August 2023
“August is the slow, gentle month that stretches out the longest across the span of a year. It yawns and lingers on with the light in its palms.”
Victoria Erickson
A Message from Kate
The July meeting was interesting, informative and educational, perhaps not the most cheery of matters to listen to but very important to us all.
I am looking forward to seeing your entries for the scavenger hunt and also your limericks about grumpy old women. These are both for competitions in the Cheshire Federation and the NECG respectively-it is a way of connecting with the wider WI. It was good to see so many of our members on the NECG trip to Shibden Hall and Halifax. It was an excellent outing and we had very good weather too.
We have had a few comments about difficulties that some members are having occasionally in hearing the speakers and the officers. We will be asking the club if they have a microphone we can use, but please let us know if you can’t hear so we can speak up.
The August meeting is a summer social and Whodunit, which should be fun as well as challenging us to solve the murder. I look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes
Kate
Birthday Greetings
Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in August
Moira H., Barbara H
Monthly Meeting
Thursday, 17th August
7.30pm
Summer Social and Whodunit-“Erstwhile Sherlock Holmes presents a murder mystery.” Can you solve the murder?
Accessories Swish-Do you have unwanted accessories? Please bring them along to the meeting to include in the Swish.
Items to be included: scarves, jewellery, handbags, gloves, purses, hats. All items must be clean and in a good condition.
You will receive a ticket for each item you bring. This can then be exchanged for the same number of accessories once the Swish starts, during the refreshment break.
Those members who bring items can choose their new accessories before those who have not brought items along.
If you haven’t brought anything, but find an item that will complete your outfit, you can make a “purchase” for a minimum price of £1 per item.
If the item you brought isn’t exchanged or sold, please take it home with you.
Remember we are “ladies” - no pushing, scratching, pulling, tugging or fighting to get the best items!!
If you would like to join us on Zoom the details are as follows
Join Zoom Meeting
Competition-None
Raffle-There are still tickets left for the NFWI raffle. Tickets are £1 each. We will also be holding our usual monthly raffle.
Rota Volunteers-Door-Margaret L. Raffle-Perveen, Kate J., Barbara C. Refreshments-Carolyn, Lynda
Meet & Greet-Krys, Sue W.
We would be grateful if those of you on meeting duties please arrive by 7.15pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Linda McD. so that she can send out an email to fill the slot. Thank you.
July Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-35 Zoom-1 Visitors-5 Income: Visitors:£25 Cakes:£21.10
September Competition-Illuminated letters are bright, elaborate decorations often found in manuscripts and books-search for “illuminated letters” and you will find many examples. Taking inspiration from these decorate the capital letters WI in any way and using any medium, e.g. collage, clay, crayons, crochet etc. The size should be A4 or 3D if you prefer. Just give it a go!
Heatons WI News
Evacuation procedure-Please let Linda McD. know if you leave the meeting early so that it can be recorded on the register. It means that, should we have to evacuate the building, we know who exactly is still there. In Linda’s absence please tell Sally. Our evacuation meeting point is on the field opposite the car park entrance.
Instagram-As well as our Facebook and Twitter pages we are now on Instagram. You can find us at the.heatonswi
Reminder-The bar at the Sports Club is card only.
Tea and Coffee-Available from the bar.
Heatons WI Events
Saturday, 9th September-President’s Coffee Morning at the Heaton Pub, Didsbury Road. !1.0am. Please enter through the rear entrance via the car park.
Wednesday, 13th December-Christmas Meal at Houldsworth Golf Club, Reddish, 7.30pm. The cost will be £25 with a non-refundable deposit of £10 to be paid at the August or September meeting and the balance by the October meeting.
North East Cheshire Group News
If anybody is interested in any NEC Group activities please contact Karen
Wednesday, 4th October-Autumn meeting at Woodford Community Centre. 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. The speaker will be Judith Holder, comedy writer and TV producer who originated Grumpy Old Women. Tickets are £4 which includes a drink on arrival and refreshments. There will be a raffle and a competition. This is to write a limerick inspired by the theme Grumpy Old Women. Please submit entries to Karen by the September meeting.
New Officers-The NECG officers will be standing down next year so they are looking for volunteers to take on the roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. If you are interested in any of these positions please see Karen,
The Facebook page of NEC group can be found at NECG of WIs. It has useful information about what NECG and other groups in our area are doing.
