Greetings from Margaret
District Chairman 2020/21
Dear fellow Inner WheelersIt is a strange start to the IW year but let it be as cheerful as possible. The District Executive Committee is working less formally just now, but no less eagerly, on keeping all systems going as far as we can. I know clubs are doing the same and the range of Zoom gatherings, Phone-rounds, and other ways of keeping up to date with fellow members has been wonderful to see. This is one of the key benefits of belonging to a club, of course, and not surprising as Inner Wheelers always rise to the challenge.
One of the really lovely features of Lockdown has been the efforts by our clubs to continue to support International and Home charities where they can. We know others are much more seriously affected by this crisis than most of us are, especially charities who can barely survive. Please continue to do so, however you can.
So, here is a reminder of my charity for this year, The Sick Children’s Trust. I sent some details of this in my recent letter to Club
Presidents and I hope these may have been shared with all members. Briefly, it is a small charity started about 30 years ago in England which lodges parents close to several major children’s hospitals, while their child is in hospital far from home. It is free to parents but costs about £30 a night to provide. The motivation was that doctors realised how much more quickly children responded to treatment when they have family with them. I believe many of us can relate to this, from experience with our own sick children. Their website is interesting and their motto is: ‘we’re here so you can be there!’ Do let me know please if you have any ideas for Covid Compliant fundraising for this cause?
We still hope to arrange our next District meeting for November 26th, as planned, at Barston, if conditions then permit. If we do, I hope as many of you as can will join us there and celebrate the New IW Year. If not, then we shall look ahead and gather as soon as we may do so safely.
Meanwhile, all best wishes to each of you as we watch events unfolding in this most unusual Inner Wheel
year of
2020/21.
Margaret
All About
District 6
Autumn 2020
Au Revoir from Claire
District Chairman 2019/20
Friend PoemDedicated to all the new friends I have gained through my time in Inner Wheel but also as being your
District Chairman Claire xx
There is a lovely word, whose letters number six It stands for someone who will help you in a fix Someone you can trust. In whom you can confide
Whose loyalty will never swerve. Of whom you speak with pride
Whose presence is a blessing in times of stress or storm
Who speaks with such words of comfort, so loving and so warm
Whose every word is genuine, though other folk pretend
That lovely word of letters six can only be but “Friend” Thank you all
All About our Members
A very warm Welcome to:New members:
Margaret Hassall Redditch Margaret Parker Alcester
Transfers:
Beryl Bryant to Henley in Arden from Hall Green Shirley Janes to Henley in Arden from Hall Green Jean Pearson to Henley in Arden from Hall Green Rene Sutton to Henley in Arden from Hall Green Janet Wakeman to Henley in Arden from Hall Green Joan Vine to Welshpool from Solihull
Remembering:
Members who have died:
Shirley Jones Droitwich Spa Mary Halliwell Henley in Arden Margaret Kemp Solihull
Phyllis Mason Kenilworth Heather Pittaway Coventry
Susie Schulenburg Stratford upon Avon Cynthia Topham Kenilworth
Hilary Turner Alcester Maureen Wallace Solihull Val Yates Halesowen Also former member
Zita Johnson aged 100 years, long time member of the Edgbaston Club (now closed) Members who have been bereaved
Judy Woodall (husband David) Tamworth Anker
Wishing you many happy years of fun & friendship
within Inner Wheel
We offer our sincere condolences to
all those who have been
bereaved
Update from Claire
On behalf of the two charities supported by District 6 may I say a huge thank you. Amazingly under the very unusual circumstances you raised £1520.20 for Breast Cancer Haven and right up till Easter were sending me donations for the Safe House.
Unfortunately Olton Breast Cancer Haven and one other have had to close their doors due to economic pressure but they have been able to keep two others running.
I personally have come through lockdown with an immaculate garden and very tidy cupboards !!!! Now it is back to work although I do look like I'm about to perform surgery - mask, visor, apron and gloves. Wishing you all well
Love Claire xx
How well do you know D6 Chairman Margaret?
My hobbies include membership of The Richard III Society and the International Women’s Club *IWC+. Also, sudoku and reading murder stories.
