Federation News May 2014
Chairman's Letter May 2014
We had a very good meeting at Hampton Bishop to discuss the passing of the Baton through Herefordshire (more later in the Newsletter)
Several attended the Inspiring Women Conferences and there have been mixed views about it. I think to sum up the views were that it was very useful if you were new to WI but not so helpful if you had been a member for some time. On the plus side it was useful to put faces to names of NFWI Officers.
Janice Durkin and I went to Gloucestershire's Annual Meeting, it was an excellent meeting and we came back with lots of ideas but we have to remember they have 5000 members!
I was invited to Bishopswood WI's Annual Tea which was very entertaining! The tea was delicious, wonderful cake!
On the last day of the month the trustees had training from a National trainer; it was a very informative day but left us with quite a lot of work to do, updating policies and procedures amongst many other things.
At the beginning of April I joined Angela Southwell who gave a presidents workshop, I have recently become president of Much Cowarne WI. It was a great evening and well worth attending. As with all of these events, we gained a great deal from the discussion led by Angela. Two representatives from our newest WI, Leominster Lasses, were there and during the last exercise they came up with the qualities needed to be a good president;
Inspiring
Dedicated
Enthusiastic
Encouraging
Approachable
Which spells IDEA (with two e's)
Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
Please Note :
Closing date for the Newsletter will be the second Thursday of the month (at the latest).
However it would be helpful if any articles could be sent as early as possible. Thank You.
2015 CENTENARY BATON MEETING
I have now been able to meet with representatives from Hampton Court and with Clive Richards and have worked out a proposed route for the Baton. To finalise the arrangements I would be grateful if you could come to a meeting at Hampton Bishop Village Hall on 10 June at 2.30. If you are unable to come please send a representative from your WI or Group of WI's.
I look forward to seeing you then.
If you are interested in coming please email fedsec.hfwie@tiscali.co.uk
Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
NEW OPENING TIMES FOR WI HOUSE
Lynda is no longer with us as Federation Secretary and I know that you will all join the trustees in thanking her for her work for the Federation and wish her well for the future. We are not appointing to the post at present but we have Becky Bissell who is helping us with the administration and the trustees are taking it in turns to be at WI House, opening times have changed slightly and we are opening on a Thursday to try to be more available to members( see below). All communication should be sent in the usual way via email to the secretary's address or by post to WI House addressed to me please.
To try to make WI House more accessible to members we have changed the opening hours. It is now open on Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30 to 2.30 and with immediate effect on Thursday 9.30 to 2.30. We know the opening hours are slightly shorter on Tuesday and Wednesday but we thought it was more useful to have it open on Thursdays too. Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
Just a reminder that if you would like to use the meeting room at WI House for WI purposes please do not hesitate to contact me and if it is not already in use we can make arrangements for you to use it.
MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT COMMITTEE
Do you want to know more about the WI, all the various aspects of it, and have more information about the running of it? Then the WI Moodle is just what you need - an online environment available to all members. It is very simple to access, and your secretary will have received a leaflet with this mailing giving her all the instructions. So go on, become an online learner – it's part of your subscription. If you or your WI is interested in having a group tutoring session on the Moodle, please contact Alison Lord. digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com
Angela Southwell, WI Adviser
REMINDER: CENTENARY PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
The WI in Herefordshire
There is a County and National Photographic Competition. The winning entries from each Federation will be uploaded onto the memory stick which will be held in the baton as it journeys around England and Wales. Eventually, the baton will reach its destination, the Royal Albert Hall, for the Centenary Celebration in June 2015. All entries are to be received by 16 June 2014.
They must be submitted in digital format and be a minimum of 1MB in size.
Janice Durkin 2015 Committee
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUB COMMITTEE
In April 30 members took part in 3 willow weaving days and produced some beautiful examples of obelisks and willow flowers, under the tutoring of Dave Jackson of Wildwood Crafts. If you didn't get the opportunity to do a course this time, please look at his website which has a timetable of his craft courses with plenty of variety if you are feeling creative.
http://www.wildwoodcrafts.com
By popular request, Brenda Drake will be organising another trip to the Eisteddfod at Llangollen at the beginning of July. Full details next month.