Cheshire Federation News
If anybody is interested in any Cheshire Federation activities please contact Angela
CFWI Virtual WI-If anyone is interested in joining, as a dual member, or has a friend who would be interested in finding out more, please contact Angela B.
Nominations for Trustees for Cheshire Federation and for Officers for the North East Cheshire group committee-Each year members of the board of Trustees are elected, and also Officers for the North East Cheshire group of WIs. Currently nominations are being sought for both and are open to all WI members.
Trustees-In addition to the constitutional and legal requirements for Trustees, nominees should possess leadership qualities, have strategic vision, show commitment to the WI, be willing to devote the necessary time and effort, be able to think creatively and express themselves concisely, understand the requirements of being a trustee and be able to work as a member of a team.
Group Officers, Chair, Secretary, Co-ordinator-The role of a Group Officer is to facilitate, with a team of group representatives, further opportunities for WI members to meet and enjoy a wider range of activities with neighbouring WIs. The Group is invaluable for providing multi-WI activities, where members can socialise with other members. If no Officers can be found, the Group will be suspended. Any enquiries to Suze before Sept 29th 2023.
Friday, 8th September-Visit to Chester. There will be a short boat trip, time to explore the city and a light lunch at Whitefriars. Tickets are £15.
Wednesday, 13th September-“Everybody’s Talking about Jamie” at the Lowry Theatre”, Salford. Tickets are priced at £36 for a centre stall seat.
Member’s Notice Board
If you have a notice you would like to be included in the Members’ Notice Board section of the newsletter, or know of any local events other members may be interested in please send details to Linda
Wednesday, 23 August-“In Conversation with Elizabeth Raffald”. Elizabeth Raffald has been described as the greatest English cookery writer you won't have heard of. Suze Appleton, local author and Raffald expert, will share her passion and stories about Elizabeth – the mother of British food culture. Join us to hear all about Elizabeth and the fine dining experiences she enshrined in English history; make some new acquaintances and meet old friends at the Crown, 6 Vale Road, Heaton Mersey SK4 3DS from 7pm-8pm.Tickets are free and available from Eventbrite at the following link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-conversation-with-elizabeth-raffald-cookery-writer-and-entrepreneur-tickets-678006364287?aff=ebdsoporgprofile or on the Eventbrite App. Booking essential.
Thursday, September 14th- 5.30-7.30, at Station South in Levenshulme, there will be a short event to celebrate Women Trailblazers of Greater Manchester, unveiling a banner of names sewn by a group of local women. Also on display will be a set of bunting used at this year's International Women's Day in Manchester. The women chosen for these projects were taken from the nominees for Manchester's first female statue since Queen Victoria. Tickets will be allocated through Eventbrite.
Macmillan Coffee Morning-Barbara Humpage has really appreciated all the support her WI friends have given her in raising funds, particularly over the past few years. It has been decided not to hold a coffee morning at the United Church this year but instead we would encourage members to host events for their friends, in line with the advertised campaign. We may even hold a meeting in the park if weather permits as we did during lockdown.
Stockport Feeding the Community-This is our charity for the year. The team feed roughly 450 people in a week. They receive a parcel containing a meal and some treats, which includes a piece of cake. This can be home-made or shop bought. SFtC are looking for donations of cakes. They can be simple ones like fairy buns, banana loaves or traybakes - anything that is easy to slice and isn't messy in a paper bag. You do not have to commit to this on a regular basis, but rather make a contribution now and again. If you are able to help cakes can be dropped off at Pat Flatley’s house on a Monday. Please leave in the porch which will be left open. Alternatively they can be left on a Wednesday at Annette Slevin’s house. Thank you in advance.
St Martin’s Foodbank-1st Wednesday of the month. Please drop off at Kate J’s house. There will be a box for donations on the drive if the weather is dry or in the porch if wet, from 10am until the evening. They need tinned potatoes, tinned rice pudding, tinned steamed puddings, custard, UHT/long life milk, tinned coconut milk, treats e.g. individually wrapped chocolate biscuits, size 5 nappies and shampoo.
Recycling
RNIB Stamp Collection-Shirley Shaw is collecting used postage stamps for the RNIB. She will bring boxes to WI meetings for members to put their used postage stamps in. You will need to separate UK mainland from the rest of the world, including Isle of Man, Jersey etc. Shirley will collect and send them to the RNIB, who get £20 per kilo.
B&Q is recycling plastic plant pots, small electrical items, batteries, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
Superdrug Pharmacy at the top of Merseyway Shopping precinct is collecting empty medicine blister packs.