Resolutions at Old Buckenham

Busy times ahead for Women's Institute
At their May meeting Old Buckenham WI discuss and vote on the resolutions being put forward at the national Annual Meeting to be held in Liverpool in June. Two members, Rosemary Pratt and Kate Lloyd, had thoroughly researched their subjects and gave members much information to consider before voting took place.
Rosemary dealt with the resolution about alleviating loneliness. The resolution calls on every Womens Institute to work alongside health and social care providers and their local community to raise awareness of the causes and impact of loneliness. Chronic loneliness affects people from all social groups but some are more prone to it than others, such as ethnic minorities, carers, new mums and those over 65 years of age. Those who are lonely are more likely to suffer from depression and to develop dementia. There is potential for WIs to work locally or within their WI to tackle loneliness and remove the stigma attached to it.
The second resolution was presented by Kate Lloyd and this concerns keeping microplastic out of our oceans. These include fibres that are shed from synthetic clothing with every wash and are major contributors to microplastic contamination of the oceans. The WI are calling on the Government and industry to research and develop innovative solutions to this problem. Plastic fragments end up in the sea and in the wider environment and then of course into the food chain. This resolution is in keeping with the WI’s long standing concern for sustainable marine environments. Members voted in favour of both resolutions and all will be looking forward to the local delegate’s report back next month.
After the seriousness of the discussions, members were pleased to welcome Heather Ormerod and one of her pupils who came to talk about and demonstrate the benefits of Pilates.
There is a busy summer ahead  – there is Old Buckenham WI's 50th Anniversary Garden Party at 1 Mill Cottages on Saturday 1 July from 3pm (this is an open event – so why not come along and join in that afternoon?) and then the following Saturday 8 July it is the Village Fete. They are also busy preparing for the Village Produce Show on Sunday 10 September (copies of the schedule are included with the June village newsletter).
At the meeting on Thursday 22 June, Dan Bradbury will be talking on "Saving Habitats -  Saving Species.
Their July meeting is on Thursday 27 July when the speaker will be Frances Middleton who will talk about Fairtrade Holidays.