acwwsouthwest UK: March 2009

Monday, 30 March 2009

Blog from the East

(Please note I do not think it was the actual blog below that crashed my computer - it was one of the (gadgets) attachments to it that caused the problem). Since I re-loaded my computer I have been into it with no problems!!) It is good to read Shamsiah's news.

Why not check out this blog from Shamsiah Latif of Brunei? http://acwwseatfe.blogspot.com/
- more news about ACWW for us all. If a lot of area's had Blogs we could all keep up-to-date with news from all over the world.

NB: There are also lots of web sites on the ACWW main site that are certainly worth looking at as well.

Sunday, 22 March 2009

29th April - ACWW Day - Somerset info

Somerset planning events locally - Binegar WI holding Soup lunch in the Memorial Hall 12-00 - 1.30pm. There will be a display and laptop running info'. If you want to attend - contact Eileen or Kath. Other events planned but mindful of carbon footprint not running large central event. There will be displays at two Roadshows planned in the county and a lucky 80th year draw!!

Thursday, 19 March 2009

ACWW Concert Day in London in Smith Square

Excellent concert at St John's, Smith Square - excellent clarinet (fancy he teaches at a school 6 miles from my house!!!) Whoops better look out for him playing in Wells Cathedral!!! Pianist great as well. Enjoyed lunch with lots of familiar faces. Anphia says she will collect items (beads, material, items etc) for our Somerset ' Spotlight on Africa' day 22 June - anyone else - contact me for details about the day. Collected more leaflets from Jan and gave in postings!!

Great to have a chat with old friends. Wonder how many will be coming to Arkansas? Couldn't see all the hands raised when Margaret Cadzow asked, 'who was attending'. Certain things stick in the mind, Anphia said: '£1 is not a lot over here but in S Africa it will buy 3 loaves!!!' also she suggested giving memberships as birthday presents for family or friends - good idea!!! Not sure of the response tho' from my girls!!

Monday, 16 March 2009

Sutton Poyntz Village WI 'held a 'Posh Frocks' Wine and Cheese Party

Valerie Stevens, ACWW supporter and WI President reports:
Fifty members and friends enjoyed a‘Musical Soirée’ in the Mission
Hall on 11th March and, in doing so, raised approximately £400 for
the project fund of Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).
Entertained by a flute trio led by Sandy Easton and a group of close
harmony singers from Upwey and sustained by a wonderful spread
of far more than wine and cheese, the evening provided an
opportunity to join with WI members from Wyke Regis, Overcombe,
and Preston-cum-Sutton Poyntz institutes. (sold another history book)

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Cheltenham Ladies Day - Report from Janice Langley

Photo in the Parade ring - from the left, Margaret Clarke, Chair GFWI, Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham Racecourse,

Ursula Goh, World President ACWW, Anphia Grobler, World Treasurer and Ian McConchie General Secretary of ACWW.

The weather was very kind to us on Thursday 12th March at Cheltenham Ladies Day racemeeting. It was dry and reasonably warm and a great day - Alison (Bayley) and I were absolutely shattered by the end of the day and were pleased to have Ian (McConchie) there at the end of the day to carry the money to the banking station for us! We were also blessed with a group of magnificent helpers, better known as "bucket collecters"! who were strategically placed at the entrances and exit to the racecourse to relieve the punters of as much money as possible.

I think the ACWW World President enjoyed her day especially as she was taken to the Royal Box and was able to watch a race from there - got there before the Queen who went on Friday. She was also taken into the winners enclosure and met the lady trainer of the winning horse. I don't think I'm expressing myself very well but there should be a good write up and pictures in WI Life and The Countrywoman magazine.

PS: comment from Somerset - I'm glad the weather was good - it was foul on Mendip - drizzle rain and mist all day!! I left good weather in the Weymouth area that morning and feared the outcome at the racecourse but delighted to hear that the day went well and was dry too. Sorry I couldn't make it - it seems a great day - love the outfit Margaret!!

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Musical Soiree in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset

Stayed with Valerie for this event. Thanks to George found her house very easily. Lovely little hall - very cosy - lots of friendly ladies. Three flautists played background music for the first part of the evening whilst much chatter ensued. Delicious supper. Then toasting followed by 'The Ladies of the Lawns' who were a most refreshing 'Barber shop' group of 5 young girls. A very 'different' evening was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to Valerie and the ladies of Sutton Poyntz WI.

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

Cheltenham Ladies Day

Good luck to the ladies of Gloucester and ACWW collection team - hope the weather holds.

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Dorset WIs at WAND Day

Esme and other members will be running a stall(s) at the WAND Day to be held at Sturminster Newton on 7th March. Could be interesting. WAND = Women Action Network Dorset - sponsored by the NHS, and Local Authorities - a social group for lonely women who have moved into villages. Glad to see Dorset are taking notice - these could be potential WI members especially when the funding runs out for WAND.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

26th ACWW Triennial Meeting in the USA

For: ACWW South West Supporters Group

Hi - everyone - this blog is for you to have your say on future events within the group area of Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Your comments and events will add to the interest of this blog.
NB: If you click on the smaller pictures in the main part of the blog they do get larger!!! Handy to see a few more details!! Sometimes it doesn't work - but give it a go anyway!!
2nd meeting due to take place on 18th May 2009 at Taunton - just gathering names of those who can attend. 3 speakers booked!!