I have represented IW at a meeting in the Antarctic, watched over by albatrosses.
Leaving my comfort zone, I have walked the Camino to Santiago from St Jean-Pied de-Port to Compostela, climbed Kilimanjaro for my 50th birthday and completed the Lyke Wake Walk. My children know that I am therefore a Lyke Wake Witch!
Sadly, I am not a ‘dog’ person; more a ‘cat’. Best Wishes Margaret
Association President’s charity
A Message from Secretary Sandra Lees I hope all members are well and staying safe in these very difficult times we are experiencing. I have been doing a lot of gardening during lockdown but with the heat over the last two weeks some plants are obviously like me are finding it difficult to cope. I do hope that before too long we will be able to meet face to face again and get back to something near to normal. Can I please take the opportunity to thank all the club secretaries (who have received a lot of information from me in recent weeks) for the work they do. I know it isn’t easy when clubs are not running normally and meeting on a regular basis.
Take care and stay safe until we meet again Kind regards
Sandra
Member of Council Anita Tippin Firstly, a bit about myself. I am a Birmingham girl and lived and worked there until I married. David and I married in 1967 and have two sons, Phillip and Robert, who both married Jennifers, and
five grandchildren, Luke, Chloe, Seren, Xander and Toby. David died last year.
I joined Inner Wheel in 1987, David having joined the Rotary Club of Edgbaston Convention. I have held various roles in my Club and District. District Editor from 2009-12, 1st Vice Chairman 2012-13, 2nd Vice Chairman 2013-14 and District Chairman 2014-15. All roles I very much enjoyed.
As your Member of Council, I am the link between District and Association and usually attend four Council meeting a year, along with MOC’s from all Districts. As you are all aware nothing is normal this year and I am unable to meet the other MOCs. Council meetings are held by Zoom and there is no time to chat. I am there to help, but if you contact Association please keep me informed, as it is difficult when a topic is raised and the local MOC has no idea of what is happening.
District has no Editor and so I have agreed to be the link with Dorothy Cree, Association Editor. All Club Correspondents have received the pack that would have been distributed at District Assembly. We are continuing with the help of Gill Robinson who will produce the Magazine/Newsletter, Rita Booth the Web Site and Jill Joyce the Home Service Report. These ladies are very experienced and supportive and would love someone to take over the role of Editor. I was reluctant to take on the role but think it is the best job on District. You get to learn about what is happening in all the clubs and the fun and fellowship they have. The more you get involved the more you get out of Inner Wheel.
Anita Tippin
30 July 2020 Sandra Lees District Secretary District 6 Great Britain
Inner Wheel Australia received with much gratitude the donation of $1,415.68 AUD from District 6 for the Inner Wheel Australia Appeal for the victims of the recent bushfires. As soon as the Coronavirus pandemic is over and all
rehabilitation programs resume we will use the funds to assist with fauna and flora rescue and rehabilitation, for assistance to farmers and rural businesses so badly impacted by the fires and to help with the reestablishment of educational and community facilities.
If you can look at our website: www.innerwheelaustralia.org.au you will see photos and descriptions of some of the projects we have been able to support with the help of our Inner Wheel friends from around the world.
Thank you
In sincere Inner Wheel friendship Helen
Helen Foley IWA Treasurer 2019/2021
from
Inner Wheel
Australia Inc.
A Plea from Treasurer Mabs
“We need a Treasurer”, District Chairman cried
Demeanour full of gloom. A serious problem could not be denied.
As silence filled the room.
“Offer one year only” DC Pauline claimed “To save our District Six”.
A nod and prod from Shirley Janes should be blamed
For my quick loss of wits.
One year will be OK - or so I thought. One, two, three became four.
Once again a Treasurer needs to be sought. Delay can be no more.
This is the seventeenth year I will have served, In various roles, of course.
Methinks retirement is now well deserved. Needs someone to endorse.
Calculator to hand - things will be fine. Use spread sheet or ledger.
Up-to-date with IT now we bank online. What could be better?
Come on, be bold, be brave and volunteer. The situation is dire.
