14th May
Holiday and Tour Operators are always very keen to work with the WI Federations. It may be that the WI has a lot of members who are of an age to enjoy the "grey pound" and are widows or full-time carers who don't want to drive or plan the details of a holiday on their own but whatever the reason, these firms are in fierce competition for our custom.The Federations receive a commission which rises or falls depending on how much work the WI Travel Group puts into the outing. The amount of work by the WI depends on the commitment or enthusiasm of the local WI Travel Group.
It is an interesting and rewarding position which can be time-consuming but that time can be fitted into one's personal timetable : there are few deadlines.It is also possible to share the workload with a friend or with 2 others. Is there anyone out there who would consider volunteering to help BFWI in this role?
15th May
Today 3 coaches travelled to the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. Last night the weather forecast was diabolical and the south of the county suffered a thunderstorm between 6am and 7am which made several people rethink the idea of tramping around woods all day. What a pity! Once off the coaches at the Arboretum, we never had a drop of rain. Although we were all a little late for our pre-booked tours, the guides were welcoming and knowledgeable.The trees looked marvellous and the blossom, undamaged by the overnight rain, was beautiful. Even the bluebells were still in flower. Judging by the greenery carried on to my coach, I reckon the plant centre had a good day too!
It is a sobering thought to be told that the park was saved as a national site by only one vote when it was given to the Nation in lieu of death duties. Now it has developed new collections as well as taken on the preservation of trees 2000years old.
Many of the party today plan to return under their own steam for the autumn colours when the trees will look magnificent but there will not be the freedom from crowds which we enjoyed. After all,one of the purposes of WI outings is to encourage members to visit these places again either with family or with their own local WI.
17th and 20th May
The members of the local WI had been invited to set up a promotional stand at the Town Council's event at which the councillors hoped to launch a scheme to construct a Town Plan. Our stand attracted quite a lot of attention and comment and the occasion was good for talk between the various organisations in the town.There were certainly lots of comments and suggestions pasted up on to the boards by the visiting public.Unfortunately, the age group attending on the Saturday was predominately over 50 years old but in the evening there were a few more of the younger inhabitants of the town.When one considers that the 20-30 year olds are more likely to be around to enjoy the future of the town longer, it is a pity there were not more to offer an opinion. The display is going into the local primary school but the youngsters who are on the brink of being able to cast a vote in a national election are going to miss out completely. Mind, quite a few WI members were conspicuous by their absence too!
20th May
The Book Group met this afternoon and we have a new member which is a great delight. Differing views were held on Kate Atkinson's Case Histories and The Book Thief was re-discussed as other members had missed the previous meeting. We've come to the end of one list of sets of books from the County Library Service so we have been let loose this time to see what we pick up over the next month.
22nd May
The Education and Current Affairs sub-committee met over lunch in Prestwood to finalise details for the forthcoming Taste of Poland Day. There was a new face at the meeting which is always welcome but we could do with another couple to join us. The event sounds as if it will be excellent and very interesting. Maybe we are a bit late in our timing as the media tells us that the visitors from Poland are now drifting back home. The hospitals and hotel businesses will miss them: they weren't all plumbers!
23rd May
The local working party planning our annual fundraising event in November met this evening.It is always better to have a small group organising these things rather than waste time at the monthly meeting discussing the virtues of scones above cakes or the order of the programme. I wish the authorities would stop altering the rules about licences--who needs one, how to apply etc.It drives you silly and as for what one has to do to conform to Health and Safety rules...Nothing like a bit of risk and hazard to make life interesting.Whatever will we do without the unexpected?
Monday, 26 May 2008
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Resolutions and show promotion
7th May
Most WIs in May are busy preparing their delegates for the Annual General Meeting of the National WI in June this year in Liverpool. The Annual Review has to be accepted and the Resolutions discussed and voted upon. Personally I enjoy these meetings but I know others who don't. We always have to offer carrots to entice members to come along: wine helps the tongues to wag as well.This year every member was asked to bring an item of food which had a locality attached to it but which could be eaten in the fingers. We thought this would avoid a Lancashire Hotpot or a large plate of ravioli! It was amazing what turned up and how well it balanced out between sweet and savoury.
There was quite a good debate on the undesirability of imprisonment for mentally ill offenders. Probably this was because locally various psychiatric hospitals have been closed in favour of care in the community and there are 2 prisons in the area.Cases were cited of where long-term imprisonment had resulted in real harm to the inmates but also it was felt that the public needed to be sure that any hospital was properly secure.
