St Osyth Women's Institute
	President Laura Dobson opened the meeting welcoming the members.  After presenting the birthday buttonholes she mentioned the date to remember is the Estuary Group Meeting at Alresford on April 16th when the competition will be ‘a waste paper bin’ and the sales table a ‘Garden Theme’. This being Members’ Meeting when ordinary members arrange the evening events, President Laura introduced Jean Hutley who agreed to be the President for the evening.  Jean mentioned the ladies helping on her committee.  Pat Minshull read the minutes of the 2003 Members’ meeting which were agreed and signed.  Thanks were expressed to the normal committee for their continued service to the Institute and they were each presented with a pot of primroses in appreciation.  The speaker Pippa Moss gave an extremely informative and interesting talk on the Amish people and their quilts.  She explained they belong to a very religious sect, originating in Europe and being refounded in Pennsylvania then spread across America.  They dress in clothing styled from the 1840s, have large families and don’t mix in normal society, meeting in each others houses and marrying only in their own group.  They refuse to have water or electricity connected to their houses!  The men farm while the women make beautiful quilts for the tourist trade.  We were shown a large selection of quilts the speaker had made in accordance with the Amish traditional colours and design.  Julie Powell gave the vote of thanks to our speaker. For the Social Time Sue White had prepared an amusing quiz.  A themed trading stall of household goods and books proved quite a success.  The competition for a vase of spring flowers was won by 1st - Dulcie Evans, 2nd - Sue White, 3rd - Stephanie Smith. Members were reminded that due to Easter the next meeting will be April 19th, a week later than usual, in the Village Hall Annexe. The meeting closed with President Laura thanking the Members Committee for an enjoyable evening. J.P. Hutley