Christmas Origami Workshop

On a cold and frosty December evening 35 members of High Levels WI met at the Reindeer Inn, Sandtoft to enjoy a Christmas social with a craft input. The evening began on a sombre note with a minute’s silence to mark the death of a very long-standing member. Cath Watson had held many positions of office over the years and tribute was paid to her wonderful contributions to the Institute and her amazing skills of entertainment too. A memorial service will be held for her on 20th January 2024 at 11.30am in Hatfield Church.

The meeting continued with a brief overview of business followed by the introduction of Anne Nichol who was to involve members in an evening of origami creations suitable for Christmas.

Anne is very able teacher and members were shown how to make a hanging circular “snowflake” by folding two sheets of paper which were provided. This simple procedure was executed well by most and there was much cheerful conversation to be heard. Next members were shown how to fold a part book into a cone shape while Anne assisted where necessary. Creating a chubby star was next. Members folded a long strip into a flat pentagon (eventually!) and many were helped to shape this into a 3D star.

At that point an assortment of Christmas nibbles was sampled and members circulated. 

Returning to the activities everyone was shown how to turn a white square of paper into a Christmas tree. This took a lot more concentration on folding in exactly the correct sequence. The triangle shapes were achieved but the cutting which followed was a little more difficult and this time the chatter was more serious. 

Lister's Crisps

Laura Platt from local company Lister’s Crisps, gave an empowering women talk about growing the business, employing only women in the factory and using local companies for their flavourings and seasonings. A selection of free crisps were offered at the end of the talk.

Austrian Evening

Following on from international day, our September meeting was an Austrian Themed evening.

Jayne Dance welcomed everyone, all of whom were dressed in red and/or white, along with costume dresses too. We sang Jerusalem and our meal of Goulash soup and roll was followed by pork wiener schnitzel and vegetables.

There was a 20 minute break before the dessert of apple strudel and cream was served. This was to allow for the brief business meeting to take place:

Celia Jones gave a report on the Nepalese-themed International Day held by SYFWI on Saturday 16th September at Dinnington. She was joined on the day by Helen M-E and Jayne D. Experiencing street-food, history and culture they all learnt a lot and enjoyed the day, shared with 91 other WI members from South Yorkshire. 

 Georgina who gave us a short history about Austria and had created a quiz for us to do in pairs whilst enjoying our dessert. The papers were swapped, marked and returned. It was a devilishly difficult one and the prize winning score was a tied 12/20! Everyone enjoyed guessing the multiple choice answers though. 

The evening was a great success with everyone enjoying the meal and the social gathering.

Summer Flowers Workshop

It was a rainy July evening for our WI monthly meeting, our speaker for the evening, Sarah Atwell, brought some sunshine to us by demonstrating to how to create a sunflower themed flower arrangement using local produce and lovely wild flower that had been picked by Sarah and family members from a ‘flowers from the field’ farm, called Eastfield Farm, Tickhill. Members were then able to construct their own version - everyone’s was different. A thoroughly enjoyable evening. Helen Smith gave the vote of thanks reflecting how the sunflower resembled the WI from the well known calendar. 

The Kings Coronation Party

Inspiring Insights at the SYFWI Federation Annual Meeting

On April 22nd, 2023, our representatives Helen Mayfield-Ella, Catherine Watson and Jayne Dance attended the South Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes (SYFWI) Annual Meeting on behalf of High Levels WI. Held at The Legacy Conference Centre in Doncaster, the gathering provided an enlightening and engaging experience for all who attended.

The event commenced with a warm welcome from SYFWI Chair, Dorothy Meekins, followed by the singing of Jerusalem. The Mayor of Doncaster emphasized the importance of the Women's Institute's history and the role women play in shaping our society. We were encouraged to participate in events like the Great Big Green Week and Show the Love month, and to explore the My WI online resource and the SYF website.

A banner was being remade for the SYF office at Hall Cross, as some WIs had folded. Our representatives took photos for further discussion within our WI.

The day concluded with presentations to WI branches celebrating significant milestones and achievements, as well as a raffle prize draw. Our heartfelt thanks go to Dorothy and her team for organizing this inspiring event, which reminded us of the incredible impact the Women's Institute has on our society.

A Dazzling Display of Belly Dancing Delights

April's High Levels Women's Institute meeting was a true celebration of dance, culture, and camaraderie, as we were treated to a mesmerising performance by the South Yorkshire belly dancing troupe, Sisters of Tribelica. The name itself is a creative fusion of the words "tribal" and "Metallica," highlighting the group's unique approach to this captivating art form.

Led by the talented Sally and her sisters, the Sisters of Tribelica enthralled our members with three distinct forms of belly dancing. Each performance was accompanied by a costume change, showcasing the troupe's dedication to authenticity and providing us with a captivating visual experience.

But the fun didn't stop there! Ten of our spirited members eagerly volunteered to join in the festivities, donning vibrant hip scarf belts adorned with metallic costume coins that jingled delightfully with every movement. Under the expert guidance of the Sisters of Tribelica, our brave volunteers embraced the opportunity to strut their stuff and try their hand at belly dancing.

The atmosphere was filled with laughter, support, and a sense of unity as we cheered on our fellow members, who wholeheartedly immersed themselves in this enchanting dance form. This unforgettable evening not only provided us with exceptional entertainment but also served as a reminder of the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing new experiences.

We look forward to more such memorable moments and the continuing growth of our High Levels Women's Institute community in the months to come.