11th February
Local WI craft group meeting this afternoon. We had booked a demonstrator to show us a new kind of knitting which doesn't seem to have a name.It is rather like making a patchwork of knitting, working in squares and triangles but not having to seam them--just build up with the knitting needles.It is quite fun to do as I hate sewing up.The lady who demonstrated works for a fashion designer and is asked to test patterns to see if they actually work.It will be interesting to see what we come up with for the next meeting after a little practice on our own.
15th February
I think I can count on one hand the times in 40 years membership of the WI when I have wondered why I am a member. The first time must have been about 30 years ago when at the AGM in the Royal Albert Hall the members voted against the provision of improved nursery care facilities and I listened to people saying that a mother's place was in the home etc. quite oblivious even then of the mothers who had to work to maintain their children.I remember feeling that the majority was actually voting against the support of family life.The second time was when at the resolution selection time I listened to members saying that prostate cancer was not a subject the WI should be heard to be discussing. This was about 20 years ago and again I thought that one of the aims and objects of the WI was the health and well-being of the whole family and that this topic surely encompassed that.
Today was the third time. The Education and Current Affairs Sub-Committee has been planning a day on women's health.Speakers and demonstrators had been booked for months to talk about the management of breast disease, recent advances in reproductive medicine and maintaining healthy lifestyles.Today I had to unravel all that knitting because there were not enough members willing to come to learn about such things."This is just for young people"."We don't discuss things like that".Really? Don't you read the papers? Don't you see the unhappiness of daughters and daughters-in-law who don't know where to turn for help and advice with their problems? Is it not part of family life to be able to know how to support your friends and relatives as they wrestle with the misery and fright of a diagnosis of breast cancer which can strike at any age. I hate the sentence --"So-and-so was always there for me" but I'll use it now because the Bucks WI member wont be there for anyone.
Membership of the WI is not to enjoy a non-stop entertainment :it is far more than that.It is educational and 100% supportive of family life and values. If we forget that, we might as well belong to a club --lower in stature than the working men's clubs which were originally formed to look after their own.
You will have gathered that I am a little annoyed and very disappointed. Also embarrassed because what will our speakers think of the WI when I tell them that we couldn't raise a big enough audience to not be an insult and a misuse of their time away from their worthwhile occupations helping women face their health problems? In fact I'm so cross that my grammar and punctuation has gone awol.
18th February
Well after all that I was really impressed with what my WI had provided in our boxes for the Forces in Afghanistan. I took them up to Westbury and District WI this morning and was filled with admiration at the way its members had organised themselves to handle this project. I'm glad to say that there is a lot of support for this campaign and that the recipients of the parcels are taking the time to write and say thank you. This adds a personal touch to the scheme. Some have mothers who are WI members and who knows perhaps when the girls are demobbed they may remember and become members themselves.
19th February
The local WI book group met today. We had been reading Penelope Lively's "A House unlocked" which is an autobiography describing this novelist's childhood. It stirred memories of World War II and of another way of life in a country house where gardening, hunting and organised picnics a la the Bloomsbury set were enjoyed.But the author also discussed the changes in society over the last half century, the alteration of values and the coming of travel.I picked up an article in the national press where the Campaign to Protect Rural England said that a new village green boosted village life. "It tends to encourage events, inclusivity and a resurgence of traditional forms like the Women's Institute".This was one of the points Penelope Lively was making too.
We are hoping to join up with another reading group in the town for a session together but we need to decide on a book to all read and discuss.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Education, flora and fauna
17 January
It was the day for the final meeting of a series of four when the Bucks WI members are gathered to select the resolutions which they think are worthy to go forward to the Annual General Meeting of NFWI in June 2008.There must have been about 100 people present to hear the resolutions outlined by the members of the Member Services Committee.No one represents her WI at these meetings: she makes her own decision. We had six resolutions to choose from which all mirrored some aspect of the interests and campaigns of the WI movement.We thought about artificial additives in children's medicines, the dangers of Group B Streptococcus infection in infants and inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill. For education we discussed fairer funding for schools and for the environment we considered safer routes for pedestrians and a ban on sea bottom trawling. The last topic was presented by a local WI member whose WI had sent up this resolution.
It will be interesting to discover whether our choice as a county federation is the same as the one from the country as a whole.
30 January
Our local WI committee tonight was very busy as not only our WI but the County Federation and National gird up their loins for the new year activities after the Christmas break.There is always so much forward planning to do, scrabbling for dates which do not clash with other events and weighing up ideas for fundraising. We think we know what we will suggest to the meeting next week but one never knows what the reaction will be. Sometimes one wishes one didn't need to be democratic--it would certainly speed things up!
4th February-8th February
At home I have been without my computer so this blog has been in limbo for weeks, stored somewhere in the ether because my machine decided to break off communications with my provider.What a palaver! Why on earth would a machine suddenly think of that? And the helplines talk pure jargon so that in the end it is better to hand the whole thing over to a professional and hope he isn't losing your life's work in some black hole.It is also rather unsettling to realise how dependent one has become on a computer. This little room seemed quite heart-less!
