MAY 2024 Newsletter
Three pleas from the Committee – remember this is YOUR WI so
- Please share any ideas for a fundraiser, a fellowship meeting, a speaker whom you would recommend, somewhere to visit locally, somewhere different for a coffee morning, a good film to watch or what we could do for the Christmas Tree this year etc.
- if you have anything which could be a raffle prize at the monthly meeting, please could you let Denise Gee have them
please support the WI raffle – Jen Harper is selling tickets for this.
Report to members
The Quiz held on 12th April was a huge success and made a profit of near nigh £700. Well done to everyone who contributed to the success of the evening but no more so than to Steve and Sue Pennells – who compiled all the questions and marked all the papers. Thank you to both of them
The visit to The Police Museum in Faversham was a lovely morning for those members who attended, followed by lunch in the Square in Faversham. It was a successful informative and social morning. Thank you to Angela for organising it.
Not all members have been receiving their WI Life magazine – pl let Angela know if this is a problem for you. To note it is possible to get an audio version of WI Life – if that would be a bonus for you pl let Angela know.
The WI is launching into the world of Podcasts – watch this space and please remember to look at what is available on the WI Learning Hub – free and accessible to all. Just register to receive weekly updates about the huge range of activities available.
Are you a sewer (someone who sews things not where all our discarded water etc goes!) I f so , would you be interested in auditioning for the BBC’s Sewing Bee – they are welcoming WI members,. Please let Angela know.
2025 WI diaries are available at £7.00 – please let Dilys know if you would like to order one.
A huge welcome to Tina, our new member who joined us at this meeting and to her friend, Emma who attended as a guest.
Finally many thanks to this month’s hostesses – Lynne, Julie and Barbara.
Planned Meetings / Speakers
May’s Meeting was a discussion on this year’s WI Resolution – Dental Health Matters. Members listened to updated information that Angela and Marcelle gleaned from them attending the EKFWI resolution webinars with the British Dental Association and the Nuffield Trust. The aim is for the Government to acknowledge the difficulties many people have accessing a dentist in their area and for them to increase investment in this area to address this. Members voted unanimously to support the resolution and to give our delegate, Angela discretion should it be needed. In addition, a huge thank you to everyone who brought to this meeting dental products for families in financial difficulties. These have been forwarded to the foodbank and were very well received. To note it is also National Smile Month from 13 May to 13 June so ‘LOVE YOUR SMILE’. PS I won’t be doing this as I’ve lost a front tooth and my dentist has been on holiday, came back for a day and has now gone off sick!
June’s meeting is on 6th when the speaker will be Bill Best from The Bredgar and Wormshill Railway and hostesses will be Elaine, Tuula and Diana.
Heads up for January – just in case you spot that ideal item – a fish and chip supper is planned with a challenge to wear something bought in a charity shop for less that £10.00
And in October, we are planning an afternoon of Strictly Fitness – keeping fit by dancing a waltz, a tango or a samba or… and the best bit is – no partners are needed!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
| 16 May | 7:30 at Light Cinema Sittingbourne to watch 42nd Street, a screening from a production at The Theatre Royal, London |
| 21 May | Brunch at Oad Street 10:00am |
| 24 May | Auditions Event – an opportunity to hear potential speakers – at United Reform Church 9:30 – 1:00 |
| 1, 2, 8 & 9 June | Rebecca has an Art Open Day at her home in Wormshill |
| 5 June | National Federation Annual Meeting at The Royal Albert Hall – both Angela and Eileen are nominated delegates but if anyone would like to attend as an observer, tickets are available – please let Angela know. |
| 15 June | Lunch at the Red Lion – Milstead |
| 24 June | In house craft day at The EKFWI office at Pean Hill |
| 15 July | New Age Kurling – at Chartham. An introduction to Kurling – NOT ON ICE! £14. Please sign the list on the board. |
| 17 July | Trip to The Worthing Chapel – please sign the list on the board |
| 30 July | Beth Chatto Gardens, historically significant gardens in Colchester, Essex created in 1960. If you listened to gardener Dan Pearson’s Desert Island Discs this weekend you will have heard him extoling the virtues of these gardens. Please sign the list on the board. |
| 27 Sept | Top Team Quiz at Chartham Village Hall 6:45 for a 7:15 start. – names to Angela please |
| 9 Nov | Pottery painting in Faversham. Timing to be confirmed £5 plus cost of whatever you choose to paint. Names to Angela please |
| 29 Nov | Celebration of Motown at The Mercure Hotel (Great Danes) Hollingbourne 10:15 – 3:00pm |
| Dates to be determined | Greek Night at the Murston Heart Hub
First Aid Training |
Phone Numbers if needed to book above:-
Angela – 07729 828959
Claire – 07502 370550
And finally, if you have a chance, do read the article from our own Eileen Harrison on her 50 years in the WI. It is in this month’s newsletter and is excellent. Well done, Eileen.