Trust this message is being heard loud and clear. Because MABS has to retire.
Please support the District Chairman’s
No one ever said it would be easy to emerge from Lockdown into an all-singing, all-dancing organisation that everyone was going to flock to join. So what should we be doing and how can we make the task of recruiting and retaining seem less like a mountain to climb?
Let’s keep this theme for a little while. A mountain is basically a pyramid shape as is Inner Wheel. Club to District to Association to International. Clubs are the base, the foundation, the stability. Therefore, Clubs come on - you need to accept that as part of your role. Starting with the ascent, think about your gear. Your bag, your scarf, your brooch – all Inner Wheel of course. You would not go climbing without your rucksack, so remember to take your equipment with you.
Who are you going to meet on your climb - or who are you going to see once you start to use public transport
with less social distancing? Have you thought about how you could introduce IW into a potential conversation? Have a go at this - the two-minute challenge. Sell IW to a partner in two minutes! If you are hesitant doing this with someone you know - well do something about it! PREPARE!
We then think about the people on our mountain climb. How did we get to know about this outing? Somebody had to tell us! Who does the advertising for your club and where? Some of us, I know, feel they want nothing to do with social media but on the other hand, it is instant and visual. You read about an event in advance so you know where to go. You pop it in your diary. Stage two records the success of the venture hopefully in a local paper with photos to show how much you all enjoyed it! By the time it is published you will have forgotten about the hours of work and the sore feet! You can then give a final total for your efforts perhaps again on social media. That is three opportunities to get IW’s name out there from ONE event. You need to break the mould of inviting JUST your friends as this means the ripples of interest do not increase. Try the three-pronged approach as often as you can.
Back to the climb! There is someone nearer the summit egging you on. Can you see her? Is that a member of your District Executive? Make sure District knows what you are planning and it can find its way onto the District website (www.innerwheel-district6.co.uk) catching both your District’s members and the casual surfer.
Almost at the summit - you have PLANNED, PREPARED and PUBLICISED. It is an upward struggle but as a well-known supermarket suggests - every little helps.
INNER WHEEL Sees the need Takes the lead.
Be up there on the summit with the best of them.
Dorothy Cree
Association Editor
IIWAssociation District
C l ub s
Association Editor Dorothy Cree invites us to ‘Make a Name for Ourselves’
Home Service Report 2020
I shall be compiling the home service report again this year. Anita Tippin sent out the forms to Club Correspondents at the end of July. Please return these by email to [email protected] by 1st January 2021.If you find the forms hard to complete then just put the information into an email so I can cut and paste it into my spreadsheet to compile my District report. Please do not send any hand written forms to me.
Jill Joyce
Exciting News!
Look out for ii-Wheel
This is just around the
corner
More information soon!
D6 Website
I am still managing the District 6 website and would love to get pictures of what Clubs are up to so
that we can keep the web pages fresh: www.innerwheel-district6.co.uk
Association Facebook
More and more Clubs are posting on the Association Facebook page. It is a place where you can share your activities and see what others are up to. It is a closed group which means that people have to be approved to join.
Here I am back on the Executive again in the role of
Membership and Development Chairman, which is new to
D6. The job used to be done by the Past District Chairman. The new elected and expanded role was created as MAD has become so crucial due to steadily declining membership throughout IW GB&I. Some of you may remember me as District International Service Chairman which I did for 3 years before I had a break last year.
I’ve been a member of Redditch Club for about 7 years. I was Club International Service Officer in my first year in IW. I did that for 3 years and then went on the Executive. It just proves you can take office at club or district level without years of experience, a bit of enthusiasm goes a long way! I always think that if you’re not sure about something, give it a try. Mostly it pays off; if it doesn’t you can always resign.
As the animal themes were so popular when I was DISC, there’s an elephant theme for MAD. Clubs should all have received a letter which explains why elephants were chosen. They are herd animals, herds with different ages, being caring and supportive of each other. You may have noticed that they’ve migrated to AA6! I have asked for clubs to make elephant drawings, paintings, or stuffed knitted ones
and send photographs of these to me please. Thank you to everyone who made and photographed them.