Bottom trawling (although the resolution came from Bucks) was felt to be ambiguously worded so the members asked our delegate to be prepared for an amendment at the meeting in Liverpool.We felt that if the movers did not want a total ban on this type of fishing they should have said "where it causes catastrophic harm to marine life" not "which".Let's hope this is changed on the day as we are too late for an amendment ourselves.
We also spent a bit of time while the Treasurer presented her budget for next year and the Secretary is going to construct a survey for our local members to complete on what they want from the WI and what they don't want so that we can try to make the WI a little more tailor-made. This may be a revelation to the committee but we must be doing something right as we gained a new member even after what some describe as a boring meeting!
8th May
There was a small gathering of 6 interested members to plan our contribution to the Town Show in August.We want a corner site this year even though this costs more. We have been in the same place for years which may or may not be an advantage.We want to fly the flag for Winslow WI and for the County Federation so we have lots of ideas on what to display.The general public always expects us to be selling cakes but that is not practical in August and others do that anyway. We are looking for something to attract attention and keep people in the tent for long enough to take in what the WI is all about. So we need an attraction for children while their mothers read or something to make the adults linger but we are not out to make money and want to get away from the endless raffles and tombolas.Not easy.
In the afternoon 2 members went over to the group for young mothers to teach them how to sew, knit or crochet. This is a new undertaking so we are not yet sure how successful it will be. What we really need is financial backing to be able to provide a creche but that is proving difficult.It happened for the Let's Cook project so maybe we will be lucky too.
12th May
Back to the Town Show planning--this time the Craft Group's contribution. We think we will be able to make something eye-catching to draw people into the tent. The trouble is that everyone imagines the final outcome differently! It will need a bit of furious activity to finish in time but we like to have a joint project so it all sounds hopeful. Those who don't want to take part can organise the display of items made over the last year.I think we will need to borrow some of the display furniture from the Federation stores, banners and perhaps a piece of trellis--but that is why such things are kept there for WIs to use.
Most WIs in May are busy preparing their delegates for the Annual General Meeting of the National WI in June this year in Liverpool. The Annual Review has to be accepted and the Resolutions discussed and voted upon. Personally I enjoy these meetings but I know others who don't. We always have to offer carrots to entice members to come along: wine helps the tongues to wag as well.This year every member was asked to bring an item of food which had a locality attached to it but which could be eaten in the fingers. We thought this would avoid a Lancashire Hotpot or a large plate of ravioli! It was amazing what turned up and how well it balanced out between sweet and savoury.
There was quite a good debate on the undesirability of imprisonment for mentally ill offenders. Probably this was because locally various psychiatric hospitals have been closed in favour of care in the community and there are 2 prisons in the area.Cases were cited of where long-term imprisonment had resulted in real harm to the inmates but also it was felt that the public needed to be sure that any hospital was properly secure.
Bottom trawling (although the resolution came from Bucks) was felt to be ambiguously worded so the members asked our delegate to be prepared for an amendment at the meeting in Liverpool.We felt that if the movers did not want a total ban on this type of fishing they should have said "where it causes catastrophic harm to marine life" not "which".Let's hope this is changed on the day as we are too late for an amendment ourselves.
We also spent a bit of time while the Treasurer presented her budget for next year and the Secretary is going to construct a survey for our local members to complete on what they want from the WI and what they don't want so that we can try to make the WI a little more tailor-made. This may be a revelation to the committee but we must be doing something right as we gained a new member even after what some describe as a boring meeting!
8th May
There was a small gathering of 6 interested members to plan our contribution to the Town Show in August.We want a corner site this year even though this costs more. We have been in the same place for years which may or may not be an advantage.We want to fly the flag for Winslow WI and for the County Federation so we have lots of ideas on what to display.The general public always expects us to be selling cakes but that is not practical in August and others do that anyway. We are looking for something to attract attention and keep people in the tent for long enough to take in what the WI is all about. So we need an attraction for children while their mothers read or something to make the adults linger but we are not out to make money and want to get away from the endless raffles and tombolas.Not easy.
In the afternoon 2 members went over to the group for young mothers to teach them how to sew, knit or crochet. This is a new undertaking so we are not yet sure how successful it will be. What we really need is financial backing to be able to provide a creche but that is proving difficult.It happened for the Let's Cook project so maybe we will be lucky too.
