Meeting Report - April 2012
Woolavington WI’s April meeting saw members arriving clutching teddy bears - bears of all shapes, sizes and condition.
As this was "members meeting", Cindy as acting president welcomed members - the speaker Denise Budd, a visitor Carolyn M, and new member Suzy. The members of the committee were then presented with buttonholes and thanked for their work over the year.
Cindy thanked members who had taken on various tasks for the evening and then introduced Denise Budd and her profusion of varied teddy bears that helped to illustrate her talk on the origin and history of bears.
It all began with Margaretha Steiff, crippled and wheelchair-bound due to polio, making soft toys. Then at her nephew Richard’ suggestion the first bear appeared in 1902, and by 1908 Paul Steiff had invented the "growler". In the 1920's and 1930's well-known English firms were producing bears, Chad Valley, Merrythought, Chiltern, and Deans all with their own characteristics.
Denise then showed examples of the many different character bears that have been produced including "mourning bears" in 1912 after the Titanic disaster; among the popular and well-known were Pooh, Paddington, Sooty and many others. Her talk ended with a warning to anyone with a mohair bear, to beware of moths. Moths are quite partial to mohair! (A day or two in the freezer will help if moths have been near your bear!)
Mo, acting secretary, then thanked Denise on behalf of members, fascinated by her talk and her beautiful bears.
After a ‘coffee and cake’ break the business of the meeting was dealt with. The summer outing would be to Stratford-on -Avon. Our WI would be setting up a WI website, and as requested computer classes are to be arranged.
The June 19th meeting is to be a Jubilee garden party, thanks to May’s kind offer of the use of her garden.
Members were encouraged to take part in the "Open gardens" with craft exhibition day on Sunday June 10th, to raise funds toward the repair of the village hall roof. There will also be a Patriotic hanging basket/ container competition.
Three birthday "girls" then each received a card and gift.
This evening’s competition to name Eve’s bear was won by Brenda with Joey, 2nd Sariquia with Freddy, and 3rd. with Frankie was Betty.
Of the many bear "visitors", the ones chosen by Denise as having the most character were 1st. Carolyn’s well-worn and loved bear, 2nd Kris’ homemade bear complete with button eyes and dungarees, and 3rd Niesje’s cute bear which was also homemade.
The drawing of the raffle then brought a most enjoyable meeting to a close.
As this was "members meeting", Cindy as acting president welcomed members - the speaker Denise Budd, a visitor Carolyn M, and new member Suzy. The members of the committee were then presented with buttonholes and thanked for their work over the year.
Cindy thanked members who had taken on various tasks for the evening and then introduced Denise Budd and her profusion of varied teddy bears that helped to illustrate her talk on the origin and history of bears.
It all began with Margaretha Steiff, crippled and wheelchair-bound due to polio, making soft toys. Then at her nephew Richard’ suggestion the first bear appeared in 1902, and by 1908 Paul Steiff had invented the "growler". In the 1920's and 1930's well-known English firms were producing bears, Chad Valley, Merrythought, Chiltern, and Deans all with their own characteristics.
Denise then showed examples of the many different character bears that have been produced including "mourning bears" in 1912 after the Titanic disaster; among the popular and well-known were Pooh, Paddington, Sooty and many others. Her talk ended with a warning to anyone with a mohair bear, to beware of moths. Moths are quite partial to mohair! (A day or two in the freezer will help if moths have been near your bear!)
Mo, acting secretary, then thanked Denise on behalf of members, fascinated by her talk and her beautiful bears.
After a ‘coffee and cake’ break the business of the meeting was dealt with. The summer outing would be to Stratford-on -Avon. Our WI would be setting up a WI website, and as requested computer classes are to be arranged.
The June 19th meeting is to be a Jubilee garden party, thanks to May’s kind offer of the use of her garden.
Members were encouraged to take part in the "Open gardens" with craft exhibition day on Sunday June 10th, to raise funds toward the repair of the village hall roof. There will also be a Patriotic hanging basket/ container competition.
Three birthday "girls" then each received a card and gift.
This evening’s competition to name Eve’s bear was won by Brenda with Joey, 2nd Sariquia with Freddy, and 3rd. with Frankie was Betty.
Of the many bear "visitors", the ones chosen by Denise as having the most character were 1st. Carolyn’s well-worn and loved bear, 2nd Kris’ homemade bear complete with button eyes and dungarees, and 3rd Niesje’s cute bear which was also homemade.
The drawing of the raffle then brought a most enjoyable meeting to a close.