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Co-operative Women’s Guild

Newsletter Issue No. 342 March – April 2013

Message from the Editor Hi Everyone I do hope that you are all coping with this cold weather snap and that no serious accidents have happened. Please remember to put on extra clothing if worried about heating bills; hypothermia can suddenly take effect, so hot meals and drinks are essential. With my positive thinking cap on, I am sure that we will be having glorious weather for our Congress in May to celebrate the Guild’s 130

th anniversary.

Please keep your letters and articles coming in. Ed.

Contents Pages Message from the Editor 1 Contents 1 Head Office 2 NEC 2 Rules Review Committee 3 Congress 2013 4, 5, 6, 7 President’s page 8 Branch Letters 9 Guild Remembrance 10, 11 Contact Details 12

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HEAD OFFICE

1. Public Liability Insurance 2013 The Guild’s Public Liability Insurance will shortly be due for 2013. Branches are again being asked to send in the same amount as they paid in 2011 for their Public Liability Insurance.

Branch - £5.00 Banners and Chains – please pay exactly the same as last year.

Please return the enclosed forms to me at Head Office with a cheque made payable to the Co-operative Women’s Guild by Friday 24 May 2013. Colette Harber, General Secretary

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NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BI-MONTHLY REPORT

Due to the inclement weather conditions in the south of the country on Tuesday 12 March 2013 at 6.30am, Margaret Tillotson, National President, took the decision to cancel the National Executive Committee meeting, which was due to be held in London on that day. All members of the NEC were contacted straight away to avoid any of them travelling to London unnecessarily. The General Secretary’s appraisal, which was due to have been discussed prior to the meeting, will be re-scheduled. Colette Harber, General Secretary.

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RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE

Firstly, may I say a big ‘Thank you’ to all Branches/Districts and Guildswomen who have forwarded amendments/comments to the proposed new Rules and Regulations documents to me, in spite all the bad weather everyone has suffered around the country. For clarity, I have outlined the next stages of the procedure for the Rules Review Committee below, which I hope you find helpful: Having completed its initial task, the Rules Review Committee will now look at every amendment/comment received and give each one its earnest consideration. The meeting has been set for Tuesday 9 April 2013. Whilst the proposed new Rules and Regulations continue to be at the discussion stage and have NOT been voted upon by Congress, they remain with the Rules Review Committee. However, in order to discuss the amendments/comments in an open and transparent way, the three remaining members of the NEC, who have not been party to any of the Rules Review Committee discussions have been invited to that meeting. Additionally, the members of the Standing Orders Committee have also been invited to the meeting. From there, each Branch/District or Guildswoman will receive a response from the Rules Review Committee as to whether or not their amendments have been accepted. A copy of the final version of the proposed new Rules and Regulations will then be posted out to Branches, Individual Members, Ex-National Presidents and Vice-Presidents and all branch Guildswomen who have individually commented. This will be the version that will be voted upon at the Special General Meeting being held during Congress 2013. All delegates and visitors to Congress 2013 will receive a copy of the proposed new Rules and Regulations in their Congress papers. The only business of the Special General Meeting is to consider the adoption of the proposed new Rules and Regulations in its entirety. This meeting will be convened after the Guild’s Annual General Meeting and before the start of Congress. It will be chaired by the National President. If the proposal for the new Rules and Regulations is voted up on by delegates and carried with at least a two-thirds majority; the new Rule book will come into effect on Thursday 16 May 2013, the day after the end of Congress 2013. The Standing Orders Committee will then use the new Rule book for Congress 2014 onwards. However, if the proposal is not carried with a sufficient majority, the Standing Orders Committee will continue to use the Guild’s current Constitution for Congress 2014. Once the voting is finished and the result known, the Special General Meeting will close; Congress 2013 will then commence under the Guild’s current Constitution. The process that I have outlined for you follows that used by Co-operative organisations wishing to comprehensively review its Rules and Regulations. The outcome of the voting for the proposed Rules and Regulations, together with the outcome of all Resolutions, will be sent out with the May/June Newsletter. Colette Harber, General Secretary

