Newsletter Feb 2017

BEMBRIDGE WINDMILL W I
Newsletter
March 2017

Facebook: @BembridgeWI
Email: Secretary@bembridgeWI.co.uk

Hello Everyone.  What a lovely Spring day we have had yesterday, not too long and we will all be in the garden.

This is going to be a very rushed newsletter this month so if I forget anything I apologise in advance for my tardiness.

Membership – The committee are thrilled to say that our membership has reached an all time high of 45! However, because of the size of The Cloisters we have had to make the decision that our membership lists will now close.  We are holding a waiting list for prospective members but it is unlikely that we will be able to take new members until next year. Priority will always be given to existing members.

We warmly welcome all our new members.

Visitors – The committee have drawn up a policy which will allow visitors to join us for three consecutive meetings. During this time visitors will have access to all other groups we have, the book club, topical talk, craft and soon to be formed walking group.  They will also be able to attend any outings.  The cost for visitors will be £ 3 per month and if after 3 months they wish to go on our waiting list then we will be pleased to add their names.  Again we have drawn up a Visitor policy which will be given to visitors on their first meeting.

Vicki – Seven of us attended Vicki’s funeral.  The church was packed and I am sure she would have loved seeing so many people there.  Please remember to bring items along for the Foodbank to the next meeting in memory of Vicki in line with the wishes of her family.

Bra’s and Colouring Books and crayons – We are collecting bras once again for Romania.  Any bras that have some life in them can be given to Janet or Joy at meetings. (New bras also appreciated).  The group are also collecting plain paper and colouring books together with pencils and crayons which can again be given to Janet and Joy.

Breakfast – Chris B is arranging a breakfast, I believe at The Bakery on the 30th March.  A sign up sheet will be available at the meeting.

March Meeting – The Speaker is The Coastal Gardener, Gerry Price.  Meeting date is Monday 20th April at 7.30pm in The Cloisters.

April Meeting – NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY – The meeting is a week earlier because of Easter and will be on the 10th April when we will be discussing the Resolutions for the year as well as a fun activity served with wine and nibbles.

Fund Raising – Street Fair and Coffee Morning both coming up.  We are looking for volunteers to make cakes, biscuits, run our lucky dip, help with nautical crafts and grow plants.  If you can help please let Chris B or myself know.  Your efforts are always appreciated and help not only our charity but other local causes.  They also ensure that we can give you little treats!

Book Club, Craft and Topical Talk – more news on these groups at the meeting.  However, we will ensure we keep you up to date with all the latest news as it happens.

I am sorry I will not be at the next meeting I will miss you all but I leave you in the very good hands of Chris B and Sally.

Newsletter Jan 2017

BEMBRIDGE WINDMILL WI

Newsletter

January 2017

The Committee hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing you again next week.  Our meeting is on Monday 16th January at 7.30pm in THE CLOISTERS.

The speaker at our first meeting is Nigel Hartley, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Hospice who will be telling us about the fantastic work that goes on under the umbrella of the Hospice.

Some of us recently met with Nigel and we were amazed at the services they provide particularly in the community.

We will be presenting Nigel with a cheque which we hope will help in some small way with the fantastic work they do.

Our New Website

We now have a new website  BembridgeWI.co.uk. Thanks go to Juliette who has worked so hard on setting this up.  We do hope you will like it.  Comments, suggestions and photos are always welcomed – please email website@bembridgewi.co.uk.

We also have a new Facebook page, Bembridge WI with up to date news of what is going on within our group and details of other events at WI’s across the Island.

As our old website is closing down all future general e-mails for our WI should now go to secretary@BembridgeWI.co.uk.

Subscriptions for 2017

The 2017 subscription fees are due in January and this year are £39.00. Dual membership is £19.00. Please put your money/cheque in an envelope with your name clearly written on the front and hand in to Juliette at the January meeting.

From February onwards members will be able to save monthly towards their fees for 2018.  If you are interested in this please can you let us know at the January meeting.  One member of another WI on the Island told us she saves £5 a month and this covered her membership and birthday/Christmas lunch at the end of the year.

Craft Group

The first meeting of the craft group will take place on Tuesday 31st January at 2pm at Gill’s. Further details of what we will be making will be given at the main meeting.

We have discussed what craft items are needed for the Street Fair and 2 other fund raising events in June and December.  We thought that for the Street Fair and June event it might be nice to concentrate on items with a sea/nautical theme and would welcome input and ideas.  However, any craft items will be appreciated as will help making them.