Anyway I went off on the WI winter break to Cricket St Thomas where I didn't need to think of electronics at all.
Forty two of us joined the holiday. We visited Lyme Regis, the Donkey Sanctuary and Sidmouth. The seas were impressive as it was very windy. Even so some brave souls were speeding among the waves on sailboards.During the showers we were able to take coffee before walking along the Cobb and remembering Jane Austen's heroine being blown off the top.
The sun shone while we talked to the donkeys.It is an amazing story how that enterprise developed from one woman's vocation into a national concern which will provide speakers all over the country. The work done for special needs children on the site is impressive too. Sidmouth is a lovely little town with lots of old fashioned shops which are a delight and proved a mecca for our party.(Actually that isn't a good word to use as the members didn't remove their shoes but came out with more pairs than they had when they went in!)
Next day we explored the little safari park and went for walks and on the last day we visited Exeter.The embroideries in the cathedral are magnificent and it is heartwarming to hear of a group carrying on the traditions of hundreds of years in making beautiful objects for their church just for the joy of their creation.On the way home we spent some time at the Butterfly Farm at Studley Grange so we studied flora and fauna during our travels in the West Country.
These holidays do us all good providing a chance to meet and talk to others and speed us through the dark months of winter.
While we were away the BBC did another showing of Calendar Girls. Thank Goodness it did, as it proved a great antidote to that ghastly Jam and Jerusalem series which people have had to endure during the past weeks.
It was the day for the final meeting of a series of four when the Bucks WI members are gathered to select the resolutions which they think are worthy to go forward to the Annual General Meeting of NFWI in June 2008.There must have been about 100 people present to hear the resolutions outlined by the members of the Member Services Committee.No one represents her WI at these meetings: she makes her own decision. We had six resolutions to choose from which all mirrored some aspect of the interests and campaigns of the WI movement.We thought about artificial additives in children's medicines, the dangers of Group B Streptococcus infection in infants and inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill. For education we discussed fairer funding for schools and for the environment we considered safer routes for pedestrians and a ban on sea bottom trawling. The last topic was presented by a local WI member whose WI had sent up this resolution.
It will be interesting to discover whether our choice as a county federation is the same as the one from the country as a whole.
30 January
Our local WI committee tonight was very busy as not only our WI but the County Federation and National gird up their loins for the new year activities after the Christmas break.There is always so much forward planning to do, scrabbling for dates which do not clash with other events and weighing up ideas for fundraising. We think we know what we will suggest to the meeting next week but one never knows what the reaction will be. Sometimes one wishes one didn't need to be democratic--it would certainly speed things up!
4th February-8th February
At home I have been without my computer so this blog has been in limbo for weeks, stored somewhere in the ether because my machine decided to break off communications with my provider.What a palaver! Why on earth would a machine suddenly think of that? And the helplines talk pure jargon so that in the end it is better to hand the whole thing over to a professional and hope he isn't losing your life's work in some black hole.It is also rather unsettling to realise how dependent one has become on a computer. This little room seemed quite heart-less!
Anyway I went off on the WI winter break to Cricket St Thomas where I didn't need to think of electronics at all.
Forty two of us joined the holiday. We visited Lyme Regis, the Donkey Sanctuary and Sidmouth. The seas were impressive as it was very windy. Even so some brave souls were speeding among the waves on sailboards.During the showers we were able to take coffee before walking along the Cobb and remembering Jane Austen's heroine being blown off the top.
The sun shone while we talked to the donkeys.It is an amazing story how that enterprise developed from one woman's vocation into a national concern which will provide speakers all over the country. The work done for special needs children on the site is impressive too. Sidmouth is a lovely little town with lots of old fashioned shops which are a delight and proved a mecca for our party.(Actually that isn't a good word to use as the members didn't remove their shoes but came out with more pairs than they had when they went in!)
Next day we explored the little safari park and went for walks and on the last day we visited Exeter.The embroideries in the cathedral are magnificent and it is heartwarming to hear of a group carrying on the traditions of hundreds of years in making beautiful objects for their church just for the joy of their creation.On the way home we spent some time at the Butterfly Farm at Studley Grange so we studied flora and fauna during our travels in the West Country.
These holidays do us all good providing a chance to meet and talk to others and speed us through the dark months of winter.
While we were away the BBC did another showing of Calendar Girls. Thank Goodness it did, as it proved a great antidote to that ghastly Jam and Jerusalem series which people have had to endure during the past weeks.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Welcome to the WI in Bucks 2008
2008
Why wasn't I surprised at the thundering e-silence that followed my request for advice on whether to continue with this blog or to let it sink into oblivion? Not one comment received on site, but I was told not to stop by various people in conversation because it is about the only thing that moves on the informal area of the BFWI website. I learn that there are WI husbands out there who read my column in order to see what their wives are involved in at the moment! Welcome--perhaps I will receive messages from you.
