Pakenham WI News - November 2010

October 19th - Group Meeting.
18 members went to The Annual Group Meeting at Thurston Green community centre. It was an interesting and informative evening catching up on the year's news from the surrounding institutes. The entertainment Musicology was different, but have to be truthful I prefer a speaker.

November 11th Armistice Day - A.G.M. of Pakenham W.I.
Janet Osborne our resident school mistress chaired this open forum to give all our members an opportunity to express their wishes on how their W.I. has been run and will be organised for the future. Janet did a great job and it was unanimously decided we want to be an active institute based on fun and friendship. After the statutory requirement of the yearly meeting choruses of Jerusalem I welcomed almost our entire membership and two W.I. advisors to the A.G.M.
The first part involved the monthly business section where members were informed of various past and future events. The Hilda Philips cup was presented by the vice president Bridget to me as the overall competition winner of 2009-2010. The refreshments which were provided by Doreen, Janet and Maggie were served non stop all evening - thank you girls they were delicious and greatly appreciated - on what turned out to be a very long meeting.
The Annual A.G.M.
I presented Kay Trabbuchi with a bouquet of flowers to thank her for all the hard work and support on the committee. Due to pressure of work and family commitments she has sadly resigned this year. We will miss her company.
After hearing from Marion ( the treasurer ) Pat ( the secretary ) myself ( the president ) and Bridget ( the vice president ) the election process began. Members approved two new members for committee; Tracy Martin ( our resident photographic expert ) and Lesley Anne Ford - welcome aboard girls. The W.I. advisors handled the selection and ballot for the president. I was happy to accept a 5th term of office. It had proved a long and productive meeting but will be remembered and marred by an event that happened after the meeting.

Photos by Tracy Martin
please click to view

December 9th Annual Christmas Dinner
This years dinner by request is in the village hall. The meal provided by Andrea Davey will start at 7pm and be followed by an after dinner speaker from the world of television.

DECEMBER 11TH OVER 70'S CHRISTMAS TEA.
THE W.I. ARE GIVING AN EXTRA SPECIAL CHRISTMAS TEA FOR ALL THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN THE VILLAGE HALL FROM 2PM TO 5PM. WE HAVE ORGANISED MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT AND A WAITRESS SERVICE TEA IN FESTIVE SURROUNDINGS. ALL THE INVITATIONS HAVE GONE OUT BUT IF WE HAVE FORGOTTEN YOU PLEASE COME ALONG AND JOIN THE FUN.

We have heard from Lord Coe's P.A. and our request to be part of the 2012 Olympics has been passed to the relevant parties. There was a web site for individual volunteers but nothing for an organisation such as ours to register. When in doubt go to the top.!!!!!

We have been selected to be part of a BBC 2 documentary on the life of Mrs. Beeton. Three of us film our bit ( the cooking bit !!!) in Pakenham on November 23rd. The request was advertised nation wide and with a quick email to the assistant producer of our book we got the job.

I was delighted and honoured to be elected president for a fifth term. My thanks go to the the members for their friendship and loyal support. I owe everything to a brilliant committee and an absolute pleasure to work with and the very best of friends.

Mary S Kirby.
Amazingly still president of Pakenham W.I.