Here’s our October 2022 edition of Middlesex News: we hope you enjoy reading about what our WIs are up to… and they’re busy!
Click here to read the newsletter.
Middlesex News – October 2022
MFWI News
We’re online each week for craft chat
Craft Inn
A weekly craft get-together on a Monday, hosted by members of the MFWI Craft Committee. Bring along your unfinished objects (UFOs) or your current project to craft and chat, maybe bring along a glass, cup or mug of something…
Every Monday evening, 19:30
Meeting ID: 845 2969 7238; Passcode: 829648
Welcome to our Federation Secretary
Middlesex Federation welcomed its new secretary Georgina Glynn in September 2022. Welcome, Georgina! We’re glad to have you as part of the team and also to have our federation office open again on a regular basis. The office is now open 9am-1pm Mondays and Wednesdays, plus for scheduled craft and training sessions.
Hello!
My name is Georgina Glynn, but you can call me George (just don’t tell my mum) and I am the newly-appointed secretary for the Middlesex Federation of Women’s Institutes.
So who am I? I’m a recently graduated financial economics student who managed to mix my love for food sustainability with my economic knowledge to obtain a very expensive piece of paper (otherwise known as a degree).
My love for the environment extends far beyond just studying it as I try do my small part everyday to help protect our wonderful planet.
Another passion I have is cooking. I love to experiment with recipes from around the world, to try and find the ultimate dinner menu. If I’m not in the kitchen, I’ll probably be participating or watching sports, in particular rugby. I am a huge rugby fan and am very excited for the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming up very soon.
I look forward to interacting with many of you, be it via the phone or by email and potentially meeting some of you in person, too.
Chair’s Chat – October 2022
Hello
I am writing this in the days following the funeral of our dear Queen, Elizabeth II.
What an awful shock her death was—I am sure none of us was expecting it; I think deep down we all felt that she would be there forever, guiding us with her quiet dedication. I am sure that we all agree that we will miss our fellow-member very much.
However, we must now look to the future with our new King Charles III and I know you will all join with me in sending him our deepest condolences and our good wishes for the future.
You will probably have seen that most of the events that National Office had planned for September were cancelled or postponed, including the annual celebrations for WI Day on 16th September. As soon as we have more information on the revised dates we will let you know.
As an extra thought, if you log in to MyWI on the National website, you will find lots of ideas for crafts and recipes in memory of Her Majesty, including a floral corsage and some Scottish shortbread with rose petals.
We have some good news to share: we now have a Secretary for County Office! It has taken a while, but we are sure that our new colleague, Georgina Glynn, will be an excellent addition to the team. Georgina has written a little bit about herself—see page 3. I know you will all welcome her to Middlesex Federation. The Office will now be open 9am-1pm on Monday and Wednesday, as well as for Craft Days and County training sessions.
At long last it feels like we are getting back to normal.
As we look towards the Autumn days, I wonder what your Wis will be doing.
Do you have a Halloween Coffee morning fundraiser planned? Do your walking groups brave the mist and frosts and keep going? Are your crafty ladies knitting or stitching wreaths and pumpkins? Do let us know – and don’t forget the photos!
We will soon be receiving the shortlist for next year’s Resolutions. Please look out for the information so that your WI can make your selection.
Kind regards
Angela
Chair’s Chat – September 2022
Hello
By the time this reaches you Summer will have peaked and we will probably be looking forward to the crisper days of Autumn.
I know that the Autumnal colours are beautiful and there is something special in the crisper morning air, but I really love the long days of Summer and will miss them when they’ve passed.
I have spent a quiet few weeks but I suppose it’s time now to get back to work!
I am sure that your WIs have had a busy Summer, do let us know what you have been up to—and don’t forget the photos! We love to include them in Middlesex News—it’s your magazine—do help us to fill it with interesting articles.
We are moving into the busy season for WI Annual meetings and our WI Advisers will be looking forward to coming to your meetings and seeing you all.
Can I ask you let them know if there is something you would like us to be doing for you—we are always open to new ideas and welcome your views.
Don’t forget it’s time to renew your shares in the 200+ Club. The cost remains at £6 and we have had lots of winners; but as they say, you have to be in it to win it!
