New website

The website has moved - please go to www.DidsburyVillageWI.co.uk

Room Rota

Thanks ladies for helping set the room up and put it away. I'm sure there'll be extra help at the time as well.

Here's what you said:

June
Setting up 7pm - Caron
Putting away - Liz Thornhill

July
Setting up 7pm - Ann, Carole & Mary
Putting away - Hilary, Ann, Wena, Fay, Claire

August
Setting up 7pm - Jean Johnston
Putting away -

September
Setting up 7pm - Chrsitine Whyatt
Putting away -

October
Setting up 7pm - Ruth & Dawn
Putting away - Liz Baker

Judy's Outings - Tatton, M/c...

Details from Judy...

Tatton Gardens -2pm Sunday 17th May

• As promised Tatton Gardens Gardener's Tour is now at 2pm Sunday 17th May (not a Bank Holiday Weekend!).
• Jusy will get in touch with those ladies who already signed up for 3rd May.
• Ladies, husbands, partners, children and siblings, neighbours and friends can come along - I need 12 paying (£3.60) to enter gardens and any number of NT members, 20 people in total would make cost of tour £2.50 a head.
• Everyone to make their own way there and Judy will get you in touch for a car share

Christine's Manchester Walking Tour - Sunday 26th April, 12pm

• Meeting at the 'gap in the wall' Piccadilly Gardens at 12 o'clock
• The maximum number is 15 - Jusy think's it may be full but you can always put your name on the reserve list

For more details or putting your name down, contact Judy on taylor34@ntlworld.com

North East Cheshire Group - Outings

Thanks for Sheila Eley and Ann Booth, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of the North east Cheshire Group and to Beryl Marston a WI advisor for visiting us on Tuesday We're a part of this WI group.

We've all been invited to attend the group spring meeting - April 23rd, 7pm at the Woodford Centre. A new member Leila Jerman very kindly volunteered to be our Group Rep , with Christine Hessian (our Secretary) as her assistant. However, anyone is free to attend this meeting. If you do wish to know more, please do contact Christine christine.hession@btinternet.com

There is also a group subsidised coach outing on May 20th 2009 to Trentham Gardens. Tickets are £7.50 and payment must be with Ruth Beach by 23rd April. Again, contact Christine for details.

Committee Meeting Dates

Hi Committee Ladies,

We've booked The Didsbury Pub's upstairs function rooms for some future Tuesdays. Here's the booked dates for your diaries:

8pm on:

29th April - NOTE: sorry - this is a wednesday - the Tuesday I had booked clashes with the President's and secretary's workshop and the pubs booked up every other Tuesday

19th May
16th June
21st July

Talent Trade - For Sale & Wanted

Thanks to Ruth & Dawn for their introduction to our
Talent Trade.

We hope to set up a Talent Trade circle, whereby you can offer a service, earn credits for your talent and trade these in for another.

For Example - I would really like somebody to spend an hour weeding my garden. I'm going to offer up making a big batch of wholesome pureed baby food for freezing.

This will only work if we all try to think of something we can offer - don't be shy - You'll be amazed at what you think of as easy and others dearly need (like time weeding my garden!)

Please do send the following information to Ruth (bomalon@btinternet.com) who will compile for the monthly meeting. You can copy and past from this post into a new email/Word doc if you like. Of course this is also available offline.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your name:

Home address/contact details:


Part one

Talents to be traded:

Please provide a brief summary of the Talents to be traded (maximum three per Trader)

1. [e.g. An hour's Introduction to email or the Internet]
2. [e.g. A big batch of wholesome homemade baby food]
3. [e.g. a playdate with a toddler in Didsbury Park for an hour]

Part two

Please provide a brief summary of any prospective Talents you would be interested in:
1. [e.g. An hour of weeding in my garden]
2. [e.g. Some wholesome baby food making for my freezer - Daisy's bored of my recipes!]


Ruth
(bomalon@btinternet.com)

Thanks all - Remember - this WI doesn't run itself - we all need to pitch in!

Cake Baking Rota: April -June

Sheila, our Refreshments Leader, has put together the following rota for baking cakes.

