A happy birthday to our Middlesex WIs celebrating in February!
Iver Evening
8 February 1962
Hillingdon
19 February 1919
London West End
21 February 2006
MFWI News
Chair’s Message – February 2021
What can I say… another month has passed us by, and a lot has been happening despite Tier 4 lockdown which was followed swiftly by more restrictions when a stricter lockdown was put in place.
Many of you are finding a Zoom meeting of all sorts both interesting and beneficial, for some, I appreciate, it is not so easy. The good news is the roll out of the vaccine is in full swing. I do hope that those of you that have been invited to have your vaccine jabs have done so, or at least booked the appointment and those that have not yet been contacted, will not have too long to wait.
Despite the vaccine, I am sure we will be using video technology for quite some time. If you have an iPad, smart phone, laptop etc and you are unsure how to set up and use Zoom, Skype, Facetime, please do contact our digital team on digital@mfwi.org.uk. There is no need to fear technology and if you give it a go, it will help connect you to your loved ones no matter how far away they are.
For those who can, have you tried the regular Monday craft night chats, Craft Pop Ins, Denman at Home demonstrations/talks or joined the WI Wanderers Facebook Group yet? Why not join us for our regular member chats? There is always something to do to while away the hours if there is nothing else going on around you. See page 3 for details.
Our thanks go to all of you who voted on the Resolution Shortlist, it was much appreciated that around a third of MFWI members were able to vote in some form or other. Results can be found on page 5 along with further notes on the resolution process.
Things are not ideal right now, but let’s look on the bright side with positive thoughts and hope that this virus is controlled sooner rather than later but please, if anyone is isolated and feels like a chat, give me a call on my usual number.
Stay safe and keep well
Lorraine x
Resolutions 2021
The selection results of the MFWI voting for the recent shortlist (as listed in WI Life) is below.
The number of votes received is much higher than we expected to be honest, as lockdown prevented many WIs from co-ordinating any responses.
Votes have now been sent to NFWI Public Affairs.
- Ovarian Cancer 246
- Women’s Heart Disease 144
- Racism & Discrimination 70
- Protect Your Nature Space 69
- Peat Bog Destruction 36
Grand Total 565
In February, the NFWI Board of Trustees will confirm the 2021 Annual Meeting resolution/s based on the number of selections from WI members.
We will receive resolution/s briefings and wording in the March mailing.
Further reading…
Huxley Cup 2021
T
he NFWI’s annual horticultural competition is back with a twist in 2021. WIs are invited to design a planting plan for a raised 3m x 3m bed that will be displayed within the Community Allotment area at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, 5–11 July 2021.
Entries must reflect both the Festival themes and the vision statements of the WI: Bold and Inspiring, Growing and Relevant Inclusive, Flexible.
The deadline for entries is 30 April 2021. For more information, contact your Secretary.
Treasurers’ Workshop, January 2021
The workshop for new WI treasurers held on 23 January 2021 was one of a series of training sessions for new committee members (or those looking for a refresher) run by Federation Treasurer, Sarah Endersby.
The session, run on Zoom of course, was an interesting and informative session, and it was nice to meet other new treasurers, and some deputy treasurers, on the call. The session was full of practical suggestions for running the accounts and keeping the books up to date throughout the year.
We learnt about our responsibilities as trustees and whether our WI needed to register independently as a charity (only if income is above £5,000). There were also tips for managing the petty cash; and I was impressed to hear one WI has managed to do away with cash altogether!
The discussion amongst attendees provided plenty of food for thought as well, and all in all it was a very useful and enjoyable way to spend two hours on a Saturday morning. I look forward to putting what I learnt into practice at Stroud Green WI.
Harlington WI: Farewell Maureen Handley
Members were very saddened to learn of the death of former member Maureen on 23 January 2021. A former member and officer for many years of our Institute, she worked tirelessly every year at our Produce and Handicraft Show which was a great success and well attended. Every year in Spring the schedule would duly arrive, and members would be encouraged to grow produce and flowers, arrange flowers for the floral art class, enter photographs, knit and sew handicrafts, bake for the cookery class, not to mention the jams, marmalades and chutneys. Woe betides anyone not using the right lid or goodness!! The label is in the wrong place. Ah! The excitement of winning a Gold Star.