Your Secretary will have a copy of the application form, so just fill it in and send your payment to Sarah and we will let you know your unique number(s). More information, including the application form, is here.
Finally, NFWI has let us know that next year’s Annual Meeting will be in Cardiff on 25 May 2023. Maybe we will see you there next year?
Kind regards
Angela
Middlesex News – September 2022
It’s been a busy summer for the Women’s Institutes across the Middlesex Federation. Read about what we’ve been up to in our September newsletter.
Platinum Jubilee reaches Hanwell
The Platinum Jubilee celebrations continued at Hanwell WI when we gathered together for a festive evening of fun and frivolity.
Keen gardeners amongst us planted a tub with a beautiful display of purple scabia and campanula which not only brightened up the area outside our hall but seemed to attract many bees too!
Next, we sat down to a splendid feast of homemade scones, clotted cream, jam and fresh strawberries along with a cup or two of tea.
A little later, Kim Broadbent, our President and one-time quizmaster tested our knowledge on all things royal. It’s amazing how much we found we didn’t know! Before too long, it was time to go home. We had had a most enjoyable and memorable evening!
Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Sunbury
On the afternoon of Saturday 21st May 2022, Sunbury Village and Sunbury on Thames WIs hosted a Platinum Jubilee Tea Party in partnership with Sunbury Neighbours for local elderly residents.
The event was held at St Mary’s Parish hall, volunteers from both WIs baked, dress tables, decorated the hall, made sandwiches, served the tables and chatted to the guests.
A huge thanks goes to Shelagh Bonnichon (Sunbury Village WI member) who was a total star planning and co-ordinating the whole event, including linking in with Sunbury Neighbours and all the volunteers.
NFWI ACM 2022 – we went to Liverpool!
Another successful AGM with our NFWI Chair, Ann Jones hosting around 3,000 women; some at the Liverpool Conference and some on Zoom. As we know as she settles in to her role, she is always calm, excited and smiley and leads with a positive vibe and her lovely Welsh accent!
Our Honorary Treasurer Jeryl Stone reminded all to try to get Gift Aid from your subscriptions and also ‘please mention leaving a legacy for WI in wills’.
We then heard from the Federation Chairman of the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland, Margaret Broome, who told us about splitting their 90th birthday celebrations in to nine separate events across the region.
Anne Kerr, President of the Scottish Women’s Institutes, talked about having COP-26 coming there and highlighted the SWI’s own campaigns for change and transformation.
Kate Garbers, founder of the anti-slavery organisation Unseen gave an excellent talk on Modern Slavery and the fact that in UK nationals make up a large proportion of the victims. Safe houses, help-lines, professional counselling etc can all be offered once a victim is identified – we need to learn the signs of this happening and Public Affairs holds support materials for your own WI. You can ring the Police (101) or Crime Stoppers too. There are dedicated helplines – this is happening all over the UK in so many forms. Anti-Slavery Day is on 18 October.
Our Guest Speaker was Sarah Clarke OBE, Black Rod, the first female Black Rod in 650 years. Moving on from managing major events career as Championship Director Wimbledon gave Sarah all the leadership tools needed for her new role.
She said that she hardly ever gives talks but knowing WI members herself, she knew she would have to accept this request!
Again, enthusiasm for the role and calmness and dedication gave her huge success at Wimbledon and to work on many other major events which carries her forward in her role today. She was most inspiring.
All of us will have considered and discussed and read our resolution on ASD/ADHD in women and girls. it was the alternative viewpoint that we maybe did not know about and an excellent talk was given discussing dependence on drugs/categorisation is not the key/remove diagnosis as a gatekeeper/lack of support services/long waiting lists and whether support is given to the right level of need of each individual. It was a brave ‘against’ but the audience gave huge credence to the points raised and learnt about how Devon authorities are trying new ways of approaching the diagnosis and level of needs of girls.
The 2022 resolution was carried by 96% and your own votes were cast as you requested.
Middlesex News – July-August 2022
Women’s Institutes across our Federation have been oh so busy with spring things – and lots of super colourful and fun Jubilee activity – which is great to read about!
See our stories in the July-August Newsletter here.