FFEDERASIWN SEFYDLIAD Y MERCHED MALDWYN

POWYS MONTGOMERY FEDERATION WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

NOVEMBER 2020

CHAIRMAN: Miss Margaret Jones Tel. 01686 430474 [email protected] Hello Everyone / Sut mae pawb Another month has gone by and we see another spike in the pandemic, which restricts our movement and methods of getting together. However we must still keep in touch following the Welsh Government Guidelines. At the moment we can only hold virtual meetings as meetings outside will be out of the question as the winter weather dictates. I know several of our members are not online, so how can we be inclusive? Do we arrange online speakers/demos? Maybe members can meet in a small bubble to share virtual meetings. Please contact me or the Membership team with your thoughts and ideas. To aid online meetings PMF have purchased a license to use ZOOM, allowing us unlimited time online for up to 100 participants. We invite WIs to make use of this facility, whether for a meeting or just to chat with your members, have a virtual coffee evening or a meeting with speaker or demonstrator. If you would like to schedule a meeting please contact Jane to arrange, it may be necessary to change the day or time of your meeting, as a number of our WIs normally meet on the same night. Alternatively we could arrange for a number of WIs or perhaps your Group with speaker or demonstrator. I congratulate the Public Affairs Committee for arranging a virtual Resolution Meeting, on 19th November, to discuss the proposed short list of resolutions for the 2021 NFWI Annual Meeting in April, please join in it is always good to air our views on the important matters that affect our lives and communities, more details under Public Affairs I'd like to thank Jean Hurrell our Membership Chairman for the online quiz on 25 th September, she proposes to hold further online quizzes see details under Membership. Another casualty of Covid 19 has been the Turkey and Tinsel trip to Lytham St Annes, due to lack of numbers and Lytham in a lockdown area it was felt that this tour could not go ahead. The situation at the moment has been a profound challenge for us all and is not over yet. We can only look forward with hope in the face of uncertainty. Keep safe / Cadwch yn saf a chofion Margaret

THE WI OFFICE: Due to Covid restrictions Jane will work from home, if you need to collect or drop anything off, please phone in advance, admittance to the office will be by appointment only, anyone accessing the site must use NHS tracking app or register for track and trace. Please phone Jane if you need to make an appointment.

PMFWI now on Instagram find it under PMFWI. It is primarily a site that uses photos and stories, so any photos that WIs send the Federation can be used to promote WI on this and other social media platforms. e.mail your photographs to the Fed. Office. Thank you.

ADVICE REGARDING YOUR WI AGM: The Charity Commission will understand it has not been possible to follow the constitution. However, whatever decision you make about holding your AGM, you must minute the reasons for choosing this option and show that you have acted in the best interests of your members. You must still complete end of year accounts to be signed off by your Chair with copies circulated to members. AGM may be held virtually via an online platform such as ZOOM / Teams, we appreciate not all members have internet access, an alternative is a ‘hybrid’ meeting where at least two people are in a physical location and others may join remotely in a way that they can see and hear each other. Thought needs to be given about how members can vote. WIs may have no choice but to cancel or postpone your AGM in which case it is important to record this decision in your minutes, in the best interest of your members and to demonstrate good governance for the charity commission. Officers: If you decide it is not practical to hold an AGM we recommend that Officers and committee remain in office until the next AGM. If a committee member wants to step down immediately then the committee can fill this vacancy (with the exception of President) and the person appointed to fill the vacancy serves until the AGM can be held. President must be voted in by the members. Please complete the enc. Annual Report form and return to the office. If you require any further advice please contact your WI Advisor or the Fed.Office.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Chairman Mrs Jean Hurrell 01938 553736 [email protected] Hello again everyone! The trustees have requested a regular quiz night via Zoom and I think that’s a brilliant idea. It’s all just for fun and you don’t even have to disclose your score! Each quiz should last around one hour and will give you a chance to see other members from PMFWI on your screen. Starting at 7.30pm the dates for the rest of the year are Thurs 29 th Oct, 26th Nov & 17th Dec. Please get in touch with Jane or myself if you’d like some Zoom tuition.

PMFWI ONLINE QUIZ Thurs 29th Oct 7.30pm Join Zoom Meeting

Any problems joining contact Jane 07580 235090

PMFWI has two WI ADVISERS in Audrey Vaughan and myself and we are always available for advice about running your WI. But would you like to help us? Would you consider becoming an adviser? Training now is mainly done via webinars with two residential 2-night sessions. If you’d like to know more take a look at ‘My WI’ the information is under Federation Team – WI Advisers. Then give Jane or myself a call; it would be great to have some new faces on our team. Speaking of which, a VACANCY has arisen on this committee, which is all about supporting the membership. Please get in touch if you’d like to join us to help PMFWI members; there are usually 4 meetings per year, and at present are via Zoom. Please come on board! My WI is a very useful tool and has lots of information about running your WI, campaigning, creating and communication with your members. Your e.mail needs to be recorded on the Membership Communication System to access MyWI, if you need help contact Jane or Jean. NFWI is running two surveys on My WI – COUNT ME IN – about membership and one to gauge interest in a future ROADSMART programme with the Institute of Advanced Motorists – particularly important as we haven’t been going far and may need to refresh our skills. Do take part in the surveys – it’s one way of interacting with NF.

2021 CALENDARS can be ordered via the Fed. Office @ £3.50 each. 2022 CALENDAR theme ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ get clicking ladies, landscape photographs to the Fed. Office preferably by e.mail. No Later than 31st March 2021.

