Resolutions (Meeting of 8 May)
As is customary for all WIs, Asby WI’s May meeting was primarily concerned with discussing the resolution for the national annual meeting. This year the subject was around mental health and its treatment being as important as that of physical health. Members also made plans for the ‘Bountiful Button Bonanza’ being held a few weeks later. Following the discussions, and refreshments provided by Rachel Forrest and Gwen Hadrill, members finished the evening with a few rounds of Knockout Whist. Helen Cooper won the raffle prize and the winners of the competition for a posy in an egg cup were Rachel Forrest and Helen Cooper.
Coach Trip (16 May)
Asby WI’s annual coach trip took members and friends this year to Salford Quays – a new venue for most. Here, in unexpected sunshine, they were able to visit the Lowry Centre with its excellent and varied display of works by LS Lowry, the Imperial War Museum, and the BBC; explore the quays and, of course, participate in some retail therapy! Carol Smith was thanked for again organising the event.
Buttons & Teas (2 June)
The ‘Bountiful Button Bonanza’ was a great success. Afternoon teas were served and raised nearly £260 for the Ankoma project in Africa – a project close to the heart of a young couple from Asby and regularly supported by Asbeians.
At the same time customers had been asked to bring along unwanted buttons. This was in response to a request from The Lakes School, Windermere where, as part of a project on the Holocaust, the pupils are aiming to collect 1.5 million buttons with which to create a memorial to the 1.5 million children who died. While the younger WI members served the teas more mature members (and some visitors) worked continuously counting the buttons as they came in. At the end of the afternoon over 17,000 buttons had been checked – 2,000 more than the target privately set by WI President Annie Johnson. A comparatively small (just over 1% of the total required) but nevertheless very worthwhile contribution for the school.
Members are now looking forward to their next monthly meeting when they will be visiting High Plains, Drybeck, to hear about carriage driving from Louise Reeve
