Sir Gar Carmarthenshire Federation of WIS

SIR Gâr Carmarthenshire Federation hosted their first ever County ACM via Zoom on Saturday, November 21.

The meeting was a great success and thanks to Maureen Davis for hosting the meeting and also to Ru from Digital Communities Wales for his advice and help.

Over 60 members were able to join the meeting and it was lovely to see all their smiling faces after such a long time.

Even though monthly meetings haven’t gone ahead as normal for institutes, this hasn’t stopped some institutes meeting up via Zoom, Whatsapp and other digital platforms.

Some have held meeting outside following the guidelines laid down by the Welsh Assembly and keeping a safe distance.

Other have kept in contact through emails, letters and the phone. As one member said “we use the 3 Cs” (communication, consideration and co-operation).

The WI is still going strong behind the scenes. Felinfoel, Llandybie, Johnstown, Pwll and Trelech WIS spoke about the activities that they have been doing over the months both for their members and for organisations within the wider community.

The WI office is open, next year’s activities, trips and campaigns are being planned. As our speaker Mair Stephens (chair of the Federations of Wales) said in her address: “We are moving on and the WI will be there for us.”

Thank you to all the members who took part in the meeting, to the different committees for the hard work they have done throughout the year and to the board of trustees as well as our county secretary.

Let’s look forward to the NEW normal. A poem written by one of the members was read out at the meeting:

IT’S been a year like no other Uncertain times for us all; We miss the sound of the doorbell.

We know that no-one will call.

This Covid 19’s not welcome, It’s making an awful mess - We’re proud of our front line workers,

Our wonderful NHS.

Outdoors, keep socially distanced,

Don’t mix, we’re safest at home;

It’s company that we’re missing -

Thank goodness we chat on the phone.

Read a book, take up a hobby -

There’s lots of things we can do;

Let’s make every moment special,

T’will help us make our way through.

Rhaid bod yn gryf ac yn gadarn

I faeddu’r pandemig hyn; Peidiwch, da chi digalonni, Fe ddaw eto haul ar fryn.

Each moment is ours to treasure -

Our loved ones and friends are prime;

Whether apart or together - Talk, make it quality time!