Monthly Meeting 9 May 2016

LEIGH ON MENDIP WI

A fairly low turnout for our May meeting but it was a busy one. Members had taken part in several activities including the fashion show at Standerwick, the Children’s Society coffee morning and the ACWW walk round the quarry with tea and cakes back at Shelagh’s afterwards. The latter had raised around £50 on the day towards the ACWW goat purchase project and Barbara put out a collection plate for anyone who hadn’t been on the walk but wanted to contribute. Looking ahead she had arranged another walk, this one to go round Frome, starting at 6.30 on Wednesday 27^th July. The scrapbook was making good progress and the first Friday lunches were still being well supported and will continue to be in the Bell until further notice.

We then turned to the Resolutions which Barbara read out for us including the cases for and against them. We had a good discussion on both, the one concerning supermarkets sending surplus food to charities to reduce waste and help those in need and the other to get hospitals to allow people with dementia to have a relative or friend stay with them when they went in for other reasons than their dementia. We voted in favour of both Resolutions.

The AGM followed with the financial, secretarial and President’s reports. We also needed to choose a President for the coming year. Barbara was the only nominated member willing to stand and will therefore continue as President for another year. The committee has two vacancies but no one at the meeting wanted to join, if any member who was not at the meeting is willing to do so then contact Barbara or any committee member.

The next meeting will be on Monday 13^th June at 7.30pm, when we will have our very own fashion show. 

Twiddlemuffs

Anyone who enjoys knitting or crochet might like to make a 'Twiddlemuff'.

At the last Group Meeting members were given information about these - they can be of benefit for people suffering with dementia.

If you would like any more information/instructions on how to make one please ask at the May meeting.

Fashion Show

On Friday the 22nd April, 8 members went to The Standerwick Centre near Frome to a
fashion show. Julia Santon our County Chairman welcomed us all and wished us a nice
evening. We enjoyed a delicious meal of either gammon or salmon followed by fruit salad or
cheesecake. 

While we enjoyed our coffee the models men women and children walked
amongst the tables modelling the clothes they had chosen from an M & Co store. 

We were all given a voucher to spend that evening from the pop up shop. They didn’t have all the sizes so I think most of us saw something they liked and will be making a trip to a shop in Frome Wells or Midsomer Norton to spend the discount voucher.

          Even something for the men!

Croscombe Spring Road Show

Caroline Jane and Barbara travelled to Croscombe village hall in time for coffee. We were
welcomed by Julia Stanton our County chairman and she introduced the board of trustees
who encouraged us to join the activities they were organising in the future. We also heard
from “Heads Up” a charity's in Wells which helps people suffering from dementia. We had
a long lunch break when we could enjoy soup and cake and then walk round all the
displays. After lunch Dr Burrows gave an amusing talk about his time giving talks to various
WI groups over the country. An interesting day out.

ACWW Walk

A group of WI members, friends & husbands set off from the Memorial Hall on Sunday 24 April to walk in aid of ACWW.

Spring has arrived!  So lovely to see the cowslips.










Friends from Buckland Dinham came to join us.

Time for a pause on the walk round the quarry and another photo opportunity!

Looking down on the house where Vera Carey, one of our original members, grew up

Then back to Shelagh's for tea and cake. Thank you to everyone who came and those who helped with the refreshments.  We raised £51 for ACWW and had a great time too!

Trip to Wells Cathdral

On Saturday 16 April Caroline, Jan, Marguerite and Shelagh visited Wells Cathedral to see 'Threads Through Revelation'.  

This was a touring exhibition, made up of fourteen large textile panels which explore, through the medium of textile art, the Book of Revelation.


The panels are spectacular.  The techniques and style used are very unusual - a combination of painted dyes and multi-layered silks cut and stitched.

Jacqui Parkinson is a textile artist whose work has been on display in many cathedrals.


After the Exhibition we went for a hot drink (to warm up!) and some lunch.  A lovely day out.

If anyone else sees something that is of interest to them why not arrange an Outing for members?

April Monthly Meeting

We were pleased to see both some new members and visitors at our April meeting. The first Friday lunch had been particularly well attended and Barbara suggested continuing to use the Bell for these as it is easier for people to get to than elsewhere. The WI team had only managed to finish 3^rd from the bottom in the recent Hall quiz but agreed it had been a pleasant evening. Several members had been to the Group meeting at Nunney and enjoyed an interesting talk from the BBC’s Sarah Jane Bungay.

A few things to be thinking about for the future. Firstly at the next meeting, the AGM, we will be discussing the Resolutions. Barbara appealed for someone to put the for and against cases for these but if no one was willing to do so for members to at least read about them in the WI Life magazine so we are able to discuss them properly in May. Two fashion shows ahead; the one at Standerwick on 22^nd April, with 8 members booked to go and on a smaller scale our own entertainment in June. Jane is co-ordinating arrangements for this. And the bulb order booklets are already here! Contact Mary if you want one, cheques needed by the end of May.

Our entertainment was a session of Bollywood dancing which most members and guests joined in with. We learnt to build the moves up into a routine which was energetic but fun and a great sort of exercise.

The next meeting will be on Monday 9^th May at 7.30pm, Resolutions and AGM!