News and Events March to June 2013

JUNE 2013

WI CHOIR – FIRST  REHEARSAL
  
On Monday 23 May 2013 the first rehearsal took place in Room 5 of the Hereford Music School.  18 Members came along and enjoyed a wonderful evening of singing.  The Musical Director, Jon Watson, selected 2 pieces,  A Summer Lullaby - Frederick Jerome, and Fields of Gold - Sting.  Jon was very impressed with the ladies ability to learn the pieces and their singing ability.  He thought the sound and tone of the choir lovely and enjoyable to hear. Everyone went home saying how much they had enjoyed the evening and the music. 

Rehearsals are every Monday, everyone is welcome just come along.   
Jean Thornton  Tel: 01981 500421

INTERNATIONAL EVENING

We have had great difficulty in booking a hall for the International Evening and have had to change the date.  It will be held on 28 October at Sutton St Nicholas Village Hall not 4 November.  There will be more detail nearer the time in the Newsletter.
Kathryn Bandfield, Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com

DIGITAL CHAMPION NEWS

TRAINING

Please contact me or the office if any of your members are interested in computer training at WI House; for more information see April newsletter.
A new date will be announced shortly for the final session of the WI Training postponed from May.

WEBSITE

Don't forget to look at the Herefordshire pages on the main WI website and if you have any ideas about what you would like to see on the pages please contact me.  (www.thewi.org.uk/herefordshire).

Alison Lord,  Digital Champion, Tel: 01544 340256, Email:  digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com  

DENMAN COLLEGE

Thank you for your applications for the Denman Bursary.  It has been awarded to Elaine Russ, President of Dilwyn WI.  Elaine is going to join us on the Herefordshire week-end at the end of October.

DENMAN WEEK-END

The closing date for the Denman weekend has now passed but we still have some places available.  If you are interested please send an SAE to WI House requesting details asap.
The new Denman Ambassador is :-
Jan Davis, Denman Ambassador, Tel: 01432 830524 Email: jantarot@uwclub.net 


MAY 2013

FORMATION

A new evening WI has been formed in Leominster to be known as "Leominster Lasses WI". They will be meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month.  We wish them well and hope that they enjoy all that the WI has to offer.

DIGITAL CHAMPION NEWS: TRAINING

Please contact me or the office if any of your members are interested in computer training at WI House; for more information see April newsletter.

WEBSITE

I have now taken over the management of the Herefordshire pages on the main WI website (www.thewi.org.uk/herefordshire) so please have a look at them and if you have any ideas about what you would like to see on the pages please contact me.  Many thanks to Gill Bullock who has maintained the pages previously.  If you would like to be able to edit your own WI page on the website please get in touch with me to register your interest as I would like to offer a course for web editors later in the year.

WI GUIDE TRAINING

Beverley and I will be offering one more familiarisation day at WI House on Thursday 23 May about the new WI Guide and the WI Moodle.  The session is free, so if your WI did not send a representative to the previous sessions in January and February please contact me.  Your representative will need to be computer literate.  Please indicate whether you would prefer morning, afternoon or either and we will create a timetable of sessions.

Alison Lord,  Digital Champion      digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com   01544 340256


 

APRIL 2013

The link below will take you to the addresses from the Annual Council Meeting.

Annual Council Meeting

29 April 2013 The Courtyard, Hereford

We hope you all enjoyed the Annual Council Meeting.  Some members were able to talk to, have pictures taken with and buy books from Phillip Serrell who was our guest speaker for the morning.  Our afternoon speaker was Liz Lamb who spoke about clay and game shooting, and had some interesting points to make.  Unfortunately there was a mix up in times and Hereford Tango arrived as you were all leaving.  There were reports from the committees on the events over the past year and also what is proposed for the future.

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who received Cups: Calendar Cup, Wendy Mckie Dinedor, Holme Lacy & District WI, Federation Quiz Cup, Huntington (Hereford) WI  and this years winner of Paddy's Tree went to Bishopswood WI.

The following Anniversary Certificates were awarded to:- Almeley & Ashperton & Canon Frome WI's 90th.  Burghill & Tillington, Kimbolton & Wellington WI's 80th. Cradley & Peterstow WI's 75th. Dinedor, Holme Lacy & District & Kingswood & District WI's 60th.  Wye Women WI Newly Formed.  Winner of the Denman Dip was Angela Southwell, Chairman of MSC.

Congratulations to the winners of the three Counties Competition 2013 "Something New From Something Old":-
1st Barbara Griffiths, Orleton WI
2nd Ruth Edwards, Holmer WI
3rd Claire Burton, Staunton-on-Arrow

Our thanks to everyone who helped make the day so enjoyable and successful. 


 LOTTERY GRANT FOR COMPUTER TRAINING

The New Year brought the good news that Herefordshire Federation has been awarded a grant from the Awards for All scheme to purchase computers for WI members to learn computer skills.