Another New Year, a new WI diary in breath-taking pink, a new WI calendar to fill up beside the phone, new ideas to put on top of the old ones? Everyone is busy making resolutions or drawing up "mind maps" for the coming year.I shall try and tart my blogsite up a bit to include the odd picture perhaps and I may be able to manage to alter my leapfrog style of making additions which will no doubt confuse me but make things more comprehensible to the reader.
2nd January
I travelled down to Stuart Lodge, the BFWI office at High Wycombe, with loads of paperwork which contained cheques. I needed to be sure they had arrived rather than trust the vagaries of the Post Office after the extended holiday.The forecast of snow the following day also speeded me on. It was lovely to see the decorating work in progress and the new fittings in the upstairs bathroom. The place looks 100% better already after the damage from floods and burglary.The staff deserve the improvement after putting up with the devastation for many months.
In the evening the local WI met in committee to plan the January meeting.It looks as if we are in for another busy year. Subscriptions are due next week: £27 of which each WI keeps almost half and the rest is divided between the county federation and the National Federation.Did you know a season ticket to watch a football team costs around £500? Our programme looks entertaining, finances are secure and we have volunteers for every job to be done. We also have various dates on the calendar when we will playing our part in the life of the community.
5th January
I spotted an article in a colour supplement about the national marmalade making championships. No, I didn't know there was such a thing either! Apparently it is being held this year beside Ullswater. There are hundreds of entries coming from all over the world and of course, who are the judges? WI trained craft and produce judges.
7th January
A bit of excitement today at our WI Book Group meeting. Not only have we a new member but we had to have our photograph taken because we are about to appear in print in WI Life. Just before Christmas two of the group wrote a piece about the readers and enclosed a written book review. We sent it up to the County Library Reading Group Newsletter and that appeared in late December. Then we sent it to WI Life and the editor said he liked it but wanted a photo! The review was of A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon but at the January meeting we were discussing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This is well worth reading as it gives an insight into events in the Congo which is poignantly topical today for what is happening in poor Zaire at the moment.There was so much to talk about in the book that we were ready for a cup of tea to wet our whistles by 4 o'clock.
9th January
Wow! Our first meeting of the year and seven potential new members showed up! We knew to expect some but not seven, so everyone had to work together to ensure that the visitors felt welcome and would come again.It was certainly a full house and Thank Goodness the speaker was very entertaining.She also managed to talk very positively about the process of vetting and consultation which the BFWI puts speakers through before they are included in the Speakers' Yearbook. We have set up a working group to liaise with the Town in Bloom event in June, have 3 people going to mastermind our entry for the NFWI Healthy Lifestyle Competition but have had to scrub our entry for the BFWI Quiz in March as it clashes with our own meeting and no one wants to miss that.
We are going to join in with Westbury and District WI which is filling boxes with items for the military personnel in Afghanistan. This is not just for Christmas but an on-going activity. It cannot be termed as political as it is not about judging whether the forces should be there or not, but supporting those who have been sent there.We will try to fill 6 boxes over the year.
10th January
Today the Education & Current Affairs Sub-committee met and we spent the time putting the final touches to plans for the Health Day It's a Woman's Thing, pre-planning a Polish Day and dreaming of a huge undertaking for 2010, the BFWI anniversary year. I'm not going to tell you what that may be!
We need volunteers for this committee because when our term ends in April this year some members are calling it a day.BFWI needs more people on Executive too. Dear Reader, please think about enquiring into what is involved, remember what pleasure you have taken in WI events and consider what time you could spare to put something back into the organisation.
Guess what? NFWI Public Affairs are going to have a blogsite--copycats!
Why wasn't I surprised at the thundering e-silence that followed my request for advice on whether to continue with this blog or to let it sink into oblivion? Not one comment received on site, but I was told not to stop by various people in conversation because it is about the only thing that moves on the informal area of the BFWI website. I learn that there are WI husbands out there who read my column in order to see what their wives are involved in at the moment! Welcome--perhaps I will receive messages from you.
Another New Year, a new WI diary in breath-taking pink, a new WI calendar to fill up beside the phone, new ideas to put on top of the old ones? Everyone is busy making resolutions or drawing up "mind maps" for the coming year.I shall try and tart my blogsite up a bit to include the odd picture perhaps and I may be able to manage to alter my leapfrog style of making additions which will no doubt confuse me but make things more comprehensible to the reader.
2nd January
I travelled down to Stuart Lodge, the BFWI office at High Wycombe, with loads of paperwork which contained cheques. I needed to be sure they had arrived rather than trust the vagaries of the Post Office after the extended holiday.The forecast of snow the following day also speeded me on. It was lovely to see the decorating work in progress and the new fittings in the upstairs bathroom. The place looks 100% better already after the damage from floods and burglary.The staff deserve the improvement after putting up with the devastation for many months.
