Monday 1st September
Those arriving by public transport were mostly met by Hampshire WI members. Members, arrived for registration and were given hand-crafted conference bags made by Hampshire WI members. Any excess of bags will be sold in aid of Pennies for Friendship.
Tuesday 2nd September
Merja Siltanen gave various notices prior to the opening ceremony. The minutes of the previous meeting held at Turku, Finland were agreed. Mrs Mary Fagan, JP, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire opened the conference in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton Cllr Brian Parnell and Mrs Mary Parnell. The Chairman of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Michael Woodhall, Mrs May Kidd JP, Deputy World President of ACWW, Mrs Merja Siltanen, Mrs Fay Mansell, Chair National Federation of Women's Institutes of England, Wales and the Islands, (NFWI), Mrs Pat Marshall, Chairman of Hampshire County Federation of Women's Institutes (HCFWI) and assembled delegates and guests.
Following the opening, welcomes were given by Pat Marshall (HCFWI), Fay Mansell (NFWI), May Kidd (ACWW). Singing of the National Anthem, Jerusalem and the Song of Peace was accompanied on the orogan by May Kidd. Incidental music was played by the very accomplished 15 year old harpist - Francesca Barsby.
The keynote speaker for the morning was Helen Browning OBE - Farming for our Futures - A female perspective. Helen Browning is an organic farmer in Wiltshire, England, a former Chairman of the Soil Association and a member of a number of committees and enquiries relatled to farming and the environment. Helen was thanked by Alison Argo (Scotland).
The early afternoon involved workshops by Fiona Davies, Gill Edmunds and Polly Gibbs of WiRE (Women in Rural Enterprise)
Fiona Davies WiRE is based at Harper Adams Agricultural College and stemmed from a research project on falling farming incomes and diversification. Fiona's talk was based on networking. Exchange of ideas, share skills, ideas and experiences overcome loneliness.
Polly Gibb, explained why the work of WiRE is so important. WiRE founde in 1998 works with female entrepreneurs in rural areas, support is given at regional level.
Rural women entrepreneurs choose self-employment for various reasons, e.g. farm diversification, lack of availability of local relevant employment, flexibility etc. They contribute significant and increasing amounts to the farm and/or family incomes.
Gill Edmunds The presentation dealt with the training and skills development necessary for women to run their own business, usually as a result of the need to supplement a farming income.
Questions from the audience
1. Who funded this project? The Government.
2. Was it only businesses helped? Basically yes. Social enterprises were not.
3. Why only in rural areas? Because of the isolation and difficulty of getting this kind of help.
4. Most businesses formed using internet sales. In the current economic climate, these could suffer. What did WiRE plan to do about it?
No plan at present, but would give what support they could.
The final business session of the day was ACWW business, including: May KIdd giving the Deputy World President's address. Ian McConchie giving a PowerPoint overview presentation on ACWW from the headquarters point of view and Margaret Mackay, Chairman of the Projects Committee giving an illustrated presentation on projects which had been supported recently. A raffle was held by Esme Isaacs and Valerie Palmer of Dorset Federation of WIs in aid of Pennies for Friendship.
This was followed by a Civic Reception hosted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton at Southampton Civic Centre Art Gallery, when members had the opportunity to view the paintings, sculptures and other artefacts on display.
Wednesday 3rd September
ACWW business started the day including: Merja Siltanen gave her Area President's report, giving an outline of her correspondence and project monitoring and other activities. She also pointed out that over £10 000.00 had been raised for the sponsorship fund. Twenty three sponsored delegates were present at the conference. In October 2007 work had begun on the ACWW structure plan. Research was ongoing and the main aims were to strengthen the financial base of ACWW, increase both society and individual membership and raise the profile of the organisation.
Merja thanked everyone for their warmth, friendship and support her her first year as European Area President.
Asta Kuosmanen, assisted by Terhi Lindqvist (Finland) and Janice Langley(UK England) gave presentations on their societies climate change projects. The Martha Society focuses on environmental work, home economics, food production and gardening. They have concerns about phosphates and energy consumption. They offer training in districts and emphasised, small changes by many people can make a difference. Janice Langley emphasised that women are often the worst affected by environmental disasters. She also spoke about the new NFWI project Women Reaching Women. Ruth Bond then introduced the NFWI "A World without Jam" which proved thought provoking. Other members who spoke during this session included: MOira Hammond, Betty Houghton, Eileen Hurd, Valerie Stevens, Ann, Hazel, Brenda Deake, Sharon Coleman, Margaret Ducker, Christine Trigger, Margaret Cadzow, Moira Cook, Jackie Gregory and Doke Keijzer. The topics covered included diesel engines, bus passes, walking buses for school children, plastic bags, use of disposable nappies, plastics used in baby and water bottles and the effect these can have on human hormones and wind farms. All countries appear to have similar goals to: reduce use of plastic bags, use products which are environmentally sound, sort and recycle waste, lower indoor temperatures, car share and promote use of public transport, don't leave electric items on stand-by.
