President's Address 2021
Well, what a year it has been! I never expected at last's year annual meeting that a year later we would still be meeting online. the last 14 months have included 14 zoom monthly meetings on a wide range of topics plus many online coffee mornings, evening chats and book groups. 3 in person walks, 2 Happy Post parcels and a drive by food collection. I am so pleased that LEWI has managed to rise to the challenge and keep going with most of our regular activities albeit in a different way. Online meetings are not for everyone , for a wide variety of reasons, but I hope that you whether you have joined every meeting, dropped in here and there or just enjoyed the Happy Post and monthly newsletters you feel LEWI is still there despite the restrictions and that the Committee have done everything they can to provide opportunities for you to stay involved.
I must say a huge thank you to all of the Committee members for their contribution over the last year. it has been a different year of being involved with many of the usual tasks ceasing - refreshments, hall bookings, collecting cash and setting up the PA system to name a few. A particular thanks to those who were intending to step down from committee this time last year but said they would stay on until we could have a ‘proper’ annual meeting and have remained on committee for the whole year, they are being released this time! I could go on a list what each of these wonderful ladies do for LEWI, whether it be making sure we all get a birthday card despite having a lockdown birthday (or 2), battling with online banking issues, sourcing glue that fits through letter boxes or forcing us to look at things from a different point of view! Each committee member does their best so that LEWI can be the best it can be, so thank you. Emma, Lynn, Lynn and Janice B. are stepping down from committee this time so a special thanks to them for their time on the ‘team’. I hope that we are all able to look forward to the new LEWI year with optimism and excitement about being together again, renewing old friendships and making new ones. The LEWI legs walks are resuming, books groups are beginning to meet in person outdoors and we have some in person meetings booked from the summer onwards. Many members have even signed up for a weekend WI camp in September!
The WI has seen many historic events throughout its 100 year history and this pandemic will, in time, be remembered as another time where women pulled together, supported one another and played their part in keeping things going when things are tough. I certainly would have found the past 14 months much more challenging without LEWI, so thank you to each of you for being part of LEWI.
LEWI 2021 Committee Report
So it has been probably the oddest year any of us have experienced! Our thanks go to Zoe, who has led us so well through this very difficult time , motivating us all to keep going and this has helped to make the LEWI year as strong as it has been. Our Membership for 2020 was 78 ladies. We are of course sad to have lost some longstanding members for the coming year, but we are pleased to still have a strong group to move forward with into hopefully happier times.
Our Committee has worked really hard behind the scenes to provide you with the additional chat meetings and quizzes, as well as the gift boxes that we hope you have enjoyed. as we move into this coming year several committee members are stepping down for a well deserved rest and we'd like to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication.
We'd also like to extend our thanks to the members who have stood up to help us along the way with food bank collections , knitting poppies and creating fabulous quiz rounds. Particular thanks to Naomi for running a fantastic craft workshop and to Madeleine for creating our beautiful remembrance wreath.
We have had some really interesting talks this year, many of which we wouldn't have been able to access 'in person', from seeing Charlottes live upcycling demonstration to a real live TV star in Howard of Bake Off fame. we've enjoyed subjects from Postcards and Pearls to Royal Court Scandals and the history of Drag! We have had social chats, Christmas Craft session and a bake-a-long , as well as help dealing with our Mental Health.
Despite meetings not being in the expected format we have regularly had attendance in the 30's and have had several visitors who would have been unable to join due to geography coming along to the meetings. Alongside this we have also had some fabulous LEWI Legs walks and knitting group meetings. Our Book Groups have increased from three to four (obviously a very Literary group!) and thanks go to Cindy, Jenny, Laura and Sam for organising these.
On behalf of the Committee, I'd like to thank you all for your support in what we have been trying to do this year . We appreciate it isn't the year you signed up to we thank you for learning along with us! Looking forward to another year of fun and friendship, in whatever form we are able!