12th May
Back to the Town Show planning--this time the Craft Group's contribution. We think we will be able to make something eye-catching to draw people into the tent. The trouble is that everyone imagines the final outcome differently! It will need a bit of furious activity to finish in time but we like to have a joint project so it all sounds hopeful. Those who don't want to take part can organise the display of items made over the last year.I think we will need to borrow some of the display furniture from the Federation stores, banners and perhaps a piece of trellis--but that is why such things are kept there for WIs to use.
Monday, 5 May 2008
Going round in circles
25th April
Another very good article about the WI appeared in The Daily Telegraph last week. This featured the new WI formed in Shoreditch which is trendy (according to the title) and yet is still interested in crafts. There is definitely a surge of interest in the WI movement which must be related to the fact that our magazine WI Life now has a huge circulation base which is attracting not only more advertising revenue but also informing every member of what is going on, out there, beyond her village hall. I keep hoping more of the doubters publicly will eat their words.
This morning our area of the Bucks County Council held one of its Getting Closer to Communities sessions. The local WI was invited to attend. The idea was for the organisations within the community to meet and exchange ideas on what was good and what was lacking in their locality.There was a lot of officialdom present using all the right sort of words but even so I think something useful was achieved. The thing that worries me is that it was very similar to the Area Focus Groups that have been being held and also to the local Town Council's Town Plan meeting which is yet to come.Surely one layer could have been cut out? These events are not cheap to run as the carrot of snack refreshments has to be presented.
This evening was great fun. The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee held a Hoedown in one of the Aylesbury schools.I think a lot of people cannot tell their left from their right nor clockwise from anti-clockwise but who cares? The supper was suitably American, the caller knew what he was trying to get us to do and the atmosphere was great. I suppose this committee has got to the end of its regional evenings and we will be able to start again with a Caledonian Evening. I for one look forward to it.
30th April
Today was the event which has been occupying the minds of a small Working Party for several months--The Literary Lunch at Cheddington. This was the fourth in a series but it was slightly different in that the WI Catering Committee was not doing the refreshments. We called in the professionals which was a blessed relief to the caterers but meant that the price had to go up.Unfortunately none of the WI caterers can be expected now to lift the pans of a size necessary for over 150 diners so it will have to be either outside caterers or a simpler meal. When we started, we wanted to offer something really special, something different and we did! WI catering is second to none.
Anyway the meal today was excellent, plentiful and hot.I was impressed by the serenity in the kitchen. The hall manager is one of the best in the County and the room looked really attractive.Our speaker was very good too. Salley Vickers is a well known novelist, highly thought of in literary circles, a keen supporter of the WI and an entertaining speaker.She will be a hard act to follow.
1st May
My poor little car struggled down to High Wycombe because it was full of everything but the kitchen sink from the day before. It was the first meeting of the new 2 year term of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. This is a small group which could do with some more volunteers. It has an interesting remit: but not the domain for blue stockings. What WI sub-committee is? At the moment we are working on an outing to the Arboretum at Westonbirt and a day event called A Taste of Poland which unfortunately is taking place in Bucks --not in Poland. Of course the visit to the Terracotta Army was arranged by this committee too so there is off-site work as well as keeping up with NFWI campaigns when we have to write letters to MPs or Councils for this, that and the other.Come and join us, please!
Another very good article about the WI appeared in The Daily Telegraph last week. This featured the new WI formed in Shoreditch which is trendy (according to the title) and yet is still interested in crafts. There is definitely a surge of interest in the WI movement which must be related to the fact that our magazine WI Life now has a huge circulation base which is attracting not only more advertising revenue but also informing every member of what is going on, out there, beyond her village hall. I keep hoping more of the doubters publicly will eat their words.
This morning our area of the Bucks County Council held one of its Getting Closer to Communities sessions. The local WI was invited to attend. The idea was for the organisations within the community to meet and exchange ideas on what was good and what was lacking in their locality.There was a lot of officialdom present using all the right sort of words but even so I think something useful was achieved. The thing that worries me is that it was very similar to the Area Focus Groups that have been being held and also to the local Town Council's Town Plan meeting which is yet to come.Surely one layer could have been cut out? These events are not cheap to run as the carrot of snack refreshments has to be presented.