In December we will obviously concentrate on Christmas themed items.

Book Club

Pam and Brenda will be giving details of the next Book Club meeting at the January meeting.  They will also update you on the donation they made to The Book Bus.

Topical Talk

Meeting tomorrow 10th January at Juliette’s, to discuss the resolutions which will go forward to the WI National AGM.

Please remember to bring along your bottle tops and stamps for Pam which help local charities.

What a happy, jolly lot we were at our Christmas lunch.  Can’t wait for next year!

xmas lunch 2016

Newsletter Nov 16

BEMBRIDGE WINDMILL WI

Newsletter

November 2016

Autumn is well and truly here, one of my favourite times of year but how frightening to realise Christmas is looming.

We will be holding our Annual Meeting on November the 21st and this will be followed by a fun activity.

During the meeting we will be taking a vote on returning to The Cloisters in 2017.  Many members have said that they prefer The Cloisters and with the uncertainty of the Village Hall and its future use the time seemed right for members to formally decide where our meetings take place in the future. The Cloisters can accommodate 55 people in the large room.

We will also be asking you to choose who should receive a donation from our fundraising next year and at the bottom of the Newsletter you will see the nominations and a small resume on each of the causes.

Pam will be collecting the green bottle tops, Janet will be collecting our bras and we will also be collecting your Festive Food donations for the Food Bank.

Diary Dates

Thursday 24 November              2pm Craft Club, The Cloisters

Wednesday 30 November           Liz Earle 6pm – Contact Sally

Thursday 1 December                 Book Club, The Cloisters 7.30pm. All welcome – see below

Tuesday 6 December                  Topical Talk, 3pm Dementia Friendly Villages

Friday 9 December                      IW Federation Christmas Fair 10am – 2pm Methodist Church, Quay Street, Newport

Friday 9 December                          Invitation to the opening of Accessible Kitchen 11am – 1pm at Riverside from Headway who were our fundraising cause for 2015.

Sunday 11 December                     Carol Service 2pm Appley Church

Monday 12 December                   Christmas Meeting 7.30pm  Village Hall

Wednesday 14 December            Christmas Lunch Village Inn

Monday 9 January                        New Year Breakfast, The Bakery.

Book Club – The group are reading The Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg.  Those that have already read the book are enthusing over it and saying what a wonderful novel.  If you are interested in coming along to the group please contact either Brenda or Pam.

Eleven Members recently enjoyed breakfast at The Bakery   We must congratulate Chris B who was desperate for a Full English but settled on a delicious bacon sandwich after being told that one of the members did not like the smell of eggs.  The restrain she showed was truly admirable. The next breakfast is in January.

WI IW Christmas Fair is taking place on Friday 9 December at the Methodist Church, Quay Street, Newport from 10am to 2pm.  If you would like further details contact Federation Office on 524716.  The committee hope that you will support the Fair.

Invitation from Headway – Many of you will remember that in 2015 we raised funds for Headway.  I am pleased to be able to tell you that they put our donation towards an accessible kitchen.  We have been invited to the opening of the kitchen on Friday 9 December at the Riverside Centre from 11am to 1pm.  There will be a sign-up sheet at the meeting for those of you wishing to attend.

Bembridge Christmas Concert – Wednesday 7th December at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church. There will be music from Benjamin Britten and a Festival of Carols.  A retiring collection will be taken.

November Annual Meeting – Our November meeting will take place on the 21st in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.  This year we are welcoming Sylvia Williams to oversee the meeting.  Following the formal proceedings a fun activity will take place.

December Meeting – 12th December. Our Christmas meetings are something of a legend and this year will be no exception.  For some time members have been asking to attend Ascot Ladies Day but we have not been able to secure tickets.  A little call to Father Christmas however sorted out the problem and Ascot has agreed to come to us.  So please do us proud, hats, fascinators and pretty dresses would be appreciated. We will also have our snatch raffle. As is usual we would appreciate members bringing a plate of finger food, either sweet or savoury.  If, (which will be very unlikely), there is any food left at the end of the evening can you please take home what you have brought.  Mulled wine and other drinks will be supplied.

Denman Bursaries – We now have details of the Bursaries for next year.  The letter will be at the next meeting and we will also scan the details and forward to members shortly.

