Latest ACWW news

Lots of info from ACWW HQ including latest copy of the Countrywoman which is very interesting.  There is an account of the 'House of Lords' event plus the write up of Binegar's Iceland Day..

Also received Projects Update - Anphia visited the Somerset Project - she has photo's and will send over.

Women Walk the World

2012 so successful - this will be repeated in 2013 and then taken to conference for next steps!!

15th October - United Nations day for Rural Women

Nicky and Sali to attend 'House of Lords' NAWO/ACWW conference today.  Looking forward to receiving their impressions.

Well Nicky got there as pictures will prove - BUT poor Sali tripped over 'something' crashed to the pavement on her forehead - got scooped up by the police on duty outside the House of Parliament and sent by taxi for 3 hrs for a scan at the local hospital.  She got home by Berry's coach but she says she looks like at aubergine - so near as well.

Nicky has done a report but felt more publicity could have been achieved at the meeting hopefully pictures will be added later.

3rd October

Whole Pand P meeting on Skype - what a difficult connection!!   Heard everyone BUT accents difficult.  Had to resort to typing comments which sometimes came 'too late' for the  conversation.  Whole thing quite a strain - despite sitting here all day - glad to be involved tho' without the drive/train/walk effort.

Alison has updated us:  'Women Walk the World' to be repeated next year and then discussed at Conference in 2013 in Chennai.  Tagline more or less decided - left with Exec to fine-tune - wonder what adviser will think!!!

Update in September

Well our 1st August day made £685.66 (included 26 sun-visors).   How fantastic - money all sent to ACWW.    Have since received two more 'healthy' donations from Wells and Cheddar WIs - so now stand at over £2,055.  Our project is £2400 - can we finish it this year!!

Received updated 2010 constitution from ACWW also notice of intended meeting to be held on 15th October at the House of Lords subject:  'What universal rights do rural women share?' 

This is a joint event with NAWO chair Baroness Verma.   The UN's Comision on the Status of Women in March 2012 focussed on the needs and status of rural women globally.  Members states failed to reach an overall conclusion.

Trying to write a tagline - not easy - going to take it to my meeting tomorrow at WL for them to tweek!!    Perhaps!!   Received new constitution - will attempt to read before next meeting.

Update - never got to that meeting - TIA - spent 36 hours in hospital been recuperating - hence lack of input - imagine   - good job we don't know the future!!

1st August - ACWW / Iceland Day

Well approx 80 people came. We had ACWW Reps from Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Worcester, W. Midlands and Surrey and a lot of WI members from Somerset. The speakers, Valerie Stevens, Kay Trippick spoke about Belarus, Mary Andrews told us about the 2013 Triennial in Chennai India and Jackie about the 2016 Triennial in England sponsors W. Midlands Federation.

Our afternoon speaker was Bob Chaplow from Wantage an eminent geologist talking about his holiday with his wife  in Iceland - luckily his wife was able to attend as well. Day went well according to most attendees. Money not counted yet but the result seems fairly positive.

Wiltshire Rep gave us a preview of a resolution they hope to send to ACWW HQ for inclusion at the Triennial.

Our members did a wonderful job of help - to name but a few, Ruth, Chris, Doreen, Moira, who were busy all day assisted by Sue who came in for 1/2hr before the start plus helped in afternoon and  Kath, Molly who helped where they could.  I think I've mentioned them all - thanks so much.

Wiltshire India Day 26th July/ Hampshire India Day 3rd Ocober

Am booked to go to this day - have to take daughter to airport first - so will miss first couple of speakers - hope to get there by about 11.30pm and pay on door.   Should be really interesting.    Really enjoyed the day - a lady arranged 'Indian 'Bollywoodl' dancing which was great fun - followed by an Indian takeaway lunch - yum.    In the afternoon we heard about the Teem Tree Trust - not a dry eye in the house after seeing a short film on school sports and seeing the brave attempts of the crippled boys.   A thoroughly fascinating day - many thanks to Susan Jonas who told me about the plans - I was delighted to be able to join in.

Mary Andrews updated us on this.