Federation will publish a training schedule and timetable of sessions to be held at WI House in the coming months.  These training sessions will be designed to cover all aspects of computer learning, such as

Basic introduction to computers - as basic as to how to switch on a computer

What is a desktop, a laptop, a mouse, a ram, a processor, software or hardware

How to generate an email and how to use the internet

Learn how to go on line for your shopping, use Google to find recipes, research and b   book holidays, find your ancestors, and many more interesting subjects.

There will be no fees to pay for any of the training sessions but a small charge will be made to cover costs.

Your WI will be circulated with details of the training schedule and timetable.  Training sessions will be decided when we know at what level you want to start learning. Let your WI Secretary know if you are interested, or contact Alison Lord or Ursula Stewart for further information.

Alison Lord  and Ursula Stewart, Board of Trustees


 HEREFORDSHIRE WEEK-END AT DENMAN

I have been able to book a week-end at Denman from FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2013.  We are very lucky at this late stage to find a week-end that has enough vacancies to take 30 Herefordshire members and non-members if spaces are available.  They have agreed to run an additional course 'An introduction to Hat Making'

The cost includes accommodation, all meals and the course. Travel arrangements will be made probably in the form of car sharing.   You will see that on most of the courses there are only a few places left so if you wish to come please act quickly. The following courses are available:-

The Play's the Thing; if you have ever wished to understand Shakespeare at a deeper level this is your chance.  Two or three plays will be explored including acting out plays, group discussion and tutor explanation. 4 places -  Cost £260

Autumn Fruits and Flowers in Watercolours; using a variety of paints and crayons create a colourful picture from an arrangement of autumn flower and fruits.  Suggestions for composition will be given by the tutor. 4 places – Cost £249

Stained Glass; A beginner's First Panel; an introduction to stained glass of all sorts and textures.  Make your own stained glass panel or mirror (approximately 30 x 25 cm), using traditional stained glass techniques. 4 places – Cost £ 249

Patisserie; The Patisserie course will cover many of the classics of French pastry work including classic sweet shortcrust and choux pastry that can be used to make wonderful fruit tartlets and decadent eclairs. 4 places – Cost £269

Rachel's Autumn Retreat; Come and feel refreshed and inspired with a series of workshops, aimed at giving a holistic perspective to life.  The course will focus on the Bagot Stack principles. 4 places – Cost £249

An introduction to Hat Making; This course will give you an exciting introduction to millinery and the opportunity to block either a felt cloche or one piece sinamay on a band.  Various trimming techniques will be shown with which to adorn your creations. 10 places – Cost £249

For further information please send a stamped addressed envelope,  to Kathryn Bandfield at WI House.

Kathryn Bandfield, Denman Ambassador, Tel: 07805584878


 DENMAN BURSARY

Denman has received a very generous legacy which they are passing on to federations.  The bursary will be £300 which may include travel with a 2-night course or be part payment of a longer course.
The bursary will be offered to members who have not been to Denman before.

The bursary is for open courses only not for federation, residential designer days or other group bookings
This funding must be used as an additional bursary and not replace an existing one.

Denman are requesting that Herefordshire Federation considers matching the sum so that two members can attend together however as we are unable to do this we are inviting two members to apply together and the funding would be shared equally.

Please apply in writing, by 1st May 2013, (including a stamped addressed envelope) to Kathryn Bandfield at WI House outlining the reasons why you feel you should be awarded the bursary.  If you are applying with someone else please include in the same envelope.  Applications will be considered on 14 May and applicants will be notified after this date whether successful or unsuccessful.

Kathryn Bandfield, Denman Ambassador, Tel: 07805584878


MARCH 2013

DEMYSTIFYING THE MOODLE

At long last, Herefordshire WI moves towards the 21st century!  A recent WI website training session at WI house, led by Alison and Beverley smoothly guided us through the maze of how to become an online learner and access the "Moodle," which is the WI training and information site. Once we'd managed to jump the hurdles made up of MCS reps, registration and passwords, it was easy!

We found the section" Your WI" really useful. It comprised of information for Treasurers, the whole of the Handbook and of course, the new WI Guide. The main reason for holding the training was because the Guide will now only be found online. One of the most useful parts were the sections which allowed you to produce your own  "branded" WI posters and fliers for advertising, even newsletters and programmes for your own group. Best of all, Herefordshire WI provided a "memory stick" for each WI to use and take home.  I was really keen to spend more time investigating the website at home!

We were also told that WI house now has a few laptops which will be used for training purposes.

Even better! Just imagine how your WI could support those who have no access to a computer?  Beverley and Alison were extremely receptive to our suggestions of templates and communication pages that would be helpful to running a WI and promoting its activities. Brilliant!
The most useful hour and a half I've spent since I joined the WI!

Shirley Edgar, Wellington WI


 DIGITAL CHAMPION CAMPAIGN

As part of my role to encourage our county WI's to become more 'computer friendly', I would like to be able to contact at least one person in each WI by email.  Please could I ask MCS representatives to email me, with your name and WI name so I can keep a record.

I would also love to hear from you if you have any ideas about how we can all be more computer friendly, either in our WI's or in the Federation.  I would also love to hear from any WI's who have started their own website, blog or Facebook page, or any other way of sharing information via computer, so please email me at the address below.

Alison Lord        digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com