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CONGRESS 2013

Annual Congress 2013

a) Host Co-operative Society – East of England Co-operative Society

The Board of Directors of the East of England Co-operative Society are extremely pleased that the Guild has chosen to celebrate its 130

th anniversary in Felixstowe. Over a number of months,

discussions have been ongoing with the East of England Co-operative Society and the Guild. At the start of Congress (on the Monday evening) the Society wishes to provide all delegates and visitors with a ‘goodie bag’ and they will also have some displays around the hotel. On Tuesday morning (14 May) both the President and Vice-President of the East of England Co-operative Society will be at the opening of Congress to welcome us all to Felixstowe. It also wishes to host an evening of entertainment on Tuesday 14 May in the Mansion (part of their Head Office facilities) in Ipswich. In order that all delegates and visitors can travel to Ipswich for the evening, the Society has booked two coaches for us which will leave Felixstowe at 5.30pm. On arrival in Ipswich, there will be a very warm welcome from the Board of Directors; a drinks reception and buffet and raffle (prizes will be supplied by the Society) followed by entertainment from the Co-op Juniors. The coaches will also take us all back to Felixstowe between 9.00 – 9.30pm. On Thursday 16 May, the Society will host a ‘Healthcare’ themed day at the Marlborough. It will be an ‘open’ event from 10.00am until 4.00pm. The Society will bring professional staff from: Pharmacy, who will give medicine reviews and blood pressure testing service Optical, who will give free glasses cleaning /the number plate testing service Easier Living, who will give equipment demonstrations

The Ipswich Singers and the Co-op Choir will be invited to the hotel to perform at lunch time. On behalf of the Guild, may I, through this Newsletter, express its heartfelt thanks to the East of England Co-operative Society for all their help and support for the Guild. I am sure that all these celebrations will be enjoyed by all Guildswomen attending Congress.

b) Congress programme The programme for Congress is currently being finalised; all delegates and visitors will receive it with their Congress paperwork. Given that the East of England Co-operative Society will be hosting an evening of entertainment on Tuesday 14 May, a hot lunch in the form of a carvery will be provided at the hotel for all delegates and visitors on that day. Day visitors to Congress will have to pay separately for this. At the close of Congress on Wednesday 15 May, all delegates and visitors will proceed to the nearby War Memorial where permission has been obtained for the Guild to lay a wreath of white poppies. The Mayor of Felixstowe will be in attendance.

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Congress dinner will be on Wednesday evening (15 May). Day visitors to Congress who wish to stay to the dinner will have to pay separately for this.

c) Annual Report The Annual Report 2012 will be sent out separately to everyone next week. However, in addition to the Annual Report, and as was suggested at last year’s Congress, Christine Hay, Honorary Treasurer, has re-produced the Co-operative Women’s Guild accounts in a larger font size and on a separate sheet of paper so that they can be easily read. Please find enclosed a copy of Christine’s report and the larger typed accounts. If you have any queries or questions on the accounts, please send them to me at Head Office by Friday 3 May 2013, so that responses can be prepared.

d) Raffle Prizes for Guild Raffle Just a reminder to all those attending Congress, please don’t forget to bring a quality raffle prize with you from your Branch for the Congress raffle.

e) Invoices for Congress Late last week, I sent out the invoices for Congress to all Guildswomen attending Congress; please ensure that your cheques are returned to me by Saturday 20 April 2013. When I send back your receipt I will also be asking for the arrival time of your trains into Ipswich so that we can organise the bus to pick people up and take them to Felixstowe rather than having to change trains again.

f) Resolutions Following the second meeting of the Standing Orders Committee where the amendments were discussed; the final paper has been produced for Congress. Please only use this copy when discussing the resolutions with your delegate in preparation for voting at Congress.

g) National Project 2012/2013 A reminder to all Branches to send any monies raised for the National Project for 2012/2013, The British Heart Foundation, to me at Head Office, as soon as possible, but certainly no later than Wednesday 8 May 2013.

h) National Projects 2013/2014 Seven projects have been suggested by Branches for the Guild’s National Project 2013/2014, which will be voted upon at Congress. They are:

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Age UK – Registered Charity No. 1128267 Age UK supports and assists a network of more than 170 local Age UKs which between them provide an extensive network throughout England. Local Age Uks and Age Concerns provide vital direct services to people in later life throughout the UK, working in partnership with the national organisation. Local services can include: information, advice and advocacy services; day centres and lunch clubs; home help and ‘handyperson’ scheme; and IT and other training.

Child Brain Injury Trust – Registered Charity No.288018 In 1985, the Children’s Trust started the UK’s first ever paediatric brain injury rehabilitation service and have since developed an international reputation for excellence. Hundreds of children and their families have experienced the difference that the Child Brain Injury Trust can make. The Trust’s services reflect the range of abilities and needs of children with brain injuries; from those who are minimally conscious to those who appear to have made a full physical recovery but are left with ‘hidden’ problems with their cognition, memory, communication and behaviour.