This evening was great fun. The Leisure and Performing Arts sub-committee held a Hoedown in one of the Aylesbury schools.I think a lot of people cannot tell their left from their right nor clockwise from anti-clockwise but who cares? The supper was suitably American, the caller knew what he was trying to get us to do and the atmosphere was great. I suppose this committee has got to the end of its regional evenings and we will be able to start again with a Caledonian Evening. I for one look forward to it.
30th April
Today was the event which has been occupying the minds of a small Working Party for several months--The Literary Lunch at Cheddington. This was the fourth in a series but it was slightly different in that the WI Catering Committee was not doing the refreshments. We called in the professionals which was a blessed relief to the caterers but meant that the price had to go up.Unfortunately none of the WI caterers can be expected now to lift the pans of a size necessary for over 150 diners so it will have to be either outside caterers or a simpler meal. When we started, we wanted to offer something really special, something different and we did! WI catering is second to none.
Anyway the meal today was excellent, plentiful and hot.I was impressed by the serenity in the kitchen. The hall manager is one of the best in the County and the room looked really attractive.Our speaker was very good too. Salley Vickers is a well known novelist, highly thought of in literary circles, a keen supporter of the WI and an entertaining speaker.She will be a hard act to follow.
1st May
My poor little car struggled down to High Wycombe because it was full of everything but the kitchen sink from the day before. It was the first meeting of the new 2 year term of the Education&Current Affairs sub-committee. This is a small group which could do with some more volunteers. It has an interesting remit: but not the domain for blue stockings. What WI sub-committee is? At the moment we are working on an outing to the Arboretum at Westonbirt and a day event called A Taste of Poland which unfortunately is taking place in Bucks --not in Poland. Of course the visit to the Terracotta Army was arranged by this committee too so there is off-site work as well as keeping up with NFWI campaigns when we have to write letters to MPs or Councils for this, that and the other.Come and join us, please!
Monday, 21 April 2008
Women who do things
4th April
I am very pleased that the article which appeared today in the Daily Telegraph did not appear on 1st April . Otherwise several people would have read it as an April Fool. The heading "The WI ladies off on tour in search of prostitutes " would not have been believed.However it is true and it is not the first time that the WI has tried to protect the health and well-being of the ladies of the night. It is part of a campaign to eliminate some of the violence perpetrated against women which is itself part of the campaign against the dangerous lives that some women live at home as well as on the street.The WI has been trying to get brothels legalised and has secured support from unlikely sources such as the Roman Catholic bishop of Portsmouth.
I think these ladies from Hampshire deserve a lot of credit and I wish them luck in their research.
16th April
There was a lively Group Meeting this evening where a young woman came as the guest speaker. She was an excellent speaker and entertainer. It was hard to believe that someone so slight had rowed across the Atlantic twice! What fortitude and bravery and all to raise money for the National Epilepsy Society! I must admit that I went along expecting an obvious athlete with bulging muscles and there was this slip of a girl.Everyone was full of admiration for her and for her mother who rowed with her.
17th April
Today two members of my WI went along to see whether we could set up a Let's Sew project in a school near us.We came back full of enthusiasm to get going. The staff were keen and felt sure it was possible. However we really need some funds to finance the creche as we don't fancy playing about with sewing machines and needles and pins knee deep in toddlers. I am hoping we can come to some arrangement similar to the Let's Cook scheme which was promoted nationally by NFWI last year.
The WI is still respected for its work with crafts and who better to pass on the expertise than the WI members?
18th April
Another Group Meeting tonight when the WIs concerned celebrated their 80th birthday and what have they just done? Made themselves an embroidered banner. This is a beautiful example of the traditional and the modern techniques available. I keep on saying how the WI must maintain its traditional skills and hand them on. It was a very happy evening with good food, a little drama and singing and a lot of chatter. Some of the previous members had travelled large distances to attend and to join in the celebrations.
From these members I learned that some Federations have given up having groups which seems a great pity. The reasons cited were financial complications and the lack of time for 2 extra meetings a year. How pathetic! Groups have always been outside the Federations and gone their own way and it seems a shame to close them. A meeting of 4or 5 WIs enables them to afford a more expensive speaker and to show off their individuality beyond the confines of the WI constitution.
I hope our federation doesn't plan to abandon our Group scheme.
I am very pleased that the article which appeared today in the Daily Telegraph did not appear on 1st April . Otherwise several people would have read it as an April Fool. The heading "The WI ladies off on tour in search of prostitutes " would not have been believed.However it is true and it is not the first time that the WI has tried to protect the health and well-being of the ladies of the night. It is part of a campaign to eliminate some of the violence perpetrated against women which is itself part of the campaign against the dangerous lives that some women live at home as well as on the street.The WI has been trying to get brothels legalised and has secured support from unlikely sources such as the Roman Catholic bishop of Portsmouth.
