How Hollywood made its heroines weight-obsessed and man mad

Tinseltown WI, listen up! It's awards-ceremony time of year and, much as we love watching the TV coverage of our favourite actors on the red carpet, it's not all lovely frocks and blubbing. Read about the dumbing-down of female characters in Hollywood in this report.

Malago WI on ITV West news

If you missed our TV debut last night, don't worry - it's available to view again online

Well done to all involved, and let's hope it brings oodles of new members through our doors.

MWI x

Stop the press!

Those who attended January's fantastic meeting last week will remember ITV West sent a reporter along for interviews and more.

The time has come... tune in to ITV West news tonight at 6pm!*

And if you can't, we'll try to find a link so you can watch it online.
Keep your eye on the website for more information.

Yours in haste,
Malago WI
www.malagowi.co.uk

*that's if nothing more important happens between now and then...

January

Women of south Bristol, hello!

And a very happy new year too. We hope your Christmas was merry and bright, and that January isn't making you too gloomy. There is light at the end of the tunnel - no, not spring, but our next Malago WI meeting.

January sees a change to our scheduled programme. We will be having an Indian head massage talk and demonstration from local massage therapist, Alison Cook. Ali will provide us all with the skills to perform this simple technique, perfect to clear any blocked energy you might be hiding away under those winter hats. 

The meeting starts at 8pm on Wednesday 28 January, at Bedminster Methodist (Ebenezer) Church hall. Let us know you're coming by email: jointhewi@gmail.com

Steve Humphries, director of Bristol's Testimony Films, will visit us in February with footage and a discussion of women's oral histories on love, sex and relationships.

Remember - if January will be your third Malago WI meeting, or you fancy signing up then and there, then bring along cash or a cheque for £29 for your annual membership. 

See you on Wednesday,

Malago WI

Merry Christmas!

Women of south Bristol, hello!

Our second meeting took place on 10 December and saw a good mix of return customers (phew) and new faces – welcome one and all. The activity of the night was the construction of elegant and fabulous Christmas decorations from humble scraps, on a budget of just £10. From the simple retro decorations demonstrated by Carrie, to the intricate snowflakes from Alice, via big, blousey snowballs by Lottie, Ebenezer church hall was alive with activity and the sound of chattering voices and chinking cups. What better way to spend a frosty Winter evening? For those of you who missed it, you can find instructions to Carrie and Lottie’s decorations here and here; Alice’s creation will remain as elusive and mysterious as the abominable snowman… UPDATE: Here's a video tutorial for making the paper snowflakes, from our friends at BUST across the pond.

MEMBERSHIP
We now have 22 paid up members which is a marvellous start to our enterprise. Don’t forget – we need as many members as possible to run the exciting and varied events programme we envisage for Malago WI, so if you would like to join then come along to the next meeting armed with your chequebook or £29 in cash for a year's membership.

Malago WI is open to new members, so you’re welcome to bring your friends. And spread the word – if you have an opportunity to promote our branch at events, fairs or even a poster in your window, let us know and we can let you have a batch of flyers.

JANUARY MEETING
The next meeting will be Wednesday 28 January at 8pm, and we will be welcoming Dr Steve Humphries of Testimony Films. Steve will be sharing stories of wartime women, gleaned from his work in oral history documentation. This is a talk not to be missed – illuminating and fascinating tales of our foremothers from someone who interviewed them first hand. We should probably say that the content may be rather ‘adult’ in places – not for the faint-hearted. But you all seem to be made of stern stuff!

As with all meetings, we’re on the lookout for cakes, biscuits, treats and healthy snacks (post-Christmas waistline anyone?), so if you’d like to bring something along just email jointhewi@gmail.com to let us know. Sue, Rebecca and Lucy have already volunteered their services - thanks to you three in advance.

FUNDRAISING
Malago WI ran a stall at the Christmas Market at the Star and Dove in Totterdown on 20 December. Although it was a little quieter than we’d hoped, we managed to raise over £60 profit and, as always, our stall was beautiful and the Malago WI wares went down a treat. Have a look at the pictures on our Flickr site. Thanks to all those who contributed goods or took the time to work behind the stall, and especially to Kirstie for organising the whole thing.

To supplement membership subs we’d be interested to hear of any opportunities for us to raise money, as well as our profile. If you have an idea for a fundraising event, drop us an email – jointhewi@gmail.com

PUBLICITY
Original 106.5FM had hoped to attend our December meeting, but will now be coming in January. The reporter would like to talk to some of us about what the WI is and why we’re doing it, arriving early and leaving before the meeting starts. If you are happy to take part, please arrive at 7.45pm and let us know on the door.

MEETING DATES 2009
From January, meetings will take place the last Wednesday of the month, so the next few dates for your diary are 28 January, 25 February and 25 March – details to be confirmed.

From us and ours to you and yours, have a very Merry Christmas, and we’ll see you in 2009.
Malago WI