Seven nominations have been received from members for our cause for 2017.  They are Young Carers IW, The Food Bank, Denman College, Ability Dogs for Young People IW, The Hospice, Jigsaw Family Support, Isle of WIght and Admiral Nurses Isle of Wight. A short resume follows to help you select the cause at the Annual Meeting:

Admiral Nurses IW (Dementia Care) –    The Island’s Admiral Nurses will work with the family to ensure that they are better able to understand and cope with the changes that can occur with dementia, by giving them the knowledge to understand the condition and its effects, and the skills to improve communication and behaviours. This collaborative working enables the family to stay together for as long as possible. Funding is solely from donations made by people living on the Island and all funding stays on the Island.

The Isle of Wight Young Carers team is about giving Young Carers: The option of meeting others in a similar situation . Someone to listen if you want to talk. Advice and support. Support at school. A break from caring responsibilities. 1:1 support and befriending. Respite activities. Having fun!

Denman College. The WI College who are desperate for funds.

Food Bank, Isle of Wight.  Helping support families in need of food and other basic products.

Ability Dogs 4 Young People is an Isle of Wight charity (started April 2012), training assistance dogs to enhance the independence of disabled young people and children living on the Isle of Wight. We are training Ability Dogs to help with physical and mental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy. We are unique; we are the only assistance dog charity providing Ability Dogs for disabled young people and children on the Isle of Wight.

As well as helping with practical tasks (picking up items, opening doors, helping dress and undress, crossing the road), our trained Ability Dogs help increase disabled young people’s well-being, confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to go on to further education or gain employment without needing full-time carers. Having a jacketed Ability Dog by their side means that more people feel able to come and talk to them, thereby increasing their general social interaction.

Jigsaw Family Support, Isle of WIght. This is a community based, child-focused organisation that works with everyone affected by family separation. It is a charity, dependant on donations and grants.  The team are all volunteers and included committed local professionals with experience in mental health, family counselling, mediation, family law and psychotherapy.

They offer support in relationship breakdown and divorce.  Supporting children through separation and helping the children to have a healthy and stable relationship with both parents. They also offer support in court situations. (There is no longer legal aid available so Jigsaw is making a huge difference).

Earl Mountbatten Hospice – Our only hospice on the Island needing to raise £ 5 million a year.  They offer end of life care, respite care and support to families in a caring and loving environment. With a steadily growing older population the need for hospice services continues to grow.

Newsletter Oct 16

WI Committee:
Gill Rogers, Sarah Atkins, Sally Pizey, Juliette Chan, Di Hawes, Chris D’Arcy, Carol Crawford, Chris Bottriell

BEMBRIDGE WINDMILL WI
Newsletter – October 2016

Autumn is now well and truly with us and what some beautiful sunrises we have been having.  Let’s hope that Winter is not in too much of a hurry to join us.

Talking about joining us, how lovely it was to have 10 visitors at our September meeting and thank you to all the members who made them so welcome.

A huge thanks must go to Carol for arranging Whitgar as our entertainment.  Feedback has been that members enjoyed the evening immensely and for those of you that haven’t seen it there is a video on our Facebook page Bembridge Windmill WI of members taking part in the Morris Dancing.

This month’s speaker on Monday 17th October will be Mark Earp.

Pam will be collecting the green bottle tops again so please don’t forget to bring them along.

We will also be collecting bra’s for Romania.  These will be going to ladies who are in hospitals or homes to make them feel a little more comfortable.

Alongside both of the above initiatives we are collecting festive food which we can send to the food bank to help make those less fortunate than ourselves a little happier at Christmas.

At our committee meeting yesterday, it was agreed that if we cannot get 6 people to attend outings and events we organise then we will not go ahead with them.  It is disappointing but I am sure you can understand the time and effort it takes to arrange things we need to have a minimum number to make outings viable.

