Membership |
I am pleased to welcome the 20 new members listed below. Phyl Mullins Membership Secretary |
From the Chairman
Chairman’s Report for 2008
When I was elected as your chairman my main priorities were to raise the profile of Sarum U3A and encourage more of our members to participate in our activities. I also wanted to provide support to the committee to reduce their workload and help them in their work. So what has happened over the past year?
You may have noticed our much improved loudspeaker system in the hall. We have overcome a few teething problems and all now seems to be working well. We have provided a lockable cupboard in the hall in which to store the loudspeaker system, the library books, the notice board and some other odds and ends. As a result there is now no need for all this equipment to be carried to and fro between people’s homes and the hall for each meeting, a task which was quite onerous as I know from previous personal experience.
We publish our Newsletter every month and over half of our members now receive it by e-mail. I would like to encourage everybody to take the Newsletter as it is the only means we have of communicating with all our members. There is however one boring and onerous task which I would like to reduce and that is the effort required every month to put them into envelopes and distribute them. If you have access to e-mail. Please consider taking your Newsletter this way and reduce this extra work. You can do this by sending an e-mail to our Newsletter editor
Another area of change has been to obtain some very interesting speakers for our monthly meeting. Some of the more recent speakers that come to mind have given us absorbing talks on the subjects of Abbotsbury Gardens, the work of S.O.E. in WW II and the Life and Times of Winston Churchill. It is noteworthy that the audience for the talk on S.O.E. in November was 136, the highest we have ever had. It is our intention to obtain more high quality speakers in 2009 and to do this I have made a substantial increase in our budget for this purpose.
Our study groups continue to flourish. In 2008 we had 46 groups, more than we have ever had before.
All this happens because of the dedicated work of our volunteers, without whom there would be no U3A. We have the committee, the study group leaders, the coffee ladies (and gentlemen I notice), the keepers of the register, helpers with issuing the Newsletter, the keeper of the loudspeaker equipment, the keeper of the library, volunteers for the catering for the Christmas Party and the group leaders lunch and many others behind the scenes who we do not always see: in total I estimate about 70 people. This is a magnificent effort and it makes our U3A what it is. There are too many names to publish so I would like to give thanks to all these people on your behalf for the effort they put in.
May I wish you all a prosperous year for 2009.
Neil Russell
Groups
Groups Organiser
There will be an exhibition of work by various groups for you to enjoy before the AGM. (Will Group Leaders please ensure their display is ready by 10am).
After the meeting is over there will be a lunch for Group Leaders and the Committee to thank them for their work over the past year.
New Groups for a New Year
I am about to start compiling the group list for next year. I hope everyone who has run a group this year will be able to continue but we also need more groups as we have lots of new members. Please think about starting a group - perhaps revive an old interest or skill. You could start a research project into something completely new - then you only have to coordinate the research, you don't have to be an expert. Please phone me if you have an idea. Linda Farrow (710599)
New members
Welcome! I am so sorry I cannot be at the coffee morning to meet you. Gill Hinton will give you a copy of the list of vacancies in existing groups. As you will see, at this time of year you have access to any vacancy in all three U3As but many groups end at Easter.
In May, all members receive a list of groups/courses available for the coming year. You then put your choices in priority order and I aim to put you in the groups you have chosen.
We always welcome new ideas for groups. You do not have to be an expert; you could, for instance, run a collaborative study group using downloaded material from U3A. If you have a skill to share or feel you could run a group, I would be delighted to talk to you about it. (710599)
Best wishes, Linda Farrow - Groups Organiser.
Walking Group
Thursday 26 February
Meet at the Grey Fisher pub car park, Newbridge Road, Harnham for 10am start. The choice and length of route depends on the weather and conditions underfoot. Please ring Mary (336609) if you intend joining us.
Strollers
Thursday 26 February
Please meet at Tesco's, Southampton Road
car park (garage end) at 10am. More details from Maureen (504295).
Science and Technology
Monday 23 February 10.00am
A presentation on “Forensic Archaeology” will be given by Paul Cheetham of Bournemouth University. Contact Peter Read (501218). Link
Archaeology
Tuesday 24 February 10.00 am
A talk on “Early Farming Methods” by John Parrett. Please contact Margaret McKenzie (714685). Link
Wednesday 18 February
After the December Coffee Morning, two dozen members girated sportily to music round the Small Hall. We were following the expert and cheery instructions of Sheila, who had kindly agreed to introduce us to ‘Movement to Music’, which improves fitness, mobility, balance, posture and a sense of well-being.
Her classes (costing £1 each for first 2 lessons then £4.20 per session, plus a small annual Keep Fit Association fee) take place as follows:
Mondays 11.30 – 12.30 at Alderbury Village Hall, for 40+
Mondays 2.30 – 3.30 at Salisbury Baptist Church, Brown St. for those with disabilities
Wednesdays 1.45 – 2.45 at St. George’s Hall, Lower St., Harnham, for 60+
Fridays 9.30 – 10.30 and 10.45 – 11.45 at Roman Rd Methodist Church, Salisbury, for 50+
Contact Sheila on (333954) for further details.
Sheila has also agreed to do another half-hour session after the February Coffee Morning. Join in, have fun and do yourself good! Jean Lunnon.
Coffee Mornings
Wednesday 18 February at 10.00am
Robert Baggs, who has made a previous presentation, will give a talk entitled “The Painters Practice – how they made the masterpieces of Western Art”. He will discuss the way Renaissance painters carried out their trade.
Ena Baldock.
FOR SALE
A Set Top Freeview Box, DVD player (Panasonic) and a Linguaphone Dutch course. All hardly used.
Donations to charity. Please contact Tony Radclyffe (320268).
Joint U3A Outings & Visits
Thursday 30 April
A visit to the house and gardens at Chartwell near Westerham in Kent. This was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until the end of his life. It is now a National Trust property. On arrival, there will be a short introductory talk with a potted history of the Churchills at Chartwell. Departure from Tesco’s at 8.00 am and from Chartwell at 4.00 pm. Cost £22.50 (NT members £13.00).
Thursday 21 May
A visit to Mapledurham House and Watermill, an Elizabethan Manor House beside the Thames near Reading. The visit includes a 45 minute river cruise from Caversham and a cream tea at the Old Manor House Tea Rooms. Departure from Tesco’s at 8.00 am and from Castle Street Coach Park at 8.15 am. Cost £25.00.
For further details of these and other visits, please contact John Ewington (500699).
His address is Flat 5, Arlington House, 22 Bourne Avenue, Salisbury , SP1 1LS. Please note these details for future reference as space precludes them from being given every month.
Sarum U3A Visit
Friday 29 May at 6.00pm
A visit is to be arranged to the Porton Down Conservation site to see orchids and listen to a talk given by Stuart Corbett. Anyone interested should contact Rosanna Lee (evenings only on 336089). For security reasons you will need to give your name, address, date of birth and car registration number. You should wear sensible clothing and stout footwear. A maximum of 30 are allowed and the cut off date is 1 May.
A Snapshot of a Group
Any member of a group is welcome to contribute a short article (and picture, if possible).
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR MARCH NEWSLETTER
Please send all contributions by mid-day on Tuesday 10 March to the Deputy Editor: Judith Copeland, Field End, Hackthorne Corner, Durrington, SP4 8AS. Phone 01980 655665 or by email to: gbwyo@waitrose.com