Chapman Trailblazers Clue #2

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We chose to name our Creation:
"Better Together; 125 Years & Forever"

If you told a story about a small or large group of people playing, one might imagine a group of children. Maybe they’re toddlers, or even teens. They’re likely talking a lot, laughing, disagreeing, and maybe even compromising. If it was a group project, they might have spent days trying to organize to find the right time and place to work together. If you were around the Tweed Library when the Chapman Trailblazers were playing Lego, and you only heard their words and laughter, I don’t think it would be that easy to determine that we were a group of adult women. There were not many moments of complete silence, once we were at the table and the building began, except when someone really needed to focus and get that little piece attached or find the perfect Lego person. It wasn’t easy to decide what to build, but once we did, the questions never ended. “Where should we put the chair?" "Does that look okay over here?" "Do we need two windows or one?" "What do you think of that?” “Why don’t we build in Royal Blue and Golden Yellow like the W.I. Colours? And everyone’s questions or comments were heard, acknowledged and answered.
Everything we had originally planned did not fit into our play time. A five-year old friend of mine had agreed to share his Lego and his backyard with us. This proved to be a test for him, because his initial response when I asked about borrowing his toys, was instant tears. He needed a bit more information. Once it was understood that we were not going to keep the Lego and that we needed them for a competition, he was incredibly supportive. He really wanted us to win! His Mother and I set a date and a time and the Chapman Trailblazers were all set to meet for an outdoor building experience. And then the ever changing seasonal weather changed that. We had our monthly meeting the day before our play date so we were able to change plans. We agreed to change our location and meet at the Tweed Library. It was simply too cold, rainy AND snowy to spend an evening out in the yard. But we still needed Lego and our five-year old host and lender wasn’t too keen on his prized possessions leaving his home, understandably so. Our witty and resourceful team captain, Charmaine, had a quick thought that it was possible that our well-equipped local library might have everything we needed, in one place. And of course, our prayers were answered! She went home from the meeting and called the Library and they offered to provide us with a comfortable meeting place, with tables and chairs and a full bin of Lego. As far as they knew, no one else needed that room nor the Lego that day. We all had nearly full schedules but we set a time and got our errands and chores out of the way for a couple hours of play. We were at the library right until closing.
The Women’s Institute represents different things to each of us and after these challenging years of not being able to be in the same space again, our minds and hands went towards building a living room where a meeting could be taking place. Recently the Branch met at the home of one of our members, Monica, who lives in the home where the first Chapman Branch W.I. meeting took place in 1950. Lego has been available since 1949. That house holds great value for our branch’s history and we are lucky enough to be able to share that space on occasion. Speaking of firsts, Secretary and Chapman Trailblazers team member Cecilia built Lego for the first time with us on that day! The whole scenario felt like the first of something in a way. It reignited the desire to try new things and to use the energy we have as a group for inspiration. I see a “play-day” in our branch meeting future and from there we might learn something that we can share in our homes and around our town.
Samantha Harris
President Chapman Branch
Chapman Trailblazers team member.

Notes

Submission part of the WISH challenge for WI's 125th anniversary

Date of Publication

Apr 2022

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