Cam City WI
Inspiring Women
The Annual Meeting 2024
Once again, this year we are blending our AM - a bit online and via email and a tiddly bit in person during our May 2024 meeting. We never like losing a whole meeting to an AM, as we have learning and socialising to do.... however, we have to do an AM so we get it done as efficiently as possible.
This page brings you a record of all of our official document 'business' for another year.
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All our necessary processes will be performed in person on Wednesday 1 May 2024.
Here you will find:
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The Treasurer's Report - Financial year January - December 2023
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The Secretary's Committee Report
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The President's Address (Transcript)
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The new committee line up for 2024/2025 - to follow after 1 May 2024
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The result of the President Nomination Process - to follow after 1 May 2024
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The Treasurer's Report - Financial Year
Our most excellent Treasurer, Bronwyn R, has put together our 2023 reports. Our financial year runs from 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2023.
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Here is the official document for your review - The Treasurer's Report 2023 which includes the official Cam City WI Financial Statement
Click on an image below to view the PDF
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The 2023/2024 Secretary's Committee Report
Our brilliant new committee member, Lucie A has prepared this year's report, illustrated in the now infamous Picture Presentation!
Click on the image to download the PDF presentation and reminisce about how blumin' marvellous our year was.
Cam City WI Committee Report
May 2023 - April 2024
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Our Year - by Sheena D
May 2023: Money & Me
In May we welcomed Betti to share her journey, knowledge and top tips for our personal finances - she was a very engaging speaker - with the emphasis on what we as women should particularly be aware of, what we should all take time to learn about and act on. It was highly informative and we all felt inspired.
June 2023: Foraging
In June we had a hands on evening with foraged plants and our guest Kelly from Totally wild. We learnt about the beautiful dressings, edible flowers and rejuvenating spritz to add to our salads and drinks with common or garden plants and weeds, plus our ice cubes have never looked so beautiful!
July 2023: Making Monsters
In July we had a fun evening with Zoe Platt from Short & Few, as our guest speaker and demonstrator. We kicked off with monster making and sharing mixed media cartoon characters around the hall tables, with plenty of papers and pens, googly eyes and extras to inspire us - much fun was had creating little free drawn characters that released our inner child.
Also in July 2023: Summer Swim & Picnic
We got together in the sunshine on Jesus green for a picnic after the opportunity to swim in the Lido .
September 2023: Apothecary
In September we got back in person in the hall with a super, hands on meeting as members, Nikki & Sarah, shared their Apothecary knowledge with us all, helping us make balms, ointments and cleaners to take away on the night. We all really appreciated the work they had put in to enable us to create such natural, ethical and useful products.
October 2023: Genetics'n'Things
In October we were visited by Professor Patricia Simpson who shared detail about her career in Genetics, but it was a double whammy and a meeting that our 'handy with a needle' members truly appreciated. We were all were amazed and inspired by the skills of Patricia Simpson who shared her stunning quilts which charted her work on Genetics and Biology, her fantastic juxtaposition of ideas, knowledge and sewing skills made a special evening for all!
November 2023: Section 28
Our November meeting was a first for our speaker Professor Catherine Lee - quite a coup for the team who arranged it as she had never talked to a WI before, but we all found it mutually rewarding. She talked evocatively about her new book that covers her life as an educator and a lesbian during the Section 28 era .
December 2023: Ballroom with Bronwyn and the return of the Evil Santa game
We brought 2023 to a close in high style! The return of Ballroom with Bronwyn - our multi-talented Treasurer led the evening, she taught us new dances and routines and a Fab-U-Lous evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all! We rounded off our December special by playing the now legendary Evil Santa game where even more hilarious laughs were had! Who knew a pair of socks would be in such demand!!!
January 2024: Chair Yoga and Self Massage
We started off 2024 in our now traditional style of online self care meetings - this year we were lucky to be led by the wonderful Kimberly who taught us some chair great yoga moves and relaxation techniques that absolutely started the year in the best way !
February 2024: The Bake-Along with Ruth B: Brownie Edition
Our February meeting was led online by our wonderfully talented member Ruth B who gave us a personal class via zoom in our own kitchens on how to achieve the ultimate Brownies! We all loved our own home baked versions and it must be said enjoyed sampling our successful bakes from the evening!
March 2024: Everyone's Got a Story
This month saw the return of one of our previously engaging and possibly oldest speakers -Jeanette Moser, having taught us self defence moves on her last visit we had invited her back to talk about her life and how and why these moves had been necessary! As ever Jeanette was a character!
April 2024: Suffolk Shingle: Tales of Trash & Treasure
We welcomed the knowledgeable and assertive Kate Osbourne from Beach Bonkers to give us an interactive talk about the finds and nature along Shingle beaches. She opened our eyes about the effects of trash and even the placement of our own feet. She helped us learn to spot the treasures like sea glass and fossils. She also had some excellent advice for us about products we can choose to reduce our impact on the environment. Very glad we got to hear her speak as she is soon retiring after a wonderful time on the WI speaker circuit.
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President's Address 2024 by Melanie Reed
Transcript
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We may be looking back right now on another brilliant Cam City WI, but mine and the current committee members' heads have kept rolling forward to ensure we maintain a wonderful standard for our forthcoming year. There has always been something for everyone at our meetings and one of the funny pleasures I get as President, is feeling of 'a bit of resistance' from some when they come along, a bit of dubiousness, a few eyebrows raising and THEN they are slowly convinced and changed just by 'having a go' for the evening. So much of what we bring to our members in our meetings is about trying NEW things and an introduction to whet the appetite - and I can see we continue to do a great job of that.