Liz Morrell (Past Chair and WI Adviser) recalls meeting Maureen when we were encouraged to join the Organisation Committee at MFWI in 1997, by Ex Chairs Olive Powell and Pat Buffin, both Voluntary County Organisers (VCOs). After a few years of assisting at Annual Meetings and events such as the Middlesex County Show to encourage women to join the WI, the Federation agreed to fund training for Maureen, Carol Sullivan (Membership Chair) and myself, and in 2000 we were appointed by NFWI. The role of VCO was renamed as WI Adviser (WIA) in the early 2000s.
Maureen was the lead WIA working with Kim Ford, who approached MFWI to open Ruislip Evening WI, The first WI to open in Middlesex after many years. Many others followed in quick succession. Maureen will be remembered by founder members in Gothic Valley, Stroud Green, West Hampstead and HA:WI to name but a few. Maureen also represented the Federation on the London WI’s Forum at NFWI HQ.
Professional, Approachable, Calm, quietly spoken, talented craft women, good fun, always ready for a laugh. A joy to spend time with. Our thoughts and prayers are with her sons Tim, Guy and their families may she Rest in Peace.
Show The Love Campaign
This annual campaign is run by the Climate Coalition of which the WI are an integral part. Every year it is the biggest conversation opportunity to raise awareness of climate change. Why not make some Green hearts/pompoms to hang on your doors/in windows or give one to your neighbours. There are resources on MyWI that your members can create items to raise awareness. In 2021 campaign runs from 1-21 February.
West Ealing WI update
When we moved our meetings online in March 2020, we never imagined we’d still be meeting on Zoom nearly a year later! Nevertheless, we persist.
Our January meeting is always focused on physical activity and we see no reason to let a pandemic get in the way of that. We invited a local tai chi instructor, Andrea Bugari to join us on Zoom and take us through some tai chi moves. It was a lovely gentle way to get us moving on a cold Tuesday evening.
We’ve really enjoyed how much our members are engaging with the online format, and have kept our monthly pub quiz and craft club going throughout the pandemic. The committee has been busy planning activities for the coming months to keep our meetings interesting. It’s no substitute for meeting in person though and we’re all looking forward to the day when we’re able to return to the community centre.
Laleham WI update
January 2021 has been a quiet month for Laleham, but a lot of interaction on our WhatsApp group is helping to keep members spirits up. Members continue to support each other, helping out with shopping and giving lifts for medical appointments and now thankfully for vaccine injections.
President Helen Hurst has been keeping members up to date with WI news and issues – including canvassing for our votes on 2021 Resolutions.
Special shout out for Maria Winter who has been putting her spare time to very good use and has made these beautiful scarves and jumper – well done Maria!
The Wonders of Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarbonate of Soda, or Sodium bicarbonate, or Baking Soda, or Bread Soda, or carb soda, is a chemical compound composed of a sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion. It is a white solid that is crystalline, but often appears as a fine powder. Slightly salty in taste, its natural mineral form is nahcolite and components of this mineral are often found in many natural springs. Naturally occurring deposits of nahcolite are found in the Green River formation in Colorado, US. It is deposited as ‘beds’ during periods of high evaporation, ie drought. It is commercially mined using common mining techniques, such as used in coal mining. It can also be a solution, mined by pumping hot water through previously mined beds, and reconstituting dissolved nahcolite through a natural cooling crystallisation process.
There are so many ways in which we can use Bicarbonate of Soda…
Cooking
Used as a leavening agent in baking, it causes the expansion of batter in quick breads eg soda bread. Acidic materials that induce this reaction include cream of tartar, lemon juice, yogurt, buttermilk, cocoa, and vinegar. Heat by itself causes bicarbonate of soda to act as a raising agent because of thermal decomposition – it releases carbon dioxide at temperatures above 80 degrees celcius/180 degrees Fahrenheit. It is sometimes used in the cooking of green vegetables, giving a bright green colour, as it reacts with the chlorophyll in the leaves, but also affects the taste and nutritional content. It is used to soften peas and pulses, and is used to make the traditional ‘mushy peas’. It is used to tenderise meats, and enhance the crispness in fried foods as it allows passages of steam to escape. [Read more…] about The Wonders of Bicarbonate of Soda