All clubs have also been sent a pack which would have been given out at District Assembly. If you want a look either your Membership and Development Officer will have it or, if you don’t have one, your Club President. It’s aim is to help clubs with MAD. Feedback would be appreciated.
The MAD Committee members are Claire Mangan (Henley in Arden), Liz Ostroumoff (Redditch) and Tracy Kobrin (Atherstone). Life’s too short to use our full titles so I’m MAD Sand, courtesy of Gill Robinson. We have a vacancy on the committee. if you are interested please contact me, more fun than work we hope!
One of my hobbies outside of IW is riding pillion on my husband Tim’s motorbike. We should have been touring Tuscany and Umbria this year and taking in Rome. After lockdown I’m a bit like an elephant on a motorbike, so used a photo taken a couple of years ago in the French Alps!
YIF MAD Sand
Knitted by Tracy Kobrin’s
Mum
A Jaipur elephant from Wendy Garner
(venue of the next IIW Convention)
Knitted by Wendy Redfern An African Elephant painted on tobacco paper
with black & white emulsion paint using a stubby decorator’s brush
International Service Chairman Pat’s Report
As we begin a new year we find ourselves unable to meet at our District Assembly and I have still been unable to take our collection of goods to International Aid, but we have constant dialogue and keep hoping. It has however been a wonderful opportunity for me to see all the beautiful work which is being donated from the clubs.
I have decided this year to keep it simple and just to support International Aid
as my District charity which we all love as, they do so much good work, alongside The Dorcas Tailoring project, teaching ladies to produce their own clothes and helping themselves to be self- supporting.
We are also going to support a school in Sierra Leone by collecting exercise books/note pads, and clubs are encouraged to fill pencil cases and also to gather children’s clothing.
We are also supporting International Service Chairman Shamim Govani’s charity The Butterfly Tree, helping to eradicate malaria in Zambia by providing funds for mosquito nets.
There are lots of ways to fund raise, even in these times by sponsorship, donations, money collecting pots, competitions, tea parties in the garden in small numbers, or running a raffle. We will be gathering all our International club information by October of all the International work this year throughout the District.
We are not sure yet about an International Rally next year so Watch this space.
Even though we cannot meet as clubs yet, we can gather on zoom or by telephone and still be proactive so: “Don’t Be Slow-Go Go Go”!!
Pat Pritchard
Your ever optimistic DISC Dorcas Tailoring in Sierra Leone
The training takes place in the grounds of New Hope School, Sierra Leone. It is giving hope and a future to the trainees. A lot of them have lived
through very difficult circumstances. Some of the younger women are from families who couldn’t afford for them to finish school and they were then forced into marriage at a young age or ended up on the streets.
Five of the trainees have now graduated for the tailoring project in Sierra Leone and received their own sewing machines. The photograph shows some of the trainees in the new uniforms they have made themselves as they wanted to stand out as Dorcas women!
New Hope School, Sierra Leone
The school is free for the children to attend. The building, teachers, all materials and school lunch are funded by International Aid Trust. Children, whose families wouldn’t be able to afford school fees, are getting a good education.
Pupils love attending New Hope School and would come in during the holidays if they could! Getting an education will help them break out of the cycle of poverty.
Introducing Sylvia Hook District 6 Vice Chairman 2020/21 I have been a member of the Rugby Club since 2004 and have held most offices in the Club. We are lucky that we have quite a large membership and meetings were always lively. As a new member there was always someone to sit next to and everyone was very welcoming. I say were because with new precautions in place meetings will take on a very different aspect.
I am a Registered Nurse still working full time so the lockdown didn’t really affect me apart from having to work extra hours and also not being able to see family. I live with Alex and we have twin daughters who both live away from home. Sophie is in Italy and Hannah is in Wales. Sophie works at a language school and Hannah is doing a PHD but also teaches in her spare time. They were both home for a few days which was lovely.
I’m looking forward to next year and hopefully meeting everyone, however we have to do it. Being Inner Wheelers we’ll find a way.