In the evening the local WI met in committee to plan the January meeting.It looks as if we are in for another busy year. Subscriptions are due next week: £27 of which each WI keeps almost half and the rest is divided between the county federation and the National Federation.Did you know a season ticket to watch a football team costs around £500? Our programme looks entertaining, finances are secure and we have volunteers for every job to be done. We also have various dates on the calendar when we will playing our part in the life of the community.
5th January
I spotted an article in a colour supplement about the national marmalade making championships. No, I didn't know there was such a thing either! Apparently it is being held this year beside Ullswater. There are hundreds of entries coming from all over the world and of course, who are the judges? WI trained craft and produce judges.
7th January
A bit of excitement today at our WI Book Group meeting. Not only have we a new member but we had to have our photograph taken because we are about to appear in print in WI Life. Just before Christmas two of the group wrote a piece about the readers and enclosed a written book review. We sent it up to the County Library Reading Group Newsletter and that appeared in late December. Then we sent it to WI Life and the editor said he liked it but wanted a photo! The review was of A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon but at the January meeting we were discussing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This is well worth reading as it gives an insight into events in the Congo which is poignantly topical today for what is happening in poor Zaire at the moment.There was so much to talk about in the book that we were ready for a cup of tea to wet our whistles by 4 o'clock.
9th January
Wow! Our first meeting of the year and seven potential new members showed up! We knew to expect some but not seven, so everyone had to work together to ensure that the visitors felt welcome and would come again.It was certainly a full house and Thank Goodness the speaker was very entertaining.She also managed to talk very positively about the process of vetting and consultation which the BFWI puts speakers through before they are included in the Speakers' Yearbook. We have set up a working group to liaise with the Town in Bloom event in June, have 3 people going to mastermind our entry for the NFWI Healthy Lifestyle Competition but have had to scrub our entry for the BFWI Quiz in March as it clashes with our own meeting and no one wants to miss that.
We are going to join in with Westbury and District WI which is filling boxes with items for the military personnel in Afghanistan. This is not just for Christmas but an on-going activity. It cannot be termed as political as it is not about judging whether the forces should be there or not, but supporting those who have been sent there.We will try to fill 6 boxes over the year.
10th January
Today the Education & Current Affairs Sub-committee met and we spent the time putting the final touches to plans for the Health Day It's a Woman's Thing, pre-planning a Polish Day and dreaming of a huge undertaking for 2010, the BFWI anniversary year. I'm not going to tell you what that may be!
We need volunteers for this committee because when our term ends in April this year some members are calling it a day.BFWI needs more people on Executive too. Dear Reader, please think about enquiring into what is involved, remember what pleasure you have taken in WI events and consider what time you could spare to put something back into the organisation.
Guess what? NFWI Public Affairs are going to have a blogsite--copycats!
Friday, 28 December 2007
Christmas festivities
7th December
One of the WIs in our local WI group hosted an evening concert by the Bletchley Belles singers at Mursley. This has become an annual event to raise money for Willen Hospice and the host WI. The Bletchley Belles got together several years ago to compete in the WI contest for choirs. They did very well regionally and have continued singing together ever since for their own enjoyment and for those of us who like to go along to listen.
8th December
More carols at the WI event held in Buckingham Community Centre tonight. Bravura Brass provided the accompaniment and there were readings by members of the Leisure and Performing Arts Sub-committee. It was a lovely evening and the singing was great. The refreshments were traditional mincepies homemade by WI members.
10th December
Our local craft group was a very small gathering this afternoon as these dreadful coughs and colds took their toll. But we have planned our 2008 programme of demonstrations and activities and we spent a cosy time chatting around a coal fire.
11th December
Tonight the local WI members went out for a Christmas dinner at Claydon House. This is an extra event so if we wish to attend we have to pay for ourselves and our guests.We hire the community bus to which the WI pays an annual affiliation fee so that no one has to avoid alcohol consumption for the drive home. It is a very popular event for which we all have an excuse to dress up: the males enjoy wearing dinner jackets too. We choose fairly local restaurants and change the venue every year.This custom also provides an opportunity to socialise and to thank partners for their support during the year.You know the sort of thing--moving tables and chairs, taxi-ing, bringing refreshments out to tents and answering endless telephone calls!
End of year
There are no more WI events planned for 2007 so this will be my final entry for this year.I don't really know how successful this idea has been or whether to continue in 2008. The aim was to show what the WI has to offer locally, within the County Federation and nationally. I also wanted to encourage Bucks WI members to look at the website and to use it. I have received few comments on the blog but several in conversation so it's up to you readers and Bucks Executive to decide what becomes of this spot.
In the meantime may I wish you all the best for 2008 and rather like Bruce Forsyth would say "Keep WI-ing!"
One of the WIs in our local WI group hosted an evening concert by the Bletchley Belles singers at Mursley. This has become an annual event to raise money for Willen Hospice and the host WI. The Bletchley Belles got together several years ago to compete in the WI contest for choirs. They did very well regionally and have continued singing together ever since for their own enjoyment and for those of us who like to go along to listen.
