theWI Adderbury & District WI – Draft Minutes WI Meeting – Thursday, 1st October 2015

Posted by on Oct 15, 2015 in Reflections

Minutes of the meeting held at The Institute, Adderbury,
1 October 2015 7.30 pm

 

  1. Diane, our president, welcomed 23 members and 2 guests. 8 apologies were recorded in the register.
  2. The minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2015 were approved and signed by Diane as a correct record.
  3. Matters arising: Copies of the WI calendar will be available at the next meeting and at the Christmas Market. Diane described the OFWI celebration at Oxford Cathedral which was very moving, especially when the banners were carried in as the organ played. Adderbury and District WI banner, carried by Margaret and Val, was clearly seen on the TV coverage. Diane thanked Pat Smith for all her work in producing it and explained that more was to be added to it. Diane then thanked all the committee for their hard work in making our own celebration fish and chip supper such a successful evening. Margaret reported developments in the wildflower project, including hopes of new planting areas at the Lakes and on the Lucy Plackett playing field.
  4. Correspondence: Diane read extracts from the letters of thanks and appreciation for the celebration supper sent by Stella Oakes and both the President and Treasurer of Banbury WI.
  5. Christmas events: Helpers are needed for the Christmas Market on 28 November. A sign-up sheet was available for donating cakes and preserves and for staffing the stall. Produce needs to be attractively presented with a Christmas theme. Two workshops have been arranged for making decorations for the Christmas Tree Festival, one from 7 pm at Caroline’s (Holly House, Manor Road) on Tuesday 6th October and one at Gill’s (Touchwood, Berry Hill Road) on Wednesday 7th October from 2 pm. Caroline and Gill showed more examples of possible decorations. Members were invited to sign up for the Christmas dinner at the Cartwright Arms on 3rd December 7 for 7.30 and to indicate their choices, £10 to be paid at the November meeting.
  6. Committee report: It was decided that at each meeting we would acknowledge members with birthdays in the following month. Members were asked to give Gill the information. Anyone who has spare craft items is invited to bring them to the meeting for others to use. There have been difficulties with the tea rota. Frances suggested circulating a sheet for members to choose a date that suited them. It was agreed to do this from January, and to send the sheet round at the November meeting and subsequently as needed.
  7. Treasurer’s report: In Chris Shafe’s absence Diane reported a balance of £909. The cost of printing the calendars should be recouped from sales and there should be sufficient funds for subsidising the cost of the Christmas meal.
  8. Programme and activities: Sheila Pollard was thanked for organising a very enjoyable walk from Upton House with a pub lunch in Ratley. If possible another walk will be arranged before Christmas. The book group discussed Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch in September and will meet at Wendy Blake’s house on 14 October at 7. 30 to talk about A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar. The needlecraft group will meet on the same evening at Maureen Banks house and November’s Needlecraft meeting will be hosted by Janet Morgan. Maureen Banks will find out more about a possible visit to Fibre Works in Chipping Norton.
  9. Community items: The Adderbury Community Food market will take place in the Institute on Thursday 8th October with another opportunity to win a meal for two. FOSMA are holding a wine and cheese tasting evening in Church House on 20 November. Tickets cost £15 and will be available from Val Scarff, Trish Fennell and the shop.


After a break for refreshments, members enjoyed a very informative and well-illustrated talk by Dan Allen, called ‘What Did You Do in the War, Granny?’ He described the different organisations through which women took part in the forces and in forestry and farming during the First World War and explained how their development was influenced by class divisions, the attitude of the War Office and the progress and growing demands of the war itself.  Contemporary photographs brought his subject vividly to life. Caroline gave the vote of thanks.

 

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 5th November 7.30 at the Institute.

Signed…………………………………………………………… Date…………………………….