August 2017
Information and Reminders from the Federation Office
The Federation Autumn Council Meeting will be on the evening of Wednesday 18th October 2017 at Thurston Community College. We have two speakers for you this time: See the flyer for more details
The Federation Annual Meeting will be held on 26th April 2018 at the Apex, in Bury St Edmunds. See Federation events for more details
The NFWI Annual Meeting will be on 6th June 2018 in Cardiff
Further details will follow
WI News Order form (October 2017- September 2018). Please remember to complete this by 16th August 2017 at the latest, as we need to inform the Printers.
NFWI Study Day - A Picture of Childhood: Children in Art, 9 November 2017, National Gallery, London. For further details please contact Helen Neal on 01865 391788 ext. 285. 11am-3.30pm.
NFWI Survey – Our WI, Our Future. Results are now available. Please contact the office if you would like to view a copy
MCS Representatives: Please note that when you register a member for the WI Moodle on the MCS, please make sure you enter their email address and save the changes, before you assign the position of online learner. Thank you
ENCLOSED THIS MONTH:
1. Minutes of the Federation Annual Meeting 2017. We are sending these to you to read ahead of our Autumn Council Meeting.
2. Costings sheet for the Federation Annual Meeting 2017 explaining the expenditure and income to the Federation of this event, for Members’ better understanding of the pricing of the Federation events
3. A survey on the Federation Annual Meeting - Secretaries, please completes this with your WI Members. We hope you will conduct this short survey during a WI meeting and note Member’s responses. It is really important for us to get feedback and to understand what Members liked/didn’t like and what they would change. Members’ ideas and opinions will help us to shape our meetings to best suit the Members. Please return these by 30th September 2017.
4. Template Letter to send to MP, Local Councillors etc. on Invisible Disabilities. Following suggestions for action on the Federation mandate in the mailing last month, the pro-forma letter enclosed has been approved by NFWI for you to send to your local MP or Councillor to urge them to take a look at this problem. If all WIs in Suffolk West Federation send out this letter, it will hopefully have an impact.
5. Year Books x 2 copies – These are for the President, secretary, treasurer and other officers of your committee to share. There is now a copy of the Handy Hints and Tips for your committee in the back of your Year Book. May we remind you to be mindful of data protection, and to not share personal details from these books un-necessarily.
6. Expression of Interest form for a possible trip to see 42nd street – Please do register your interest and we can hopefully arrange a trip. Please see the form for more details
7. New update on the Sensory Bands/Twiddle Muffs – please see flyer
8. Federation Insurance information document – please keep this with your Insurance certificate to refer to as necessary.
Other Information:
Denman Brochures: the new Denman Brochure is available at Park Farm and also online. Janet Brown, who is your Denman Ambassador, would be happy to visit your WI to talk about Denman. Janet can be contacted on 01359 251604.
2018 NFWI DIARY ORDERS: We are still taking orders for the NFWI diaries. Order these now to avoid disappointment
2017 MAILING DATES FOR THE WI NEWS: August 24th, September 21st, October 19th, November 23rd and December 14th 2017
Events
FEDERATION EVENTS:
New: SWFWI Autumn Council evening meeting on Wednesday 18th October: Tenor Thomas Spencer is coming to sing for us and talk. Placido Domingo is calling Thomas ‘the voice of the next generation’. We are also finalising details for another speaker from the world of sport. This is a Members only event and is £9 per ticket.
Soup and Natter returns for the autumn: dates are 6th October 2017, 3rd November 2017 and 8th December 2017. It is more than just soup. Bring a non-member female friend and introduce her to what the WI can offer. See the flyer for more details. This event must be booked
Techie Sessions start up again from 2.30-4.30pm on Friday 15th September, Friday 13th October and Friday 17th November . Do you have a laptop, tablet, iPad, kindle, or smartphone? Looking for some help or just want to potentially learn more about it and what it can do? Book through your WI.
Save the date: Federation Carol Celebration – Monday 11th December. Further details to follow
Save the date: London Welsh Rugby Club Choir at the Apex on Saturday 3rd March 2018. This is a Federation fundraising event and we anticipate high demand once tickets go on sale. Look out for further information next month
Save the date: Federation Annual Meeting on Thursday 26th April 2018. With speakers Julie Summers who is the author of the best-selling book Jambusters which inspired the TV drama series Home Fires, and Lady Carnarvon of Highclere Castle which was the setting for the TV drama Downton Abbey. Both speakers should prove to be entertaining, educational and inspirational to Members. Further details will follow soon.
MUSIC AND DRAMA COMMITTEE
Singing Workshop Wednesday 30th August St Peter and St Paul rooms at Lavenham Village Hall 7.30pm start. Members only. Nearly full
Play Reading Session Monday 25th September at Park Farm.10am – 12 noon. A chance to have a ‘taster’ with the Music and Drama committee’s drama group – Come and join in, and enjoy a cuppa too.
An Audience with Peter Lawrence on 24th November 2017. This is a Members only event. Peter Lawrence will speak on ‘Art on the London Streets’ and the event, which costs £20.00, will include a two course lunch. Please see sheet in this month’s mailing for more information. Tickets will allocated soon for this event.
42nd Street – possible trip to see this show. Please see expression of interest form for more details
LEISURE COMMITTEE
Save the Date: Monday 23rd October 2017 - Willow Weaving Workshop, at Sturmer Village Hall. More details to follow soon
SPORTS COMMITTEE
Walk around Glemsford Thursday 14th September 2017. Please note the starting point has now changed to Glemsford Methodist Church Hall 3.5 miles over undulating terrain, with good company and lovely scenery. Refreshments will be available to purchase afterwards.
Whist Luncheon Tuesday 17th October 10am for 10.30am-3pm. FULL
New: Scrabble Afternoon - Monday 13th November at Park Farm 1.30pm £6 for members and £7 for non-members. An afternoon of fun, to tax those brain cells, this price includes tea, coffee and cake. There will also be a raffle
Other information:
Risby WI Quiz night 17th November 2017 Booking is through Risby WI. Please see their flyer for further details
Jersey Federation are again organising a holiday. 5-12th May 2018. This will include trips and transfers. For more details and information please telephone Anne Pasturel on 01534 730409 or email
Norwich Castle Museum is holding a powerful, historically interesting exhibition on Nelson and Norfolk from 29th July to 1st October. Exhibits include the Bullet which killed Admiral Lord Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Information was correct at the time of printing
For further details on events or for any WI enquiries, please call Michelle or Rachel on 01284 336645 or Email: . Suffolk West Federation of WIs, Unit 11, Park Farm Business Centre, Fornham St Genevieve, Suffolk IP28 6TS
Charity Number 229035