Our usual events continue to be curtailed due to COVID-19 but nothing daunted we are at least managing a monthly Zoom meeting. While this doesn’t compare with the social ambiance of our more usual get together it means that we are keeping in touch and the numbers attending using Zoom have increased.
For these online chats which usually last for up to one and a half hours, we have been choosing a topic for members to talk about plus a short quiz. Hopefully this helps to keep brains in gear. Debbie Stokes has put considerable effort in choosing topics for a quiz. While some members are not conversant with Zoom and others who perhaps do not feel comfortable talking to a computer screen, may I encourage you to enlist some help in order to support Debbie’s efforts. The WI is all about community and in these rather odd times this is increasingly important. The committee feel that those of you who so far have not joined us will find that a short time Zooming once a month, while not the same as our evenings in the village hall, gives us a chance for social contact that is in short supply at present. We are able to see each other face to face and no risk of sharing the virus. Random matters of interest are discussed but one specific subject is chosen before hand. At one meeting members talked about the most famous person they had met and the last, their favourite cocktail. Some members seemed under the impression that we were to “meet” while imbibing and spirits were consequently quite high.
The Federation Quiz had to be cancelled this year but an informal “just for fun” Zoom quiz was held open to any members who wished to take part. Alison and Annette zoomed in for Staunton and I understand managed quite an acceptable score.
It is of course not possible to plan a future programme but we continue to make the best we can of a difficult situation. Without a speaker and our usual social supper things are not quite the same but we need to be innovative to keep our WI thriving, ready for the day when we finally reach the light at the end of this rather gloomy tunnel and are able to resume our normal activities. If anyone has any ideas as to how we can entertain ourselves in view of the current restrictions please speak to a Committee member. We hear that one WI organised a Treasure Trail round a local village and given reasonable weather this seems an excellent way in which six people could meet and follow a trail, learning something of the history of perhaps Kingsland or another nearby village.
The Committee awaits your input ladies. Keep safe and keep smiling.