April - Lynne Cockitt

May - Dawn Forrest and Ruth

June - Lesley

If you would like to put your name(s) forward to bake cakes one month, please do contact Sheila Lane: Dsaclane@aol.com

WWF's Earth Hour 28th March 8pm

The WWF's Earth Hour

The national WI are supporting the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour. http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=10951

The world’s skies will darken as millions of people across the planet switch off their lights for one hour, sending a signal to global leaders in Copenhagen that they must take urgent action to tackle climate change.

Lights out!
On Saturday 28th March 2009 at 8.30pm, the WWF wants a billion people across the world to turn off their lights for an hour – World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour. Join us.

Sign up here to show you are supporting it:

http://www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour

Update: Didsbury Festival meeting 11/3/09

Carole's organised a meeting for 7.30pm, Wednesday 11/3/09 at The Didsbury for anyone interested in helping out at the Didsbury Festival.

It's entirely up to you how involved you want to be but if you are interested, or have any ideas, it'd be nice to see you.

ACM in Cheshire - Carole's report back

Carole and Pauline amongst others attended the Annual Council Meeting on 3rd March in Winsford. Here's Carole's report from the front line:-

Taylor's of Yorkshire apparently send each WI a yearly 'goody' box containing tea/coffee and other things and offer grants of £500 (of which they are offering 10 this year) to WI groups who undertake community work.

Their theme for this year is 'making a difference to the planet' and are undertaking a project to support the 'Ashininka tribe' in Peru (not sure of the spelling), to help save the rain forest. They plan to plant 3 million trees. The Ashininka mothers groups have the same values as the WI and have training and support groups. Yorkshire tea have tokens on their packets. 50 tokens will buy one new loom.

Two other things were mentioned (although it was later in the day)

A project sponsored by DIFFI?? to raise awareness of poverty and gender inequality. Oxfam and the Everyone Foundation are involved in this.

Federation will be holding some events at WI House in Chester showing DVD's about 'Sisters on the Planet'

Christine's March Annoucements

Here's a list of Christine's announcements from the March meeting. If you are interested, plese contact Christine Hession regarding any of the following on christine.hession@btinternet.com or 0161 445 6382.

1. Any interest in attending the Cheshire Show (23rd and 24th June) to act as Stewards.
   
2. Jam and Jerusalem roses - delicate, perfumed two-toned floribunda, coloured from palest peach to delicate pink. Sent bare rooted and ready for planting, late October/early November. £7.50 per rose. Members can apply individually or we can do it through the group. The rose is shown on the cover of the Denman College book.
   
3. Is anyone interested in for the WI refreshment tent at the Cheshire Show? Christine Hession has the very strict specification for the cakes if anyone is interested.
   
4. A picture and an announcement of our group meeting at Emmanuel in January was in the Cheshire News.
   
5. There is a Cheshire Federation Open Day at The Bishops House in Chester on Wednesday 13 May from 10.30 to 12.30 and 2.00 pm to 4.00. Admission is £5 by ticket and entry is ticket only. Ticket includes admission to the ground floor of the house and the gardens. Light refreshments are included in the ticket price.
   
6. New members meetings are being held at WI House in Chester pm 7th May, 10.00 am for 10.30 and on 21st May 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm. All members are welcome to attend to see WI House and also to meet other members. Need to notify how many wish to attend.
   
7. Is anyone interested in starting sports groups within our WI? Suggestions were netball, tennis, badminton, squash, walking, ten pin bowling, bowling, darts, golf, bridge. Other suggestions welcome. Please put names forward if interested.
   
