WILS 2010 Programme

You can read below what we have in store for 2010...

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month, at the Holiday Inn, Bridgefoot,

Stratford upon Avon, unless otherwise stated. Arrive from 7pm to sign in, grab a glass of wine

or a cup of tea/coffee, ready to be seated for a prompt meeting start at 7.30pm.

Tuesday 12th January. Unfortunately our published speaker, Scott Quinnell (pictured left) - one of the best known names in rugby - was unable to attend, owing to the heavy snow! However, we were very fortunate to have a representive from DORE attend; DORE offer a personalised treatment programme for Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger's and other learning difficulties. Scott admits that his literacy skills were so bad that he couldn’t even write a cheque or reply to an email, yet - having successfully completed the DORE programme - his reading and writing is now considered 'above average' and he went on to become Development Director for the organisation. We hope to be able to welcome Scott at one of our future meetings, when his schedule allows.

Tuesday 9th February. We were very fortunate to have Judith Franks, a bellydancer and bellydance teacher, who has been learning Egyptian-style Bellydance since 2002 and has attended classes with some of the best Bellydance performers and teachers at both a national and international level. Judith gave us a brief history of the art, along with a demonstration, and then it was our turn to get involved and have a go! We all had great fun, and now have plenty of moves up our sleeves for whenever we're on the dancefloor!

Tuesday 9th March. After getting caught up in the Asian Tsunami in 2004, Michelle Mills-Porter found a new perspective on life. In re-examining what she considered important, she set up ‘Cherish Jewels’, originally a creative and therapeutic outlet for her, and now a thriving independent business. Michelle makes beautiful jewellery, sourcing materials from developing countries around the globe and always using natural products, including pearls and gemstones. Michelle shared her experiences of growing her business, how she goes about sourcing her products and gave us the opportunity to create our own unique pieces of jewellery to take home with us.

Tuesday 13th April. Fresh from her stint on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, local playwright and performer Ginny Davis joined us to share her witty and entertaining observations on modern family life. Including ‘Ten Days...That Shook the Kitchen’ - a sell out show from last year’s Edinburgh Fringe - and ‘Family Matters’ - her latest and well-received offering for 2009 - Ginny’s plays and performances continue to entertain and amuse. Her visit to WILS - when she shared her thoughts and experiences - was a fantastically entertaining evening.

Tuesday 11th May. Each year the National Federation of Women's Institutes puts forward a resolution to the government. This resolution is proposed by WI members, chosen by the National board and voted upon by all WIs in England and Wales. At our May meeting we found out all about the Resolution for 2010 which is 'The mandatory clear labelling of food with true country of origin'. We voted for this resolution, and sent the results to National Federation. This was a great opporunity for us to have a voice about issues that matter.

After the discussion and vote....the fun really started! We were delighted to welcome cocktail experts and bar staff from Ha Ha Bar and Grill, and Last Tasca- who taught us to make, and then let us sample, delicious sangrias (including traditional, pomegranate and cranberry, and cava fruity fizz). Following on from that was a 'Mojito Masterclass'- where we were shown the skills and ingredients needed to make the perfetct classic mojito. We also watched some fabulous demos and sampled a variety of cocktails, including Long Island Ice Teas and Cosmopolitans.A fantastic evening- watch out for news of a repeat of this in our upcoming programme!

Tuesday 8th June. Jo Cameron is a well-known businesswoman and media personality. Setting up her first business in 2004, after being made redundant, her career took off to new heights. In 2006 she beat off 10,000 other hopefuls to secure her place in the hugely successful TV show, The Apprentice. She was the most written about and most memorable candidate and made so much of an impact that she was commissioned to write the official BBC Apprentice column the following year. After overcoming devastating personal adversity in 2006, she has become dedicated to helping people survive adversity and overcome difficulties in life. She has grown a credible business portfolio in a very short space of time and has helped thousands of women increase their confidence and self belief with her WOW programme – Women on Their Way. Her achievement system Bouncebackability, has also been introduced to thousands through her seminars, talks and coaching processes, to help people reach much higher levels of achievement. Her emphasis on women’s progression and their engagement in enterprise activities ensured that Jo was a truly inspirational speaker.

Tuesday 13th July. Being breast aware simply means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, being on the lookout for any unusual changes and getting them checked out by your doctor - yet something so simple can save your life. We all know that lumps are vital to look out for – but there can be other important signs too. We were very fortunate that Dr Nicola Newman was able to come along and talk to us about breast examination, what to look out for, and answered our questions on breast health and breast care. We were also pleased to welcome Harriet Wilkes of “Barbarella" - Worcester’s leading lingerie and swimwear boutique - who was on hand to demonstrate how to ensure your bra always fits perfectly to provide the perfect foundation to any outfit. This extremely informative evening was rounded off with some the opportunity to browse and purchase some of the boutique's beautiful and sexy pieces.

Tuesday 10th August. We all love to be pampered, and our August meeting was the perfect opporunity for members to indulge! WILS was thrilled to have a panel of qualified and experienced beauty and holistic therapists who came along to tell us more about their treatments and, most importantly, try them out on us! We had a fabulous evening of massage (hydratherm, crystal and sports), foot care, reflexology, nail treatments, acupuncture and eyebrow threading. This was a wonderfully relaxing and interesting evening and a great opportunity to learn a bit more about how to look after (and spoil!) ourselves! See the Members Offers page for some fabulous offers on beauty treatments with our favourite local therapists!

Tuesday 14th September. You cannot be serious! This month we're looking forward to welcoming Bernadette Halton, International Tennis Umpire, who will give us an insight into her life and recall some interesting moments on court and her life as a tennis official. Why do the players grunt and what training do umpires do? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered- come along to hear her entertaining and amusing anecdotes from behind the scenes of the professional tennis circuit.

Tuesday 12th October. October is the month that we make decisions - and this includes deciding who YOU want to see running WILS in 2011! So the early part of the evening is your opportunity to hear the committee's Annual Report, and be involved in electing the 2011 committee... but in true WILS fashion, we have arranged a wine tasting session with James of Vin Neuf (Union Street, Stratford upon Avon) for afterwards - we know, we spoil you! x

Tuesday 14th December. Because she is utterly fabulous, we have invited Kate from In Bloom Florists back to talk to us – this time to give us a talk and demonstration on how to make a beautiful Christmas table centrepiece/decoration. I know many of us were proud of our efforts at last year's wreath making session, and we hope that Kate will be able to put together a package that allows members to buy materials from her and make their own centrepiece on the night to take home, should they wish. So whether your tastes are traditional or contemporary, keep an eye out for bits and bobs that you may be able to include when putting together your creation! Of course the option to sit back with a glass of wine and watch always remains.