WI Meeting Minutes for Thursday 5th February 2015

Posted by on Feb 13, 2015 in Reflections

  1. Our President Caroline welcomed 32 members, wishing those not at the January meeting a happy New Year.
  2. Three apologies were recorded in the register.
  3. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2015 were approved and signed by the President
  4. Matters arising: Diane reported that the WI calendar committee will meet on 11 February to agree the size. Another article about the project has appeared in Contact. Diane asked members to inundate her with pictures.
  5. Committee report: A ticket for the OFWI 400+ club has been bought.

Caroline described the content of News and Views. It was agreed on a show of hands that, for a trial period of a year, a copy would be bought for every member from our funds. These would be available at the monthly meetings for members to collect.

WI adviser Stella Oakes will be at our AGM in March. Caroline reminded members that new committee members would be needed for 2015/16 and again asked everyone to consider putting their names forward at the AGM.
Current committee members are in the process of drawing up an inventory of WI property and a list of other items we are able to borrow.
Suggestions for visits this year included an evening visit to Sulgrave Manor, following the talk last year by Simon Snow. This was well received and will be arranged for an evening in the summer. Several members showed interest in a day at Denman, including a cookery demonstration at a cost of £35. Dates were available in April, June, August and September.

 

  1. NFWI Resolutions Copies of this year’s proposed Resolutions were displayed during the evening. During the break for refreshments members recorded their votes for the one which they would prefer to go forward to the Annual Meeting at the Albert Hall in June.
  2. Fund-raising for Frank Wise There has been very little interest in the suggestion of a swishing evening, and the fee asked by a book illustrator to give a talk at the library proved too costly. The library is still booked for 26 March and it was agreed to have a social evening, perhaps with a book swap, a scarf swish for £1 and a raffle. Members could bring friends. Nibbles would be provided but a charge made for drinks. A £21 licence would be needed.
  3. Future activities: Reading group members were unable to meet in January and so will meet at Su Lutter’s on Wed 11 February to talk about both a novel (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) and a non-fiction book (Sisters of Sinai). The needlecraft group will meet at Caroline’s on  Wed 18 Feb, The next Committee meeting is on Wed 25 February to which anyone considering joining the committee will be very welcome.The OFWI Annual Council Meeting is on 24 March, which Diane and Laura hope to attend and the North Oxfordshire Group meeting this year is at Bodicote on 22 April. For this there are 14 places for members from our WI. Members were asked to add their names to a list if they wished to be there. The speaker will be Judith Hadder. Adderbury and District WI funds cover the costs of our members who attend.
    Volunteers will be needed to make cakes and to run the WI refreshment stall at Party in the Park on Sat 20 June. The price for the pitch is not yet known but all profits come to the WI.
    June Stilgoe has kindly offered us a farm walk and supper on Thurs 25 June. All members are welcome for the supper even if they are not able to take part in the walk.
    It was agreed on a show of hands that this year’s WI Christmas meal will be at a local venue. Committee members will explore possibilities.
    Members were keen to take part if there is to be another Christmas tree festival this year. A group will be needed to start working on the theme and decorations as soon as the Festival is announced.  Following the example of a local WI featured in News and Views, this might be a project for the needlecraft group.
  4. Community items Caroline thanked Debby for organising the recent First Aid training evenings led by the Red Cross. She informed members of the 112 medical emergency help line number.
    The next Community market is on 12 February from 6 pm at the Institute.

There will be a talk about the Great Exhibition of 1851 on 20 February in aid of FOSMA. Tickets cost £8 from Trish Fennell or from the library. On 26 February there will be a talk about the Rothschild family to raise funds for FOCAL. Tickets cost £5.

  1. Any other business Members were alerted to current phone scams by
    which criminals obtain bank details. Following any such contact
    members should never give these details and should ring 101 to report
    the incident.

Unfortunately our speaker for the evening was ill. In her place members enjoyed a sociable evening completing hat-themed quizzes and making and decorating paper hats. Bernice gave the vote of thanks to Caroline for arranging all this so successfully and at the last minute.