FEDERATION TREASURER Lisa Hamer [email protected] Membership Fees NFWI announced from 2021 onwards the membership year will run from April instead of January, in effect giving members three months free subscription. Pro Rata subscriptions only available to new members or lapsed members ten years plus. 1st Oct – 31st March 2021 £10.75 breakdown WI Share £5.28, PMFWI £2.50 and NFWI £2.97. 140 CLUB: Six draws will still be made during 2020. Congratulations to our winners:- Draw No.4. 7th Oct. Ist prize £40 No. 31 Mal Hewitt, . 2nd £20 118 Mandy Conwell, . 3rd £10 No.12 Eirwen Robinson, Adfa & Cefn Coch.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS Chairman Mrs Dorothy Schofield. 01938 555436.

RESOLUTIONS MEETING via ZOOM Thurs 19th Nov 7pm join in to learn and debate the resolutions listed below.

Any problems getting online give call Jane 07580 235090 / Pam 01938 810108 The 2020/2021 shortlisted resolutions for debate and voting by members:- 1. A call to increase awareness of the subtle signs of ovarian cancer 2. Stop women dying prematurely from coronary heart disease (CHD)! 3. Racism and discrimination 4. Now’s the time to act! Protect your nature space to create wildlife-friendly communities 5. Stop the destruction of peat bogs to tackle climate change Full details and briefing materials, available on the NFWI website and My WI on 2 nd Nov. The shortlist and voting slip will also be included in the Nov. issue of WI Life, will WI Secretaries please collate votes to be returned to the Fed. Office by 15th January, 2021. Form enclosed.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Chairman Mrs Mandy Conwell 01686 630145 LITERARY EISTEDDFOD 2020 / 2021: As the Annual Council meeting has been changed from Autumn to May 2021 Eisteddfod entries can be worked on throughout the winter months. STORY - It was one of those days (500 words ) STORI - Roedd yn un o'r dyddiau hynny ( 500 o eiriau ) POEM - In my Garden CERDD - Yn fy Ngardd SENTENCE - LOCKDOWN LLINNELL - DAN GLO LIMERICK Before I grow old and too weary LIMRIG Cyn mynd yn hen a blinedig LETTER- A letter of appreciation to the NHS LLYTHYR Llythyr o ddiolch i'r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Rules and Entry form enclosed. Entries to the Eisteddfod Secretary by 31st March, 2021. BINGO cancelled.

HOME ECONOMICS: Chairman Mrs Geraldine Russell-Jones 01686 650451 NFWI at ROYAL WELSH WINTER FAIR 30th Nov – 1st Dec, 2020- CANCELLED. Competitions will carry forward to 29th – 30th Nov, 2021 Craft – A Recycled Christmas Gift, Produce – Christmas Cake from another country. Plenty of time to perfect your entries.

SPORTS & LEISURE Chairman Mrs Pam Adcock Tel. 01938 810108 Here are the answers to the anagrams in last month’s newsletter:- 1. BADMINTON 2. INDOOR BOWLS 3. DOMINOES 4. SHORT TENNIS 5. DARTS DOUBLES 6. KURLING 7. TEAM DARTS 8. OUTDOOR BOWLS Sadly it doesn’t look as if we will be able to arrange any sport activities just yet but please let us know if there are any sports you would like to try, so we can try and arrange taster days as soon as we are able to and will start competitions again next year. Take care all.

Dates for your 2021 Diaries. NFWI WALES CONFERENCE re-scheduled Sun 7th March, 2021 at Theatr Clwyd, Mold. NFWI ANNUAL MEETING Mon 19th April 2021 at The Albert Hall, London. We are unable to make arrangements, until we know whether restrictions will still apply and how many can be accommodated at these events, our allocation of delegates and Observer places is subject to change. PMFWI ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING: 20th May 2021.

HOLIDAY SOUTH HAMS & DARTMOOR rescheduled Mon 10th – Fri 14th May, 2021. All bookings have been carried over, using the same itinerary. If you have any enquiries regarding your booking please contact Sabrina Travel Tel. 01686 412222

TURKEY and TINSELat LYTHAM ST ANNE'S Fri 27th – Mon 30th Nov.2020. We regret this trip has been cancelled. Owen’s Travelmaster has contacted those who had booked. (01691 654928.)

DENMAN AMBASSADOR: Mrs Jean Hurrell Tel. 01938 553736 [email protected] Denman at Home courses are proving excellent and more are being added each week: https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/ The end of October sees such varied courses as: Pumpkin Marmalade, the Imperial War Graves Commission, Felt Scarves, Royalty in London, Beginner Photography, Patchwork, the History of Morris Dancing and so many more. Do take a look. If you decide to sign up make sure you scroll to the bottom of your confirmation email to get the joining details.

LADY DENMAN CUP COMPETITION 2020 ‘What I heard on the bus…’ Congratulations to the three entrants selected to go through to NFWI in no particular order:- Maddy Thornton, Aberhafesp, Beth McPee, and Iris Pugh, Penybontfawr.

FREE ZOOM TALK : If your WI are holding Zoom meetings and would like a FREE talk about the founders of the WI, please contact: [email protected],uk or call Barbara on 01492582185

Enclosures:-. Annual Report Form, Resolution Shortlist Voting form, NGS Gardens to visit 2021.

. POWYS FEDERATION OF WIs Fed. Secretary Jane Rees Office temporarily closed. Abermule Centre, Abermule, Powys. SY15 6ND Tel. Office 01686 630632 / Jane’s Home 01686 630623 Mobile 07580 235090 e.mail [email protected] Charity Reg. 250177 Follow us on face book Powys Montgomery WIs