10:10 - Malago WI round-up

So 2010 is coming to an end, and what have we done?

Many of our members signed up for the 10:10 campaign and pledged to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% over the course of the year. How did you get on? There's still time to make those changes that could amount to 10% and here's how;

• join the campaign 
• change your lightbulbs to energy saving bulbs and turn them off
• insulate your home (free to those with low income, over 60 or with under 16's in the house) and reduce drafts
• cut down on flying
• drive less; use public transport/ walk/ cycle/ lift share
• grow your own food
• buy responsibly; buy quality items that last, buy secondhand, buy energy efficient products, buy secondhand or FSC marked wood and either shop on foot/ bike or for larger items use home delivery services.
• get an energy monitor (borrow from the library or often free from energy suppliers) and see what changes you can make to your electricity use via behaviour change; e.g. re-arranging plugs so that unused equipment is off; un-plug phone chargers, use Standby Savers.
• eat seasonal and local produce, eat less meat and dairy and reduce food waste 
• reuse, repair and recycle 
• consider your heating; thermostatic control (reducing the temperature setting by 1% could reduce CO2 emmissions by 12%), use the timer to avoid heating the house when empty, wear an extra layer of clothing
• conserve water; water butts, stop dripping taps, reduce toilet flush, showers instead of baths
• buy renewable energy
• produce our yown energy and heat

There are so many ideas (these are just a few) and the 10:10 website is a good place to start with case studies and lots of great ideas. What's more, please share your own ideas.

  

As mentioned at the November meeting, is there anything we can do to temper the impact of consumerist Christmas? Try to recycle as much wrapping as you can? Christmas cards make great gift tags for next year's presents. Go out for brisk walks rather than staying inside with the heating on full blast? Send thank you emails rather than more cards? Re-gift any unwanted presents? We'd love to hear any ideas you have to reduce/reuse/recycle when it comes to the festive season.

And what of the Malago WI? Opportunities for reducing our carbon footprint have been identified. Some have been realised, whilst others are yet to be achieved:

• adhere to the environmental policy http://malagowi.blogspot.com/2009/04/malago-wi-environmental-policy.html
• hold a screening of The Age of Stupid (I still have the DVD if anyone would like to borrow it)
• efficient use of the water urn at meetings and events including operation, water saving and maintenance.
• lighting and heating of the hall: talk to caretaker about light bulbs and heating controls.
• meetings: consider sustainable materials and minimise waste.
• host a swishing party and encourage 'slow fashion'.
• travel to meetings: encourage members to liftshare/ walk or cycle whilst maintaining personal safety.

If you have any other ideas about how Malago WI could reduce its carbon footprint, then do share them with a committee member, so that we can continue to make improvements.

And that about sums it up....

See you in the New Year, where we hope you are able to arrive for the meeting 2 by 2 (having travelled with another member either on foot/ bike/ public transport or even by car)!!!!

Odette

Annual accounts

As our website acts as the official minutes for our meetings, we need to record all Malago WI business here. So for all members, here are the accounts for our financial year ending 31 August 2010 (10 months only):

Receipts:
£519.10 - Receipts at meetings
£2093.50 - Subscriptions
£356.50 - Workshops
£126.00 - Age of Stupid film screening
£30 - Apron sales (Fundraising)
£51.30 - Bee awareness event (Fundraising)
£180 - Swish evening (Fundraising)
£0.79 - Bank interest
£15.00 - Donations
Total - £3372.19

Payments:
£75 - Hall
£1461.69 - Speakers and other meeting costs
£448.90 - Federation membership fees
£734.10 - National membership fees
£330 - workshops
£96.06 - Age of Stupid film screening
£15 - Art trail
£98.61 - Gores Marsh fundraising (expense from previous year)
£53.01 - Bee awareness event (Fundraising)
£114.39 - Swish evening (Fundraising)
£83.26 - Errors on audit last year
Total - £3510.02


Opening balance at 1.11.09 - £2094
Deficit for year - £137.83
Closing balance at 31.8.10 - £1956.17

Too many puddings?

Is that what Ruth, our lovely judge, was thinking the next day? Thank you to everyone who came to our first pudding night and 2nd birthday party. It was a delicious special evening - who can forget the mysterious Ritz cake and of course the winning cheesecake? We are grateful to Daphne Vise, now chair of Avon Federation, for attending and showering MWI with praise and encouragement. We should also note for the record that Karen Bowers was voted in as president for the coming 12 months, with Lottie Storey as vice president, and that our accounts will be presented at November's meeting.

Our unreserved apologies are due to anyone who turned up on the 27th, we promise to not change meeting dates again unless totally unavoidable.

Onwards to the festive season - November 24th is Christmas Creations and 'Challenge Alice'....to wrap absolutely anything! Please bring your challenging presents, and if you fancy having a go at something less challenging please bring a gift to have a go yourself (after a demo of course, wrapping materials provided).

You will also have an exclusive opportunity to buy, with first choice of gorgeous vintage china cakestands and candles made by your very own committee. Perfect gifts or just treat yourself (you could wrap it on night and put under the tree with your name on and no-one will be any the wiser).

There will also be a prize draw for anyone renewing or joining for 2011 on the night. Cost a bargain 30 pounds. So members please bring any curious friends and beat the January rush. Any guests who want to come are welcome and we just ask for a donation towards refreshments for this our last 2010 meeting (please note there is no meeting in December).

Finally, another prize will be up for grabs - the best homemade decoration! We are thinking maybe something you made as a child, but anything as long as made by your own fair hands!

Our stall at the Tobacco Factory Christmas market (December 5th) promises to be absolutely full of beautiful things. We do need a few more volunteers to sell, and chat, for a couple of hours, please email us as soon as possible.

Please also email us if you are interested in joining a quilting group, and the last word to Jane Brocket:
"If I am in any way responsible for inspiring members of the Malago WI to have a go and enjoy quilting, then I’m truly delighted!"

Puddings and quilts

This Wednesday is pudding night, bring a couple of portions to share - and news hot off the press: non members welcome!

And thanks to our lovely quilting tutor Nicola, we had a lovely time (photos linked below) and at least a few of us are truly hooked.

Creative crochet, comforting puddings, and Christmas cheese

September's meeting was a busy one, we do seem to like our woolly creations. It took me 6 attempts to do a slip knot, and things did not improve on the night. But then the next day I did a whole crochet flower(ish). Miracle. Any creations of your own? Do send us photos! Many thanks to all the patient teachers on the night.

We meet again October 20th for a pudding night to celebrate our 2nd birthday. Please bring equivalent of 2 portions of a pudding - you may have made it or you may not....there may be stories to tell of a family tradition, it may be a recipe you have always wanted to try, or it may be angel delight! We will be sharing tastes and recipes (please bring the recipe if possible), with cream and custard ready and waiting (there will also be re-heating facilities). Please also bring your own spoon, bowl and a nice glass for some fizzy cordial.

As mentioned at the meeting we are running a stall at the Tobacco Factory Christmas market on December 5th to raise ever important funds. Please email us if you can spare a couple of hours to chat and sell, or let us know between mouthfuls of pudding. We will be selling cake stands and candles made from vintage crockery - if you would like to help make them, or indeed if you have an odd tea set or two that would love a new lease of life, please let us know as soon as possible.

Finally, if you have always wanted to know more about cheese, or just like it a lot, we are offering an evening of tasting in time for Christmas from Trethowens on November 4th (location is central Bristol). Email us now to reserve your place, more details at the meeting.