Minutes of the meeting held at The Institute, Adderbury, 2 April 2015 7.30 pm
- As our new President Diane welcomed 30 members and one visitor. She said how much she was looking forward to her time as President, though a little nervous and thanked Caroline for all her work in the role.
- The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2015 were approved and signed by Diane as a correct record.
- Matters arising: Diane reported on the OFWI annual meeting which she, Caroline, Laura and Margaret had attended. She found it inspiring to feel part of a large and active organisation and enjoyed the social aspect of sharing lunch with the other Adderbury members. Our banner was on display and can be seen in photos on the website.
The WI calendar committee have agreed the format of the calendar and Diane showed an example which was well received. They will shortly choose the 48 photos for members and the public to vote on to decide which 12 will be on the final version. The calendar should be on sale in September. - Committee report: Committee members have agreed to the following roles: Margaret will continue to manage the web site and notice board and circulate information at meetings. She will also act as Vice-president. Gill will be the new membership secretary. Caroline, supported by Chris, will co-ordinate groups, taking over from Bernice, and will also co-ordinate additional activities and events. Bernice, Trina and Laura will continue in their current roles. Trina has agreed to co-ordinate the bulb orders this year.
There is still a vacancy for Treasurer and interested members were asked to speak to Diane. The role is not as demanding as might be thought. Training and support are available and the duties can be shared. It was stressed that without a treasurer the WI will not be able to continue.
Wild flower seeds: Margaret has received twelve packs of wild flower seeds from Kew. She asked members for suggestions as to where they might be sown as a requirement of the initiative is that they should be grown in a public space. Contacting the Lakes committee and the Parish Council were suggested.
- Correspondence/communications
Diane drew attention to the members’ Open Days at NFWI headquarters in November, to the WI Centennial Fair in Harrogate and to the current list of courses at Denman. Members were given slips for a ballot to represent our WI at the Buckingham Palace Garden party. This was later won by Wendy Tiernan.
- Fundraising: On a show of hands it was agreed that any profits from calendar sales should be shared equally between our own funds and Frank Wise School. Diane explained that our funds would be needed for providing members with copies of News and Views and for subsidising the Christmas meal.
- Programme and activities: The WI committee will meet on Tuesday 21 April at 46 Rochester Way.
Our next WI meeting will be held in Church House on 7 May (the Methodist room is not available that evening). As required for May there will be discussion of the Resolution and there will also be a Swishing event. Members are invited to bring up to five items – scarves, bags, jewellery to exchange.
A Centenary celebration evening is planned for September.
Caroline will send the cheque and form for our stall at Party in the Park
The next book group meeting will be on Wednesday 8 April at Mary Walker’s house when members will share their views on ‘A Man Called Ove’ by Frederik Backman.
The needlecraft group will meet again on Wednesday 15 April at Holly House.
Members who intended to go to the meeting at Bodicote on 22 April were asked
to make sure their names were on the sign-up sheet and to arrange car-sharing.
Though there is no charge for the farm walk and supper on 25 June hosted by June Stilgoe, she invites members and guests to make a donation to Frank Wise School.
Caroline invited members to make suggestions for walks or to consider leading a walk themselves.
Jane Curness suggested that if the Festival is held again, small packs of materials for making decorations for a Christmas tree could be put together by group of members for others to make.
Margaret informed members that she has put pictures of hats from 1915 on our website to give ideas for making or altering a hat to wear at the baton handover event at Barford on 19 April. She members asked for photos. Veronica has hats
to loan.
- Community items Debby reminded members that the next Community market will be on Thursday 9 April from 6 to 8 pm in the Institute when as well as many stalls, there will be hot food to eat in or take away.
After a break for refreshments our speaker Chris Windass, founder and leader of the Adderbury Ensemble told us how he came to be a string player and what led him to set up the Ensemble almost thirty years ago. He outlined the history of the group and the Adderbury Concerts Trust. Chris explained how the programmes for Adderbury and for the Coffee concerts at the Holywell Music Rooms in Oxford are put together. He spoke of the need to match the programmes to the probable audiences and to balance well-known classical chamber pieces with more challenging works. While only 10% of the costs in Oxford need to be met by donations, the series in Adderbury depends on such support. Many very successful musicians play in both series, often performing piecesthat they are about to record or to play in a London venue.
Chris played us two tracks from the Ensemble’s recordings and recalled highlights from past concerts including the 25th anniversary concert and the evening when the lights failed during a performance of the Mendelsohn Violin Concerto but the soloist and orchestra continued to the end of the piece and were given a standing ovation.
Chris is hopeful that the Ensemble’s 30th anniversary concert will help audience numbers in Adderbury return to three figures as they used to be. He encouraged those who have been to concerts in the past to come again and those who haven’t been to a concert to have a go – you might like it!’
Caroline gave the vote of thanks, saying that Chris had reminded us how fortunate we were to have the Ensemble in our village playing music of such a high standard and how important it was to support it.
The next meeting will be at 7.30 on 7 May in Church House.
Margaret Halstead