We may already have the first month of 2022 behind us, but I would like to wish each and every one of you a very happy and healthy year ahead. I hope that 2022 will see us return more and more to what we all see as normal (even if it is a slightly updated normal) and allow us to get back to doing what we do best with events, classes and fundraising both at our own individual WI level and at Federation. I know that the Committee Chairs have been working very hard putting together some fabulous events and you will learn more about them in this and future Newsletters.
Going back now to December 2021, what a fantastic turn out we had at the Cathedral for our Christmas Celebration and my thanks go to you all for making it such a joyful experience. Our three readers, all front-line workers during the stresses of lockdown, were marvellous and so a big thank you to Alison, Linda and Barbara for your contribution. Talking of contributions, at a very difficult time for so many people you raised a magnificent total of £997.70 in the retiring collection which has all gone to the Lantern Initiative. We are hoping this year to organise an event at Cresswell House where their leader will come along and tell us more about the work they do with vulnerable women in our area. Just a quick footnote here to let you know that we have already booked the Cathedral for 1 December 2022 so that you can put this down in your diaries.
Also, in December I was delighted to learn that one of our members had come third in the Lady Denman Cup competition 2021 for the written word. Our winner was Romaine Barclay-Kim of Eglingham WI and a dual member at Longhoughton and Boulmer WI. Congratulations Romaine, maybe the winner of the Cup next year?
Again, in December I became a pupil at the Christmas Craft Day and made a lovely Santa in a Box. I just want to thank Karen and her Committee for all the hard work that went into the planning and preparation with every one of us receiving an individual pack of material, stuffing (not edible), glue etc. If you have never attended a Christmas class/event of any type such as the Christmas Beetle and if you like a bit of a competition(!) please give it a try this year as they are fun, friendly and a great way to get into the festive spirit. Well done to all the hardworking Committees for putting on fantastic Christmases for us all to enjoy.
Moving seamlessly back to 2022 and the exciting year ahead, in this mailing you will have received the schedule for the first of two 
competition days this year. The first one is to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. Please look at this schedule carefully as I am sure there will be something that every one of you could enter and in honour of Her Majesty’s wonderful achievement, let us make it a fabulous show of WI talent of which she, as a loyal member herself, would indeed be proud.
One of the other events I would like to advertise is the Chairman’s Travelling Roadshow. It is actually four events at four different venues, and I can tell you that the dates will (hopefully) be Thursday 19 May (venue central Northumberland), Thursday 21 July (venue in north), Thursday 18 August (venue in west) and Thursday 25 August (Cresswell House). All the events will be 2.00pm to 4.00pm and further details will be given later.
Finally, I have to say that this year has started so positively with the Board of Trustees full of ideas and ready to spring into action, and, on a personal level with several invitations to special celebrations at individual WIs, some of which have been postponed for two years. Thank you to you all and I hope to see many of you this year as the one thing we have certainly all missed is the face-to-face interaction.
Marj x
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