December - The East Dulwich WI Christmas Party with special guest Helen Lederer!

October - Learn to Salsa!

September - Art Talk with the Dulwich Picture Gallery

August - MakeHQ: Bunting, we are making our own!

February - Quiz Night with prizes!

January - Bollywood dancing with Kevin from Push studios!

December: Christmas Party at the Magnolia.

November: AGM

October: Jewellery Making Evening

September: Wine Tasting @ Green & Blue

August: Visit to local Vegetable Garden

July: Picnic @ Peckham Rye Park

June: Photography Talk

May: WI Resolution Meeting and Social

April: Cake Decoration for Easter

March: Pamper Evening with Dr Boo

February: Cocktail Skills @ Black Cherry

January: Dancing with Push Studios

The events of 2008

Over the last few years Barrie has returned to performance in the guise of Illusionist and would be singer (in the style of Rex Harrison but without the sophistication). It was a smaller setting this time and Barry performed his magic. Some were sceptical at first, but soon he won the audience over.

The Picassos' came to the fore. We enjoyed an evening which began with a short introduction to Art and specifically drawing! Stephanie explained that drawing and the use of light and shadow lies at the heart of each art work.

After that we all had a chance to out this to the test. Each of us drew three pictures of a normal cup, with coal, graphite, wachs, water, rubber etc. Some very interesting pictures were the result and we all had afun evening! And might be a bit more creative in future!

The weather god was in our favour and we had a nice time out in the park.

We had picnic with food and drinks, which were all provided by Dolce Vita Catering, which is the company of Tracey our member. All the food was polished away, and not a drop of bubbly was left! We chatted, socialised and had great fun.

Since then we had so much feedback, it was an event enjoyed and an encore is being called for!

Our July meeting was our Flower event. With the help of Sally of Dulwich, our local florist on Lordship lane we all got to learn how to arrange a lovely flower display and what to look out for. We had loads of fun, and we all had a lovely flower display to take home with us.

Andrew Cunningham, Hypnotherapist was our guest at our June meeting! We all heard about hypnotherapist and what it is all about and what they can and cannot do. We even had a group experience transporting us to some other place. Andrew Cunningham Biography
Andrew is a clinical hypnotherapist who has worked in Harley St for the last 8 years. Seeing a large number of clients with a wide range of issues and problems.
He has appeared on several TV programmes such as "Faking It" and more recently "Tonight with Trevor Mcdonald"

Andrew does not view hypnotherapy as a 'magic trick' where the client has no input or choice in the therapy. In fact he feels that hypnotherapy does the opposite, by empowering the client to make the changes that they want to make.

Andrew lives in East Dulwich with his partner and two children.

Here is a brief outline of the run of the evening:

• Background to hypnosis...a bit of history about Mesmerism and stage hypnosis...what hypnotherapy is not!
• Discussion about the power of suggestion
• The applications of hypnotherapy
• Teaching self hypnosis to the group

In May we met at the Magdala for our RESOLUTION MEETING in preparation for the AGM - because our vote counts!

Thanks to everyone who brought nibbles along - much appreciated and consumed!

Following is what we voted on, we passed the Ban for Bottom Trawling motion (the new amended version). We did not pass the inappropriate improsonment of severley mentally ill motion because we felt it was to wide and not achievable in its current form. If an appropriate amendment is tabled we might take it differently.

A ban on the fishing practice known as 'bottom trawling' where it causes catastrophic loss of marine life as opposed to a complete ban on all forms of bottom trawling.

Paint brushes to the ready!

We can pick up our items from the 19.03.08! Any items that are not collected before the April meeting will be collected by a member of your committee and can be collected at the April meeting!

We enjoyed an evening of exercise, dance, ballet and afterwards a short quiz. Members won, gym tools, classes and personal training session at PUSH STUDIOS!

• Introduction by Kevin about fitness and what is on offer at Push Studios
• Kepping fit through dance, ballet and excercises
• Interactive dance, ballet and excersise sessions
• Health & Fitness Quiz with prizes from Push Studios
• Q & A Session

To find out more about Push studios why not visit their website:

or call on Telephone: 020 8693 9111

or visit the studio: Push Studios 17 Blackwater Street East Dulwich SE22 8RS

Don't forget - they do not charge a membership fee, it's all Pay as you go!