8th December
More carols at the WI event held in Buckingham Community Centre tonight. Bravura Brass provided the accompaniment and there were readings by members of the Leisure and Performing Arts Sub-committee. It was a lovely evening and the singing was great. The refreshments were traditional mincepies homemade by WI members.
10th December
Our local craft group was a very small gathering this afternoon as these dreadful coughs and colds took their toll. But we have planned our 2008 programme of demonstrations and activities and we spent a cosy time chatting around a coal fire.
11th December
Tonight the local WI members went out for a Christmas dinner at Claydon House. This is an extra event so if we wish to attend we have to pay for ourselves and our guests.We hire the community bus to which the WI pays an annual affiliation fee so that no one has to avoid alcohol consumption for the drive home. It is a very popular event for which we all have an excuse to dress up: the males enjoy wearing dinner jackets too. We choose fairly local restaurants and change the venue every year.This custom also provides an opportunity to socialise and to thank partners for their support during the year.You know the sort of thing--moving tables and chairs, taxi-ing, bringing refreshments out to tents and answering endless telephone calls!
End of year
There are no more WI events planned for 2007 so this will be my final entry for this year.I don't really know how successful this idea has been or whether to continue in 2008. The aim was to show what the WI has to offer locally, within the County Federation and nationally. I also wanted to encourage Bucks WI members to look at the website and to use it. I have received few comments on the blog but several in conversation so it's up to you readers and Bucks Executive to decide what becomes of this spot.
In the meantime may I wish you all the best for 2008 and rather like Bruce Forsyth would say "Keep WI-ing!"
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Mummies and Let's Cook
27th November
Over the next ten days, 140 Bucks WI members and friends will visit O2 and see the Tutankhamun Exhibition before being driven by coach to look at the Christmas lights. The exhibition was fascinating and although very crowded one was able to examine all the exhibits. The "shop" was awful! Whatever does one do with a miniature teddy with a Tutankhamun headdress?
These WI excursions to exhibitions and museums are always popular so there will be huge demand for the Terracotta Warriors in March 2008.
And aren't our coach drivers brilliant?!
28th November
Local WI committee tonight where the main business was planning the December Christmas monthly meeting. We also arranged how to ballot the members on their views about the WI Denman bursary. The special event called Food and Flowers had been a great success not only socially but also financially so the treasurer is starting her new term with a smile on her face.
3rd December
The Book Group meeting was small today because of illness but we enjoyed discussing Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. Although part of its content was to do with homosexuality and was very explicit ( which would have been considered taboo in the early days of our readers' lives), we managed to really enjoy the novel. We are going to try writing a review for inclusion in the Bucks County Library Reading Group newsletter and who knows? perhaps even WI Life. (The editor did request reviews in the last issue). We'll see how we go.
5th December
The WI Christmas meeting was well attended and very pleasant. There were some readings but no carols this year as we have lost our pianist. The result of the ballot was a wish to alternate the bursary between an individual award and an extra meeting for all members.We will start with an individual drawn by lot as the last two years have been special meetings.
One member had sweet-talked a trade demonstrator in Central Milton Keynes into giving her a good selection of cookery knives to donate to the Let's Cook project in Bletchley. We will present these next week along with the large casserole dishes already donated last month.
The Let's Cook scheme was started by NFWI. It is to encourage the County Federations to train volunteer WI members to teach basic cookery to disadvantaged groups. Bucks has trained two people already and has run a very successful course for young mothers in Bletchley. Another is planned for early 2008. Our WI wondered about offering Let's Sew. Of course, like anything else these days all instructors and helpers have to be police checked and this puts off volunteers.
I can understand this situation but don't you think it is time the WI led the revolt against some of these daft Health and Safety rules? In the press this week we have had parents forbidden to bring home-made mince pies to a PTA carol service and school nativity plays abandoned for fear of affront to other faiths.And what price now for summer fetes wanting to run name the teddy competitions? Yet we have footballers running about the fields called Jesus and receiving yellow and red cards like everyone else!
Someone or some organisation has got to make a stand and halt this paranoia.
Over the next ten days, 140 Bucks WI members and friends will visit O2 and see the Tutankhamun Exhibition before being driven by coach to look at the Christmas lights. The exhibition was fascinating and although very crowded one was able to examine all the exhibits. The "shop" was awful! Whatever does one do with a miniature teddy with a Tutankhamun headdress?
These WI excursions to exhibitions and museums are always popular so there will be huge demand for the Terracotta Warriors in March 2008.
And aren't our coach drivers brilliant?!
28th November
Local WI committee tonight where the main business was planning the December Christmas monthly meeting. We also arranged how to ballot the members on their views about the WI Denman bursary. The special event called Food and Flowers had been a great success not only socially but also financially so the treasurer is starting her new term with a smile on her face.
