The Wells WI October 2019 meeting report.

Our speaker this month was Sandra Newell who showed us how to make Christmas cards using decoupage techniques.

She gave us cards, numbered pictures, glue and sticky pads and we were soon cutting and sticking to produce impressive three-dimensional creations featuring robins, Christmas scenes and Disney characters.

So if you are a friend of relative of a Wells WI member you may be the lucky recipient of a hand-made Christmas card this year.

The card crafting was helped along with home-made cakes sold to mark the traditional annual Macmillan fundraiser.

Some members booked their places at the popular Christmas carol service at Wells Cathedral. The sub groups had their usual busy meetings: crafters made recycled shopping bags out of old cotton items, and the book group chose their next read.

Walking netball is proving popular. The skittlers are limbering up for their next match but sadly members of our champion quiz team, having won the local round, will be unable to make the grand final in Puriton.

This month saw the second of our coffee mornings held to raise funds for charities working in areas related to shortlisted resolutions that Wells WI members voted to support, but which did not ultimately make the final selection for a nationwide WI campaign.

We chose to support the NSPCC because they work in both the areas that concern Wells WI: they help girls at risk of female genital mutilation, and they support young people in rural areas at risk of becoming enslaved in criminal county lines drugs operations. The event was combined with a book sale and we were able to send £137 to the NSPCC.

Wells WI supported Wells Food Festival again by serving refreshment to staff and volunteers having a sit down in the green room in the town hall.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday November 5 at Wells and Mendip Museum from 7.30pm onwards.

The popular Nicky from Killens Auctioneers will return to share with us some of her knowledge of jewellery and gemstones.

The November meeting is the last chance to bring Christmas boxes for distribution to young residents of YMCAs in Somerset.

For some it will be the only gift they receive. Suggested items to include are shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, socks/gloves, chocolate or sweets, tea, coffee and biscuits that will keep until the end of January 2020.

No used items, sharp objects or cash or gift vouchers, please. Boxes should be wrapped in Christmas paper, marked to indicate if contents are male or female specific, and secured with an elastic band rather than sellotape so the organisers can open them if they need to check contents.

New women are always welcome at Wells WI and can attend as guests before deciding whether to join. More details via the red button below.

by Veronica Howe