
At our May meeting we discussed this year’s National Federation of WIs’ Resolution, “Mental Health Matters”. Our delegate Alison Wilks who will be voting on our behalf at the annual meeting at Cardiff in June outlined the moves to establish parity between mental and physical health and to make it as acceptable to talk about mental illness as about physical. She described the wide range of mental conditions which currently affect around 1 in 6 of the population, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, compulsive behaviour, bi-polar syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One central element of the resolution is to lobby government for better support for mental illness and our members agreed whole-heartedly, several describing how family members had suffered from psychological disorders which had often taken months or years to treat successfully. Our members voted unanimously for the resolution.
The committee members organised a variety of (Ahem!) ‘intellectual’ party games and pub activities as our Social Time entertainment, including swinging skittles, bagatelle, shove ha’penny, dice games, sucking peas up with a straw,carefully guiding a silver ball down a pair of rods into a numbered container and flicking cards into a wastepaper basket from a distance. The record score for this was 37 out of 52. After the serious discussions over the national resolution, members enjoyed letting their hair down, with everyone on the move and having a laugh.
Three members entered our monthly competition for a Poem for May Day and each recited her verses while the audience were asked to vote for their favourite. All three were so good and in such varied styles that it proved impossible to separate them so they were awarded joint first prize.
May Day – by Beverley Fathers.
With days becoming longer, the setting sun delays
The arrival of our nightfall, All hail the month of May
With warmer days enjoyed by all who venture out
And merging of the seasons, for Spring is all about.
Hear excited calls of children as thy gather all around
Their brightly coloured ribbons laid out upon the ground.
A whistle sounds and right on cue around the pole they dance and play,
With joyous, noisy merriment to greet the First of May
Poem for May Day – by Sally Smith
May Day is here
Flowers and buds bursting through in the Garden
Let’s dance to celebrate the month of May.
Set up the Maypole
Bright ribbons flowing free,
Dance and weave through the ribbons,
Celebrate the month of May.
Hooray Hooray!
Crown the Queen of the May,
Coronet of flowers adorn her head,
May Day, time to celebrate new beginnings.
May Day – by Darrilyn Downes
May Day is a special day,
When children love to sing and play.
They dance around the Maypole bright,
Their little faces filled with delight.
The daffodils are out in bloom,
Their bright colours fill any room.
This May Day comes but once a year
And is greeted with a happy cheer.
Members were encouraged to vote on prospective speakers for next year and to contribute ideas for thought-provoking talks, entertainments and demonstrations.
This year is the Centenary of the Warwickshire WI Federation this year and one of the events planned for this is a day-trip to Lincoln, organised by Johnson’s Coaches, on July 30th for any WI member in the county. Coaches for this area’s members will be going from Coleshill School which is offering free parking.
At our next meeting on June 12th at 7.30pm the speaker will be talking about the Middleton Lakes Nature Reserve and the competition is for a Posy from your Garden.
Visitors welcome as always – just turn up and join us.