   

The Committee Members

The Committee Members

President
Sally Thornhill
sallythornhill@gmail.com

Vice President
Carole Selby
carole.selby@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

Treasurer
Pauline Ranson
paulineranson@ntl.com

Vice Treasurer
Georgina Conlon
georginac@stretfordgrammar.com

Secretary
Christine Hession
christine.hession@btinternet.com

Asst Secretary
Charlotte Conlon
conloncharlotte@yahoo.co.uk

Programme Organiser
Sameena Hafeez-Imam
sameenahafeezimam@hotmail.com

Asst Programmes
Di Schofield
dischofield@gmail.com

Asst Programmes
Wendy Adams
beautifulagain@live.co.uk

Outings Organiser
Judy Taylor
taylor34@ntlworld.com

Asst Outings
Claire Duffy
duffers64@hotmail.com

Publicity
Liz Thornhill
ethornhill19@aol.com

Publicity assistant
Carole Selby
carole.selby@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

Refreshments
Sheila Lane
dsaclane@aol.com

Asst Refreshments
Wena Stevenson
art1morris@ntlworld.com

Database
Vicky Neal
vicki_neal@hotmail.co.uk

New members Meeter and Greeter
Di Schofield
dischofield@gmail.com

Raffle/Fundraising Organiser
Lianne Williams
lianne_libdem@yahoo.co.uk

Room Organiser
paulineranson@ntl.com

Didsbury Festival - a Buzzz

Saturday 06.06.09 - Didsbury Festival - The Bees are swarming...

We're now signed up for a plot at the Didsbury Festival. As our theme is Save the Honey Bee, I should say hive. We're in the midst of setting up our Team for this (Swarm?!??).

The basic idea is.... some of us dressed as bee's in the procession handing out Bee/WI information - possibly also hanging out the top of our old flower power hippy VW van (decorated with daisys and WI info)

We'll need help making items and womanning the stall as it may be selling:-

• Honey themed cakes


• Local Honey


• Bee attracting flowers, plants and seeds
  
• Anything else Honey-Bee like we can get our mitts on

We need to raise funds and get sponsorship for this - so get your thinking caps(antennae!) on

Carole has arranged a meeting for Wednesday 11th March - 7.30pm at the Didsbury. So far there are 5 of us who have volunteered.

We will be able to let you have some feedback at the next committee meeting.
Buzz Buzz

The February Meeting

February's meeting had Sally Dyke and Marilyn Lloyd, from Goostrey WI teaching us how to do simple flower decorations using oasis foam. I found it very interesting and we all took home our attempts - I've been inspired enough to try oasis again (although I was a Blur girl in the 90s - hoho). An impromptu auction of the display flowers also raised some welcome funds.

Pauline did a brilliant effort with emergency cakes and tea in as poor Sheila’s is ill. I took over the helm as President but had Lesley steady’s hand guiding me. I think it went alright, though I must have gabbed too much as I’ve now lost my voice!

We all met our committee members and agreed on some points – such as Honey Bees are our Didsbury Festival’s theme, The Manchester Children’s Hospital is our charity, Guerrilla Gardening might be a mistake, Pole Dancing lessons may be too crass for us, etc.

Everyone agreed to help out at the Didsbury Festival although only Vix volunteered to help organise it – and she had no choice as she was kipping on my sofa. So far then, Vix and I will be running it and press ganging you all in. Please do volunteer yourselves – we’ll need a team (or should that be a 'swarm'?).

Talking of being press-gangied: Ruth kindly volunteered to figure out and present the logistics of our skills-swap idea next month (Internet for Icing; Loo Cleaning for Lifts; Egg decorating for email; Knitting for...). They’ll be wowing us with a PowerPoint – don’t let me loose on that! I go power mad with transitions and animated bullets…

The Swap Table idea was also introduced – so do bring unwanted items next month and we’ll sell it for £1 – books, DVDs, Videos, clothes.

I have an order form if anyone wants a copy of the Cheshire News £2.50 for 11 copies.

Don’t forget the new time, day and venue next month! See you then. Please do comment on your thoughts of the February meet - good and bad/constructive!

Have you ideas for a speaker?

If you have any ideas for speakers

The Cheshire Show - Wi need you

23rd-24th June 2009: The Cheshire Show

The WI has a Marquee at the Cheshire Show. Christine (christine.hession@btinternet.com) has a booklet on it should you want to know more. It's been kindly suggested that, perhaps, as a new group we should help out in the marquee (refreshments, stewards, etc) and suss out the competition rather than enter a class. Though, if you are confident - please do enter as an individual and we'll be right behind you. Again, Christine will have the information. Watch this space.

