This has continued to be a very different period in time for everyone on a personal level, work commitments, social lives, etc. with Covid19 problems, including another Lockdown over the winter months.
We started formal monthly Zoom meetings in May 2020 and were not able to return to the Village Hall until August 2021.
8 May 2020 saw VE Celebrations in a very small way in the village. No main events could take place but some people in the village were able to sit at a safe distance in their front gardens.
Members had the opportunity to read up on and discuss The Resolutions and in June 2020 it was decided to go with the 2 most popular topics: - 'A Call to Increase Potential Stem Cell Donor Registration' and 'End Modern Slavery'. In June 2021 the National AGM had to take place on a virtual basis, with the main members & speakers recorded safely in a meeting room. Since then we have had the opportunity to read about the latest Resolution on 'Increase Awareness of Ovarian Cancer' and it has been passed with 99.5% in favour. We managed to hold our AGM on a virtual basis in September with all information being sent out on-line or posted to our members.
Zoom was also very successful for having more informal chats which we also held on a monthly basis, sometimes with a quiz, scavenger hunt or chats based on a particular theme, eg holidays.
In order to keep in touch with each other we did several Newsletters encouraging all members to send in a 'write-up' with photos. It was a really lovely way to keep in touch with each other. In August we also did a 'Goody Bag' and another Newsletter for each member. A second 'Goody Bag' was organised at Christmas, as we were unable to meet either in the Hall or for a meal out. However a 'Raffle' was devised and everyone received a prize! A huge thank you to all those involved with organising these.
When we were able to meet outside in public spaces or gardens in small groups we set up organising these on a regular basis, making sure everyone was safe. We all got to know each other so much better. Keeping in touch was also carried out by regular phone calls to some of our more isolated members. We managed one small group meeting of 6 in the Village Hall in October, before the second lockdown prevented us continuing with these. In June 2021 we held a picnic on the Recreation Field to which many members were able to come. We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed the time chatting safely.
Denman College offered a very wide variety of courses that members could do on-line for £5. The NFWI Board of Trustees announced that with great sadness they had to take the decision to permanently close the College due to financial problems. There were also County Zoom meetings with some very interesting Speakers. A number of our members took advantage to access these.
As Government restrictions were lifted a small group of WI ladies participated in a local Tai-Chi class with sessions initially held on the Recreation Field. Thankfully for all outdoor exercise the weather was very kind all during the summer months of 2020.
We were able to support our local Food Bank at Christmas and members donated special items.
Our Zoom Speakers included 'Experiences of a Church Organist', a Talk on 'Brunel & SS Great Britain', 'Health & Wellbeing', 'Plants which Changed the World', 'Beautiful Somerset' and 'Food, Facts & Fibs'. When we were able to return to the Hall for the first time we thoroughly enjoyed an in-person talk by Emma Britton on 'From Radio Shows to Funerals & Weddings', as well as meeting as a whole group. Celebrations with Bucks Fizz and cake!
Thank you to everyone who helped to put our Programme together.
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