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It goes without saying that you can rely on your Committee to work hard for you, but what can you do for your committee? We have LOVED having more and more meetings led by our members or by people they know and whose knowledge and expertise they want to celebrate. We pride ourselves on not relying on 'The WI Speaker Circuit', but we don't mind launching our members into it! Bronwyn took her Ballroom teachings to Market Harborough WI in December and Nikki & Sarah are taking their Apothecary-ness out to Burwell in May! High fives for spreading the joy.
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This is my opportunity to show my gratitude to you all, but especially to the Committee. It has been a second extremely tough year for me personally, losing my Mum, but having Cam City WI to focus on has been really good for me. I even had to miss a meeting due to being taken down with Shingles in March this year and I don't think, in 10 years, I've missed a meeting before!! But I CAN miss them, because your committee knows what they are doing, they support each other and they make our meetings happen.
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It takes really kind and willing people to be on committee but we are all very different and I, at ANY opportunity, will always encourage you to give joining committee a go! We have welcomed the lovely Lucie A partway through this year and immediately she has thrown herself in to produce the Committee's Annual Report above. Any one of you can join at any time and do any job, regular or adhoc. You can attend all committee meetings or be a committee member at large! Ideas and enthusiasm is the basic requirement, so please talk to me if you think you might want to give it a go.
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Let's talk about the fabulous committee members of 2023/2024:
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Stephanie PO - Oooh our Steph raised her hand to become our official Secretary and what a cool, calm, collected and organised lady we have in her. She keeps our Actions list and Minutes of Committee Meetings for us so we can crack on with all that we have discussed and organised for our WI. She regularly chairs our raucous meetings too to keep us on track. Thanks so much Steph.
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Bronwyn R - a serious role of Treasurer for our Bron, but she has carefully communicated with us on committee - ensuring we're aware of our budget and financial status. She has some important paperwork responsibilities for our WI but really has shaped up processes to ensure a minimum amount of stress and we're really grateful because we know that she has had other mega priorities these past few months in moving house to be closer to her Grandkiddie-winks. Thank you Bron, seriously, thank you.
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Barbara G - What fresh willing we have in Barbara, bringing us programme ideas, Top 5's in our newsletters and excellent fundraising ideas with her Candle workshops. We are grateful to have her in the group giving up her own time and expertise. Mwah 'Barbabrarara'
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Karina Q - The energy level is high in this one, we love ideas and enthusiasm for the group. Look out for more member led sessions with our Karina - she's so practical, thrifty and crafty. Let's crack on Karina!
Kate A - Kate's made her lovely mark on our hearts over another year of planning and meetings, and we've watched the lovely pregnancy bump come along. Now that bebe has finally made an appearance, we're letting Kate have maternity time and we have much hope she'll be back soon. Our Kate, Committee member at larrrge (she's still in the What's app group, totally probably muted us though ;) .
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Lucie A - No matter what she says, she is NOT a stand in for her lovely sister Kate A, she is a fully fledged member of the team. Already willing and very able, we can't wait for a member led session with her in January 2025 too! Welcome Lucie.
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Mary H - Super back up as shadow Treasurer, supporting with the inner most workings out of the numbers and payments. More great team working to come and hopefully lots more lovely recipes for our monthly newsletter. Thanks Mary
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Sandra H - Thanks to Sandra we celebrate each others birthdays and she massively contributes to our programme, she's practical and really challenges us to think outside the usual boxes. Thanks to her and Kate we had the Section 28 talk and our latest Shingle Beach very tactile talk. More to come from our Sandra I'm sure.
Sheena D - A really dedicated Committee member we have in Sheena, not only very regularly hosting committee meetings, feeding and watering us as the Hostess with the Mostess, but practically doing the same each month for you! - she has always been early to our venue, opening up and setting up for us. We owe her big style, lots more volunteering from all needed to match this level. She's a regular Top 5 writer for our newsletters and in April she lead our Walk in Madingley too, she can really turn her hand to many things. Sheena is Can-Do for sure.
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Another year for Cam City WI is here and if I'm elected as President I will be carrying on and giving it my all to ensure I am contributing and over-seeing it's well-being - the comms, the website, the newsletter, the socials, craft club, the fundraising, all still bring me a lot of regular joy. Most importantly though, I'm surrounded by friends at Cam City WI. Many of these friends I would call my absolute nearest and dearest. Being an orphan now I'm taking a moment writing this to really celebrate the family you choose. I know who each and every one of you are and what you mean to me.
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Our WI will always be what we make it.
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Your confirmed Committee for 2024/2025 is coming soon
Your volunteer Committee members are currently :
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Barbara G
Bronwyn R - Treasurer
Karina Q
Kate A (maternity)
Lucie A
Mary H
Melanie R - President
Sandra H
Sheena D
Stephanie PO - Secretary
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Your President:
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TBC after 1 May 2024
Charity of the Year 2024/2025
This year we will continue our support of CWRC. Members voted ahead of the 2023 AM in the majority (71%) to support Cambridge Women's Resource Centre with specifically agreed fundraising efforts that may be split between CWRC and Cam City WI.