I think these ladies from Hampshire deserve a lot of credit and I wish them luck in their research.
16th April
There was a lively Group Meeting this evening where a young woman came as the guest speaker. She was an excellent speaker and entertainer. It was hard to believe that someone so slight had rowed across the Atlantic twice! What fortitude and bravery and all to raise money for the National Epilepsy Society! I must admit that I went along expecting an obvious athlete with bulging muscles and there was this slip of a girl.Everyone was full of admiration for her and for her mother who rowed with her.
17th April
Today two members of my WI went along to see whether we could set up a Let's Sew project in a school near us.We came back full of enthusiasm to get going. The staff were keen and felt sure it was possible. However we really need some funds to finance the creche as we don't fancy playing about with sewing machines and needles and pins knee deep in toddlers. I am hoping we can come to some arrangement similar to the Let's Cook scheme which was promoted nationally by NFWI last year.
The WI is still respected for its work with crafts and who better to pass on the expertise than the WI members?
18th April
Another Group Meeting tonight when the WIs concerned celebrated their 80th birthday and what have they just done? Made themselves an embroidered banner. This is a beautiful example of the traditional and the modern techniques available. I keep on saying how the WI must maintain its traditional skills and hand them on. It was a very happy evening with good food, a little drama and singing and a lot of chatter. Some of the previous members had travelled large distances to attend and to join in the celebrations.
From these members I learned that some Federations have given up having groups which seems a great pity. The reasons cited were financial complications and the lack of time for 2 extra meetings a year. How pathetic! Groups have always been outside the Federations and gone their own way and it seems a shame to close them. A meeting of 4or 5 WIs enables them to afford a more expensive speaker and to show off their individuality beyond the confines of the WI constitution.
I hope our federation doesn't plan to abandon our Group scheme.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Busy,busy meetings
25th March
Today three of the local WI members travelled South to visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge. Although they planned to buy a few items, the main reason was to view the BFWI Offices. They were really impressed: of course, it was post a bank holiday weekend but the level of activity was amazing. Besides the usual three members of staff and the shop people, there were some judges working on some secret mission and members of Executive popping in for paperwork and equipment for forthcoming events. If all Bucks members could visit Stuart Lodge, they would understand just what running a WI Federation involves and also be able to put a face to the voice on the phone.
It was great to see the finished upstairs bathroom and to view the redecorated committee room.
26th March
Local WI committee tonight, the main purpose of which was to plan next week's Open Meeting. We want to cover everything in as short a time as possible because, hopefully there will be lots of visitors.We also want to fly the flag a bit. We don't usually have a timed agenda but for this we must and take the record of the last meeting "as read".However, the committee refused to abandon Jerusalem as part of the time-cutting exercise!
31st March
What a day! In the afternoon the local Book Group met. Everyone was very pleased to be in print in WI Life but not so pleased to have been given away to another County! We discussed the "Book Thief" which all rated highly.
Then it was a short meeting to sort out a ballot for a couple of the WI summer rambles which are oversubscribed. Anyone involved with running an event hates to turn any members away. BFWI has been criticised for opening events to non-members but sometimes we need those extra bodies in order to actually hold the event. If the number of tickets is cut, it is up to the WI to locally distribute the tickets on the basis of members first, non-members next.
In the evening three members of the local WI attended the Briefing Meeting in Aylesbury. This is when experts are called to give information to the delegates to use at their own WIs in May. It was a lively meeting and there was lots of informed discussion which augurs well for the AGM in Liverpool in June.
2nd April
I may be biassed but I think our Open Meeting was a success. We did have lots of visitors and also we had an excellent speaker who appealed to a general audience. His subject was his experiences around the world while in the diplomatic service. We kept to time and there was a healthy buzz of conversation during social time. We were also able to arrange some dates for working party meetings and fix attendance at the Town Council's meetings to produce a Town Plan and to attend the Bucks CC day school on Closer Links with the Community. All part of the social conscience of being a WI member but it does make for a busy couple of months.