Below are members already planned and suggested events for the year ahead. We will aim to achieve as much as we can of these for 2008.

• February - work out/exercise event organised by Push studios
• March - All Fired Up - painting a ceramic item for Easter
• April - Crafts evening with Danielle Proud

Main Events - suggested:

• event with Harriet Harman or Tessa Jowell (suggested theme: women in politics)
• Houses of Parliaments/House of Comments visit/Tee on the terrace
• Women in Business with Diane Abbott
• Jewellery course with Claire Arostades
• City Gardener/Gardening event
• Flower arranging event
• Local retailer event (Fishmonger, butcher, bakery, greengrocer, cheese shop- new ideas with food, how to fillet etc)
• Pub quiz
• Knitting/crochet/sewing event
• How to bake cakes for home, parties, kids
• Good Housekeeping Kitchen evening event at their premises
• Dulwich Picture gallery visit/talk on pictures
• DIY event (maybe Dulwich DIY could be approached)
• Local History (local organisations to approach are: Nunhead Cemetery, Peckham Rye society, Dulwich Society)
• Volunteering (Dulwich Helpline)
• Photography (traditional/digital - might be combined with a picture framing advise)
• Health & Nutrition event
• A Central London outing (e.g. Theatre visit)
• Chelsea Flower Garden show
• Day/Evening trips
• Rest/Relaxation event
• Hypnotherapist (see website: hypnotherapyinlondon.co.uk.)
• Weekend Women's Hour (Radio 4) - Producer talk or event with us on the radio
• Fish & Chips from the Sea Cow at the Green & Blue (social get to know each other event)

Sub Groups

Already existing

• Champagne reception

• Book club
• Film Group/club
• Mothers & baby's/toddlers group
• Fitness Group (walking, jogging, running)
• Baking group
• Rest/Relaxation group
• Knitting group
• Gardening group
• Art/Culture group
• Campaign sub group
• leisurely social gatherings group
• Charities support group

The group might support local campaigns once we have confirmed the rules on campaigning/supporting. The National Federation of the W.I. currently supports the following campaigns:

• Plastic bags ban
• Trafficking of women/children
• Environment issues
• Milk float

5^th December 2007 at The Magdala pub

Members brought foods of all kinds along to enjoy together and each member received one drink of their choice paid for from our WI funds.

The trading stall, where members could sell not needed goods, or their own handcrafted wares proved to be a success. A wide range was on offer and especially popular and flying of the shelves were the scarves and handbags knitted by Frances and the jewellery made by Brenda. Maybe these ladies would like to show us how it all works at a monthly event!

Members enjoyed chatting to each other and getting to know each other. A real buzz was about. The meeting carried on until around 9pm. Everyone wished each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

7^th November 2007 at the All Fired Up ceramic café

It was time for an AGM as stipulated by the rules of the W.I. At the same time we all designed our own Christmas card, what lovely snowmen we created!

Jayne McStea of Puffin Crafts, had supplied each lady with a Christmas card kid and everyone got going to make their Christmas card – a snowman with snow!

This caused lots of fun and banter and made several vowing to make their own cards this year. Jayne supplied hints and tips and suggestions and administered hands on assistance where required.

At the same time we held our first AGM with the help of Liz McDermott, Elizabeth Patterson and Val Grahame of the West Kent Federation.

Of the current committee all apart from two stood for re-election. Katie Price stood in addition.

Re-elected to the committee were: Katie Arnold, Angela Burgess, Kate Evans, Emma Hebb, Kirsten Ing, Belinda Luton, Jennifer McIntyre, Claire Perrott, Elizabeth Varley and Tracy Whewell.

Katie Arnold was re-elected President of the ED W.I.

Katie then seconded to the committee: Kristin Watt-Bonar, Lucy Ives, Sugra Marshall and Katie Price.

Jennifer McIntyre, the treasurer presented the annual account. The accounts were seconded from a member of the group.

Emma Hebb, the secretary read out the annual secretary report, listing past events, meeting places and start times.

