September Newsletter

In mid August, ten of our lovely members, some new and some who have been regulars for a few years, met to help plan the whole of 2012. It's the first time we've planned a year like that and it was great. Once again we threw aside the WI official speakers list.... hopefully you’ll love what we have planned! Just need to confirm the presenters now, so watch this space.

Happily, we can already confirm that the wonderfully talented Gaynor Ringland, a mixed media artist with whom we made a flock of lovely little felt birdie brooches earlier this year, will be coming back next year to help us create more beautiful objects using the nicest fabrics, paper and bits and bobs. 

Before that though, Gaynor is keen to start a local monthly craft club (for grown ups!) as well as put on kids crafting workshops in the 2011 Halloween Half Term and future school holidays. She is planning them now and would love to get an idea of numbers / days / times so please do contact her to express an interest in any of the above via gaynor.ringland@btinternet.com.

And if you missed our recent pottery experience, or want to get your hands dirty again, you might be interested in a session or two at the Ginger Piggery Boyton. Vicky Whelpton, a familiar face from past WI meetings, runs regular classes at her studio in Boyton and has also suggested that WI members might be interested in an evening session at the workshop to have a go at making. Contact krukkerceramics@hotmail.com for more.

And so, the Wylye Women invite you to our next meeting…

This summer why not read a book by local Devizes author Frances Garrood, in preparation for meeting her on Wednesday September 7th. Frances was runner up in the Richard and Judy "How to Get Published" competition, and has since been successfully published by Macmillan, so any budding novelists might like to take notes!

(Please note: the September meeting starts at the earlier time of 7:30 as we are also welcoming a representative from The Samaritans Purse who will be outlining their wonderful annual Operation Christmas Child gift-box scheme.)

See you there,

Lyndsey and the WI Lite Committee x

Love Your Libraries!

The Women's Institute is always actively campaigning on a national level. The latest issue the whole WI are tackling is library closures with our Love Your Library campaign. 

There are a few things you can do to support this campaign:


Carry your library card with pride! At the heart of the campaign is the belief that libraries are essential resources that are too important to risk losing. That's why we're calling on every member that cares about public libraries to take the simple first step of joining your local library and getting to know your local librarians.


Your local libraries are:  Warminster Library, Westbury Library, Calne Library & Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Frome Library,Trowbridge Library, Wilton Library, Salisbury Library, Corsham Library, Bath Central Library (The Podium), Gillingham Library, Chippenham Library, Corsham Library


All have more than just books. Rent DVDs, Audiobooks, CDs, go in for a coffee and read the paper, do a sewing course or learn a new skill to add to your CV.


Sign the petition! Before the last election, the Prime Minister, David Cameron MP said he planned to introduce a scheme whereby any petition that raised 100,000 signatures would trigger a debate in the House of Commons. The NFWI wants to call on the PM to honour this commitment and we'd like to see every member sign our petition with their family and friends to demonstrate just how much the WI really values our libraries.

The WI have just launched an online version of the petition, on the Government's new e-petitions website, so please do go to the link below and sign, and pass on to friends and family. 

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1269

Write to your councillors Individuals and WI groups can make an impact. Please use the information in the campaign briefing,  to write to your local councillor highlighting the Love Your Library campaign, and expressing the importance of libraries to your local community.You can find contact details for your local councillor via this website http://www.writetothem.com/.

Here is the NFWI say about the campaign:

Do remember to localise your letter - if you know that libraries are under threat then please do incorporate this information, and any feedback from members about the impact service reductions would have on them.

It is also important that we establish a picture of the proposals for closures and changes to library services in all areas, so please do ask what plans the council has for changes to library services in your area. If the council has already published plans, then please ask for an update and feed this information back to the WI Public Affairs Department.

What did we do in August?

This month was New Members Night for WI Lite, and some lovely new faces joined our members on a hot and humid summer night for a real taste of what WI Lite is all about. Chef Jude and Liz from Riverford Organics Wiltshire cooked some tasty recipes with lots of seasonal vegetables. Our members ably assisted in the preparation- we all want a gadget like Donna had for chopping tomatoes!- And we heard the history behind Riverford's successful Box Scheme and the provenance of the produce. There was also lots of opportunity for catching up and making new friends afterwards as we tasted all we'd made. 

This summer we are all reading the books by local Devizes author Frances Garrood (check out the great  reviews on Amazon) in preparation for meeting her on Wednesday September 7th.  (Please note the Sept meeting starts at the earlier time of 7:30 as we are also welcoming a representative from The Samaritans Purse who will be outlining their wonderful annual Operation Christmas Child gift-box scheme. )

Enjoy the hols!

August Newsletter

July saw the WI Liters finishing their last of 3 clay workshops, funded by a PAWS grant. The group has thoroughly enjoyed spending time with talented and eager potter Geraldine Francis. As well as getting covered in clay, we have each discovered our inner artist. Geraldine is bringing back our finished wall plaques, bird baths and decorative dishes at our August meeting and everyone will be able to see what we’ve been up to.

             

We also had a fabulous day out at Sutton Veny Flower Show on July 9th raising valuable funds for future meetings, as well as profile raising and reaching out to new members. Lots of lovely ladies came over to say hello and we look forward to greeting them at our upcoming meetings.

So with that in mind - Wednesday 3^rd August is Riverford Organics and NEW MEMBERS night-  All welcome!

Chef Jude will be cooking with seasonal fruit and vegetables.  As well as the opportunity to assist and taste everything, you’ll hear the history behind Riverford's successful Box scheme, and the provenance of the produce.  8pm Sutton Veny Village Hall, please bring an apron, knife and chopping board!

September: Devizes Author Frances Garrood-

(You might like to read one of her books this summer before we meet her- 5 *  reviews on Amazon!)

October: Lebanese Cooking with Waafa

November: Home Made Christmas Cards

December: Wreath Making & Festive Fun!

Until then, love and gooseberry jam,

Lyndsey and the WI Lite Committee x

Welcome to our World!

Welcome to the new Wylye Women WI Lite blog. From this month we have decided to change to a new blog style website. It will still have all the usual information, what's on, what's been happening and how to get involved.

We will also be publishing our monthly newsletters here and anything else which we think might be of interest to all of you. We welcome any feedback from you on this new format and any suggestions of what content you might like to see included. If you have a google account you can also comment on individual posts. Just click on the comment button at the bottom.