NB: 
3rd October India Day in Hampshire - will be at P&P in London - but will advertise at 1st August day.

Still working out how to turn this  around but it shows the lovely bright costume!  Many members joined in the dancing or just the hand movements!!

1st August update

Well - good news - we have over 50 people booked into this day now.    Latest Countrywoman shows more 'Women Walk the World' news AND my board has pictures that people have sent me from Somerset plus some Worldwide ones from the ACWW website.

Looking forward to the day.  We have 3 members from Wiltshire, 1 from Worcester, 1 from Devon - apologies from Cornwall, Avon, Glos.   This date was risky being mid somer and some people are on holiday - but I thought some might want to avoid constant sport and it's really excellent that so many agreed with this idea - Cheers everyone!

New NFWI ACWW Rep

The new Rep is Maggie Simons of Wiltshire - invited her to our day at Binegar BUT she has another meeting.   Maggie is well known in Somerset she used to be our Treasurer before she moved.

1st August - ACWW day on Belarus/ACWW/Iceland

Well the halls booked - the speakers are booked - got orders for 5 tickets so far - just have to wait with baited breath for bookings.  Some word of mouth support - tickets ready - it's over to members now!!

Still living dangerously - Valerie and George booked, Mary to update us re: India,  Iceland speaker booked - oh where are my supporters ...................................   watch this space - could be more after Monday!!

No's going up slowly - may be a 'select' group!!

'Wizzing Round Britain' by Zippy Nomad

Just got my copy of this book.   It's really interesting - good to see reports from Somerset.    Come on Zippy you need to come back to Somerset and visit more of us.   Congrats on a very interesting book - all profits to ACWW - especially for UN work and lots WI of info for members and non-members.

New report from ACWW HQ

Very good article via Facebook - thanking members who walked for 'Women Walk the World'.  It makes you feel proud that you were involved in such a great event.

April 2012 will go down in ACWW history, as the time women around the world took part in Women Walk the World. This event was the initiative of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), which aims have always been to unite women worldwide, raise funds for poverty relief and education, in many developing countries.   See below copied from Facebook:

On the days leading up to ACWW Day (29^th April) as well as on the day itself, groups from member societies across the world, along with their families and friends gathered together to promote ACWW and to raise funds for its valuable work. Thousands joined in on what could only be described by most, as the coldest, wettest days of the year. But with the rain poured down on them, footpaths disappearing under inches of water and umbrellas blowing inside out, they kept going, determined to complete their walks.

They walked in vast rural areas, in historical parklands, in village greens and even in car parks, all in the name of ACWW. There were some regions, which enjoyed the sun, but not many. Almost every corner of the world took part, from Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, South Africa and India to name a few.

ACWW has been inspiring and connecting with women for over 80 years and since 1977 have funded more than 900 small scale development programmes in countries such as Cameroon, India, Bangladesh, Uganda, Tanzania and Romania.
 

The huge amount of money raised and the local press coverage received for Women Walk the World, will go a long way in spreading ACWW’s message and ACWW’s aims of 'Empowering Women Worldwide – Encourage, Educate, Enrich'

ACWW - W.W.the.W. - totals mount

Sunshine in Australia

Received more collections from the walk - £800+ so far which has been sent
to ACWW HQ.     Many thanks to all the WIs in Somerset who  have taken part
or who still plan to get  involved in this marvellous idea.
Oh sold nearly 420 sun-visors - getting there!!  All profits to the Somerset
ACWW Project in Tanzania - water storage for Widows & Orphans Society.

A WI in N. Ireland - note the coats for our colder than average 'spring'

Families preparing to walk in Malaysia
had  to
walk early to miss the hot sun!!

Canada needed coats as well

More info re: walks in Somerset

Have received news re: more walks in Somerset.   Several got rained off / or cream teas in the hall instead or 'just cancelled' and a donation sent.  It was a truly 'horrid' day.  Anyway I'm sure the walk idea will be revisited next year.  It was so good to hear about all the walks worldwide and feel that link - women all working / 'walking' with a common aim for the good of ACWW - great camaraderie.

