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

Campaign ideas from May's meeting

At the May meeting, we heard about the national campaign, SOS for honey bees. And we also invited members to suggest issues they feel strongly about and would like Malago WI to consider putting forward as a campaign in the future, on a local or national level.

Here is a list of those ideas:
:: Women on the breadline/ single mums; provide opportunities to join WI through assistance with membership costs, taking WI to them, help with skills needs such as literacy/ basic skills.
:: Women who self-harm; raise profile/ understanding/ support.
:: Elderly in our community; befriending
:: Pink toys - gender specific toys/ products for children
:: Plastic recycling and use reduction
:: Supermarkets taking over - support independents
:: Hospital care - feeding issues
:: Food - body image/ media/ education in schools
:: Food - wastage/ cost
:: Education - sex and relationships/ domestic violence
:: Schools - overtesting, learning to pass exams, no love for learning, too target driven
:: Schools - fear in Bristol of Secondary Schools
:: More space for growing food locally
:: Creating sustainable communities
:: Public transport - service and cost, oil alternatives
:: Traffic on North Street - more crossings, encourage people not car focus
:: Parking at Tesco (North Street) on double yelow lines
:: Dog mess and mess on pavements
:: Encourage more people to get wormeries
:: Bike theft
:: Vandalism
:: Rubbish - litter and fly-tipping
:: Buddy scheme - elderly
:: Diversity in WI; encourage/ research
:: Street Parties
:: Encourage women to cycle/ link with Sustrans
:: Support Bristol South swimming pool

May newsletter

Malago May Queens, how do you do?

So much to report... April's credit crunch offer of two-speakers-for-the-price-of-one went down a treat with you bargain hunters. Kath Kelly and Dave Hamilton provided us with tips galore for spring cleaning, eco cleaning, eco living and frugal living at the last meeting. No excuse now, ladies!

And our offerings, both cultural and edible, were enjoyed by all at the Southbank Art Trail. We estimate that around 400 eager art-trailers experienced our south Bristol version of the Learning To Love You More assignments, and Marmalade Cafe raised over £300 to add to our coffers! Paddington Bear would be proud. Well done and thank you to all involved - it's made a huge difference to the bank balance, and will enable Malago WI to continue this year's activities in the manner to which we are accustomed, and go forth into 2010 with gusto. Hurrah.

And if you weren't there you can re-live the experience with the beautiful photographs on our Flickr site.

A big thank you to sponsors-in-kind and providers of wonderful tea, coffee and herbals, Clipper and Pukka. You are too kind.

May's meeting

Taking place on Wednesday 27 May, the next meeting focuses on the history of WI campaigning from our Avon Federation guru, Daphne Vise, and a discussion around the motion for the next campaign - SAVE THE HONEY BEES - with a talk from local beekeeper, Ivor Davis, who may also bring local honey for you to buy (if it's not all sold out by now). And all the cakes will be honey-sweet...

Anyone need a lift in my beautiful pea green boat?

MWI x

Spring is in the air...

Malago Mondrians, Monets and Matisses!

The Southbank Art Trail is nearly upon us, and we are beavering away at our Learning To Love You More assignments, which will be displayed at 84 Greville Road on 9 and 10 May, alongside the Marmalade Cafe.

MALAGO WI NEEDS YOU!

Without donations - of artwork or cakes or time or all three - from Malago WI members, we won't have a show. So please help us, it's a fine cause as you all know, and we have high hopes it will prove to be a successful fundraising and awareness-raising exercise which all goes to making MWI bigger and better.

Alice has done battle with Adobe Illustrator and come out victorious, with two beautiful posters for you to download for your window here in pink or here in grey

Marmalade Cafe

We know there are some very adept cake-makers out there as we've experienced at our meetings so far. Please, if you can spare the time and ingredients to make something, anything, large or small, for us to sell in the cafe we'd really appreciate it.

