February 2024
A Message from Kate
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our January meeting on such a cold night to hear Jonathon Schofield and his memorable talk about local women.
I am sure you will agree that our current programme team have done an amazing job with this year’s programme and next year’s looks like it will be as good. However they have decided to step down and so we need three volunteers to come forward to plan the programme from April 2025 to March 2026. If anybody is interested in finding out more about this role please come and talk to either a committee member or a member of the current programme team about what it entails.
The committee has co-opted Sue Westwood to fill the vacancy we have. A big thank you to Sue for volunteering to join us.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at February’s meeting when we welcome Andy Spinoza talking to us about Manchester Unspun. I am also looking forward to reading your poems about Manchester.
Best wishes
Kate
Birthday Greetings
Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in February
Perveen, Liz R., Barbara Y., Krys, Pat M., Michele, Trish
Monthly Meeting
Thursday,15th February
7.30pm
Speaker-Andy Spinoza ‘Manchester Unspun-From Punk to Pandemic’. He will be bringing copies of his books which can be paid for by card or with cash.
If you would like to join the meeting on Zoom please contact Lesley at ms.hill@btinternet.com
Rota Volunteers-Door-Julia Raffle-Liz R., Chris B. Cakes- Angela B., Diane Meet & Greet-Sue J.
We would be grateful if those of you on meeting duties please arrive by 7.15pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Linda McD. so that she can send out an email to fill the slot. Thank you.
Competition-A poem about Manchester
January Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-37 Zoom-0 Visitors-5 Income: Visitors:£25 Raffle:£45 Cakes:£16
March Competition-None
Heatons WI News
Laptop and Card Reader Purchase-After some discussion and a unanimous vote at the January monthly meeting it was decided we should buy a laptop and card reader. Please note that the card reader cannot be used to pay for membership.
Monthly Walking Group-The first walk for our new group will be on Thursday, 7th March at 10am. If you have not yet signed up but would like to do so please contact Linda McD. and she will add you to the WhatsApp group.
Charity Nominations-We are coming to the time to choose a charity to support from April 2024 to March 2025. The criteria are as follows:
It must be a registered charity.
It must benefit women and girls, but may also include all.
It cannot be for animals.
Preferably a local charity.
Nominations should be sent to Karen at heatonswisec@outlook.com by the end of February with a brief outline of what the charity does. These will be presented at the March meeting by the nominator. They will be asked to be the representative of our WI with the charity and liaise with the fund raising group for the duration of the year.
Bursaries-We will be reinstating the bursaries in the next financial year in April. An email will be sent out soon with all the details so have a think about what you may like to do. Please note that you may use the bursary for any new skill you wish to learn or to widen your knowledge-it is not limited to a craft.
Rota 2024/2025-The new rota is available for April onwards. Please add your name-if each member took on a duty we would have it almost filled. As from April the payment for baking a cake will rise to £5. This should preferably be a cake which can be cut into a minimum of 10 slices-please leave it uncut. If you do not wish to bake, a shop bought cake is also very welcome-please ensure you keep your receipt.
Cheshire Show-If you are proposing to submit an entry into the show please let Sally know the category by the March monthly meeting. If you need more details about the categories or to see a copy of the schedule please contact Sally.
Evacuation Procedure-Please let Linda McD. know if you leave the meeting early so that it can be recorded on the register. It means that, should we have to evacuate the building, we know who exactly is still there. In Linda’s absence please tell Sally. Our evacuation meeting point is on the field opposite the car park entrance.
Reminder-The bar at the Sports Club is card only.
Heatons WI Events
Saturday, 9th March-Fund Raiser Coffee Morning at the United Church, Heaton Moor Road, 10am-12pm. There will be refreshments, cakes and a raffle. Thank you to all who have offered to make cakes and help on the day. There will be a sign-up sheet for cakes at this month’s meeting. Cakes can be dropped off at Sue J’s house between 4pm and 6pm on Friday 8th March or dropped off at the church on the Saturday morning. Please include a list of ingredients and leave cakes uncut. We also need raffle prizes which can be brought to this month’s meeting or dropped off on the day-no alcohol please. If you are unable to attend the meeting or the coffee morning but would like to donate a cake or raffle prize please get in touch and we can arrange to collect from you. Please note that this replaces our usual President’s Coffee Morning.
North East Cheshire Group News
If anybody is interested in any NEC Group activities please contact Karen
Wednesday, 6th March-Garden Chat via Zoom at 7.30pm. Use the link below to join the meeting. You can send any pictures or questions beforehand to necgwi@outlook.com. These could be about anything garden related-pests or problems, successes, compost or watering, tools or garden features. Between us we will try to answer the questions.
Wednesday, 13th March-Cheshire Peaks Group Meeting. Lesley Smith, historian and performer presents “Meet the Real Nell Gwynn” at Poynton Civic Centre. £5 per ticket. Please contact Karen for a ticket. Payment to her by this month’s meeting. Cheques should be made payable to Cheshire Peaks Group. Please note that you will need to take your own cup if attending.
Wednesday 10th, April-Spring Meeting at Poynton Civic Hall. The speaker will be Judith Holder, comedy writer and TV producer who originated Grumpy Old Women. This is the speaker who was cancelled in October. Tickets are £5 which includes a drink on arrival and refreshments. Please give payment to Karen by this month’s meeting. Please note the change of venue.
Cheshire Federation News
If anybody is interested in any Cheshire Federation activities please contact Angela
CFWI Virtual WI-If anyone is interested in joining, as a dual member, or has a friend who would be interested in finding out more, please contact Angela.
Saturday, 16th March-Green Dots Day. We are looking for delegates for this event 10am to 3.30pm at WI house in Chester. Sue J. has already volunteered so we need one other member to attend. There will be a range of interesting workshops, demonstrations and ideas which can be brought back to share with members on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Your ticket and travel expenses will be covered by our WI. If you would like more details please contact either Angela B. or Sue J.
Member’s Notice Board
If you have a notice you would like to be included in the Members’ Notice Board section of the newsletter, or know of any local events other members may be interested in please send details to
Linda McD.
Bottle Lids-Sue J. is collecting bottle lids for Stockport’s largest recycled bottle lid mural. Please bring them along to any meeting between now and February.
Volunteer at Suffragette Square-Groundwork Greater Manchester are working to revive Suffragette Square in Stockport and are looking for volunteers on the following dates
Thursday 29th February 13.00-16.00
Thursday 7th March 13.00-16.00
Wednesday 13th March 13.00-16.00
Wednesday 20th March 13.00-16.00
Please contact Matt.Holker@groundwork.org.uk for further information.
St Martin’s Foodbank-1st Wednesday of the month. Please drop off at Kate J’s house. There will be a box for donations on the drive if the weather is dry or in the porch if wet, from 10am until the evening. They need pasta sauce, UHT milk, shampoo, tinned fruit, tinned soup, tinned meat e.g. ham, corned beef, baked beans, long life fruit juice, sanitary products, tinned fish.
Recycling
RNIB Stamp Collection-Shirley Shaw is collecting used postage stamps for the RNIB. She will bring boxes to WI meetings for members to put their used postage stamps in. You will need to separate UK mainland from the rest of the world, including Isle of Man, Jersey etc. Shirley will collect and send them to the RNIB, who get £20 per kilo.
B&Q is recycling plastic plant pots, small electrical items, batteries, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
Superdrug Pharmacy at the top of Merseyway Shopping precinct is collecting empty medicine blister packs.