Today three of the local WI members travelled South to visit the WI shop at Stuart Lodge. Although they planned to buy a few items, the main reason was to view the BFWI Offices. They were really impressed: of course, it was post a bank holiday weekend but the level of activity was amazing. Besides the usual three members of staff and the shop people, there were some judges working on some secret mission and members of Executive popping in for paperwork and equipment for forthcoming events. If all Bucks members could visit Stuart Lodge, they would understand just what running a WI Federation involves and also be able to put a face to the voice on the phone.
It was great to see the finished upstairs bathroom and to view the redecorated committee room.
26th March
Local WI committee tonight, the main purpose of which was to plan next week's Open Meeting. We want to cover everything in as short a time as possible because, hopefully there will be lots of visitors.We also want to fly the flag a bit. We don't usually have a timed agenda but for this we must and take the record of the last meeting "as read".However, the committee refused to abandon Jerusalem as part of the time-cutting exercise!
31st March
What a day! In the afternoon the local Book Group met. Everyone was very pleased to be in print in WI Life but not so pleased to have been given away to another County! We discussed the "Book Thief" which all rated highly.
Then it was a short meeting to sort out a ballot for a couple of the WI summer rambles which are oversubscribed. Anyone involved with running an event hates to turn any members away. BFWI has been criticised for opening events to non-members but sometimes we need those extra bodies in order to actually hold the event. If the number of tickets is cut, it is up to the WI to locally distribute the tickets on the basis of members first, non-members next.
In the evening three members of the local WI attended the Briefing Meeting in Aylesbury. This is when experts are called to give information to the delegates to use at their own WIs in May. It was a lively meeting and there was lots of informed discussion which augurs well for the AGM in Liverpool in June.
2nd April
I may be biassed but I think our Open Meeting was a success. We did have lots of visitors and also we had an excellent speaker who appealed to a general audience. His subject was his experiences around the world while in the diplomatic service. We kept to time and there was a healthy buzz of conversation during social time. We were also able to arrange some dates for working party meetings and fix attendance at the Town Council's meetings to produce a Town Plan and to attend the Bucks CC day school on Closer Links with the Community. All part of the social conscience of being a WI member but it does make for a busy couple of months.
Friday, 21 March 2008
Parcels and the Textile treasures of the WI
This week
A funny statistic appeared in the national press re. the WI's carbon footprint. Apparently following our eco-initiative WI members have reduced their annual amount of household rubbish to 18st instead of the national average of 152 st. They have been doing it for only 4 months so how do they know that?
I prefer the story about Charmouth WI in Dorset whose chronicle of wartime village events has become a national treasure. Accounts of knitting socks for the local regiment, caring for evacuees and providing food from gardens and hedgerows fill this scrapbook--beautifully illustrated and written with humour. No wonder it has won a national award!
12th March
As usual when one of the family moves house I approached the local branch of Country Markets (WI Markets as was) to arrange the delivery of a parcel of goodies to the new address. The parcel scheme is a wonderful national organisation which promises to deliver selected items from the local stall to the value of whatever the customer wishes, ranging from preserves to flowers, from pastries to cheeses.The person in Glamorgan that I was talking to lived previously in Drayton Parslow. The recipients will say "The WI mafia strikes again"!
13th March
A small group of WI members were invited to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland as a thank you for the parcels sent out to the forces in Afghanistan. We were welcomed by the Squadron Leader, driven around the base, given lunch and then had a conducted tour of the control tower and the aircraft hangars. We were even allowed to climb up and inspect the cockpit of a Harrier plane.The pilot has just a bit more space inside than a Formula One racing driver. All the personel were so grateful for the parcels and so appreciative of what the Bucks' WI members were doing for them. How they love the sweets, biscuits, cakes, coffee and toiletries that have been arriving out there! One Harrier pilot said that the men and women were like children opening a Christmas stocking. Westbury and District WI know of 500 boxes that have been filled and have passed through their hands but there are others going direct through Post Offices in Bucks.
So well done everyone.
14th March
Eight members of the local WI went by train as a group to the NEC in Birmingham to see the Sewing for Pleasure Exhibition. The attraction for us was the Textile Treasures of the WI. This was an excellent display, beautifully presented which made us feel very proud to be a part of such a talented organisation. Bucks Federation seemed very well represented but we may have been biassed! We went our separate ways following our interests, met up for lunch and then it was off again until we had worn our feet off.
I imagine all the WI members interested in horse racing backed DENMAN for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It may be why the odds were so short!. He won of course.
18th March
The local WI enjoyed a Soup and Sandwiches lunch at the home of a member today. This was to raise funds and also to get rid of our soup lake. We seem to lurch from mincepie mountains to soup lakes in our WI! A very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours though.
