REPORT FOR MAY - RESOLUTION DEBATE
President, Jenny Dodd, welcomed 25 members and our three guests to a busy May meeting.
Following the great success of our M&S Ladies’ Night, Anne Bennett from the Friends of Yeovil Hospital and Sue Scott from the Princess Alice Hospice were present to receive our donation cheques from the proceeds of this event. Elaine Gilmore introduced proceedings and thanked everyone who had been involved. The cheques, each in the sum of £2,500, were presented by Elaine’s co-subcommittee members, Sally Norris and Jayne Jones. Anne and Sue thanked everyone for their wonderful efforts and although neither had been able to be present on the night, they had both heard enthusiastic reports of the event from those who had been there. They stressed how important such events were to them for their fund raising efforts.
The evening continued with a talk by Eileen Hurd who is the Somerset Federation representative of ACWW – Associated Country Women of the World.
Eileen explained how the association exists to promote friendship and help to other women across the world. Pennies for Friendship started as a way of fund raising in 1939. She told us of various projects that have taken place to help rural woman – things like providing a clean source of water, text books for education and even wheelbarrows to make life easier to transport things over long distances.
Jenny Dodd thanked Eileen for her interesting insight into ACWW. Members were then invited to visit the Bring & Buy stall and buy raffle tickets, whose proceeds were to go to ACWW. This they did enthusiastically and £65.00 was raised for this worthy cause.
After a break for refreshments, the evening continued with the AGM resolution – SOS for Honey Bees. Honey Bees play a vital role in the pollination of food crops and in our environment. In view of concerns about accelerating decline in the UK honey bee population, this meeting urges HM Government to increase funding for research into Bee Health.
Vivien Cherry gave a passionate and interesting presentation in favour of the resolution and the members voted unanimously to support it.
A short business meeting followed. The interest groups are going from strength to strength with the walkers planning their third walk; the book club reading their second book and the Lunch Bunch still eating their way around Somerset! A trip to the Swan Theatre is coming up and any member interested should contact Vivienne Ford for details.
Our next meeting on 10th June, is our out meeting to the Cider Brandy Company followed by a meal at the Rose & Crown, East Lambrook.
New members are always welcome – if you would like to see what we are about on a more informal basis do join us for our 8th July meeting when we are having a cream tea. Contact me on 01935 862034 for more information.
Rachel Moulden, 23rd MAY 2009