September 2023
“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer."
Helen Hunt Jackson
A Message from Kate
The August meeting went well and the murder was solved, so well done to everybody. The accessories swish also was popular and I hope you are enjoying your new items. Thank you to Suze and to the programme team.
We have had some excellent entries for the limerick but if you still have one for us to enjoy can you bring it to the September meeting and give it to either Karen or Kate.
Those of you who were at the August meeting will have heard me explain that we have had to swap speakers around. The planned September speaker, Carl Austin-Behan, will now be coming in October. We had arranged for the October speaker to come in September, however after we had arranged a fee, she then asked for £5 per person for materials as well, which we felt was too much so we have cancelled her. Instead we will be having a craft evening, details below. The programme team have worked hard with the craft team to make sure that we all have a fun and interesting evening so I look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes
Kate
Maura O’Donahue-We are very sad to announce the death of Maura who died in hospital on 25th July. She had been a member of the Heatons WI for a long time and had lived in Heaton Moor for many years. She was born in Ireland and still maintained her very strong Irish connections. Maura was devoted to, and very proud of, her family of 3 children and 7 grandchildren. After she retired, she worked as a volunteer at Francis House in Didsbury. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends many of whom attended her requiem mass at St Winifred’s.
Birthday Greetings
Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in September
Suze, Margaret T., Wendy
Monthly Meeting
Thursday, 21st August
7.30pm
Craft Evening-We are having a fun craft evening with a choice of items to make. You will be able to
Decorate a pebble
Make a paper flower
Make a Christmas card
Make a button picture
All materials will be provided.
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!
Raffle
Rota Volunteers-Door-Lynda Raffle-Val, Liz R. Refreshments-Pat McG., Sue J. Meet & Greet-Ann L.
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.
August Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-38 Zoom-0 Visitors-1
October Competition-None
Heatons WI News
Jarbola-We will be holding a jarbola at the coffee morning in October. What is a jarbola? Take a clean, empty jam jar and fill it with whatever you like. This could be sweets, a promise to bake a cake, a candle, hair accessories, basically anything you can fit in a jar. The rest is the same as a tombola-buy a ticket and hopefully win a prize. Please bring your jar/jars to the September meeting, Alternatively, if you are unable to attend, please contact Kate W. or a member of the committee to arrange collection or drop off. If you need a jar there will be some available at this month’s meeting.
Volunteers to join Social Team-Currently we have one committee member and one member who have expressed an interest in forming a small social team, whose remit will be to organise meals out, including the Christmas meal, ad hoc coffee meet ups and an annual coach trip. If you would like to find out more please contact Kate.
Committee membership 2023-24-If you would like to know more please contact Kate.
Litter picking equipment and litter pickers- Sue had a great response to her email with 46 members voting in favour of buying equipment, and 2 against. Of the 46 who voted yes, 13 members expressed an interest in picking litter at some point over the next year. Sue will be in touch with these members with more information and hopefully, a litter pick before this month's meeting will be a possibility. If you know of an area blighted by rubbish, please contact Sue and the litter picking team will endeavour to clear away the rubbish. If anyone has any catchy ideas for our group name, which will also be the name of our WhatsApp group, please message Sue.
Reminder-The bar at the Sports Club is card only.
Tea and Coffee-Available from the bar.
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.
Heatons WI Events
Saturday, 14th October-Coffee morning at Heaton Moor United Church, Heaton Moor Road from 10.00qm to 12.00pm. We will be raising funds for our WI. There will be refreshments, cakes and a jarbola. There will be a signup sheet for offers of cakes and help at this month’s meeting. Please come along to support this event and bring your friends and family. NB This event replaces the monthly President’s Coffee Morning.
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 September meeting and the balance by the October meeting. Please sign up for what will be an enjoyable evening.
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. Karen still has tickets available. There will be a raffle and a competition. Ann M’s limerick has been chosen for our entry.
NECG Officers-Please contact Angela B. for more information.
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.
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
We have been approached by a member of the public who has purchased a church kneeler (hassock) thinking it was the complete article, only to find it is a kit that requires making up. She has asked if any of our members would be willing to help her. The lady is local and is willing to pay for this work to be done. If you think you could help, please contact Sally in the first instance.
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.
Stockport Feeding the Community-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.
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.