28th April - Binegar - Women Walk the World

Well we changed our day to Saturday - due to horrendous weather forecast for Sunday and achieved our walk in the dry - chilly tho'. 

We stopped to collect Angela and had a picture taken outside her grandaughters little house - you should see inside everything to scale and a little spiral staircase as well!!

The other four were going out tonight to a village do - so we just did the 2 miles and parted. 

 (it was Annette (right)'s 40th wedding anniversary on 29th April!

Then I drove to Rodney Stoke &Draycott to see them after their walk (I had to take some paperwork to Colette anyway).  Some members from Westbury sub Mendip joined this group. 

Here are some members who  returned from their
2 mile walk or 5 mile walk enjoying a well-earned cuppa and cake at The Strawberry Inn, Draycott.
What a good idea - enjoyed a sociable 'visit'.

Romania walking tomorrow - forecast good weather - Afrodita has prepared participant 'necklaces'.   I gave out (via Kath) pink notices to say they'd taken part.

Ursula Goh (past World President) of ACWW joined in this walk in Malaysia.  Looks exotic - lovely temples
All were thrilled to see pics of walk (today - earlier) from Malaysia. This walk (left ) started at 7.00am to miss the hot sun - shows the variety of worldwide walks and to me the fascination of this idea

Further info re: Brunei Darussalem -  The walking wil start at 7.00 am  - aerobic session first, then followed by walking from Muda Hashim Primary School Field passing the Dewan Kemesyarakatan and back to WI HQ - 30 to 45 minutes walk. Registration will be 6.30 am at WI HQ on that day (Sunday).

Good luck ladies - I think meeting on the corner to walk to the Village Hall at 9.45am sounds better to me -  but this is to avoid the burning sun over there at midday!!   Probably going to get to Hartleys for coffee during the walk - may have to squelch through some mud first!!

Oh!  interestingly I had a post card from New Zealand earlier this year which took a month to arrive and came via Brunei (why I wonder!!).   Fascinating story of the postal service!!

Gradually selling sun-visors

Well in 8 days I've sold (with help from friends) 316 so only another 189 to go - actually haven't got that many guess we might have been a bit short in the box.  I didn't check them when they arrived being completely overwhelmed by the fact that they arrived 'just in time'.  Anyway will be able to cover costs and still make a profit for ACWW - so many thanks to WI members in Somerset for their support

Well I just fussed over nothing - discovered another 16 - obviously can't count!!  Hurrah  must have had more than I thought!!  Thanks to my supplier David Kraukamp from Johannesburg - all safely delivered JUST before my first event and not only are they 1. sun-visors they're good  for: 2. use in the car (those awful sunset times when you can't see a thing because of low sun) / 3. casual use in the garden and 4. waterproof -  so they're an absolute bargain buy!!

Heard about a lot of walks which are planned - we shall go rain or not (well I will I'm not sure about everyone else - how tough are we? - anyway so far the weather hasn't been as bad as forecast unless it's coming this w'end!!   Brunei Darusalem and Sarawak plan to start their walk at 7.00am on 29th April (probably to avoid the heat).  It's great to hear of the response all around the world.

Just heard Tasmanian women are walking at 10.00am on 29th just like us in Binegar - but they, of course, are at least 11hrs ahead!!

Update re: Walks

Malaysia - beach tidy-up walk and plant a tree / join a wedding procession
New Zealand Rural Women - end to end of N & S Islands - what a challenge
Eire - walk on the Curraugh Race Course
Edinburgh - walk in a Botanical Gardens - lovely idea
Denman - Wiltshire - some members plan to walk around whilst on a Federation w'end
Margaret in Adelaide - going to walk around her shopping centre car park with banners!!
more idea's coming in all the time!!
Local WIs:
Rodney Stoke & Draycott have two walks planned - one of about 5 miles (a take the dog walk I reckon) and a 2 mile walk to the local church on Sat 28th April  - back to pub for tea
Leigh on Mendip - 2pm - Sun 29th April - walk around the village - tea at Village Hall
I think - Kilve WI are walking on the beach - they bought 15 sun-visors so they all have one - great idea!