Now we have polo shirts and sweatshirts

Well the polo-shirts were given an airing at the European Area Conference - where they caused quite a lot of comments. Also some were worn at Wincanton (see Valerie our 1st speaker) thanks for that, Valerie, Esme, Mary, Roma. If you would like one - contact Somerset ACWW Rep at County office or email at eileen.hurd@btinternet.com. They are for anyone who wants to support ACWW in the South West.

The sweatshirts have been delivered - they are comfy - but probably too hot to wear at a conference!!!

Merja Siltanen, European Area President and May Kidd, Deputy President

Merja (on the left in the Countrywoman front page shown below) chaired the recent ACWW Conference in Southampton. Merja with the help of Terhi ran an excellent event which was much enjoyed by all. Although, English is not Merja's mother tongue - she is from Finland, the conference ran very smoothly.

May Kidd was also present and a great support to us all. She is an excellent Deputy President and was able to help us through the complexities of resolutions, and recommendations. Her musical sessions were an added bonus and also added to the several collections for Pennies for Friendship held during the conference.

Mrs Madge Watt

The founder of the WI in Wales, followed by England and Scotland. Madge was then one of the founders of ACWW - she was the person who wrote 'Associated Country Women of the World' on the blackboard at the meeting in 1933 in Stockholm. Initial plans to start this worldwide association, although in Madge's mind from 1919, were discussed at the meeting in 1927 in Geneva and then were agreed on April 30th 1929 at the International Conference of Rural Women held in London.

1929 is considered the date when this association really 'started' - it was just that the name we recognise today came later. Three ladies were influential in the start of ACWW - Lady Aberdeen, Miss Elsie Zimmern and Mrs Madge Watt. (see more about this in the ACWW History Book - available for £5 from ACWW HQ).

NB: Did you know that near the Peace Bridge between Canada and the USA, near Niagara, there is a brass plaque on a stone in a garden which is a memorial of friendship? The plaque marks the crossing from the USA into Canada of a delegation from ACWW and is dedicated to rural women of that continent dated: Peace Bridge, June 12, 1936. Mrs Alfred (Madge) Watt, BME, MA, co-founder and first president of ACWW dedicated this plaque at a ceremony at the centre of the Peace Bridge on June 16 1936. It was accepted by representatives of the New York State Federation of Home Bureaux and the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada on the occasion of the 1936 Washington DC Conference of ACWW.

With the cooperation of The Niagara Parks Commission, this plaque was re-dedicated during the 23rd Triennial Conference of ACWW held in Hamilton, Ontario in June of 2001.

Turku 2007 - the last World Triennial Meeting

The flags are paraded 'in and out' at the beginning and end of this meeting. They are carried by the host country in national costume and make a wonderful and colourful display. There are approximately 365 Member societies in over70 countries. Each society has its own customs and runs its own meetings BUT they all come together to work internationally for the benefit of rural communities all over the world.

The next Triennial Meeting in 2010 will be held in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the 2013 meeting is scheduled for ShenYang, China.

(No picture - many have been 'wiped' from the blog - the penalties of a free blog I suppose!!)

Jackie Gregory, ACWW Speaker

Jackie spoke to us at the SW Supporters Group first meeting in Taunton on 30th June. Jackie told us about her visits to the Gambia (monitoring an ACWW project) and about her own work sending garments, sewing machines etc to a village. She specialises in making jam and brought some to sell on the day. It was delicious and we enjoyed it with scones and cream after lunch. Originally, the money from selling the jam (£1,000 a year) was used to pay for transport of items to the Gambia BUT now the money goes to ACWW as Jackie's own 10yr project has been completed. (Goodness me how many lbs of jam makes £1,000?) Certainly a full time job!!! Well done Jackie.

The picture below shows Jackie during a talk in Hereford at an ACWW lunch organised by Brenda Drake to raise funds for ACWW.

Vanilla Farm

One of Somerset's Projects was involved with starting a Vanilla Farm in Uganda. This picture shows the beans growing on the vines and some of the farmers involved. (I don't know if our Farm is prolific yet - it sometimes takes up to 3 years before the first flowers appear - also the flowers have to be fertilised manually - unless some African bees have adopted them)! Vanilla originally came from Mexico and the flowers were fertilised by the Meliponna bee. Vanilla was known as Uganda's Green Gold at one stage, as the profits from good crops were excellent. In some areas the beans are branded to protect them - even when shrunken during harvesting the brands are still visible. The vanilla vines improve with age rather like grape vines in vineyards.

Alison and Somerset

Alison and I met years ago whilst on our WIA training course. She was already very involved with ACWW and I had been an ACWW (non-active) member for years. Later, because of this interest (I was also ACWW Rep for Somerset at this stage) I was invited to a lunch in Gwent. I really enjoyed the speaker and decided to book her (Anna Boshoff from S Africa) for a lunch in Somerset (subject to the support of BOT). Unfortunately, as the lunch date approached Anna could not travel due to ill-health - so Alison stood in.

Alison is co-founder, with Kathleen Martin, of the ACWW Wales Supporters Team and both encouraged me to start an ACWW South West Supporters Group. I travelled with them to Turku and they have proved great friends. I have been to several lunches and meetings in Wales and thanks to them my knowledge of ACWW friendship has expanded.

In Turku we (Alison, Kathleen, Therese and I) stayed in a hotel with many women from Eastern Europe. It is thanks to some of these European ladies that I have managed to make some penfriend links in Europe.