Liz McDermott congratulated all of the members to having hold their AGM. The W.I. is proud to have us. The NFWI chair has seen our feature in Living South.

3^rd October 2007 at The Magdala pub

To this event we welcomes the following speakers:

Marilyn Donahue (The Sustainable Education project), Monica McSherry (Healthmatters Proprietor, Lordship Lane), Jim Paxton (Friends of the Earth, Southwark Branch), Katelyn Fryer (Southwark Recycling Officer) and Jonathan Mitchell (Liberal Democrat Councillor, East Dulwich)

Marilyn made us aware of the Sustainable Education project which addresses the Environmental issues through School Education, workshops, points out businesses that address the issues in regards to Holidays, recycling, Purchase & Waste Management etc.

Jim gave an update on friends of the Earth campaigns and showed through current Global climate change bill that it is actually possible to get Politicians on side and legislation in place through constant persistency.

Monica updated us on the campaign she started to make east Dulwich a plastic bag free area. They have spoken to local retailers (incl. Supermarkets) and some retailers are already offering a re-usable bag. A grant has been applied for to design and create the ‘East Dulwich Bag’, which will be distributed to every household. (Since the application for the grant has been successful and 2008 will bring us the re-usable East Dulwich bag. She also made us aware the Green Fair, which is on the 01.12.07 on Goose Green.

Katelyn from Southwark Council updated us on the various projects the council has in place (Door step recycling, Waste minimisation, composting, Junk Mail stopping, Exchange of goods, nappy campaign etc). Recycling in ED has increased from 3% to 21%!

Jonathan had facts on hand what the councillors of Southwark have done and achieved in regards to Environmental issues and what is planned. He gave us examples from other countries and put events in a global perspective. He gave details of grants that are available and future plans. An Evironmental Auditing is something worthwhile, where the recyclers get rewarded for their actions, for example a reduce in council tax.

There was a lively exchange between the speakers and the EDWI members on the subject and a lot of points where raised. To sum it up, mistakes have been made in the past and all involved have to admit their accountability. It also became clear that a reward, like a council tax reduction, for households that take up recycling should be implemented. Where there are fines, there should also be incentive, just a better environment for all is understood by everyone but maybe not always have an immediate impact on the individual at the time.

Several members came up with their own experiences (avoiding plastic food wrappers, the problem to recycle tetra pack, Gummtree & Swapexchange for goods, Onya bags, buy locally & regional.

We all took our chance to talk to speakers on a more one to one basis, review all the examples, leaflets about recycling etc that had been brought along and which where laid out for review. There was also chance to buy Christmas cards and related items from Phonix cards, whose owner had set up a stall (10% of all sold goods go to our WI). This opportunity will be again available to members at the December event.

5th September 2007 at the All Fired Up ceramics café

Julie prepared the event of this month meeting and explained in general what wine & wine tasting was all about, what to look out for and how to find out what each of us like. Tulip shaped glasses are best for wine tasting as these allow for the full aroma to develop. Tasting follows the route of smelling the wine, analysing its colour and finally tasting it. Wine needs to smell fresh; (a rusty or vinegary smell is a sign of a corked wine). The darker the colour the older the wine. She also touched on cork versus screw top and that there is no indication that screw tops wine isn’t worth its money.

Julie had chosen four wines for tasting. One sparkling white from France, one dry white from New Zealand and another dry white wine from France. We finished off with a rose from France. All wines are available locally and where not more then £7.99

All present members tasted the wines as outlined above and gave their verdicts. We truly had lots of fun and everyone enjoyed the event. A wish was expressed to repeat the event in the New Year with red wines (& cheese!). Everyone who was interested in more information about future events had the chance to leave their details with Julie.

Both speakers introduced themselves and how they had to come about setting up their business.

They informed us on the key trends and colours for the Autumn/Winter 2007 season and gave us tips on accessories. Then they moved on to the subjects of dressing for work, dressing according to one’s body shape and gave us tips for common problem areas. They also mentioned which High Street stores are most likely to copy Designer items and where best to buy at reasonable cost.

Katie & Michelle answered questions we had, supplied useful tips and handed out details to anyone who was interested to find out more.