My box of sun-visors arrived

Well on Tuesday at midday a big box arrived!! Hmm hubby says 'what's this' and 'it says 500 on the side' and 'what have you ordered now'!! Hurrah took them to WI and sold 30 and then to the WI Roadshow at Crowcombe and sold ...... wait for it ............. 120. Great and there are two more Roadshows to go - might make a profit for ACWW afterall - just another 350 to go!! One WI was wonderful they bought 15 so that all their walking group can wear one on their 'Women Walk the World' walk around the 28th/29th April - they're going to walk on the beach I believe!
Margaret B wore hers at the opening of a new WI in Frome and they were interested about the International Link via WI - so that was good - didn't try to sell them there - an opening evening needs 'space' to get used to each other and chat - great evening - congrats to Storm, Emma and Laura who have masterminded it.Sold 30 at Henton - 320 to go - not dated so can sell at any time.  

Update on sales:   110 at West Camel Roadshow and 26 at N Mendip Group Meeting - coming along nicely - not sure if they'll all be worn - but good ACWW awareness tool!!

Planning new ACWW event

1st August, Binegar Village Hall, a day is being planned. Initial invitations sent to SW county reps. Main speaker for the day - subject 'Iceland' talk includes holiday resorts, tours and geology - very interesting. Hopefully any county reps attending will be able to fill us in on their latest events as well. Hall booked /main speaker booked - just need to establish lunch details, get helpers and arrange an agenda - still plenty of time!! Need however to set price so that I can advertise - hopefully sort ASAP. Have emailed lots of ACWW Reps and some are able to attend - some have commented it will be in the middle of the Olympics but not everyone will be glued to their TVs.

Susan from Wiltshire is running a very interesting day on 26th July at Melksham with an Indian theme £18.

Latest venture!!

Have ordered sun-visors from Magdie's link in Johannesburg - they are due to arrive in 7-10 days. I got a good rate so if I can sell them all I should make some money for ACWW BUT the worry is that they'll get lost en route and then I'll lose out!! Fingers crossed then!! I also planned slightly different wording hoping they'll still be saleable all year round.

April 3rd

Well we're in April already and back to rain - but only a smidgen - perhaps more tomorrow!!

Just over 3 weeks until 'Women Walk the World' beginning to be quite interesting for participants BUT no publicity anywhere at present.

Walks I know about:
Rodney Stoke & Draycott WI - meet at Strawberry Inn 2.00/2.30pm Sat - 28th April
Binegar WI - 10.00am Village Hall
Leigh on Mendip WI - 2.00pm Village Hall

Of course there are more around the county - it should be good thinking of the women in New Zealand, S. Africa, America and more all thinking of ACWW all planning their walks in their own countries.

Sun Visors for Women Walk the World

Made enquiries about green sun visors from: S. Africa - no response as yet and probably realistically the timespan is too tight - Magdie gave us one that she had arranged for her walk and both Jo and I were impressed with them. (see further details below).

Re: Chennai

Made enquiries from our local Fairtrade members who recently visited Chennai - I was lucky to get their opinions of the YWCA - that could be a cheaper option than the hotels mentioned in the brochure about the conference. I also looked up prices for flights and will need to be looking at £590 + by the time next year arrives. I will save the info in a Chennai folder. Haven't made my mind up yet about attending - but the information will be useful.

ACWW Promotions and Publicity Meeting - London HQ

Fingers crossed the horrid fog today will clear for the journey to catch the train tomorrow!! - 14.03.12 - well there was fog but 'driveable with care' - got to the station with minutes to spare. Good train journey and very quick taxi ride arrived just after the start of the meeting. (I had warned them I would be delayed!).

Very interesting meeting - it was good that everyone had managed to attend and good to meet the new office manager Lisa who is running for ACWW in the Brighton Marathon - her expertise was a very welcome part of the proceedings. A lot of interesting decisions were made. It was good to have Jenny, Lisa and Sharon plus (when they could) May, Alison, Anphia and Jo during the day.