In Friendship Sylvia Can you recognise these District 6 Officers?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
They could be one of these ladies! One of the photos is missing, can you find which one?
Mar garet Anita Sylvia Clair e Sandr a L Mabs MAD S Pat Gay Rita
Answers can be found on the last page after the Club reports.
How did you fill your hours during Lockdown?
If I remember rightly (and it was a long time ago!) at the beginning of the lockdown it was suggested that it would be good for our mental health if we took up a new hobby.
Well, I decided to pick up a hobby I had neglected for over a year – painting. I have really enjoyed exploring my creative side again and have completed five pictures. Ideally it is beneficial to leave the easel and paints out, so they are accessible, and this is probably the reason why I have not done any artwork for such a long time as it was a pain to have to set everything up. However, it is always good to be able to take a look at the work in progress from time to time and decide what the next step is.
I cleared a space in one of the spare bedrooms, covered the carpet with a cloth and set up my paints and brushes etc knowing we would not be having any guests to stay in the foreseeable future. It would be great to have a permanent studio but that is just not going to happen! Currently there are no longer so many restrictions so once my current picture is completed, I shall be putting all my equipment away until the artistic urge returns!
Diane
Edgbaston Convention Club
Diary Dates
2020
26th November
District Committee Meeting with lunch, The Lake at Barston, 10.00 for 10.30 TBA 2021
10th January
Inner Wheel Day 3 – 6th March
International Convention, Jaipur
25th March
District committee Meeting with dinner, The Lake at Barston, 18.00 for 18.30
May
District Rally TBA
10th June
District Committee/AGM with dinner, The Lake at Barston, 18.00 for 18.30
The pictures show:
Coast of NSW, Australia Adaption of a scene from a magazine
Alcester Presidents:
Judy Draycott, Ali Williams. Alcester, like all other clubs, is trying to come terms with life in these unprecedented times. To check that everyone is safe we have been keeping in touch with members, especially those living alone, by email and by phone. Some members have been making laundry bags for NHS scrubs, and to raise funds for our charities, Ali has also been making masks to sell to members and friends. Her sewing machine must at times have been red hot!
During lockdown two members have celebrated their milestone birthdays: Gill Huddlestone in June and Val Baylis in July. Although celebrations were of necessity low key, each of them enjoyed a lovely day.
In March we received the very sad news that founding member Hilary Turner had passed away. She was an active and valued member of Alcester Inner Wheel and will be sadly missed by all of us. Long time member Sheila Girvan is not to renew her membership due to ill health. She too will be missed at club meetings by all her friends and fellow members.
We now look forward to being able to resume our meetings as soon as it is safe to do so.
Pat Lovell, Judy Draycott, Vicky Taylor.
Arbury
President: Ann Williams
It was a pleasure to welcome District 6 Chairman Claire to our March business meeting and we were delighted that she could induct a new member to our Club. We hope she has many happy years of fun and friendship within Inner Wheel but what a shame our meetings were curtailed as soon as she had joined!
We have continued to keep in touch with each other by the monthly newsletter, Zoom, phone calls and socially distant chatting while out on ‘exercise’ walks. Knitting needles have been in overdrive. Material has been collected for making scrubs and one member has swapped her talents for making curtains to making masks.
So far three members have each invited small groups for enjoyable ‘get-togethers’ in their gardens and more are planned. An outdoor venue also enabled the Committee to meet again for the first time since February.
Gill Robinson Atherstone
President: Ann Woolacott
We have had many Zoom meetings during the Covid-19 outbreak, nearly every Thursday
morning. We joined up with the Hartshill Scout group to collect some goodies to give the residents in Hartshill care homes as a little treat. As part of the initiative for them as an organisation to carry out 10 000 acts of kindness to those who need it most, we collected puzzles and a board to do the puzzles on, soaps and body washes. We baked biscuits and cakes, socks, colouring-in books and pencils. The Scouts joined in by writing letters, painting rocks, one member has some ducks and donated some of the eggs. In all, 93 residents received a treat.
We made the local newspaper which the Scouts sent in and mentioned us. The photo shows of some of the items we collected.
