MOST WI members have strong opinions! This is why we have been so successful in forging new and valuable ideas for the benefit of everyone.

“Speak out… for issues you care about” is the title of an excellent day being held at County House, on Thursday, November 14, from 10am to 3pm. Cost £5 which includes a soup lunch with the environment and public affairs sub-committee and the Resolutions coordinator for a spirited day looking at how you or your WI could develop a new NFWI resolution and how your WI can turn an existing national resolution into something meaningful for your community. Members will be guided through all the stages of formulating an effective resolution from the spark of an idea to submission along with generating ideas. So often the resolutions now are on subjects that everyone agrees with and long gone are the days of sparkling and exciting debate. Under the topic of Conservation of the Countryside perhaps we could follow in the footsteps of Whitecross in 1936 who viewed with alarm the increasing amount of building on the coastline and preservation of footpaths, and Perranuthnoe in 1949 on the contentious subject of water supplies and the very emotive “Freedom from Hunger Campaign in 1961. We also supported an anti-noise campaign in1960 and a food labelling resolution in 1995. Madron put forward a resolution on the closure of post offices as far back as 1945. We can be proud that the WI in Cornwall has raised the bar in debating many subjects that are important to our county. We certainly seem to hear of various green issues in 2024. Perhaps there is a subject for a Cornish resolution there?

A red letter day for Cornish members in the WI calendar is always the annual meeting, this year being held on October 23 at the Hall for Cornwall, Truro, a favourite location for those members living in the far distant reaches of our capital city! Members also appreciate the very comfortable and modernised Hall. There are two speakers. Most women will be familiar with Esme Young part of the team on BBC’s Sewing Bee and the other is Mathew Kenworthy Gomes CEO of Cornwall Pride. There will also be a bonus in that the members will be entertained by Bryers Boys, singing both nautical and Cornish folk songs. Members are asked to forward any questions to the speakers via the CFWI secretary before September 30. We have had many memorable famous speakers in the past. Ann Widdecombe was a more recent and unforgettable guest. How fortunate as WI members we were to hear the international journalist Kate Adie, formerly chief news correspondent for the BBC.

There are plenty of activities to keep us busy this autumn and the ideal time to perfect a new craft. Under the heading of Autumn Craft Days there are three venues available. County House on Thursday, October 31. Marazion Community Hall, Thursday, November 7, Otterham and St Juliot Hall Marshgate, Monday, November 11. All from 10.30am to 3.30pm. There are seven impressive crafts to choose from, one in the morning and one in the afternoon with a request to choose a third craft in case your first choice is over booked. Cost £20. Tutors will make a small charge for materials. Optional soup and cake lunch at £5.

Craft also features in the WI Competitions at the Cornish Winter Fair being held at the Exhibitions Halls at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge on November 23, which runs from 10am to 4pm There is a collaborative WI class entitled “A Cornish Christmas” to be displayed on a table (76x76cms) and to consist of 1. A round Christmas Cake (15cm) in diameter decorated to suit the theme. Both cake and decorations will be judged. 2. Four mince pies. 3. A jar of Christmas chutney (450gm) jar. 5. A Christmas stocking, any medium, not to exceed (18cm) in length to be displayed unfilled for ease of judging. 6. A floral arrangement suitable for a Christmas dinner table not to exceed (30cm) in width or depth. Accessories permitted but floral foam prohibited. Backdrop and side panels permitted if desired. Twenty marks for each item and 20 marks for general effect and interpretation. The classes for individual members are: Cookery; 1. A decorated Yule Log and 2. Four decorated Christmas cookies. The Handicraft Class; 1. A Christmas place mat, any medium. A Christmas Card (15cm) square. There are three items in the Floral Art section. The Holly and the Ivy, a festive foliage arrangement (30cm) in width and depth. A mini Christmas wreath not to exceed (20cm) in diameter. A miniature festive arrangement in a sherry glass not to exceed (10cm) in width and depth. All judged items to be the original work of a WI member or members. Entry fee is 20p per entry. It is an excellent opinion that the WI is seen to support Cornish Farming and food and as well as a good promotional event for the CFWI. There is free entry and free car parking, plus what we all love a “Christmas Shopping experience!”

Fairtrade Fortnight has just celebrated it 30th birthday, and there is a very good article featured in the September WI Life, listing seven items in which we can still support starting off with “Swapping just one item on your shopping list for a Fairtrade alternative has an impact, and there are more than 6,000 Fairtrade-certified products to choose from.” For any further information on any of these topics ring 01872 272843.