Combined Co-operative
Class 1 Show Time: Create a combined exhibit to interpret the class title by depicting a musical, a ballet or an opera.
Class 2 Hit Parade: Create a combined exhibit to illustrate a tune or song, not necessarily a hit
Class 3 Picnic in the Park: An exhibit of 3 items of food to interpret the class title
Class 4 Harmony: An exhibit of 3 intems to interpret the class title, showing a knowledge of a variety of craft skills
Class 5 A Children's Song: A combined exhibit of 3 items to interpret the class title

Floral Art
Class 6 A Night at The Opera: An exhibit to interpret the class title
Class 8 Rhapsody in Blue: An exhibit of fresh plant material to interpret the class title

Art
Class 7 This Green and Pleasant Land: A picture in watercolour, gouache oils acrylics pastels or crayons

Produce
Class 9 Food Glorious Food: Make either a madeira cake, a pastry based fruit flan, three american muffins, any true preserve

Craft
Class 10 My Favourite Things: Create a single item of craftwork within one of the following classes: embroidery, fabric craft, yarn craft, hard craft

Photography
Class 11 Magic Moments: Take a photograph to reflect the class title

Co-operative
Class 12 Curtain Call: WI members encouraged to create a character from a Musical SHow

Confused? I was - then I looked at the Photos and all became clear. It looks like a good laugh. Pimms anyone? (Photos of the WI Marquee 2008)

Do let us know if you want to enter.

Honey Bees need you - Annual Council Meeting

The Bees Need You and We Need a Volunteer.

The serious Honey Bee Health Risk is a resolution to be discussed at the Annual Council Meeting of the Cheshire Federation. Held on 3 March at the Civic Hall in Winsford.

There will also be two guest speakers, Anne Mustoe 'The Pleasures of Travelling Alone' (Lesley told Christine she has travelled the world alone) and Colin Parry from the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.

One delegate from each WI goes free guests will pay £3. Guest tickets need to be ordered by 19 February. Contact me or Secretary Christine for your place.

>Watch what the BBC says about the Honey Bee problem (3mins)

10 thinks you can do to help Honey Bees

Forward to February's Meeting

February’s meeting will give us all a chance to improve our domestic goddess skills as Sally Dyke gives us each a chance to make our own flower posy table decoration.

Please remember to bring some scissors or secateurs and
£1.50 to cover the costs of your flowers, etc.

Also, for those of you who need to pay your £29 annual subscription – don’t forget your Cheque book. Unlike me, do also remember a bit of change for tea/coffee/wine and cakes. It all goes to our funds.

It's now confirmed, the next meeting will be:
Thursday February 5th, Upper Emmanuel church Hall. 8pm.


See you then (or some of you with jobs on the 27th)

Sally

The January Meeting

Well, I thought the January meeting went very well. After a rocky start that involved minor intimidation of the Brownies we had an good meeting.

Julie Burns a magazine columnist and also from TV's Trinny and (ahem) Suzannah gave a good talk on vintage fashion and had quite a few items of vintage clothes and jewellery to sell. This went down well and also raised us £15 to our find (I'm tempted to say future wine fund). I hope some of you got good deals.

It was brilliant to see lots of new faces of all ages and interests. Hopefully we can accommodate everyone.

Lots of lovely volunteers signed up for roles in the new WI. Thank you all so much, there was more than enough at the end.

For all those ladies who now do have a role, there is a Kick Off Meeting on
8pm,
Tuesday 27th January,
The Didsbury pub, raised area.

In this meeting we will be probably having a tipple, a laugh and looking at your role, what part you can play each month and some ideas for shaping this WI.

We're still looking fir a venue for next month, if you don't hear different (watch this site, your email or the Didsbury Police notice board) it will be the same as this month but at 8pm so we don't have to frighten small girls again.

Do leave a comment here or email me direct if you have any questions (didsburyvillagewi@gmail.com)

See you next month

Sally

x