Magdie had brought some promotional sun-visors (sample) to show what she had ordered for her walk in S. Africa - a very good idea. Jo making enquiries about ordering some for her walk in America (later I emailed for info re: them too as a promotional tool - tho' it would depend on timings as the timespan is fairly short now). A very positive meeting. Learnt more about the Chennai Conference -a wonderful event is planned
.
Walked back to Waterloo and after a bite to eat and a wander amongst the building site at present prevalent in the station I got the train and arrived home about 9.30pm (no fog on the way home) -BUT - it return until after lunch the next morning - I do hate it!!

NEWS from Somerset - had to cancel my visit to a WI due to the fog on 13.03 - but they still talked about ACWW and thanks to their (maybe persuasive President) they've decided to join ACWW as a WI - hurrah and I didn't even go - that's certainly a success - perhaps that's the way to go!!

International Women's Day - 8th March 2012 - Long Sutton Village Hall

Speakers covered Ceylon (elephant sanctuary and beaches) and S India - visiting
Chennai and the train to Ooty (not for the faint-hearted evidently) due to the
precarious bridges and N. Ghana (women's rights and how they are gradually being
introduced) and Tanzania (land-grab problems caused by multi-national firms) in
the morning. In the afternoon Sparks Beattie from Leigh on Mendip spoke about
her classes for 'Let's Cook Local' and Alison Burnett ACWW World Treasurer
talked of finances and Women Walk the World. During the lunch hour some members
were able to walk to the village green and visit the church which was reported
as well worth a visit. Many thanks to the ladies of Long Sutton WI for all their
work in the kitchen and hall preparation.

Alison was encouraging individual membership so that they would be able to attend the Triennial conference which will be in Chennai. Earlier we saw views via Kath Shortley of the colour, history and sqalour of parts of the town plus craft workers for Tearfund. She said she hoped she hadn't put us off going!! Details of this conference will be in the next issue of the Countrywoman.

International Women's Day - 8th March

Lots of speakers planned for International Women's Day at Long Sutton Village Hall. Delighted that Alison Burnett, World Treasurer is due to speak to us. Alison is show on the right of the picture in white with a long waistcoat. This photo was taken at the conference in Lesotho.

WALKING CHALLENGE

Beginning to hear about other walks being planned in the county for 29th April - Women Walk the World. It should be fun - Leigh-on-Mendip are starting their walk at 2pm and then back for a cuppa in the village hall. I think we are walking at 10am - but not many names on the list so far!!
Rodney Stoke going to either do a 5 mile walk or a 3 mile walk with a cuppa at the Strawberry Inn afterwards on 28th April - starting before women in Tonga!! What fun thinking of women walking all around the world with ACWW in mind and having a good chat and enjoying each others company - great idea isn't it?

NB: WI members can also incorporate their walking totals (recorded in Journal, of course) for BIG WALK, LITTLE SPLASH the WIs challenge in England and Wales. WI members are going to be encouraged to walk/ swim 209 (combined members total) this is the approximate distance between Llanfair ............. where the WI started and the Olympic Stadium. You can only count the distance once if you walk in a group evidently from latest (NFWI News).

We should keep fit this year shouldn't we - interesting idea and wonderful that our ACWW walk can be included in our totals.

Rural Women New Zealand Challenge

Rural Women walking the length of NZ!

Some different views in NZ Pic 1 - the beach plays a very important role - view of Rangitoto - extinct volcano viewed from N.shore, Auckland.
Pic 2. Pohutukawa tree - seen at Brown's Bay at Christmas time. Pic 3 Exotic trees on a walk N. of Auckland.

We are challenging our members to ‘walk the length of New Zealand' as part of the Associated Country Women of the World ‘Women Walk the World’ challenge!. New Zealand is about 1600 kilometres long, so each of our seven regions is being challenged to walk 228 kilometres...

S African Conference

Pic 1 - the lovely banner, Pic 2 on the road = May holding the logo banner. Pic 3 - the march progresses Pic 4 the speakers at the conference.

Members staged a walk for 'Women Walk the World' whilst at their conference on 2nd Feb - the first one in the world.

ACWW - Somerset

All going well - donations still being received and forwarded for the ACWW 'Water for All' fund.