3rd December
The Book Group meeting was small today because of illness but we enjoyed discussing Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. Although part of its content was to do with homosexuality and was very explicit ( which would have been considered taboo in the early days of our readers' lives), we managed to really enjoy the novel. We are going to try writing a review for inclusion in the Bucks County Library Reading Group newsletter and who knows? perhaps even WI Life. (The editor did request reviews in the last issue). We'll see how we go.
5th December
The WI Christmas meeting was well attended and very pleasant. There were some readings but no carols this year as we have lost our pianist. The result of the ballot was a wish to alternate the bursary between an individual award and an extra meeting for all members.We will start with an individual drawn by lot as the last two years have been special meetings.
One member had sweet-talked a trade demonstrator in Central Milton Keynes into giving her a good selection of cookery knives to donate to the Let's Cook project in Bletchley. We will present these next week along with the large casserole dishes already donated last month.
The Let's Cook scheme was started by NFWI. It is to encourage the County Federations to train volunteer WI members to teach basic cookery to disadvantaged groups. Bucks has trained two people already and has run a very successful course for young mothers in Bletchley. Another is planned for early 2008. Our WI wondered about offering Let's Sew. Of course, like anything else these days all instructors and helpers have to be police checked and this puts off volunteers.
I can understand this situation but don't you think it is time the WI led the revolt against some of these daft Health and Safety rules? In the press this week we have had parents forbidden to bring home-made mince pies to a PTA carol service and school nativity plays abandoned for fear of affront to other faiths.And what price now for summer fetes wanting to run name the teddy competitions? Yet we have footballers running about the fields called Jesus and receiving yellow and red cards like everyone else!
Someone or some organisation has got to make a stand and halt this paranoia.
Sunday, 25 November 2007
music,drama,art and food
15th November
For the first time this year Speakers&Publications Sub-Committee did not open the WI shop at High Wycombe especially for Christmas shopping. It used to be a social event with mincepies and coffees and the building all decorated.However, the building works opposite and flood damage repairs inside, it seemed a good opportunity to take the shop elsewhere. Luckily members in Little Missenden and Stony Stratford agreed to hold the sales in their houses and these were well attended.
The WI shop occupies a small area of the Bucks' WI Headquarters building in High Wycombe. It sells official stationery as well as a wide selection of cards, books, paper and foil kitchenware and toys. This activity contributes towards the upkeep of the building. It is open most Tuesday mornings and well worth a visit. It also affords a chance to look at Stuart Lodge which--after all-- belongs to the members.
19th November
After the sudden covering of snow last night, it was an afternoon and evening of heavy rain which resulted in an extremely wet drive to another WI's Annual Meeting. Here was a small WI in which the Officers really wanted to step down or shift positions but there was no one willing to take over--well, not this year anyway.But there is hope, as they have attracted a couple of new members who are willing to watch and learn so we have installed assistants and it is up to the officers to use them and train them up.
Has this WI got the youngest member in Bucks at 22 years of age?
21st November
Another dreadful wet night for travelling but well worth it. Those who missed the show by Bucks WIZZ at Holmer Green missed a treat. It was lively, well-dressed and great fun. The audience (no spare seats) was most appreciative and those on stage were obviously enjoying themselves. It takes a lot of time and planning to put on a show like this and although one doesn't begrudge the event being in aid of the Children's Society, one wishes that it could have had a more obvious WI connection: it would have shown that music and drama were alive and well in our Federation. How nice to see the late Muriel Rutherford's tappers still strutting their stuff!
23rd November
Another good event.
Tonight was a demonstration in Winslow Public Hall of flower arranging and festive food preparation organised by Winslow WI. This was open to the public and it came---extra chairs were needed. John Holland and John Parrott were the demonstrators and they performed an excellent double act. The beautiful flower arrangements were donated to the raffle along with the prepared dishes. The creation of spun sugar was sensational and the tipping of a bowl of whisked egg-white over his own head by John should have been preceded by the warning "Don't try this at home".
It has come to my notice that the WI should have an anti-bullying policy for its groups. Each WI plays host for a group meeting every other year and it is up to that WI to decide where and what to do, with the support of the Group Convenor of course.
Suppose that after you had given a lavish party for friends, one of your guests who is not so well-endowed financially returned the favour and invited you round for a more modest affair. How many of you, in your thank-you letter, would say "What a pity you didn't use the 4 star hotel like I did! You could have had more guests and more special food etc."?
As my old uncle would have said, "Manners, you brute! Thar's pigs aboot." It goes better with a Northern accent but you get the drift.
For the first time this year Speakers&Publications Sub-Committee did not open the WI shop at High Wycombe especially for Christmas shopping. It used to be a social event with mincepies and coffees and the building all decorated.However, the building works opposite and flood damage repairs inside, it seemed a good opportunity to take the shop elsewhere. Luckily members in Little Missenden and Stony Stratford agreed to hold the sales in their houses and these were well attended.
