They discussed the resolution about community hospitals; the members are involved in their new local community; they are making a banner and took some ideas away from the craft collection; they have an appealing WI website. They are taking what the WI has to offer in the way of learning and appreciate what has been achieved in the past but are going their own way with the programme and activities for the year.So you see it isn't just Fulham and Islington that can set up such a WI!
May 19th
After all the rain of last week, it dawned clear and bright for the first of the Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee's summer rambles.This was based on Emberton and the local WI (shortly to be celebrating its 70th anniversary) provided a light lunch for the 40+ walkers.It is lovely rolling countryside at the northern extremity of the county and we walked across fields and along ancient bridleways. Of course there was too much chatter for birdwatching but that wasn't the object of the exercise--just the companionable exercise which is so enjoyable. Many WIs now meet together for gentle walks between meetings and actually these walks do encourage new people to join. One has time to talk and explain what the WI is about and swap useful information on speakers and activities---and enjoy a bit of gossip as well.
There are several other rambles planned about the county and I do recommend them. They blow away the cobwebs and I returned with nothing to grumble about!
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
WI under water at Pann Mill
May 11th
I happened to watch "Ready, steady cook" this afternoon. Angela Baker was a participant with her new husband Rev Charles Knowles.Angela was Miss February on the WI Calendar and it was her husband's death from cancer which inspired the local WI members to pose nude for the calendar.It was lovely to see her so happy after her recent marriage to Charles who had been a friend of John's.It was also pleasing to hear her say that the only thing she criticised the film of Calendar Girls for was the way in which it looked as if the NFWI hadn't supported the members in planning the calendar when they had been given approval all along.But that wouldn't have been such a good story, would it?
May 13th
It was National Mill Day today and the BFWI was booked to attend the open day at Pann Mill in High Wycombe. We were all geared up with a treasure trail, a promotion stand and a good site.The WI has been a part of this open day for 3 years now because it links in with local heritage and the Environmental Centre on the Rye.
Last year there wasn't enough water in the river to turn the mill wheel.How different this year! From the cover of our tent we watched the river level rise at least 6 inches as the rain came down non-stop. We abandoned the trail as no parent or child would enjoy trekking about the Rye looking for items of natural interest.Several people, mostly WI members already, dropped in to talk or shelter but there was hardly anyone there. Such a shame because the setting is lovely and the mill was going great guns grinding the corn and so much work had gone into the preparation nearly all done by volunteers.
Anyway when the RNLI bailed out the WI did too! We had got to the point when we were all wet, the tent needed the water on the roof shaken off every 2 minutes and our display was sodden.The things we do for the WI!
There was a good article in the Stella magasine part of the Sunday Telegraph talking about the growth of new WIs catering for younger members. It was a well written piece, very positive with lots of photos of members in Fulham and Islington. They looked very glamorous in their little black dresses but the other photos were what was described as the traditional WI image. Unfortunately, the editor had gone back to wartime pictures of members in turbans making jam and unflattering shots of icecream-eating members at the AGM. I agree that the average WI member of today doesn't wear smart little black numbers for the monthly meeting but neither do they wear pinnies and turbans! We may not be under thirty but we still dress up well and engage in all the activities that the younger WIs are now embracing too. Just a bit unfair I thought and we have some Bucks members who are under thirty and working. The reasons why these young members join are exactly the same as when we older members did--the need for friendship, a place and voice in the community and the chance to be ourselves and have fun.
I happened to watch "Ready, steady cook" this afternoon. Angela Baker was a participant with her new husband Rev Charles Knowles.Angela was Miss February on the WI Calendar and it was her husband's death from cancer which inspired the local WI members to pose nude for the calendar.It was lovely to see her so happy after her recent marriage to Charles who had been a friend of John's.It was also pleasing to hear her say that the only thing she criticised the film of Calendar Girls for was the way in which it looked as if the NFWI hadn't supported the members in planning the calendar when they had been given approval all along.But that wouldn't have been such a good story, would it?
May 13th
It was National Mill Day today and the BFWI was booked to attend the open day at Pann Mill in High Wycombe. We were all geared up with a treasure trail, a promotion stand and a good site.The WI has been a part of this open day for 3 years now because it links in with local heritage and the Environmental Centre on the Rye.
Last year there wasn't enough water in the river to turn the mill wheel.How different this year! From the cover of our tent we watched the river level rise at least 6 inches as the rain came down non-stop. We abandoned the trail as no parent or child would enjoy trekking about the Rye looking for items of natural interest.Several people, mostly WI members already, dropped in to talk or shelter but there was hardly anyone there. Such a shame because the setting is lovely and the mill was going great guns grinding the corn and so much work had gone into the preparation nearly all done by volunteers.
Anyway when the RNLI bailed out the WI did too! We had got to the point when we were all wet, the tent needed the water on the roof shaken off every 2 minutes and our display was sodden.The things we do for the WI!
There was a good article in the Stella magasine part of the Sunday Telegraph talking about the growth of new WIs catering for younger members. It was a well written piece, very positive with lots of photos of members in Fulham and Islington. They looked very glamorous in their little black dresses but the other photos were what was described as the traditional WI image. Unfortunately, the editor had gone back to wartime pictures of members in turbans making jam and unflattering shots of icecream-eating members at the AGM. I agree that the average WI member of today doesn't wear smart little black numbers for the monthly meeting but neither do they wear pinnies and turbans! We may not be under thirty but we still dress up well and engage in all the activities that the younger WIs are now embracing too. Just a bit unfair I thought and we have some Bucks members who are under thirty and working. The reasons why these young members join are exactly the same as when we older members did--the need for friendship, a place and voice in the community and the chance to be ourselves and have fun.
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