19th March
The WI where I am a dual member met today and we listened to a pair of girls from John Lewis who advised us on how to co-ordinate our wardrobes for the new season. They knew their job but the members expressed strong views on the lack of sleeved dresses, appropriate sizes and cheerful colours in clothes for women over 40 years old. We know more about "power pants" than we did before so that fulfils the educational aims of the WI.
20th March
WI Life arrived this morning. Lo and Behold our WI book group was featured as well as the Bucks Federation.In the last issue the editors gave Taplow and Hitcham WI to the Berkshire Federation and in this one they gave us to Cheshire. That'll teach us not to go seeking glory. I thought it was an excellent issue--lots to read and think about: plus the new programme for Denman College.
A funny statistic appeared in the national press re. the WI's carbon footprint. Apparently following our eco-initiative WI members have reduced their annual amount of household rubbish to 18st instead of the national average of 152 st. They have been doing it for only 4 months so how do they know that?
I prefer the story about Charmouth WI in Dorset whose chronicle of wartime village events has become a national treasure. Accounts of knitting socks for the local regiment, caring for evacuees and providing food from gardens and hedgerows fill this scrapbook--beautifully illustrated and written with humour. No wonder it has won a national award!
12th March
As usual when one of the family moves house I approached the local branch of Country Markets (WI Markets as was) to arrange the delivery of a parcel of goodies to the new address. The parcel scheme is a wonderful national organisation which promises to deliver selected items from the local stall to the value of whatever the customer wishes, ranging from preserves to flowers, from pastries to cheeses.The person in Glamorgan that I was talking to lived previously in Drayton Parslow. The recipients will say "The WI mafia strikes again"!
13th March
A small group of WI members were invited to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland as a thank you for the parcels sent out to the forces in Afghanistan. We were welcomed by the Squadron Leader, driven around the base, given lunch and then had a conducted tour of the control tower and the aircraft hangars. We were even allowed to climb up and inspect the cockpit of a Harrier plane.The pilot has just a bit more space inside than a Formula One racing driver. All the personel were so grateful for the parcels and so appreciative of what the Bucks' WI members were doing for them. How they love the sweets, biscuits, cakes, coffee and toiletries that have been arriving out there! One Harrier pilot said that the men and women were like children opening a Christmas stocking. Westbury and District WI know of 500 boxes that have been filled and have passed through their hands but there are others going direct through Post Offices in Bucks.
So well done everyone.
14th March
Eight members of the local WI went by train as a group to the NEC in Birmingham to see the Sewing for Pleasure Exhibition. The attraction for us was the Textile Treasures of the WI. This was an excellent display, beautifully presented which made us feel very proud to be a part of such a talented organisation. Bucks Federation seemed very well represented but we may have been biassed! We went our separate ways following our interests, met up for lunch and then it was off again until we had worn our feet off.
I imagine all the WI members interested in horse racing backed DENMAN for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It may be why the odds were so short!. He won of course.
18th March
The local WI enjoyed a Soup and Sandwiches lunch at the home of a member today. This was to raise funds and also to get rid of our soup lake. We seem to lurch from mincepie mountains to soup lakes in our WI! A very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours though.
19th March
The WI where I am a dual member met today and we listened to a pair of girls from John Lewis who advised us on how to co-ordinate our wardrobes for the new season. They knew their job but the members expressed strong views on the lack of sleeved dresses, appropriate sizes and cheerful colours in clothes for women over 40 years old. We know more about "power pants" than we did before so that fulfils the educational aims of the WI.
20th March
WI Life arrived this morning. Lo and Behold our WI book group was featured as well as the Bucks Federation.In the last issue the editors gave Taplow and Hitcham WI to the Berkshire Federation and in this one they gave us to Cheshire. That'll teach us not to go seeking glory. I thought it was an excellent issue--lots to read and think about: plus the new programme for Denman College.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Terracotta and Glass
27th February
The local WI committee met tonight in a member's house.Apparently no one had come up with a better idea than the quiz for our annual fundraiser in November so we began to think of contacts whom we could use. We shall ask for a few volunteers at the March meeting to form a working party to run the event. Of course the hall has to be booked well in advance but the finer details can be tackled later. It will need good publicity to spread it around the other town organisations.
