Fulham WI

Join The Wave - London, 5 December - Climate Change March

As you may be aware, there is a climate change march taking place in Central London on 5 December, which the WI is involved with.  The march is organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, of which the WI is a founder member, and is timed to coincide with the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen.  They are really looking forward to seeing lots of WI members at the march.  Members are coming from
around the country and it would be great to have a really fantastic showing from the London area.

SNAPSHOT
What:    a march around the Houses of Parliament, starting from Grosvenor Square
When:   5 December, meet at 11am. The march should finish at around 3.30pm.
Where: meet in the event room, Mayfair Library, 25 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2PB
Why:     to draw attention to the dangers of runaway climate change and provide decision-makers with the grassroots mandate to take strong action at the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen
Wear:    something blue!!

What - march in London

Before the march, WI members will gather in the events room of the Mayfair Library (see 'where' details below).  This is an opportunity to meet members who have similar interests, catch up with people you haven't seen for a while, enjoy some light lunch and to feel a little more at home if you've never been on a march before.  During this gathering, we'll be handing out banners and placards for people to carry with them on the march - if you have any from your federation or WI, please feel free to bring them along!

At midday, we will head over to Grosvenor Square for the start of the march, staying together as a WI group.  There will be a rally in Grosvenor Square whilst people assemble, then we'll move towards Westminster via Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and 10 Downing Street before encircling Parliament. The climax will be as Big Ben chimes 3pm, when a wave of blue will flow through the people circling parliament. The Wave will then pass over Westminster Bridge and disperse.

This event is being organised to demonstrate the diversity of support across the UK to tackle climate change.  Other organisations attending include the RSPB, Oxfam, Cafod, Christian Aid and many more, and the event is designed to be family-friendly and welcoming.  Throughout the planning, safety and security of the event have been a priority and the organisers are working in close cooperation with the police and other agencies to ensure that the day enables safe, peaceful and lawful protest.

Please see the Stop Climate Chaos website for more information:
http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave

When - 11am, 5 December 2009

WI members should meet at the Mayfair Library from 11am.  We will leave to join the march at approximately midday.

Where - meet in the Mayfair Library, South Audley Street

WI members should meet in the events room of the Mayfair Library, 25 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2PB.  A map of the location can be found by clicking here.  We will then move to Grosvenor Square, which is approximately a 10 minute walk from the Mayfair Library.

Why - to raise awareness for Climate Change

This march coincides with the start of the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen - these are probably the most important discussions which world leaders have taken part in for the last decade, if not generation, and have the power to secure or destroy our world for the future.  By turning out in great numbers, we're signifying to our leaders in the UK that we want urgent action to tackle climate change and we want it now.  As WI members, this supports our Women and Climate Change campaign, as women around the world will be the ones who suffer first and hardest from the effects of climate change.  We urgently need to make our voices heard.

Wear - something blue!

Please make sure that you are wearing something blue on the day - a hat, some gloves, a scarf, a coat, a whole blue outfit, even just bringing a blue umbrella will do!  We're trying to create a blue wave around Parliament, to symbolise the rising waters which will be a direct result of climate change.

How (to get there and away)

The Mayfair Library is located within easy reach of Marble Arch, Green Park and Bond Street tube stations, as well as many bus routes.  The closest station to the end of the march is Westminster.  To check the best way of getting there for you, please use the TFL journey planner, using your start point and the library's postcode (W1K 2PB) to find the best route.

James Bond Cocktail Party A Success!

The James Bond inspired cocktail party on 17^th October was a very jolly evening.  Guests included ‘Austin Powers’, Rosa Klebb, M, Moneypenny, Q, as well as glamorous, sophisticated bright young things and dinner jacketed gentlemen.  The University Women’s Club was a lovely venue – with glorious flowers swagging the staircase where guests were greeted with a choice of three cocktails.  The Roulette table made millionaires of some of us, namely Jo Hackett, and the rest of us lost our shirts but seeing as it was all toytown money and not for real there was no guilt or shame involved at all and at least we now know the rules of the game!  The croupier was very understanding.

We were very pleased to be joined by Sue who runs Thrive along with Jo Bell a volunteer and also Tabitha who came to the conclusion that she might like to become a member so not only did we have a good time but maybe have increased our numbers too!  It was great that Judith Buchanan was able to join us too as she had chosen Thrive as her charity for the Windsor half marathon so was able to meet the people too.

The raffle prizes were very generous, varying from massage and hair products, to Boden vouchers and books, via tea, fencing lessons, the Make Lounge, a Walker Slater document bag and original art work by Jaci Hogan.  All went to good homes – and it seemed it was almost a wish fulfillment session that the person who wanted it most won it.  Not sure how we managed that when we raised over £200 on ticket sales but we did.

At the end of the evening groups of friends drifted off into the evening, whether to continue partying, going out to supper or home to toad-in-the-hole and everyone it seemed had had a happy time and helped us raise more money for Thrive.

Thanks are owed to everyone who came, those who bought raffle tickets (especially those who couldn’t join us), those who got us the wonderful raffle prizes and those who organized it.  Thank you.

PS – More photos can be found on our Flickr site and on the Facebook group page.  Be sure to have a look!

x Fulham WI Committee

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Holiday Gift-Making at Pottery Cafe - Thursday 19 November 7:30pm - 10pm

We will be spending the evening of 19 November painting pottery at the Pottery Cafe in Fulham.  Choose from the menu of handmade pottery, select your paints and sponges, and have a go!  If you aren't comfortable decorating freehand, don't worry - they have their own unique range of decorating sponges that are very easy to use.  You will be amazed how professional your finished item looks - perfect for personalised gift-giving.

There is a £5.95 studio fee (per person, per session - NOT per item) to cover all materials plus glazing and firing of your decorated items, which are charged separately.  A list of available pottery can be found on the website: http://www.pottery-cafe.com/index.html. 

It’s still not too late to add your name to the list!  To book your place, please email us with your contact details, quoting ‘Pottery Café’ in the subject line.

 

Reclaim The Night - Saturday 21 November from 6pm

As part of the NFWI's 'End Violence Against Women' campaign members have been invited to join other organisations working for women and to end violence on a march to demand justice for rape survivors.

According to the Reclaim the Night website: The British Crime Survey (2001) found that there are an estimated 47,000 rapes every year, around 40,000 attempted rapes and over 300,000 sexual assaults. Yet our conviction rate is the lowest it has ever been, one of the lowest in Europe, at only 5.3%. This means that more rapists were convicted in the 1970s when Reclaim The Night marches first started than they are now. Did you know that the maximum sentence possible for rape is life imprisonment? Probably not, because rarely are rapists even reported or convicted, let alone with a realistic sentence. This situation has to change.  This is a women-only march, details below:

Assemble 6pm (march to start promptly at 6.30pm)

Whitehall Place, Central London Map here

To confirm your attendance, please email us with your contact details, quoting ‘Reclaim the Night’ in the subject line.

 

Save The Children Christmas Cocktail – Tuesday 1 December 1pm – 9pm

Save the Children are hosting their annual 'Christmas Cocktail' at the Banqueting House, Whitehall on Tuesday 1^st December from 1pm to 9pm and have invited the members of Fulham WI.  Admission will cost £8 and include a glass of wine and canapes throughout.  There will be stalls, tombola and a champagne bar - a perfect way to start the Christmas season with a spot of charity! 

Everyone is welcome so please bring family and friends along. 

 

 

x Fulham WI Committee