The keynote speaker was Dr Denise Smythe-Wright, a WI member and scientist working at the Oceanographic Department of Southampton University. Denise made science understandable to non-scientists and gave a fascinating talk on Climate Change and the oceans part in this, answering questions at the end of the session. She felt the most important thing which women could do was to teach the younger generations about climate change. We also need to return to some of the principles of the past, home cooking and growing of food, and production of less waste, less destruction of forests. Denise used slides to illustrate what is known to be happening to the climate and the ocean currents which affect weather and global warming. She outlined what many scientists belieive may happen and stressed that there is nothig new about climate change, it has been going on for 255 million years and has produced the various ages we know of in history. However, the current changes appear to be happening faster then ever before due to the action of humans. Statistics show that the biggest polluters are people in developed countries and we all need to reduce our carbon footprint. We are creating a "duvet" above the earth which allows less heat to escape, the gases left are more that the earth can absorb or cope with and this is the basic problem. This will lead to more extreme weather conditions - winds will be stronger, rains harder and longer, sun hotter and so on. More CO2 leads to global warming, which leads to ocean warming, increased acidity, more of certain types of plankton, also to melting ice caps, rising sea levels and changes in the oceans circulattion system. Denise was happy for members to contact her on email des@noc.soton.ac.uk Questions and comments were made by Pauiline Hoare, Jan Houghton Brown and Ingunn Birkeland who asked what we should be urging our governements to do. Denise said, urge them to ensure they achieve their Kyoto Agreement targets. Denise was thanked by Carmel Dawson (Irish Republic).
The afternoon was a workshop led by Peter Hedley-Smith of Integra on recycling. peter spoke to a PowerPoint presentation on re-cycling in Slovenia brought to conference by Veronika Fabinc and followed this with his own presentation on re-cycling in Hampshire, the similarities were striking. Papers had also been brought by delegates from Estonia and Russia, these will be circulated by Terhi Lindqvist after the conference. Questions and comments followed and it was generally agreed that the principle of 'polluter pays' was a good one. Peter felt that in the UK, Hampshire was at the forefront of working on solutions on problems caused by waste. Therese Casemore, Liz Curtis, Susan Addams, Pauline Hoare, Drifa Hjaartardottir, Thelma Jones, Terhi Lindqvist and others asked questions. Justine Nkwinkeh from the Cameroon reported that in her country re-cycling was unknown. She will be sent information to help her raise the subject on her return home. Re-cycling of old electrical goods and sending clothes to developing countries were other subjects which were raised. Peter was thanked by Betty Birney(Northern Ireland).
The final session of ACWW business included three recommendations submitted by member societies.
Proposed by Maria Zagorska, Bulgaria and agreed to submit to ACWW as a recommendation for the 2010 Triennial Conference - Access to information in Rural Areas: "In view of the lack of proper, easily undestandable and timely information to women and families in rural areas, in relevant countries, conferning their everyday life and wellbeing, this conference recommends that ACWW encourage its member societies to:
Take on the responsibility, as mediators, to select the main issues, make them understandable, and spread the information in a timely manner to rural families. Urge their respective government institutes and parliamentary politicians, highlighting their obligation to submit all such necessary information to all members of the public, including those in rural areas'.
Proposed by Gunhild Haugum, Norway, and the wording was finally agreed on Friday morning as:'In view of the United Nation's First Millennium Development Goals, calling for the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger and to improve employment for women, be it resolved that Associated Countrywomen of the World societies call on their governments to make available access to credit for women'.
Proposed by Sigurlaug Garlarsdottir, Iceland and agreed: 'Be it recommended that all member societies urge their communities to stop the use of plastic bags and reuce excess packaging.'
