News & Event Highlights
To see all the events and Competitions coming up & the Booking forms go to County Office
2024
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News Highlights
ANNUAL FEDERATION MEETING March 23
This was held at Southwell Minster School on Saturday 23 March and was attended by NFWI Chair, Ann Jones, WI Delegates, members & team members. Before the meeting began a PowerPoint presentation showed events throughout the year. There were 34 wonderful entries in the ‘Hat’s Off’ competition and they were all very different. Federation Chair, Helen Rose gave a warm welcome to everyone, and the business of the meeting followed. Federation Treasurer, Jenny Bailey reported on a large loss of income in the year 2022 -2023. Helen presented her address and the Trustee’s decision to put County House up for sale and members’ questions were answered. The Team Chairs, reported on their forthcoming events. Helen Rose thanked all our volunteers, all team members, Trustees and Staff for their wonderful contribution to the Federation.
Our morning speaker was Marie Copland from Operation Orphan a charity based in Nottinghamshire. She told us about the aims and in particular the need for knitted squares to make blankets for the ‘Forget me Notts’ promotion. Marie took several large bags full of squares which members had kindly donated. They would like volunteers to help sew them together. Ann Jones then gave an insight into her life and answered lots of questions from members.
The craft stalls were kept busy at lunch time; members collected Bulb brochures & Speaker’s list, looked around the displays, brought Prize Draw tickets, and enjoyed a cup of tea!
After lunch Lesley Booth of Laxton WI read her winning Canada Cup acrostic poem and the following received Anniversary Certificates: 70th - Winthorpe & District WI; 75th: East Markham WI, Everton WI, Oxton WI and Upton WI: 100th - Ruddington WI.Anna Hill, Laxton WI the winner of the ‘Hats Off’ competition was presented with her prize.
The afternoon speaker was Gill Thomas, of British Sewing Bee fame who gave an inspiring talk about her life with only one arm and taking part in the programme .Members enjoyed listening and asked many questions. The Prize Draw was announced, and Helen Rose then thanked members from Bleasby, Newark Fountain and Morton, Fiskerton & Rolleston WIs for helping as Stewards and all the members for coming.
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The Trustees served and entertained members to two fabulous Afternoon Tea's at County House that had been transformed for Christmas. After members had drunk copious amounts of tea, ate sandwiches, scones and cakes the Trustees took off their aprons and put on 'hats' to perform Cinderella, read out silly poems and end with members all joining in a 12 days of a gardening Christmas!
 |  Christmas Afternoon Tea at County HouseThursday 30 November & Friday 1 December 2023 |
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We know members love knitting and Newark Palace WI members have been putting their knitting skills to good use throughout the year knitting 6-inch squares. Once they have a box full, they send them to various charities, including Battersea Dogs Home and Dementia units, to be made into blankets. Their latest box full made a complete blanket which will be going to an orphanage in Ukraine before Christmas. Epperstone WI have also been knitting hats and scarves to send out to Ukraine.
The Teams 4U appeal has had many contributions from WIs throughout the County. Thank you so much for the beautiful children’s knitted hats, gloves and scarves, as well as the wonderful knitted dolls you have sent into County House for the Shoebox Project. Their journey began at the end of October with a car filled to the brim taken to meet Wendy Willan for the exchange of bags. She was overwhelmed with your generosity and wished to thank you all so much. They never know exactly where boxes are going until they leave although they will be delivering to Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Bosnia and she has the privilege of travelling to the City of Oradea in NW Romania on 10-15 December. Each lorry will take 8500 - 9000 boxes which will be distributed in and around Oradea; gifts which bring a moment of magic between the giver and the child. Thank you very much for your kindness.
Members have also been knitting Brave Bears for the Inspire (Nottinghamshire Library). Just under 900 bears were put on display at Mansfield Library before being handed over to Nottinghamshire Police to support children to be brave in a time of distress
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‘A fabulous evening thoroughly enjoyed it’ and ‘Wonderful performance, fun, informative and hugely entertaining’ were just two of the comments made about the Mikron theatre event organised by the Federation, on a lovely evening in June. Oxton village hall was full of WI members and the theatre group regulars to watch ‘A Force to be reckoned with,’ the history of policewomen. Thank you to Oxton WI for organising the refreshing drinks from the bar or a cup of tea.
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We have a Zoom Craft & Chat every 2nd Tuesday of the month. This gives you a chance to meet up with other members and show & chat about your crafts. It does not last long starting at 10.00am until 10.45am. We hope you will join us. Get the coffee ready!
Access for Microsoft 365 Link available on top of the Federation web page.
Have you accessed Microsoft 365 yet? Are you a WI Officer in your WI? Do you have email access? You have already been sent a username and password. Then please use our secure Nottinghamshire WI site for sending and receiving emails to and from the Federation.
We are using the Outlook email address to contact your WI. It is important that you look at your WI email address for information that is being sent as it may need a reply.
You can contact the office or any of the contacts included on the list. The Federation Officers, the Trustees, WI Advisers and Team members can all be contacted using the secure Nottinghamshire WI site through Office 365 Outlook. The Members' Information link is being added to all the time, there is also access available to all our members by, going to office.com, signing in using members@nottswi.org.uk,please apply to the Federation office for the password. you can see the Events calendar, Members' Information, enclosures and application forms.
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