Tracy Kobrin
Brierley Hill Presidents: Kathleen Shaw, Carol Law In March we celebrated our 80th birthday Fellowship (we managed to get it in just before lockdown!). The Deputy Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Hilary Bills and District Chair, Claire Mangan, were able to attend along with members of our club and a few local clubs. Our speaker was Kate Oakley of the charity Planting for Hope Uganda who has featured in previous news bulletins. Members of local clubs were impressed with Kate and have booked her for future talks at their own clubs and her charity has been accepted by the District as
All About our Clubs
the International Service Charity for next year, so hopefully more local clubs will wish to hear her speak, as she is so inspiring.
Our joint presidents have been keeping in contact with members during the last few months. We have arranged outdoor picnics at Himley Park for members and have held a number of Zoom meetings for those brave enough to tackle the IT!
Jeanette Smith Coventry
President: Janet Vaughan
Our club last met face to face on 2 March 2020 and we were looking forward to many activities such as our Fellowship in May and the Presidents' tea party.
Although all events were cancelled we have adapted and continued to meet on Zoom. Our now weekly meetings have kept us in touch and helped us keep our spirits up. Speakers from charities we support have come to update us. We hear members' news and it's an opportunity to find out about pastimes - several members of the group have taken up art and show us what they have created - or it might just be saying hello to a well loved pet.
We are planning to meet at a local garden centre in September and our next activity will be shoe box packing at a church hall. Our President’s charity is the Coventry Winter Night Shelter, and our charity concert will now take place on Saturday 20th March 2021.
Jill Joyce Droitwich Spa President:
Our last formal meeting was in mid -March, just before “lockdown”, when we were joined by partners and members of Rotary. The speaker was the first female paramedic in our county, Yvonne Cocks, who gave a fascinating insight into her career.
To keep in touch during this difficult period, some more technically-minded members have “met” via Zoom. And there have recently been limited number of get-togethers in the park, bringing own chair and coffee, sitting distanced, and hoping for good weather!
A fundraiser event had to be cancelled in April because of the pandemic situation. But President Lynda had an alternative plan. Having received more online-ordered geranium plugs than expected, she potted them on and offered them for donations to her local charities, Spectrum Days and Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. Consequently appreciable donations were able to be made to both charities.
Doreen Lambden
Edgbaston Convention President: Daphne Fowler Whilst lockdown has caused major disruption to our programme, we have made the best of the unprecedented situation by taking to technology. Club meetings and book club meetings have all been held on Zoom and worked well for us including having guest speakers. We have kept in touch with all our members.
In June, on a very hot afternoon we had a socially distanced get-together in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham where the incoming and the outgoing Presidents exchanged gifts and regalia; and we enjoyed a chat and ice cream!
And in August on another very hot day members and partners visited Kidderminster Carpet Museum with its fascinating displays, hand loom and power loom demonstrations of the 300 year+ carpet industry of the town. Well worth a visit. We followed the visit with a picnic on Hartlebury Common, thankfully in the shade as it was 30+ degrees!
Gay Bligh Henley in Arden
President: Gail shuttleworth Due to the pandemic we have had to become used to the virtual world of Zoom meetings since our last club meeting in February. Our club activities and fundraisers were cancelled. Hopefully they will be rescheduled in the coming year. We made donations to three charities: Breast Cancer Haven, Riding for the Disabled and Water-Aid.
Our new Club President Gail Shuttleworth took over from Margaret Twigg in July. Margaret did a wonderful job in keeping us all entertained with stories of her walks during lockdown. Gail has chosen Mind as her charity for the coming year.
We welcomed two new members last year and a number of ladies are transferring to us from Hall Green which is now disbanding. Our meeting venue is changing as Henley in Arden Golf Club is closed. Gail has organised a new venue in the town. We are looking forward to resuming meetings there when it is safe to do so. Sadly one of our founding members, Mary Halliwell, died on 20th June. Her daughters said that Inner Wheel was her life. All donations made at her funeral were donated to our Club.
Some of us were in the shielding programme or had to self isolate and we were fortunate to have the help and support of our Inner Wheel friends.