This was followed by Have your Say including a presentation by Margaret McMillan (Northern Ireland) on developing ACWW. Altogether we Can Win the Way. Margaret urged those present to help ACWW achieve it's strategic plan to raise the profile of ACWW and to increse income and membership numbers. Delegates were encouraged to ensure their own societies held fund raising events for ACWW on either ACWW Day, 29th April, or the International Day of Rural Women in October. All societies, must work to help ACWW in their aims, invest in projects and help ACWW move forward and progress. Alison Bayley thanked everyone for completing the Promotions and Publications questionnaire. NFWI were asked for a regular ACWW section in WI Life.
The evening was taken up with entertainment led by the very English King John's Morris Men who danced Cotswold and Border Morris and performed their Mummers play. They also played for English dancing at the end of the evening. Delegates who performed during the evening included Milda Laycock, Therese Casemore, Anne Pringle, Betty Houghton, Betty Birney and other members of the Northern Ireland delegates group, Alison Argo and Brenda Drake, Vibeke Lasson, Jackie Gregory, Jean Wilkie and Moira Hammond, Magdolna Tamas and May Kidd played Music for Money - for Pennies for Friendship. Compere Ros Cooper. Performers were thanked by Bethan Williams.
Thursday 4th September
Members were taken on one of four visits to different areas of Hampshire. One coach went to Stonehenge (Wiltshire) and then to Longstock for lunch and then visited the Longstock Water Garden courtesy of the John Lewis Partnership. A second coach visited Manor Farm, Hamble, travelled to Horndean for lunch and then to Alresford for tea. The third coach took delegates to Winchester to see the Cathedral and other sites. Some members were able to visit Winchester College. They were then taken on a scenic route to Titchfield for lunch and to Bursledon. The final coach dropped delegates off at Lyndhurst in the New Forest. WI members collected delegates and drove them to local halls/homes for coffee and sightseeing before takin them on to lunch at Hyde & Frogham. Delegates then visited Breamore House. All refreshments were supplied by local WIs and Groups.
On returning to the University, delegates enjoyed a Gala Dinner and grand raffle in aid of Pennies for Friendship. Some prizes had been donated, including a Makower Quilt by Therese Casemore. Merja Siltanen then thanked the organising committee members for all they had done and presented each of them with a 'Martha's Heart' necklace.
Friday 5th September
ACWW business was concluded including finalising the wording of the resolution to be submitted to the 2010 Triennial Conference.
Bethan Williams then gave a presentation on Mrs Madge Watt, founder President of ACWW, based on research and a forthcoming book by Prof. Linda Ambrose. Margaret Cadzow (Hon. Secretary ACWW and Chairman of the Triennial Conference Committee) gave information on the next Triennial Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. Members were asked to supporot the sponsorship fund. Everyone needs to check visas and passport regulations. Eileen Hurd outlined the Pen Friends LInks scheme of which she is the UK coordinator. Alison Bayley awarded small prizes to Kathleen Martin and Stephanie Whitfield for the questionnaire responses. The bookmark competition was won by Jackie Gregory, 2nd Elizabeth Appleton, 3rd Susan Watkins. Carmel Dawson, Chairman of the Irish Country Women's Association (ICA) offered hospitality for the next Area Conference in Eire, subject only to approval by her Executive Committee. The next Area Meeting will be held during the Triennial Conference 20 - 28 April 2010 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA.
A number of members, including the sponsored delegates, then thanked the organising committee for an excellent conference.
Merja Siltanen then summed up the conference, saying we had highlighted problems, but we had also highlighted actions which everyone could take to contribute to the solutions. The problem were created by human beings, and they could be solved by human beings, that means all of us. We are doing a lot, we must do more.
Merja thanked everyone for their attendance and contributions and the area flags were then hander over from HCFWI organising committee to Carmel Dawon, President of the Irish Countrywoman's Association.
May Kidd again accompanied Jerusaleme (by request), the Song of Peace and the National Anthem. Following this Merja Siltanen declared the conference closed.
During the week, HCFWI held a trading stall for members to purchase souvenirs including some ACWW items. Jackie Gregory sold preserves in aid of the Travel Fund. Veronika Fabinc sold lip salve for Pennies for Friendship. A bookmark competition was held, voting by coins be delegates and won by Jackie Gregory.
Organsing Committee: Ann Mattingly, Chairman; Sue Atrill, Judy Bacon, Kyrene Beames, Ros Cooper, Pam Snashall and Gillian Thomas. Stewards were members of Hampshire WIs. Technical assistance provided by Janet Colley and flower arrangements by Jean Johnson.