Record of the Institute meeting for June

Leigh on Mendip WI Meeting: Monday 10 June 2013 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall

Welcome and apologies: Sparks welcomed everyone. Apologies were received from Sue Vaughan.

The minutes were agreed and signed as a true record. The members who celebrated the 95^th birthday party at Buckland Dinham enjoyed it and commented on the gorgeous cakes and good conversation. The six members who had attended the NFWI AGM in Cardiff had a wonderful day; members were invited to speak to individuals about their experiences and look at the blog entry. The lunch in Mells was rather a rainy one, but fun!

County News: our ‘Fun with a Fiver’ fiver has arrived and we are planning a quiz to be sold at the Flower Festival and at our September open meeting. The Denman bursary opportunity was mentioned for anyone who has not already visited the college.

Country Fair: Val asked everyone to keep the goodies coming in! If possible to be delivered to her house on Friday so that they can be priced. Please sell as many raffle tickets as possible, and tell everyone about the Barn Dance in the evening, which was a great success last year.

Forthcoming events: We have the bulb catalogues – orders must be given to Sparks by 19 June. 27 June is our Group Social , which will be a murder mystery, where most of us will be sleuths, trying to work out ‘who dunnit’. The theme is an Annual Garden Club Show, so we are invited to dress accordingly! The trip to Milton Lodge is on 1 July, Mary is organising transport tonight. Caroline needs definite names tonight  for the Earth Sciences Centre visit on 22 July. Bring the money (£5 for LOMCA members or £8 for WI members) next month.

Correspondence: The new Denman brochure is available actually and virtually! Mary has a copy or you can look on the Denman website. Information about this summer’s County Quiz. There is free IT training available on any IT related topic we care to suggest. Somerset Federation are holding their 95^th Birthday celebration on 17 September, one member may attend. Don’t forget to order your calendar and/or diary from Mary. Information for us from Kilmersdon about their Summer Supper.

Treasurer’s Report: we have £605.39 in the bank and £32.89 petty cash.

Next month our speakers will be Judy Annan telling us about her travels and Gill Odolphie giving us a ‘hands on’ Introduction to Geology, in preparation for our visit to the Earth Sciences centre. Sue R volunteered to give both VOTs.  On refreshments will be Marguerite & Val

We wished Mary, Jane, Liz and June B a very Happy June Birthday

AOB: Barbara asked for some help at the coffee morning on 17 June – Sparks and Gill both volunteered. In July Barbara needs someone to take her place, Gill volunteered.

Margaret asked for more tombola prizes for the church stall at the fair – to her house or Maureen Chubb’s.

As our programme planning meeting will be on 16 September, we held a secret ballot to ascertain whether members would like to return to our old timetable or continue with the new format on the meeting. The vote was equally split, with some members indicating that they hadn’t noticed any change! We will have a discussion at the planning meeting and make a decision based on the comments received. Members who have strong feelings on this will need to attend that meeting!

Sparks introduced Jenny and David Peet, who told us of their experiences in volunteering on the Mercy Ship ‘Africa Mercy’. This is the largest charitable hospital ship in the world.

We also held a bring and buy stall, raising £58 for Mercy Ships.