New Life – Registered Charity No.1001817 Disabled children have been at the heart of the charity 1991. Since that time we have become, through our work, the specialist for special children. Their needs and the needs of their families and carers, their health and their voices are all central to the work of the charity. Thankfully more babies and children survive conditions, accidents, infections and cancers; we see more children live through these experiences and therefore have widened our remit to include all children with significant disabilities.

The MacMillan Nurses – Registered Charity No.261017 All MacMillan nurses are registered nurses with at least five years’ experience, including two or more years in cancer or palliative care. They complete specialist courses in managing pain and other symptoms and in psychological support. MacMillan nurses are usually employed by the NHS and their posts are funded by MacMillan for a set time, often for the first three years. After that time, the long-term funding is taken up by the NHS or other partner organisations. MacMillan nurses generally work in the community and are not usually associated with private health care. For many people affected by cancer, MacMillan nurses are a valued and trusted source of expert information, advice and support – free of charge.

DEBRA – Registered Charity No.1084958 DEBRA is the national charity working on behalf of people in the UK with a genetic skin blistering condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). EB is a very rare genetic condition in which the skin and internal body linings blister at the slightest knock or rub. It is an extremely debilitating and painful condition.

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Headway – Registered Charity No.1025852 Headway is a national charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury. Locally, a network of groups and branches have been set up throughout the UK and Channel Islands, which offer a wide range of services, including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care. The service available will vary depending on local needs and resources. Nationally, Headway UK provides support to the local groups and helps to deliver high quality services through guidance on policies, procedures, standards and training.

Lupus Disease – Registered Charity No.1051610 Lupus UK is a national charity helping people illness, Lupus. It is supported, locally, by 6,000 members throughout the UK in regional groups. Lupus is an incurable immune system illness, probably genetic in origin and mainly suffered by women. It can affect any part of the body, principally; the kidneys and the skin, but, the heart, lungs and brain can also be irreversibly damaged Rashes, depression, anaemia, feverishness, headaches, possible hair loss and mouth ulcers may all be part of the pattern of lupus. Noticeably, whilst the two major symptoms are invariably present, people with lupus can differ greatly in their symptoms and how the illness can affect them – life threatening for a few, very mild for some. Miscarriage, often recurrent, is another unhappy complication of lupus. I hope the above brief outline of each of the charities helps when discussing them with your delegate.

See you all at Congress, Ed.

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NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S PAGE Congress - 1924

Whilst going through my many papers, (goodness, don’t we all have so much paper!) I found an extract of the Guild’s 1924 Congress which had been published in the Daily Mail on Thursday 19 June 1924 and, which I thought that you might like to read: BABEL OF WOMEN’S TONGUES – CONGRESS HUBBUB DOOR GUARDED TO STOP THE LUNCHEON RUSH ‘The sitting of the Women’s Co-operative Guild Congress in Leeds yesterday was at times a babel of tongues with as many of 20 women trying to speak at once. Mrs. Allen, the President, was driven to desperation. “Do you want to speak or don’t you?” she would ask of delegates, and then to the 1,000 delegates: “If you would stop gossiping at the back of the hall, you might be able to hear.” Women would shriek out above the hubbub on a point of order, and when one delegate was ruled out of order she protested by shouting down another, saying, “If you don’t listen to one delegate, then you shall not listen to another.” PREVENTED FROM LEAVING When some delegates wanted to adjourn earlier for luncheon Mrs. Allen refused and ordered stewards to guard the doors and not allow delegates to leave until the session was ended. During the lulls when business was able to proceed, the congress passed resolutions dealing with almost every social question. Mrs. Adair, Mid-Durham, alleged that girls of 18 were working 10 and 12 hours a day for 10s. and 15s. a week as waitresses at Wembley, and said that one waitress had to forfeit 12s. of her wages because two of her customers had not paid their bills. “Is this not enough to drive girls into other spheres of life?” she asked. MATRIMONIAL COURTS A resolution urged the setting up of courts for domestic relations, so that married couples should have other places than police courts where they could get sound advice, good counsel, and unbiased judgement. The congress also urged the Government to amend the divorce law, making it impossible for a verdict to be given of adultery with some person unknown.’ I do hope that you enjoyed the newspaper cutting. Margaret Tillotson, National President

