Dear Ladies,
Please forgive my delay in uploading these Minutes on to our website about which I am really awfully sorry.
the meeting held at The Institute, Adderbury,
7 January 2016 7.30 pm
- In the absence of Diane because of family illness, Margaret, our vice-president, welcomed 29 members and 2 visitors. Apologies were recorded in the register. Mention was made of members with birthdays in January.
- The minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2015 were approved and signed by Margaret as a correct record.
- Matters arising: More WI calendars have been sold over Christmas and New Year and they will be available at the February Community Market. Preparing the ground for new wildflower areas at the Lakes has begun. In a show of hands a majority of members indicated that they were in favour of going out for the 2016 Christmas supper. Cards for members will be bought next week and members were reminded to let Pat Smith or one of the committee know of anyone who would appreciate one. The WI tree had received the most votes at the Christmas Tree Festival.
- Correspondence: NFWI have apologised for the delay in sending out the WI booklets. These should be received before the next meeting. The Cherwell and District WI Annual Group Meeting will be hosted by Deddington WI on 6 April. 14 members from each WI are invited at a cost of £4 per head and each WI is asked to provide a raffle prize to the value of £5. The entertainment will be a display by stunt dogs. Members wishing to go should add their names to the sign-up sheet on the table. The OFWI Annual Meeting will take place in Oxford Town Hall on 23 March. Details are on page 5 of January News and Views.
- Committee report: Margaret explained the new process for deciding the WI 2016 resolution and asked all members to complete a voting paper indicating one choice from the shortlist of eight. Papers should be handed to Chris Shafe. Votes will be collated by OFWI and totals for the Federation forwarded to NFWI (see page 5 of News and Views). As two committee members have recently resigned for personal reasons, Margaret encouraged members to consider joining the committee either as a co-opted member now or at our Annual Meeting. Clean for the Queen: Gill is to register our interest with OFWI and ask for further details. Contact is also being made with Cherwell District Council. The main event will be litter picking during the first weekend in March.
- Treasurer’s Report: Chris Shafe reported that while the account balance is currently low following the expense of the Christmas supper, it will improve when this year’s subscriptions are paid in. The raffle at the supper raised £65 of which £20 was given to the staff as a gratuity. She was not in a position to give more detailed financial information as all the records were at Diane’s house. 29 subscriptions have been renewed so far (26 full and 3 dual) and one new member has joined. Chris asked that all subscriptions are paid by 4 February at the latest.
- Future activities: Book group will meet on 13 January hosted by Pauline Leathers to discuss Giuseppe de Lampedusa’s The Leopard. Maureen Banks has kindly offered to host the needlecraft group on 20 January. All members are welcome to either of these meetings. Walks will resume when the weather improves. Members’ suggestions: Margaret suggested joining the ‘Show the Love’ initiative, promoted by NFWI and the Climate Coalition, by making a green heart to wear on Valentine’s Day (see page 5 of January News and Views). Several members supported the idea of an evening about using social media (WI Moodle, Facebook etc). Holding an Open Evening to showcase the WI and encourage more ladies to join was also suggested.
- Any other business: Carol Glover informed members that in the New Year’s Honours, Barbara Gray was awarded the MBE for fifty years’ service to the WI.
- Community Items: Trish Fennell reminded members of the talk in aid of FOSMA to be given by Jonathan White entitled ‘Damavand – a ski ascent of Iran’s Iconic Volcano’. 30 pm at the Institute on Saturday 16 January. Tickets cost £8. Under 15’s are free.
After a break for refreshments we were entertained by Lieutenant Colonel Lewinski, Master of the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick, who explained the structure and duties of Her Majesty’s Guards and how to distinguish the five Foot and two Cavalry regiments. The Guards are primarily highly trained fighting soldiers. Guarding the royal palaces and Whitehall and performing ceremonial duties, for example at the State Opening of Parliament, is their secondary function. Colonel Lewinski also shared many amusing anecdotes from his own experiences as a Guards’ officer.
Margaret closed the evening with thanks to Colonel Lewinski for a well- illustrated, very entertaining and informative presentation.
Signed……………………………………………………….. Date…………………………
Our next meeting will be at the Institute, 7.30pm on Thursday 4 February, when the topic will be Recycling.
Margaret Halstead xxx
PS my telephone number – 07800721432