Former CFWI Chairman and current Assistant Media Officer Sheila Goldsworthy writes a wonderful monthly WI column for The Cornishman. Here is Sheila’s October column
Most WI members have strong opinions! This is why we have been so successful in forging new and valuable ideas for the benefit of everyone. “Speak Out… For Issues You Care About” is the title of an excellent day being held at Chy Noweth an Conteth on Thursday 14 November from 10am-3pm The cost is £5 which includes a soup lunch. Join the Environment and Public Affairs Sub-Committee and our Federation Resolutions Coordinator for a spirited day looking at how your WI could develop a new NFWI resolution or how you could turn an existing national resolution into something meaningful for your community. Members will be guided through all the stages of formulating an effective resolution from the spark of an idea to submission.
So often the resolutions now are on subjects that everyone agrees with and long gone are the days of sparkling and exciting debate. Under the topic of conservation of the countryside, perhaps we could follow in the footsteps of Whitecross WI which, in 1936, viewed with alarm the increasing building along the coastline and the need to preserve our footpaths. Or Perranuthnoe WI in 1949 on the contentious subject of water supplies and the very emotive Freedom from Hunger campaign in1961. WI members also supported an anti-noise campaign in1960 and a food labelling resolution in 1995. Madron WI put forward a resolution on the closure of post offices as far back as 1945. We can be proud that the WI in Cornwall has raised the bar in debating many subjects that are important to our county and beyond. Perhaps you could be the next Cornish WI to put forward a national resolution.
A red-letter day for Cornwall’s WI members is always the Annual Council Meeting, this year being held on 23 October at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro, a favourite location for those members living in the far distant reaches of our capital city! Members also appreciate the very comfortable and modernised theatre. There are two speakers. Most of us will be familiar with Esme Young, part of the team on BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee; the other speaker scheduled is Mathew Kenworthy Gomes, CEO of Cornwall Pride. There will also be a bonus in that the members will be entertained by Bryher’s Boys, singing both nautical and Cornish folk songs.
There are plenty of activities to keep us busy this autumn and it’s the ideal time to perfect a new craft. Under the heading of Autumn Craft Days there are three venues available for upcoming craft workshops: Chy Noweth an Conteth on Thursday 31 October, Marazion Community Centre on Thursday 7 November and Otterham and St Juliot Hall in Marshgate on Monday11 November. All the workshops will be from 10.30am-3.30pm. There are seven impressive crafts to choose from, one in the morning and one in the afternoon with a third craft chosen in case your first choice is overbooked. The cost is £20. Tutors will make a small charge for materials. Optional soup and cake lunch is available for £5, payable on the day.
Craft also features in the WI competitions at the Cornish Winter Fair being held at the Events Centre at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge on 23 November, from 10am-4pm There is a collaborative WI class entitled A Cornish Christmas to consist of a round Christmas cake decorated to suit the theme, four mince pies, a jar of Christmas chutney, a Christmas stocking in any medium and a floral arrangement suitable for a Christmas dinner table.
The classes for individual members include: a decorated Yule log, four decorated Christmas cookies. A Christmas placemat in any medium and a Christmas card.
In the Floral Art section, the classes are: The Holly and the Ivy (a festive foliage arrangement), a mini Christmas wreath not to exceed, a miniature festive arrangement in a sherry glass.
Entry fee is only 20p per entry. It is excellent that the WI is seen to support Cornish farming and food, and the Winter Fair is also a good promotional event for CFWI. There is free entry and free car parking at the Cornish Winter Fair, plus a great Christmas shopping experience!
Fairtrade Fortnight has just celebrated it 30th birthday, and there is a very good article featured in the September issue of WI Life, listing seven ways in which we can support it, starting off with swapping just one item on your shopping list for a Fairtrade alternative. This has an impact, and there are more than 6,000 Fairtrade-certified products to choose from.
For further details of any of these events please contact the CFWI office on reception@cornwallwi.org.uk, or telephone 01872 272843