Diary Dates

  • Friday  7 October                   Spithead Quiz, Lake Lions Hall 7pm
  • Tuesday 18 October               Topical Talk, 5 Maritime Mews 3pm
  • Friday 21 October                   10th Birthday Lunch – Foxs 12.30
  • Wednesday 26 October         Craft Group 2pm, The Cloisters
  • Monday 31 October                Breakfast at the Bakery 9.30am
  • November 3                           Book Club, Cloisters 7.30pm
  • November 9                           Visit to Liz Earle 6pm. Friends welcome.
  • November 30                         Craft Group 2pm, The Cloisters
  • November 30                         Visit to Liz Earle 6pm. Friends welcome
  • December 1                            Book Club, Cloisters 7.30pm
  • Sunday 12 December                        Carol Service 2pm Appley Church
  • Wednesday 14 December     Christmas Lunch Village Inn

10th Birthday Lunch – There is no cost to members for the lunch, however visitors will be charged full cost of £11.95 (still very reasonable).  If members who have booked are unable to make the lunch please can they let me know asap so I can adjust the numbers with Nicola.  I hope you will understand that if you have booked and we are unable to cancel your booking you will be charged for the meal. Everyone will be responsible for their own drinks.

Craft Group – We are working on a quilt to be raffled at a later date.  This is the brainchild of Joy.  All members and visitors who have attended WI meetings are welcome to attend.

Book Club – The current book being read is Gold.  The book club is always a lively and friendly group with lots of laughter and banter. All members and visitors who have attended WI meetings are welcome to attend.

Topical Talk –          The next meeting will be discussing our involvement in the current WI resolutions (1) Food Waste and (2) Dementia Care in Hospitals. Issues that may also be of interest are  the possible changes to the funding of Attendance Allowance and  information on Doctors’ Funding.

Spithead Quiz –  We are looking for members to take part in this event on Friday 7 February.  Teams of 2,4 or 6 can enter.  Tickets are £1 per person and it would be lovely to support the area group.

If you would like to go you are still not too late.  Just turn up between 6 and 7pm at the Lions Club in Lake which is behind the parade of shops.  More details from Carol.

Liz Earle Visit – We now have two evenings (9 and 30 November) booked.The event is from 6 to 8pm and is free.  Canapés and Prosecco will be served and demonstrations given.  There is a free raffle and other incentives.  If you would like to attend please let Sally know.  You are welcome to bring friends to the event with you.

Bakery Breakfast – 31 October at 9.30am.  Again if you have signed up and have to drop out please let us know.

Annual Meeting – The Annual meeting is in November.  Nomination forms for committee will be at the October Meeting and we hope that many of you will consider putting your names forward.  New members on the committee with new ideas are what will keep our WI vibrant so please consider joining the committee.  No experience needed!

As we have voted that we will allow proxy votes this year we would like all nominations in at the end of the October meeting but nominations will close completely on the 31st October.  This will give us time to arrange teller’s and prepare ballot papers and proxy forms.

All proxy votes must be given to the Secretary before the start of the Annual Meeting in a sealed envelope and must be signed.  Our WI Advisor will open the votes.

Charity of the Year – We are now considering who will be our Charity for the year in 2017.  Nomination forms will be available at the next meeting with the final decision being made by you, the members, at the Annual Meeting.  Please think who you would like to support.

Your charity nomination should not be one that supports animals or individuals.   Please ensure the form is signed and that your choice of charity is compliant.

Last month we received two nominations that were not signed so we were unaware of whether these nominations were from visitors or members. Please ensure that you do not propose local businesses as these do not meet the criteria of charities.

Your details – At the next meeting you will be given slips with the details we hold about you.  These details are your name, address, phone number, date of your birthday and e-mail.  We would also like with your agreement contact details of someone we can contact in case of emergency.  Alongside this will be a question as to whether you are happy for us to share your e-mail address/and or phone number with members.  This is for Bembridge WI members only and these details will not be given to third parties.  If you are unhappy sharing your details with other members please say so on the form.

During November we are having to update the Federation records as they are doing an audit and need to check your current information is correct.  We will as a matter of course be saying that your details are not to be given to third parties by National or the Federation.

Invitation to the Field of Remembrance Service – 10th November, Carisbrooke Castle –  If any of you would like to attend this event it is on Thursday 10 November at Carisbooke Castle at 10.45am.

Diaries 2017 – These are now to hand.  8 members ordered diaries so can they please bring along their £4.50 to the next meeting.  We have 2 diaries spare so if any of you would like to purchase one of these it will be first come, first served.

Coming Soon – Our new website.  Juliette is working on our new website and as soon as we are up and running you will be the first to know.  Many thanks to Juliette for taking on arranging this.

On a personal note – We held our last committee meeting last night before the Annual meeting in November.  What a year!  Can I thank all those members of the committee who have supported and helped me through the year, you are amazing ladies.  Also thanks to the members that were always there and offered encouraging words, advice and friendship.