The Town in Bloom event is more pressing at the moment so two members were absent while attending that's planning meeting in another house! There always seems to be a core of people who are involved in lots of different circles and they are the ones who volunteer all the time.Thank Heavens for the doers of this world!
Our April meeting is going to be an Open Meeting because the topic has general appeal.The WI Widowers are to be invited and ex-members who feel they cannot be sure to be well enough to turn out for WI meetings during the winter.
28th February
Unfortunately I was balloted out of the allocation of tickets to visit the Terracotta Army so my husband and I set off at the crack of dawn to queue at the British Museum for entrance tickets. According to the web there would be 500 tickets available every day from 9.15am. We joined a long queue at 9.15am and by the time we got to the desk the first available slot was 2.55pm so we amused ourselves until then and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. The exhibition is well worth a visit but it may interest you to know that to view it and travel up by train was £10 per head more expensive than the trip organised by the WI with a coach. We didn't include the lunch in this calculation and of course we couldn't use concessions on the train because of the time of travel. The exhibition itself gave reductions only to students and the disabled. So you see what a good offer some of our WI outings are!!
5th March
Hardly had we set foot inside the Local Centre where we hold our WI meetings when the fire alarm went off.We were lucky as we still had coats on; the Tai Chi students were coatless and bare foot waiting for the all clear. Some joker had pressed a panic button somewhere so there was no fire which was a relief.
The response to the boxes for the forces appeal has been marvellous. We will be able to fill another six after tonight's meeting. The local Lions' Ladies have joined in with the WI on this project.We organised delegates for the Annual Council Meeting and the Briefing for the AGM meeting.I tried very hard to explain how much better it was to volunteer for working parties than to be at the mercy of its members and be volunteered for something which one didn't want to do. It didn't work! The members could see me coming but we have a nucleus for all 3 which we need this year.
The speaker was excellent talking and demonstrating about her work with stained glass. Perhaps we will be able to fix up a craft session with her later. I always like to hear of the moments when a person is suddenly aware of what he/she wants to do with their life and refuses to be diverted in spite of all sorts of difficulties.
The local WI committee met tonight in a member's house.Apparently no one had come up with a better idea than the quiz for our annual fundraiser in November so we began to think of contacts whom we could use. We shall ask for a few volunteers at the March meeting to form a working party to run the event. Of course the hall has to be booked well in advance but the finer details can be tackled later. It will need good publicity to spread it around the other town organisations.
The Town in Bloom event is more pressing at the moment so two members were absent while attending that's planning meeting in another house! There always seems to be a core of people who are involved in lots of different circles and they are the ones who volunteer all the time.Thank Heavens for the doers of this world!
Our April meeting is going to be an Open Meeting because the topic has general appeal.The WI Widowers are to be invited and ex-members who feel they cannot be sure to be well enough to turn out for WI meetings during the winter.
28th February
Unfortunately I was balloted out of the allocation of tickets to visit the Terracotta Army so my husband and I set off at the crack of dawn to queue at the British Museum for entrance tickets. According to the web there would be 500 tickets available every day from 9.15am. We joined a long queue at 9.15am and by the time we got to the desk the first available slot was 2.55pm so we amused ourselves until then and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. The exhibition is well worth a visit but it may interest you to know that to view it and travel up by train was £10 per head more expensive than the trip organised by the WI with a coach. We didn't include the lunch in this calculation and of course we couldn't use concessions on the train because of the time of travel. The exhibition itself gave reductions only to students and the disabled. So you see what a good offer some of our WI outings are!!
5th March
Hardly had we set foot inside the Local Centre where we hold our WI meetings when the fire alarm went off.We were lucky as we still had coats on; the Tai Chi students were coatless and bare foot waiting for the all clear. Some joker had pressed a panic button somewhere so there was no fire which was a relief.
The response to the boxes for the forces appeal has been marvellous. We will be able to fill another six after tonight's meeting. The local Lions' Ladies have joined in with the WI on this project.We organised delegates for the Annual Council Meeting and the Briefing for the AGM meeting.I tried very hard to explain how much better it was to volunteer for working parties than to be at the mercy of its members and be volunteered for something which one didn't want to do. It didn't work! The members could see me coming but we have a nucleus for all 3 which we need this year.
The speaker was excellent talking and demonstrating about her work with stained glass. Perhaps we will be able to fix up a craft session with her later. I always like to hear of the moments when a person is suddenly aware of what he/she wants to do with their life and refuses to be diverted in spite of all sorts of difficulties.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