Liz Showell Kenilworth
President: Pauline Smart
The Kenilworth Club, like most Clubs, has not met since February, and our regular commitments of support in the Community have been suspended too.
Many members regularly help at the Kenilworth Stroke Club where we provide two ladies each week to help with refreshments and generally joining in with the exercises and bingo, which is very enjoyable and rewarding.
Some members act as drivers, twice each month, by taking two visually impaired people to the Kenilworth Visually Impaired Club at the Methodist Church on Tuesdays, and returning them home afterwards. This is much appreciated by the individuals and
the organisers of the Club, which is a real benefit to the people with sight loss.
Our Club’s big annual duty is to provide helpers and marshals at the Two Castles Run, a 10K run between Warwick and Kenilworth Castles, held on a Sunday in June. It is heart-warming to give out a “goodie” bag to the runners as they complete the run and congratulate them on their success. Unfortunately, this event had to be cancelled this year of course.
Sue Johnson Lickey Hills
President: June McQuaid
The year of 2020 has certainly been a strange one! I don't think that anyone could have predicted how it would turn out. I think that all of us have felt a cycle of
emotions including feeling
worried, frightened, sad, happy, quiet, too quiet and peaceful, all sometimes in the space of a day. A lot of our members have either been self isolating due to medical conditions either their own, or that of their husband, and now that restrictions are lifting, are finding it strange and frightening to be "going back" into society. During the lockdown we have kept in touch by telephone, e mail and through a weekly magazine put together by our Rotary club president. He has included both Inner Wheel and Rotary finding out what we have all been doing. Some of us are learning to use Zoom, others of us have made masks, scrubs, pillowcase bags for nurses, others of us have developed our sewing and knitting skills making blankets and quilts for Inner Wheel charities here and abroad.
Finally we have got back together and in August we met in the garden of our member Wendy Atkinson and we held a "socially
distanced" afternoon tea in aid of the charity Project Gambia who will provide food for disadvantaged school children.
Sue Wilding Redditch Presidents: Rosie Harvey, Phil Reed
In these times of social distancing, Redditch club decided to work together to support our local community. To that end we knitted:-
24 pairs of hearts to give to patients in hospital and their loved ones at home 15 blankets
7 twiddle muffs 33 scrub bags
Smaller blankets and tiny hats for the Birmingham children’s hospital We collected toiletries, sanitary products and snacks for a wellbeing stall at the Alexandra hospital for the overworked NHS staff. Also games, puzzles, cards etc for the residents of St Basil’s flats for homeless youngsters as they were unable to socialize. Also a mountain of food for the Food Bank in Redditch, St Basil’s and the Batchley support Group.
We are now knitting again under our new President for a local care home:- toys, pompoms and bags to hang on walkers, twiddle muffs and knee blankets and we are again collecting for the Food Bank because we know that when we all pull together we can make a difference!!
Pat Pritchard Rugby
President: Jan Brock
Who would have thought of starting a new Inner Wheel year with a Zoom handover? We’d never even heard of Zoom before Covid-19 struck but what a useful tool it is!
As lockdown began to ease we were very anxious to get our members meeting up once again - whilst sticking strictly to ‘The Guidelines’! Your District Chairman proposed that since many of us had been titivating our gardens during the lockdown, we should use those venues. So, our Mini Garden Gatherings were born or MGG’s as they are now known! For July we had offers of five venues all around Rugby. There was a good weather forecast for the whole week and members quickly requested their preferred venues - essential in order to keep numbers down to only five visitors per garden! We were delighted with the response and many, some leaving their homes for the first time, loved it all and also felt they
were really able to get to know members far easier than when 30+ sit down for monthly meetings. We have already six offers again for August, all different venues which is great! I can see if the weather continues to suit we could well continue with our MGG’s well into the Autumn!
Flick Furber Shirley
President: Jean Brown
No doubt along with all other District 6 Clubs, we were extremely saddened, due to the CV19 pandemic that all monthly meetings, outings and fundraising events were cancelled, including celebration of our sixtieth year, which was being planned.
