74 members and 6 guests were then entertained by Joan Cottle who spoke about the suffragette movement and our very own Wimbledon suffragette Rose Lamartine Yates. Rose had lived in Dorset Hall, Kingston Road and had been an active member of the Wimbledon branch of the Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU), becoming its treasurer and organising secretary in 1910. The Wimbledon branch was renowned for its militant suffrage campaigns. It opened its shop on the site between the Odeon and Morrisons. She gave a most interesting and informative talk in which she described the history of the Votes for Women movement, including the horrendous conditions which the jailed suffragettes had to endure being violently force fed when they went on hunger strike.
Notices
Jenny Cairns made a short appeal for people to provide temporary overnight emergency accommodation for young people (18-25) through a charity called Night Stop London http://www.depauluk.org/projects/nightstop-london/
Annette Osborne talked about the 2nd hand book sale planned for our October meeting and asked members to provide books which were in reasonably good condition – fiction and biographies normally sold well. Monies raised would go towards WI funds. Members were also asked to let her know if members knew of any outlets which would welcome any books which remained unsold at the end of the evening.
Eileen Smith spoke about the Crochet/Knit/Sew Poppy Evening on Wednesday 18th September 7.30pm and about the Dress a Girl around the World http://sewscrumptious.blogspot.co.uk/p/pillowcase-dress-info.html. Information about both these was included in the Meeting Preview Notices.
Agnes Fox referred to a letter from Carers Support Merton thanking us for the monies we had raised at the Super Raffle. Also about the list of possible children’s gifts to this Charity which we normally collect at our November meeting.
- vouchers for cinema/toys r us
- girls and boys toiletries
- electric toothbrushes
- annuals – football teams. ben 10, pop bands
- stationary/ art supplies
- sport gear footballs, tennis racquets
- craft kits
- lego
- beads – make a bracelet.
Members were invited to nominate any local Charity which they would like to see considered to be our Charity of the Year 2014.
Agnes also appealed for members to come forward to stand for the Committee. Several current members would be standing down in November and more help was required to run the WI. The next Committee meeting was on Monday 14 October and members were invited to attend to get a “taste” of what goes on.
Ann Dolphin gave a report on her evening on Patrol with Wimbledon Police – the prize she had won in the Super Raffle.
NFWI AGM 2014 will be held in Leeds on Saturday 7 June. Application forms to be a representative (delegate) or observer should be available at the October meeting.
Subscription Rates for 2014 would be £34.70, with dual members paying £15.80 to their 2nd WI.
Members were asked to look at the Notice Board, including WI campaigns about saving our high streets/town centres and reducing usage of plastic bags.
Members were invited to sign up if they were interested in attending the Christmas Meal (being organised by Julia Whiting) provisionally scheduled for Monday 25 November (7.30 for 8 pm) at the Railhouse (previously The Rock), Raynes Park. Further details would be available at our October meeting.
2014 WI diaries – Those members who had ordered copies but were not able to collect them from Janice Beale at this meeting would be able to do so at our October meeting – they are £3.60 each