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BRANCH LETTERS

Variety of Meetings for Runcorn Guild It seems no time at all since we were celebrating Christmas. We have had some interesting meetings this year. In January, we held a charity Bingo with the proceeds being sent to our local Hospice, Halton Haven. We have also held a bottle tombola for our own funds and on the same day we had a picture quiz. February was also the month when we had an outing to Manchester. Some of the ladies went to the theatre to see ‘Hairspray’; they really enjoyed the show with some of them dancing in the aisles! The remainder of us had some retail therapy and ‘hit the shops’ together with a few cups of tea to revive us. Our next meeting, March, should also be very interesting. We are having an Easter bonnet competition, with hopefully, someone to judge our creations and winning a fantastic prize. I’ll write again and keep you all up to date with the interesting meetings arranged for the rest of this year. Betty Ford, Branch Secretary -----------------------------------------

Local Guild’s Memorablia goes to Newcastle Discovery Museum – Throckley Guild In 2013 the former Co-operative Wholesale Society, now known as the Co-operative Group, will be celebrating its 150

th anniversary. The Newcastle Discovery Museum will be marking this anniversary

by displaying co-operative artefacts as part of its celebrations. In late November 2012, writes Celia Sumner, Branch Secretary, Throckley Guild donated the chain of the former Newcastle Central Branch together with a silver platter, given by the Wallsend Industrial Co-operative Society Limited to the former Wallsend Branch, to the museum so that they can both be displayed. Celia and other Guild members had their photographs taken on the day that they donated the artefacts to the Museum. Celia Sumner, Branch Secretary, Throckley Guild

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REMEMBRANCE

Pauline Tompkins – Baddesley Ensor Guild Baddesley Ensor Guild, writes Jacqueline Smith, Branch Secretary, are very sad at the passing of Pauline Tompkins, a loyal Guildswoman for our Branch for 44 years. Throughout her time with the Branch, Pauline had taken on a number of roles; she had been the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Minute Secretary and a District Representative. She was very conscientious and quietly got on with whatever job she was asked to do. Pauline was also looking forward to her second Congress this year, but sadly this is not to be. We will all miss her. Jacqueline Smith, Branch Secretary, Baddesley Ensor Guild

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Eliza Chapman – Mile Cross Guild Liz died on 5 February 2013 aged 93, writes Barbara Betts, Branch Secretary. She had been a member of the Norwich Mile Cross Women’s Guild for 60 years. Unfortunately, due to her ill health she had not been able to attend our meetings for the last three or four years. Liz played an active role with the former Norwich Co-operative Society as one of its Directors for some 22 years. She will be sadly missed by us all. Barbara Betts, Branch Secretary, Mile Cross Guild

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joan Smith – Torbay Guild It is with great sadness that I must report the recent death of Joan Smith, writes Pauline Lintern, of Torbay Guild. Joan was our Branch Secretary for many years and was a stalwart of our Guild. She was also the Guild’s National Vice-President in 1995/96. Even though she had moved to live in a residential home, her daughter continued to bring to the meetings. She will be missed by us all. Pauline Lintern, Torbay Guild

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pat Bufton – Individual Member It is with sadness that I report to you that I have received notification from Louise Bufton of the death of her mother, Pat Bufton, who was an Individual Member of the Guild from Powys, Wales. Pat was one of the first ladies to join the Guild as an Individual Member in 2010.

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She was very active within her Co-operative Group Region as an Area Committee member for mid-Wales (formerly being its Chair); a member of the Welsh Regional Board and its Regional Values and Principles Committee. She was also appointed to represent her Region on the Co-operatives UK Midlands Sectional Council. Outside of this, Pat was also active as a member of the Co-operative Party. She enjoyed being a member of the Co-operative Women’s Guild very much and attended Guild Congress in Chesterfield (2011) and Doncaster (2012). Colette Harber, General Secretary

We send the Guild’s condolences to the families of all the Guildswomen mentioned. Ed.

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CONTACT DETAILS

Editor

Please send any items for the next Newsletter by 19 May 2013 at the latest to Lyn Longbottom, by post to: 28 Portobello Street, Hull, Yorkshire, HU9 3JE; or telephone: 01482 798353; or email: lyncoop@live.co.uk

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Head Office Colette Harber, General Secretary/Membership Officer 51 Church Lane, Upper Beeding, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3HP; or telephone: 01903 814586; or email: colette.harber@phonecoop.coop