Pass the Panda!

Shall we join in with this at our next meeting? Bring your Pandas along! 

The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes)

22 hrs · 

In the run-up to WWF’s Earth Hour campaign on 19 March, they have launched a #PassThePanda social media campaign, asking people to tweet a selfie with a panda and pass it on!

The WI was selected as the first recipients of one of their special pandas, and this photo shows Laura the panda with the NFWI Public Affairs committee.

Laura is now going on a journey with WI members to Norfolk, Huntingdon and Peterborough, Jersey, and Denman, and possibly even with an ACWW representative to another country…so keep watching for more WI #PassThePanda selfies!

You can find out more information about Earth Hour and #PassThePanda here:

http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/earth-hour/
http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/will-you-passthepanda-2/…

Information from our County Chair's message board

Chairman's Message Board - March 2016

WI visits to the Firs 
We are now in a position to receive members at The Firs to see the new County House, however we have to be careful not to disrupt the office work too much so the visits will have to be spread across the year and avoid obvious busy times. If your WI would like to visit can you please email the office and provide a couple of alternative dates. Please bear in mind that there are over 200 WIs in Devon and only 192 working days available in a 12 month period so you will need to be flexible and patient. We will also be considering evening visits in the summer but they will need a little more organising as this will be out of working hours.
  
Devon County Council –Emergency Planning Team
This Team need volunteers to: 
     -   support people when an emergency arises
     -   support evacuated people and ensure Rest Centres are open to 
         provide shelter, warmth and refreshments
     -   join crisis support teams

They hope to start some Rest Centre Training shortly so if you think you might be interested in helping contact them directly, either 

via the emergency planning coordinator on 01392 382 401 
or 
restcentretraining-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

You can also find out more about the DCC Emergency Planning Team at the Autumn Council Meeting in Barnstaple on Wednesday 12th October 2016, as one of their members will be there as an invited speaker.

- See more at: https://www.thewi.org.uk/become-a-member/structure-of-the-wi/england/devon/chairmans-message-board#sthash.G3uA77gP.dpuf

Paper marbling with shaving foam...

...today at the Lytehouse was messy, fun with very varied results! We had plenty of room to spread out our efforts as only a few people came along. 

Next time we will be iris folding. 

in-Visible exhibition to be staged by Totnes WI in April

Totnes WI is staging an exhibition at Birdwood House, Totnes from 18 - 23 April. 

"Society's perceptions of women as they mature can be negative, and we want people to think again before dismissing 'ladies of a certain age'who should be cherished and not made to feel invisible or embarrassed about growing older", said Lili John.

There will be artwork, photographs and some workshops.

It sounds interesting - does anyone fancy a trip over there? 

An idea for any knitters? Royal Devon and Exeter hospital has requested some of these...

Derbyshire Federation Of Women's Institutes added a photo to their Facebook page

February 15 at 10:35pm · 

Bretby WI members were set the challenge of producing 100 twiddle muffs for the dementia ward at Queen's Hospital, Burton. Tonight the craft group had assembled the 103 which had been knitted/crocheted and sewn ready to be handed over to the hospital staff. Well done! 

WI Resolutions for 2016

2016 Annual Meeting Resolutions

Every year members propose, and select, resolutions that could form the basis for NFWI campaigns and activity. Just under 100,000 members have taken part in the 2016 selection process so far. Over 40,000 members backed the following two resolutions. They will both now go forward to a vote at the Annual Meeting in Brighton on 11 June.

Avoid food waste, address food poverty

The WI calls on all supermarkets to sign up to a voluntary agreement to avoid food waste, thereby passing surplus food on to charities thus helping to address the issue of increasing food poverty in the UK.

Appropriate care in hospitals for people with dementia

We call upon HM Government and the NHS to provide facilities to enable carers to stay with people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia that have been admitted into hospital.

- See more at: https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/resolutions-and-mandates#sthash.rGTLGJI4.dpuf

Forthcoming events

Craft: shaving foam marbling! 

Tuesday 23 Feb, 2 - 4pm at the Lytehouse community rooms in Bolton Street

Bring: newspaper, kitchen roll, large flat tray or biscuit tin lid, food colouring or paints, cheap shaving foam, ruler or palette knife and shiny card.

Craft: silk painting 

Saturday 16 April, all day at the Lytehouse. Details at our next meeting, cost £12.50

This course is full; you may wish to add your name in case someone drops out. Another course will run if there are enough people.

Look in your edition of Devon County News for details of Dart Bay (and other county) craft events.

Spring Council Meeting: Wednesday 13 April, Torquay £11.50? All day

Social: it's not too late to join the pudding club! An afternoon in early June (date to be arranged) at the Corben Head Hotel, where we shall listen to a talk, drink tea and eat puddings! (Bliss?)

Christmas (sorry about introducing the C word in February) craft fair visit to Wells in Somerset: £16.50 to include coach fare and entry to the Bishop's Palace. November 4, all day. We need to fill the coach, so please ask friends! Coach fare only for those wishing to visit the wonderful city of Wells, is £10.

Our February meeting: very busy and successful!

We heard all about the Rowcroft Hospice and their wonderful work with patients, families and friends. 

The sale table was very busy this month!

Our President, Mary told us of exciting plans for future events, so everyone was busy noting down the dates.

Today was the last meeting for Ellie, one of our longest standing members. Mary presented her with the beautiful flower arrangement by Marilyn, which adorned the President's table during the meeting.

Important information about the resolutions

A very sociable lunch

.....was enjoyed today at The Bullers Arms by our drama group. Plenty of people turned up, although we missed Elly and Sheila who are both unwell just now. The food was good, the surroundings convivial and the company excellent! 

A Devon Federation date for the diary

Wednesday 13th April is the Spring Council Meeting at the Riviera Centre in Torquay. 

The speaker is Benjamin Mee, writer and actor from 'I Bought a Zoo' 

It promises to be another excellent day; it costs £11.50 and the closing date is 18th March.