The WI shop occupies a small area of the Bucks' WI Headquarters building in High Wycombe. It sells official stationery as well as a wide selection of cards, books, paper and foil kitchenware and toys. This activity contributes towards the upkeep of the building. It is open most Tuesday mornings and well worth a visit. It also affords a chance to look at Stuart Lodge which--after all-- belongs to the members.
19th November
After the sudden covering of snow last night, it was an afternoon and evening of heavy rain which resulted in an extremely wet drive to another WI's Annual Meeting. Here was a small WI in which the Officers really wanted to step down or shift positions but there was no one willing to take over--well, not this year anyway.But there is hope, as they have attracted a couple of new members who are willing to watch and learn so we have installed assistants and it is up to the officers to use them and train them up.
Has this WI got the youngest member in Bucks at 22 years of age?
21st November
Another dreadful wet night for travelling but well worth it. Those who missed the show by Bucks WIZZ at Holmer Green missed a treat. It was lively, well-dressed and great fun. The audience (no spare seats) was most appreciative and those on stage were obviously enjoying themselves. It takes a lot of time and planning to put on a show like this and although one doesn't begrudge the event being in aid of the Children's Society, one wishes that it could have had a more obvious WI connection: it would have shown that music and drama were alive and well in our Federation. How nice to see the late Muriel Rutherford's tappers still strutting their stuff!
23rd November
Another good event.
Tonight was a demonstration in Winslow Public Hall of flower arranging and festive food preparation organised by Winslow WI. This was open to the public and it came---extra chairs were needed. John Holland and John Parrott were the demonstrators and they performed an excellent double act. The beautiful flower arrangements were donated to the raffle along with the prepared dishes. The creation of spun sugar was sensational and the tipping of a bowl of whisked egg-white over his own head by John should have been preceded by the warning "Don't try this at home".
It has come to my notice that the WI should have an anti-bullying policy for its groups. Each WI plays host for a group meeting every other year and it is up to that WI to decide where and what to do, with the support of the Group Convenor of course.
Suppose that after you had given a lavish party for friends, one of your guests who is not so well-endowed financially returned the favour and invited you round for a more modest affair. How many of you, in your thank-you letter, would say "What a pity you didn't use the 4 star hotel like I did! You could have had more guests and more special food etc."?
As my old uncle would have said, "Manners, you brute! Thar's pigs aboot." It goes better with a Northern accent but you get the drift.
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Women's interests at heart
November 2008
Wow! A comment which I only found after I had posted the whole of October in one fell swoop.
I do believe that WI committees can become too large. It happens because one year there is one extra nominee for committee and no one wants to discourage just one extra from joining. The next year the committee is replaced and the extra place is passed on. The same thing happens later and like Topsy the whole thing grows. The WIs where this happens are lucky because it is a problem which those WIs that are struggling to get a committee at all wish they shared. The only answer would be to look up the original decisions taken by the WI when it was formed and have a skim through the records to see if the number of committee members had ever been formally altered at an annual meeting and then go from there. But if your committee becomes more than a quarter of the membership, I think it should be culled.Members should not be hurt but keen to deserve their place on the committee--after all lots of jobs can be done by non-committee members and sometimes one is safer on the committee than off!
Will that do,Aichzed? What do the rest of you think?
1st November
It was the week for the meeting of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. As usual this was extremely busy as there are plans in hand for events right through 2008.It becomes rather confusing because one has to pre-think timing schedules for the monthly newsletter and opening dates for applications so far ahead. However it is the only way to work--one cannot really do anything spontaneously in the WI as much as one would like to appear so.
This health day It's a Woman's Thing is going to be really good as we have some high powered medical people lined up to speak and how often is one able to be told of the latest scientific developments face to face? I hope everyone will make the effort to come along and show that the WI is interested and involved with the medical advances of today.
We are also planning sessions for members to update their Hygiene Certificates and heard more detailed reports of the success of the Let's Cook scheme in Bletchley which was featured at the Council Meeting. I have a feeling that the team will disappear beneath a heap of pots and pans after Jackie Moffat's appeal. It will be like the Burundi Bears all over again! WI members do enjoy a project where they can help or take an active part: there is always a marvellous response.
6th November
Local WI book group which was a rather thin showing this month so we will continue our discussions on A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler next time plus Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. Thank Goodness we are all feeling positive about these titles after the disappointment of the sushi last month.We are thinking about another author for a literary event in 2008 and we have drawn up a short list.I wonder whether any of the reading groups in Bucks are going to take up the challenge to submit reviews which was issued in the latest WI Life magazine.It would be nice to read something about Bucks in the magazine.
Did you notice that the WI hit the headlines in the Daily Telegraph today. There was a report on a suggested resolution to back the licensing of brothels: "trust the WI to think the unthinkable" was the title.The writer was reporting on Hampshire Federation's move to make this a resolution for the AGM in 2008. Actually this idea came up on the short list for discussion several years ago. I remember many police forces were in favour but the membership preferred another subject and it never made the AGM. However it goes to prove we were even more ahead of the game--if you'll excuse the pun! If the WI has women's health and safety at heart, it would do well to support this issue.