Or, if your skills lie in tea-making or waitressing, we need you too! If you can spare time (between 11-5, even an hour will do) or cake or creativity, let us know by emailing jointhewi@gmail.com or talk to Lottie at Wednesday's meeting.

Learning To Love You More

The assignments may appear a little daunting to the uninitiated, but fear not - they are designed to be completed by everyone, regardless of artistic experience. Here, we have picked out a couple of examples that we think we might attempt, and we hope might tickle your fancy too:

14. Write your life story in less than a day

27. Take a picture of the sun

35. Ask your family to describe what you do

39. Take a picture of your parents kissing

50. Take a flash photo under your bed

55. Photograph a significant outfit

63. Make an encouraging banner

If you're stuck indoors with nothing to do, have a pop at one of the above. And don't forget to bring it along to Wednesday's meeting!

Talking of which, Wednesday's double-header features urban self sufficiency from one half of Bristol's own Good Life duo, Dave Hamilton, and a talk from Kath Kelly, best-selling author of ‘How I Lived a Year on Just a Pound a Day’. See you on Wednesday 29 April at 8pm.

And if you haven't already seen it on the website, we've drafted an environmental policy to set out Malago WI's aspirations in terms of minimising our impact on the environment. Take a look here, and leave a comment if you feel inclined.

Coming up

May’s meeting is all about campaigning. Learn about the WI’s impressive history in campaigning (Keep Britain Tidy being one of the most famous) and how we can get involved both locally and nationally. Is there something that you would like to change, perhaps we can channel our collective voice and energy into doing something about it? This year’s national resolution is ‘SOS for honey bees’ which, if passed, aims to address the declining honey bee population. Find out more about it, listen to our speaker Ivor Davis, a master beekeeper and ex president of the British Beekeepers’ Association and cast your vote.

A bientot

Malago WI x

Malago WI March and April

Malago red roses, you sing like birds!

Your humble correspondent was off sick, but our president, Karen Bowers, sent this report:

March's meeting was a real gem. Everyone seemed to talk to someone new, everyone had a laugh. Selina of Intercre8 led us in a fantastic ice breaker that had us running madly across the room like children playing musical chairs at a party. Then we started to find our voices, and then we sang. We sounded great! I think we were all stunned. Working in groups meant we mixed and mingled, and then pairs exercises on tongue twister certainly removed any last remains of embarrassment or keeping up appearances. Even finishing off the evening, with the usual announcements, felt different and felt like we were all in it together. 

Sounds like I missed a good one. But, to bring me back from the brink of despair, April's meeting is set to be a corker too. Phew. With this dreary credit crunch showing no signs of abating, we need all the fun we can get. And penny-saving tips to boot! Which is just as well, as we have urban self sufficiency from one half of Bristol's own Good Life duo, Dave Hamilton, and a talk from Kath Kelly, best-selling author of ‘How I Lived a Year on Just a Pound a Day’. Put Wednesday 29 April in your diary.

And talking of environmental issues, Malago WI now has its very own environmental policy, detailing how we plan to minimise the impact our activities has on resources and do as much as we can to help save the planet. Have a look here:

http://malagowi.blogspot.com/2009/04/malago-wi-environmental-policy.html

Feel free to comment - we want your ideas on how to make Malago WI an exemplar group.

There's still time to don your smock and beret for the Art Trail. Whether you'd like to make work for the art exhibition, a cake/biscuits/treats for the cafe, or volunteer your services to help out over the weekend, just drop us a line at the usual address, jointhewi@googlemail.com. The more the merrier.

Malago W.I Go Pro on Flickr!

Until recently we have only had a lowly guest account on the photo-sharing site, Flickr. We are now very pleased to announce that we have upgraded to a Pro account. This means we can upload many more photos and document different aspects of our institute online. Perhaps you’ve tried out a new recipe and photographed the results or maybe you’ve knitted, gardened or campaigned. If you have an image you think might be at home on our Flickr page please send it to Alice at alicehendy at me.com

Pip pip,

MWI x