It is not yet known when we shall be able to meet together as this will depend on our regular meeting venue accepting ‘gatherings’. However, as we are a relatively small Club, it may be possible to meet in the not too distant future, obviously observing the relevant social distancing.
During the period of ‘no meetings’ members have been in contact with one another either by email or phone, together with continuing the knitting of jumpers and blankets, saving stamps and collecting bronze coins for Water Aid.
Margaret Hyde
Solihull
President: Rita Hammer
Things have been somewhat different since the last All About 6 Magazine. What an understatement that is! Our president has changed as have some of the committee members. Some members have been shielding and haven’t been able to leave their homes: some have been taking the opportunity to do some “online” exercise classes and others have been doing plenty of walking.
Throughout it all, everyone has been supporting their fellow members as much as they can, be it with offers of going shopping or just a chat on a regular basis.
When things eased off with lockdown, the club managed to have a socially distanced “non coffee” morning in a large open space. The weather was glorious and people were able to sit and see their friends be it in a Covid19 secure way.
Unfortunately, our club lost two of its valued members in June and August although this was not due to the virus. Margaret Kemp and Maureen Wallace will be sadly missed. We are pleased to welcome Ellie Wingrove into the club and her formal induction will take place when normal meetings resume.
Nicola Forty
For more information please check: www.innerwheel.co.uk www.internationalineerwheel.org
Stratford upon Avon President: Vivien Robberts The ever-resourceful ladies of Stratford-upon-Avon have used this time productively; some members have been making Scrub hats, helping the NHS. Valerie used her knitting skills making new baby clothes, when a new mother was unable buy, as shops were closed; a small toy was also included. Loraine and Barbara used this valuable time to hone their artistic skills by producing inspirational watercolour paintings.
One member is writing her memoirs. Another member has learnt a new language skill. Top of the list seems to be the morning, keep fit walk, which has helped many of us stay active.
We have communicated by Zoom for two meetings but were able hold a committee meeting in a member’s garden. A real highlight was enjoying a delicious afternoon tea in Janet Barlow’s beautiful garden.
Four members have left Inner Wheel. Sadly, Susie Schulenburg a long serving member died on August 10th
Kay Anderson. Sutton Coldfield Vesey President: Mary Stanway We spent lockdown without any meetings or events as no doubt did most other clubs. Our main fund-raising event was to have been a wartime street party, with flags and costumes, and an appropriate speaker demonstrating wartime food. However it
could not take place but our members generously donated their ticket money and, together with money in lieu of Christmas cards and other small money-raising efforts, we were able to send a good donation to the British Lung Foundation. One of our members made scrubs which went to Burton-on-Trent hospital and she also made 285 masks and was able to give generous donations to a local hospice and our President’s charity. Another member, who is always making accessories for charity, donated money to Women’s Aid from rainbow brooches she had crocheted.
Three newsletters, containing more jokes and recipes than news, were sent out, to try and keep in touch. We are at present investigating the possibility of holding meetings in the not too distant future.
Ruth Maughan Wylde Green
President:
Wylde Green Inner Wheel has been, like most clubs, meeting on Zoom - a great online application. We have a coffee morning meeting every two weeks which keeps us all in touch.
During the lockdown our members have been very active. Our President as been very busy sourcing and finding PPE for John
Taylor Hospice. Other members have been busy perfecting their skills, DIY, gardening, helping elderly neighbours with their shopping. Also cooking which is nice but not so good for the waistline.
Our members are all looking forward to when we can meet again personally which we hope will be soon even in this very unprecedented year.
Stay safe everyone.
Christine Law
The fragrant Inner Wheel Rose
Many thanks to District Officers and Correspondents for all the contributions supplied for this Newsletter.
Unfortunately because of the Covid pandemic the magazine has not been able to be printed and distributed as usual but hopefully this newsletter will be a substitution to keep us all in touch with each other.
The newsletter is in A4 format rather than an A5 booklet so that it can be printed on any home printer if desired. Having the colours makes it more attractive to read but when printing it would be more economical to do so in black & white.
Stay safe and keep smiling
Gill Robinson Answ ers to th e B aby pho tos
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