A busy year ahead

Our inspired women
November was the month of Old Buckenham Women’s Institute’s annual meeting which gives members the opportunity to look back on the previous year and to review the coming year. In 2011 it was a busy year, with members taking part in darts and Scrabble tournaments, competing in the Cator Cup competition which takes place annually on the Norfolk Showground, supporting village events and organising the village Produce Show. They also held a Spring Fair which was well supported by the villagers. At this year’s birthday party (celebrating their 44th anniversary) they were pleased to welcome the Old Buckenham Players to entertain members and friends. The new committee was approved at the meeting and the President, Susan Hunter, was elected for 2012.
Members also heard a report from Nancy Hunt who was a member of the WI group which went on a three day trip to London. They called in at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge especially to see the Vermeer exhibition. Their trip to London also included one day spent at the Olympic site (including a visit to Woolwich Arsenal where the contact sports will be staged). Their third day was spent seeing the newly refurbished Albert Memorial and an in-depth tour of the Albert Hall where they were privileged to be able to sit the the ”Royal Box”. Barbara Stone also gave a report on a recent trip to Van Dal shoe factory in Norwich when twenty members enjoyed a tour of the factory plus of course the opportunity to make some purchases in the shop.
Everything the WI does is about empowering women. Their campaigns give every member the chance to highlight the issues that matter to her and bring some of the weight of the whole WI movement to bear on efforts to achieve lasting change in policy and practice.
Six resolutions have been short listed for next year and members will have a chance to choose the resolutions which they want to take forward at the annual general meeting in June 2012. This year’s short list includes airborne litter, reducing fuel poverty and the employment of more midwives.
The full programme of meetings for 2012 is listed below and new members are most welcome to come along. They take place in Old Buckenham Village Hall on the fourth Thursday of each month and start at 7.30pm.

Thursday 26 January Life and fashion in the 1940s
Thursday 23 February History and etiquette of toastmastering
Thursday 22 March Being a nun in the 21st Century
Thursday 26 April China – amazing flowers in Yunnan and Sichuan
Thursday 26 May Resolution meeting
Thursday 28 June World Horse Welfare
Thursday 26 July Norfolk Island – South Pacific
Thursday 23 August Conchology – the world of shells
Thursday 27 September Corn dollies and straw crafts
Thursday 28 October Mastermind and Who wants to be a Millionaire
Thursday 22 November Annual meeting
Friday 6 December Christmas party