Have you enjoyed a Federation event organised by the Education committee? Would you like to be part of the committee to help plan and organise these county events? We meet only 4 times a year, please join us!
Contact: Alison Lord 01544 340256 alisonrlord@btinternet.com
FEDERATION QUIZ FINAL
The Federation Quiz Final took place on Thursday 3rd April. Thanks to all WIs. taking part. There were high scores in the preliminary round. In the Final there were 80 questions on a wide variety of subjects and the Picture Quiz changed faces for places. Once again Huntington (Hereford) came first but had to play off with Bishopswood as they had equal marks. Exciting stuff!
I send a big "thank you" to Pembridge, Ledbury, Dinedor and The Suttons for supplying accommodation and refreshments - the gluten-free biscuits were much appreciated! Thanks also for my husband Ted who had retired after some years as question master but stood in as marker for two rounds.
The victorious Huntingdon Hereford quiz team.
DENMAN
I am arranging two federation visits to Denman college, I hope that many of you will be able to come, I am trying to arrange a variety of courses that will interest everyone. The final details and the costs will be in the June newsletter. Please contact me to express an interest in these days.
Denman Residential designer day.
Sunday 9th November 2014 to Monday 10th November 2014.
We will travel to Denman on a coach on Sunday afternoon. After a restful night we will have different workshops on Monday and travel home on the coach late afternoon. This price includes all accommodation, meals, workshops and travel.
Cost is £165.
Herefordshire Federation Visit to Denman
Monday 22nd June to Wednesday 24th June 2015.
This is a lovely opportunity to see Denman during the Summer and walk in the fabulous grounds as well as acquiring new skills. There will be various workshops available that I hope will cater for all tastes. I will have costs for this visit when I have confirmation of the availability of the courses.
Day Courses at Denman
Friday 18th July 2014 Food and Flowers with Jo Pratt and Anna Stevens
Price of course WI Members £45 non members £50.
Thursday 31st July Greys Court and Lady Brunner Event.
Price of course WI Members £45, non members £50
For details please contact:
Val Lewis, Denman Ambassador. Tel: 01544 327700 Email: valjlewis1@aol.com
MARGARET BYFORD
As you know Margaret passed away in December and we made a collection at WI House on behalf of those members who were unable to attend the funeral.
I have forwarded on to the Royal British Legion cheques to the sum of £150.70 which they have received and asked me to pass on their grateful thanks as have Margaret's family.
The money will be transferred into their County Welfare Fund and it will be used to provide assistance to local Herefordshire beneficiaries.
Thank you so much, I know that Margaret would have been very pleased that you have contributed to this charity.
LEOMINSTER LASSES CAKE STALL
Our newest WI, Leominster Lasses are having a cake stall at the market, Corn Square, Leominster on 30 May, 8am onwards. Please support them if you are able to by buying a cake.
DIGITAL CHAMPION NEWS FOR MAY
I was invited to help a group of five members from Wellington WI at their community hall which has wi fi access; we spent two hours looking at the WI website and the Herefordshire pages, plus the WI Moodle and what you can find on there. It was a very enjoyable and useful morning.
If your WI would like to do something similar please contact me.
Six ladies came to WI house for the 3rd April sessions, and I have two future dates for computer training, May 15 1.30-2.30pm which is nearly full and also Thursday 3rd July time to be confirmed, both running at WI house. If you need some support but cannot make either of these dates, please contact me as we may be able to arrange alternative dates or venues to suit.
I have re-arranged parts of our Federation webpages on the WI website to make it easier for you to find information; it is now all arranged under a page for each month with links to take you back to the main page.
If you have looked at the pages please tell a friend and spread the word, the website address is always on the front page of the newsletter, as well as the Facebook page address.
Any emailed reports I receive for the newsletter Forum wait for the monthly newsletter but they are put on the Herefordshire web pages as soon as they are received.
Alison Lord, Digital Champion, Email: digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com