May's meeting and June information

Bonjour Malago WI!

May's meeting was one of the most important yet, with national campaign votes cast for the SOS for Honey Bees resolution. Before this serious business took place, Daphne gave us a potted history of WI campaigns, and then we heard from local beekeeper and something of an expert (being ex president of the British Beekeepers’ Association), Dr Ivor Davis. Many thanks to Ivor, who talked us through the basics around why bees need saving. We were convinced: Malago WI unanimously voted in favour of the resolution 23/0. Our vote was cast on our behalf by our 'link member' President of Knowle WI, Barbara McInerney. The resolution was debated and passed with an overwhelming majority of 99.4% at the AGM:
"SOS for Honey Bees – honey bees play a vital role in the pollination of food crops and in our environment. In view of concerns about the accelerating decline in the UK honey bee population, this meeting urges HM Government to increase funding for research into bee health."

For more information on the campaign and how to get involved go to:
http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=15584

We also spent time discussing the issues close to our hearts with a view to drawing up a list of possible future MWI campaigns. View long-list here:
http://malagowi.blogspot.com/2009/06/campaign-ideas-from-mays-meeting.html

And onto June's meeting, a WI classic done in a new Malago WI way - flower arranging. Clare from Les Fleurs florists - http://www.lesfleurs.org.uk - will be showing us the ropes, with a workshop designed to give everyone the confidence to tie a bouquet and produce a show-stopping arrangment using containers from around the house, and foliage from around the garden. This is where you lot come in - Don't forget to bring vases, gravy boats and jam jars for your arrangements, as well as any flowers, greenery, leaves or anything else from the garden to add to your finished article (we will provide flowers but there may not be many to go round. We'll learn the tricks of how to make a few flowers go a long way...).

Also new for this month, we've introduced three new ways for meetings to run to time and for us all to get to know each other better:
1. a noticeboard, for the latest information about upcoming meetings, fundraising, social events, and those all important tea and cake rotas;
2. a recommendations file, to allow members to share information about great traders, local shops or fantastic deals that we can all benefit from;
and... drum roll...
3. a social evening! It's been a long time coming. Join your fellow Malago WI members on Wednesday 22 July, 8pm, in the main bar of the Tobacco Factory.

Chocolate workshop
On Saturday 18 July, some of us will be at a hand-made chocolate workshop. Join us for the bargain price of £20 – give your name and a cheques to Jen at the June meeting. All others who have put their name down need to pay at the meeting – also to Jen.

See you with your secateurs on Wednesday 24 June, same time, same place.

Constance Spry, eat your heart out.
MWI x