My last meeting as WI President summed up the best things about being in Seven Hills WI – teamwork and friendship.
Sometimes, planning a smoking hot programme of activities and speakers a year in advance comes a cropper and we have events that fall through. A week before our meeting, our plans came undone.
But instead of taking the easy option and filling in with an easy back-up meeting, my crack team of dedicated commitee members decided that a papercut workshop was something we could pull off ourselves.
Cue desperate googling off templates, trips to a high street stationer and certain individuals ordering hundreds of scalpels online.
When we arrived at St Andrews before the meeting, it was fantastic to see so many members arrive early to help move tables and chairs. We got ready in super quick time!
Members mingled and chatted about the month’s news and helped themselves to Vicky’s awesome vegan courgette cake.
It was fantastic to be visited by WI friends from around the country – Joanne Croxford from Cambridge was in Sheffield prior to our trip to the Good Life Experience, as well as ladies who are setting us a new group, Wellbeck WI.
The meeting soon began and we ran through WI business. My amazing committee members presented me with a surprise bunch of flowers and asked me to give a speech! I was not prepared at all. In fact, I’m still President until next meeting but I won’t be able to make the October or November’s meeting. Apologies for mumbling a strange thank you!
After a quick break, it was time to start papercutting. Laura and Grace decided to put the skills they have learned at Denman College to good use and lead the workshop. They showed members how to use templates to practice their designs or simply come up with their own patterns. I was amazed to see some of the fab designs people came up with in such a short amount of time.
Soon enough, it was time to get packed away too. Another big thanks to everyone who helped clear away.
Being President has been fantastic. I have got to be involved in so many things I would not have had the chance to – a judge on the Great British Menu, a guest on BBC Radio Sheffield, and help fundraise thousands of pounds.
I’m really excited to take a break as President, continue to support the group and campaign for change in the organisation that we are a part of and the society we live in.
Kirsty Bowen
President 2014 – 2016