acwwsouthwest UK: April 2012

Saturday, 28 April 2012

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

Thursday, 26 April 2012

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!!

Friday, 20 April 2012

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!!

Thursday, 12 April 2012

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.

Saturday, 7 April 2012

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.

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

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.

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.