It’s been another fantastic year for Seven Hills WI. We’re still at maximum capacity for members and we’ve had a brilliant programme to keep us entertained. Personal highlights for me include Cheerleading and Dr Nate Adams.
Cheerleading in 2015
Fundraising has become such a huge part of our group and I’m happy to say we’ve continued to raise massive amounts of money for our charity of the year, Sayit. Our total this year is £1055.69 so well done to everyone who baked for Sheffield Food Festival or came along to our Centenary event. Next year I would like to organise an extra fundraising event or challenge for our charity so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Sheffield Food Festival 2015
One of my personal goals as President is to make members feel welcome and more included in the group. It can be hard when we have such a large group and when I’m personally very busy trying to get things ready at the start and end of meetings. I think we have got better at making members feel more included. We’ve had more and more newbies get involved, join spin-off groups and even feel like they want to join the committee after one year. I’d like to thank Lucy and Kat for organising a record number of meals out for SHWI Eats. Events like these really help people get to know each other and I think we’ve had much more than the usual faces come to events other than meetings. There is more to do and I hope we can build on this next year.
Spin-off SHWI eats event at Bhaji Shop
On to the committee. We’ve had a few people stand down this year so I’d like to thank them for their hard work. Caryl Carson, Chella Quint, Leanne Sunter and Carly Sunter – thank you for everything you have done for SHWI and I hope you to see you at meetings in the future.
Our committee for 2016 is:
President – Kirsty Bowen
Secretary – Laura Bainbridge
Treasurer – Vicky Porteous-Medley
Vice President & Programme Co-ordinator – Jennifer Marsden
Assistant Secretary – Grace Tebbutt
Assistant Treasurer – Bex Lissaman
Meeting Attendance Secretary – Jodie Winters
Newsletter Editor – Sam Foster
Programme Co-ordinator – Rachel White
Meeting Co-ordinator – Liz Needes
SHWI Ambassadors – Anna Pilson, Alice Bullas, Sarah Willougby, Karin Safwenberg-Barnes, Chelle Cook
Next year we have a fantastic programme of events – more details to be announced soon!
Finally I’d like to say it’s been an honour to be President in the Centenary year. I’ve been lucky enough to have some fantastic opportunities and represent you in this year including appearing on the Great British Menu.
BBC/Optomen Television Ltd/Andrew Hayes-Watkin
I will be stepping down at our AM in 2016 and I hope then, I will be able to look back at another successful year where the WI has enriched our lives and helped people where we can.
The WI has been a force for good and for change for 100 years. I’d like to finish with a saying inspired by our WI friend, Joanne Croxford’s own motto – “Deeds not Words”:
‘Fine words butter no parsnips’
I hope to our WI can continue to make positive change for our lives and our wider community in 2016. Kirsty Bowen President
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