News – Hope you are enjoying your bumper issue of the Devon News; it is full of events, competitions and useful information as well as the lovely photos of what you have all been up to this year. Now that we have a few regular advertisers we hope to keep going with eight pages, as we were finding the 4 pages rather restrictive and we want to be able to include your photos too.
Show Don’t Tell. We are lucky enough to have two NFWI Trustees coming to this ‘Opportunities for All’ event, which will be held at Longdown on Saturday 10 February 2018. Whether you are a new member or a longstanding member, this is your chance to find out what really goes on at the National level and also at the Federation level as all of the Federation Trustees will be there too and the Subcommittee Chairmen, with plenty to show you. We are hoping to make this a day with plenty of fun and facts and of course food, as lunch will be provided by the Foods Crafts and Skills subcommittee. Enclosure is with your Secretary and closing date is 31 December – don’t miss out!
Resolution Short List. If you weren’t able to go to one of the Special Resolution meetings you can still get plenty of information on all of the shortlisted resolutions in November WI Life, where you will also find your resolution selection form. MyWI also provides briefing notes, power presentations, online quizzes and links to short films and videos so you can organise your own Resolution meeting if you so wish.
Remember member selections need to reach the DFWI office by 9 Feb 2018.
Christmas Floral Art Step-by-Step Guides. The next set of guides from NFWI Food and Garden Committee are on MyWI. You too can now make a Christmas swag or a Christmas garland with these easy instructions. In the Craft section you will find patterns for fabric advent cottages, a perfect use of those small scraps of material we all seem to have filling up drawers and cupboards!
Do keep checking MyWI, the content changes all the time and is getting better and better.
Spring Council Meeting Hope you spotted the full page spreadin the Devon News and details of this year’s main speaker; a truly inspirational woman, paralympian, Martine Wright MBE. We have also decided to change the day around a little and have given you a longer lunch break so that you can enjoy and participate in some new hands-on activities. More details in the New Year with the enclosure and Agenda.
As you know this will be my last Spring Council Meeting as your Chairman. We had a few ‘Cuthberts’ at the first SCM and a few more at the second. I was trying to think of something different for you all to bring, but whilst looking at some of the original photos of the Annual meetings at the Albert Hall I thought why don’t we all wear hats? It can be fancy or plain, big or small, a scarf, a beret, whatever you like. It would make such a terrific photo. Do join me in this bit of fun to finish off my term.
Red Cross Project in Plymouth. If anyone is interested in a project aimed at helping and supporting individuals who are socially isolated, low in confidence or lonely, please contact Megan Edwards, a Community Connector and Co-ordinator of the project at MeganEdwards@redcross.org.uk for more information.
2020 Forward Planning. Thank you to the WIs who have already forwarded some interesting ideas, please keep them coming.
Merry Christmas and Thanks I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Federation continues to thrive due to your continuing support and enthusiasm. Also a big thankyou to the Board of Trustees, Subcommittee members, the WI Advisers and the Office staff for all their hard work this year.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can next year.
With my Best wishes
Entries will be displayed at the Spring Council Meeting on 18 April 2018, having been previously judged. Closing date 9 March 2018. Application form with your WI Secretary, and competition rules on our website: https://www.thewi.org.uk/…/struc…/england/devon/competitions
