W.I. last week was all about SERV. Service by Emergency
Response Volunteers. One of the Suffolk motor-cycle volunteers did a
presentation. They are a Nationwide Charity. The short video shows what
they do......
The speaker( a recently retired teacher) said that actually they are less likely to be delivering in emergencies now as they are not allowed to break speed limits or use blue lights, so anything that was a real emergency would be done by the police. He often picks up blood to take to Ipswich hospital to replace what was used in an emergency ready for the next days operations. Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge is the source of many things he collects or delivers and East Suffolk volunteers tend to meet a volunteer from the Cambridge area halfway (In a supermarket car park in Bury St Edmunds) to exchange whatever they are carrying, this cuts down the time taken.
Each volunteer is on call a few times a month and they contact the controller ( another volunteer working from home) to tell them they are available. Sometimes he doesn't get called on at all in his 12 hours and gets a nights sleep that he wasn't expecting but on the other hand he sometimes goes out 2 or 3 times.
We
got the 2022 programme for WI and I was a bit disappointed at the
things planned but often the dullest sounding subject is most
interesting, so we shall see. There was coffee and cake of course and
the raffle (didn't win anything again- never do!). The committee are
discussing if we should move our meetings to the large hall at the
community centre/primary school from March (costing more and awful acoustics) so we can
spread out as there are about 10 people too frightened to come to
meetings in the small United Reformed Church since Covid.
Next month I've got to remember to go early, as I'm on the rota for helping, and to take a raffle prize.
Covid has made things so hard. Good luck with finding the raffle prize. My late grandmother's search for the right raffle prize covered many miles and I still remember it with fondness.
My plans to retire and then join the WI in the village have been thwarted... Apparently there was a major row a few years back and there is no WI here now.
I too am on the coffee and cake duty at next months W,I. when I started I was always on refreshments with a lady who made fabulous coffe cake, I on the other hand was not good with a sponge and usually had to put more icing filling on one side than the other in order to make it level!!!.Her daughter told me later they never had it at home as her Mum only made it for W.I.!!Val
Oddly, I don't have to make cakes as they have a "catering committee" who bake each month and then are refunded. That's completely different to any other WI that I've been to. Love a good coffee cake - haven't made one for years - now I'm tempted!
Covid has changed a lot of normality as we knew it, some good and some not so. I wonder if in the distant future this present time will be known as the Covid Plague just as we know the Black Plague.
Even the most boring subject can be made interesting by the speaker, it depends on their enthusiasm for the subject.
There's at least three WIs near me and that's without even looking around the Diss area. Not that I go to one. I have seen the blood runners around here.
I think I'd vaguely heard about them but never seen one. Still plenty of WIs in Suffolk and several new ones based on new housing estates on the edges of towns
I wish there was something similar in the US. Sigh. What sort of topics are they discussing this year? Hopefully some of them will turn out to be interesting.
The WI sounds very good. Getting people together in person and presenting interesting and useful topics is useful for all. I've not heard of blood runners and they definitely provide a critical service. All our community gatherings are via zoom. The local schools are in person (with masks and most vaccinated) and I believe everything should be in person (with precautions).
I wish we had something like the WI here. Instead we have various clubs that you need to be invited to join. Not fun for those of us who are never asked.
Covid has made things so hard. Good luck with finding the raffle prize. My late grandmother's search for the right raffle prize covered many miles and I still remember it with fondness.
ReplyDeleteCar boot sales will be a good source of raffle prizes I think.
DeleteI've never heard of SERV- what a good thing to do.
ReplyDeletexx
They are often known as Blood-runners, but I'd not heard of them either
DeleteMy plans to retire and then join the WI in the village have been thwarted... Apparently there was a major row a few years back and there is no WI here now.
ReplyDeleteYou could start a new one!
DeleteI bet there's another one near you Angela, you are never far from a WI in Norfolk. There's two in Dereham and one in Elsing for starters.
DeleteI too am on the coffee and cake duty at next months W,I. when I started I was always on refreshments with a lady who made fabulous coffe cake, I on the other hand was not good with a sponge and usually had to put more icing filling on one side than the other in order to make it level!!!.Her daughter told me later they never had it at home as her Mum only made it for W.I.!!Val
ReplyDeleteOddly, I don't have to make cakes as they have a "catering committee" who bake each month and then are refunded. That's completely different to any other WI that I've been to.
DeleteLove a good coffee cake - haven't made one for years - now I'm tempted!
Coffee cake with walnuts on top of the coffee icing, lovely. One of the cakes I used to make regularly.
DeleteCovid has changed a lot of normality as we knew it, some good and some not so. I wonder if in the distant future this present time will be known as the Covid Plague just as we know the Black Plague.
ReplyDeleteEven the most boring subject can be made interesting by the speaker, it depends on their enthusiasm for the subject.
Do you still go to two WI meetings?
I will be in February and will rejoin what I used to call Big WI in April when subs are now due
DeleteThere's at least three WIs near me and that's without even looking around the Diss area. Not that I go to one. I have seen the blood runners around here.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd vaguely heard about them but never seen one.
DeleteStill plenty of WIs in Suffolk and several new ones based on new housing estates on the edges of towns
Perhaps those people are more cautious than frightened…Covid is rampant in U S now…wish others here were more careful…
ReplyDeleteFrightened, worried, cautious whatever.More worried than me
DeleteI wish there was something similar in the US. Sigh. What sort of topics are they discussing this year? Hopefully some of them will turn out to be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm not impressed by one meeting about wrapping gifts!!
DeleteI have seen them on the motorway in the past when I used to travel further more regularly, they do an amazing service.
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to stock yourself up with 'raffle suitable prizes' once the car boot sales kick off again in Spring.
I'm sure there will be no problem finding raffle prizes at boot sales - there are always tons of "smellies"!
DeleteI wouldn't build your hopes up for dull sounding not being dull after all...but you can hope Sue...there is always hope! x
ReplyDeleteI've been a member for long enough to hope for the best!
DeleteThe WI sounds very good. Getting people together in person and presenting interesting and useful topics is useful for all. I've not heard of blood runners and they definitely provide a critical service. All our community gatherings are via zoom. The local schools are in person (with masks and most vaccinated) and I believe everything should be in person (with precautions).
ReplyDeleteI wish we had something like the WI here. Instead we have various clubs that you need to be invited to join. Not fun for those of us who are never asked.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
If poor acoustics cost more, why move?
ReplyDelete