Hello Jammers, and a very Happy New Year to you all!.
Did you get up to much, or for you, was it a quiet one? Whatever you did, we trust it was a good one for you and your families.
Let’s Make Jam Does Christmas…
Pleasingly, people passionately prepare
For a pleasant party, full of cheer and flair
Plentiful plans are put in place with care
Positively ensuring all will have a share
…Oh, and boy, do we do it well!
Did you make it to the Jam Christmas gathering this year? If not, you genuinely missed a good un! We had so much fun. We played parlour games – organised by the wonderful Samalama-dingdong – ate cake, had team quizzes, more cake, cheese and fizz, and more cake.
The platters were stunning, and all thanks to the hard work of your creative committee members.
So can I just say a very big THANK YOU to every who ran about town organising, shopping & preparing the most magnificent meal for us all to enjoy.
The raffle was out of this world with prizes for all…
…with Mary winning the ultimate Let’s Make Christmas bundle! Here she is, weighed down with her Christmas haul.
BTW, the level of crafty Christmasy presents were fabulous this year, and for everyone who took part, you deserve a huge pat on the back. We had Jams (of course, it goes without saying), chutneys, biscuits, jewelery, tree & table decorations, soaps, candles, chocolates and the list just goes on and on.
And we had yet still more Cake and more Cheese! I literally had to roll out of that church hall.
Your Generosity
Well, what can we say, but THANK YOU! You constantly leave us speachless with the level of generosity you continue to show.
And finally, this happened …
So a MASSIVE Thank You to everyone who took part in the organisation of, and everyone who continues to support LMJ throughout the year. So many of you coming with a cake, a warm smile, a shoulder to lean on, and few words of comfort for others, or words of advice and the like. Its wonderful to be able to laugh and occasionally cry with such a loving bunch of loonies such as our Barmy Band of Jammers.
Meet the Team
So, just who are your Committee Members, and what do they actually do for you? Well, rather a lot actually! All of this mayhem doesn’t happen accidentally you know. In case you were wondering, here we all are:
El Presidente and supreme being CJ Smith
Vice president and overseer Sam Ward OBE🎖
Vice president, Jamanory chair, blogger & welfare Rebecca Keeling
Raffle goddess and professional shopper Samantha ‘lewis’ Arnold (AKA Mrs A.)
Treasurer – keeper of the awesome chest Johanna Gordon
Secretary and basically, backbone & miracle worker Julie Wells
Secretary’s PA & crafty coordinator Jenny Cook
Stunning all-rounder and general brain box Melanie Doyle
Chief lion tamer and also all-rounder Samantha Heywood-Cox
Poster design & Events Charlie Callear
Special projects Rebecca Brown
Kitchen Queen Vanessa Walklett
And not forgetting the very talented Honorary Arts Director Miss Lizzy Arnald
So here we all are!
Please, please don’t forget, Let’s Make Jam is for everyone, it belongs to everyone and everyone has a right and a say on what goes on. Jam is for YOU, and if you feel there is something missing, something you would like to see, or something you feel you can offer, please do let us know! At the end of the day ‘Many Hands Make Light Work’ and there is always a roll that can be filled – Heck! even rolls we havent thought off and didn’t even know we needed yet! Can you find an extra hour (maybe Two) a month to help out and be part of the Awesomeness that is the LMJ Committee? If so, just come and have a chat with one of the CM’s after tonights meeting, or hit us up on Facebook.
The LMJ Committee Meetings
Dates for your diaries…
Committee meetings are usually held the 2nd Monday after the main LMJ meeting, which tends to be held on the 2nd Friday of the month. So this year, committee meetings tend to fall as follows:
22nd Jan, 19th Feb, 18th March, 22nd April, 20th May, 17th June, 22nd July, 19th Aug, 23rd Sep, 21st October, And, 18th November CANCELLED – committee Christmas drinks 23rd November instead.
Now, these dates are not set in stone and can be inclined to change due to holidays and the lack of available members for any reason, so if you are thinking you might be interested in a committe roll its always best to just keep an eye on the socials or again, ask a committee member.
LMJ Meetings
Clear your schedule folks! The new LMJ diary of events has landed. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, then why, for heavens sake, not? Grab one at tonight’s meeting.
12th January (tonight) Rock your year
9th February Love yourself
8th March Make time for tea
12th April Bunny, I’m home
10th May Let’s get down to business
7th June Foraging Queens (change to traditional date)
12th July Honey, honey, honey
9th August Blooming Summer
13th September Let’s dance
11th October You screen, I screen
8th November Curry up it’s nearly Christmas
13th December Carol -oke!
Your let’s Make Jam meet tends to always fall on the 2nd Friday of the month but just occasionally there is an exception to the rule so please please please, if you are ever in any doubt, reach out to a committee member or check out the socials. No one wants to be sat in drafty hall, on a friday night, all by themselves.
Sub committees
1st Thursday of every month: Jammy Hookers, Westbury Tavern – Members quite often meet up early for this one and enjoy a meal or snacks together before the official start time, so keep an eye on the socials
2nd Friday (as a rule) of every month: LMJ meeting at St. John’s the Evangelist’s Church, Chesterton. 7.15 for 7.30
2nd Monday AFTER Jam, Jam Committee – some vertual, some in person. Venue TBC
3rd Wednesday of the month: Jammy Hookers (revisited) Brindly Farm. Time TBC
Last Tuesday of the month: Jamanory. Brindly Farm 7.45 for 8pm start
Again, these extra meetings are run for You.
Now, not everyone wants things to do, and outings organised, on a weekly basis, so these extra activities are there for you to pick and choose. However, what I will say (as she reaches for her bossy pants) is that if these extra activities are not used or taken advantage of, they will be lost.
Equally though, if there is a gap in what you would like to see, please let us know, and we can look at what you can do to maybe help…
But What If…?
So what if you haven’t read the book, you don’t know how to crochet or knit and youv’e already had your tea? There is no law that says you have to be up to spead with it all, you are more than welcome to come along just for the company, a brew, or something stronger (please drink responsibly – no driving!)
Other dates for your Diary:
Burns Night 25th January
Pancake day/Shrove Tuesday 13th February
Random act of kindness day 17th February
St. Valentines Day 14th February
St. Davies day 1st March
International Women’s Day 8th March
Mothers day 10th March
St. Patrick’s Day 17th March
Good Friday 29th March
Easter Sunday and Daylight saving time 31st March
Easter Monday 1st April
Earth Day 22nd April
St. Georges day 23rd April
May Bank Holiday 6th May
Spring Bank Holiday 6th May
County Show 28th – 29th May
King’s Birthday 15th June
Father’s day 16th June
Summer Solstice 20th
JAM CAMP – 19th – 21st July Alrewas County Show
International Friendship Day 30th July
Summer Bank Holiday 5th August
Day light saving ends 27th October
Halloween 31st October
Guy Fawkes night 5th November
Remembrance Sunday 10th November
Remembrance day 11th November
At tonight’s meeting, we have the pleasure of welcoming back Mika.
Mika has been to see us a couple of times now, and it’s always wonderful to welcome her back. Along with her beautiful smile and can do anything attitude, her dance insturctions and music, she will have no trouble lifting the greyest January spirits.
Dont forget, there will also be hot drinks, cake and much merriment abound!
So hopefully we will see you there.
You know the place, St. John’s the Evangelist’s Church Hall, Chesterton. And I know you know the time, 7.15 for 7.30 start,
So until tonight’s meeting then,
Be Jammy
Let's Make Jam 
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