But are we brave enough to see the headlines in June?
7th November
It was the local WI Annual Meeting tonight and we had a really good turn out. Actually it was a good opportunity to talk to each other and we attempted to alter the seating so as to break up those little fixed groups from which every WI suffers.I took along a potential new member and she described the meeting as highly amusing! Anyway she is going to join for sure so she must have meant it.
There were questions asked about the method of every member nominating the president from the elected committee before asking the nominees whether they are willing to stand. This is a time-honoured method which works.It means that every member has the chance to nominate her president or even herself for president. Then the nominees are asked whether they are willing to stand. In this way, someone who may never have considered that the membership would like her to stand is able to weigh up the idea and make a decision. She may say no the first time but who knows the next? A seed has been planted.
Our finances are in good order and our treasurer had worked out and presented to the members exactly how much money the WI needs to run throughout the year. Costs always rise but one good fund-raising event is usually enough to see us through. No one complained about the £1 subscription rise this year which shows that the WI Life has been winning friends during its initial year and it is only because of that that the rise has been so small.
Wow! A comment which I only found after I had posted the whole of October in one fell swoop.
I do believe that WI committees can become too large. It happens because one year there is one extra nominee for committee and no one wants to discourage just one extra from joining. The next year the committee is replaced and the extra place is passed on. The same thing happens later and like Topsy the whole thing grows. The WIs where this happens are lucky because it is a problem which those WIs that are struggling to get a committee at all wish they shared. The only answer would be to look up the original decisions taken by the WI when it was formed and have a skim through the records to see if the number of committee members had ever been formally altered at an annual meeting and then go from there. But if your committee becomes more than a quarter of the membership, I think it should be culled.Members should not be hurt but keen to deserve their place on the committee--after all lots of jobs can be done by non-committee members and sometimes one is safer on the committee than off!
Will that do,Aichzed? What do the rest of you think?
1st November
It was the week for the meeting of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. As usual this was extremely busy as there are plans in hand for events right through 2008.It becomes rather confusing because one has to pre-think timing schedules for the monthly newsletter and opening dates for applications so far ahead. However it is the only way to work--one cannot really do anything spontaneously in the WI as much as one would like to appear so.
This health day It's a Woman's Thing is going to be really good as we have some high powered medical people lined up to speak and how often is one able to be told of the latest scientific developments face to face? I hope everyone will make the effort to come along and show that the WI is interested and involved with the medical advances of today.
We are also planning sessions for members to update their Hygiene Certificates and heard more detailed reports of the success of the Let's Cook scheme in Bletchley which was featured at the Council Meeting. I have a feeling that the team will disappear beneath a heap of pots and pans after Jackie Moffat's appeal. It will be like the Burundi Bears all over again! WI members do enjoy a project where they can help or take an active part: there is always a marvellous response.
6th November
Local WI book group which was a rather thin showing this month so we will continue our discussions on A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler next time plus Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. Thank Goodness we are all feeling positive about these titles after the disappointment of the sushi last month.We are thinking about another author for a literary event in 2008 and we have drawn up a short list.I wonder whether any of the reading groups in Bucks are going to take up the challenge to submit reviews which was issued in the latest WI Life magazine.It would be nice to read something about Bucks in the magazine.
Did you notice that the WI hit the headlines in the Daily Telegraph today. There was a report on a suggested resolution to back the licensing of brothels: "trust the WI to think the unthinkable" was the title.The writer was reporting on Hampshire Federation's move to make this a resolution for the AGM in 2008. Actually this idea came up on the short list for discussion several years ago. I remember many police forces were in favour but the membership preferred another subject and it never made the AGM. However it goes to prove we were even more ahead of the game--if you'll excuse the pun! If the WI has women's health and safety at heart, it would do well to support this issue.
But are we brave enough to see the headlines in June?
7th November
It was the local WI Annual Meeting tonight and we had a really good turn out. Actually it was a good opportunity to talk to each other and we attempted to alter the seating so as to break up those little fixed groups from which every WI suffers.I took along a potential new member and she described the meeting as highly amusing! Anyway she is going to join for sure so she must have meant it.
There were questions asked about the method of every member nominating the president from the elected committee before asking the nominees whether they are willing to stand. This is a time-honoured method which works.It means that every member has the chance to nominate her president or even herself for president. Then the nominees are asked whether they are willing to stand. In this way, someone who may never have considered that the membership would like her to stand is able to weigh up the idea and make a decision. She may say no the first time but who knows the next? A seed has been planted.
Our finances are in good order and our treasurer had worked out and presented to the members exactly how much money the WI needs to run throughout the year. Costs always rise but one good fund-raising event is usually enough to see us through. No one complained about the £1 subscription rise this year which shows that the WI Life has been winning friends during its initial year and it is only because of that that the rise has been so small.
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