Membership Notes
I am attaching a Renewal Form for 2012 membership, to this Newsletter. Click HERE. Could I ask that it be returned in one piece. Because I need to keep it, cutting off the lower part makes it difficult to file.
New Membership Cards will be available in December but, if you cannot get to the monthly meetings to collect yours, you can always let me have a SAE to post it to you, or you could get a friend or a Group member to collect it for you.
Since most of us are getting into the good habit of wearing our name badges, I would like to get the new cards collected as soon as possible. It is really important and helpful to the committee that you try to arrange things to ensure that you have your badge and wear it at all Coffee Mornings. I also feel that it is sensible to wear them at all other U3A activities, such as on Visits and in Groups. There is no doubt in my mind that it helps communication and comradeship and shows pride in being a member.
Tony Munday, Membership Secretary
01980 671069 or ajmunday@btinternet.com
1 Downs View Close, Haxton, Salisbury SP3 9PS
From the Chairman
Dear Friends
I went to the recent U3A South West Regional Conference in Sturminster Newton and learned lots of interesting things. I’ll be able to regale you with these over the next couple of months.
Our first speaker of the day was Francis Beckett, editor of U3A News and the Third Age Trust media officer. He gave us tips for submitting articles to newspapers, etc. He said: “Get straight into the story. Keep it as short as possible. Do the equivalent of public speaking – Get up, speak up, shut up. If you’re sending in a group photo, no firing squad pictures please, i.e. a line of people looking at the camera. Send a picture of something interesting being done. There is one exception to this rule and that is for local newsletter publications. People love identifying people they know in firing squad pictures”.
Francis then went on to talk about the changes to U3A News. Over the past 15 years it has changed from being a newsletter to a magazine. It’s gone from 12 pages to 92 pages and frequency of publication is increasing. In terms of advertising, there is a limit on stair lifts and funeral directors are refused! The January 2012 issue will be the last in the current design. The March 2012 issue will be the re-launch with increased frequency to six issues a year at no extra cost to members. There will be a new name for the magazine, yet to be decided, and suggestions are welcomed. The U3A logo will feature on the cover but the words “U3A” will not be in the title (Why? Many attendees said). The magazine will be for people interested in U3A, but not in the concept, and to non-members as part of a recruitment strategy. The audience had a vote on a new name and “Third Age Matters” easily won, so watch for that, maybe. Despite the changes, we are assured the magazine will first and foremost be the organ of U3A.
To be continued……………
With best wishes
Gordon Pardy
Coffee Mornings
Please note that coffee is served from 10.00 am
Wednesday 16 November at 10.30 am
The speaker is Pauline Rowson, author of Marine Mystery novels. She became a published crime writer in 2006 and now has 7 crime thriller novels under her belt and another due out this year. She has been entertaining audiences for some time with tales of her life as an author and how she writes her marine mystery crime novels.
Pauline will be doing a book signing after the meeting – a chance to get a Christmas present of a good rollicking mystery read for a friend or relative.
Wednesday 21 December at 10.30 am
Vera Hughes and David Weller of Chester House Productions present their production of ‘Dickens at Christmas’, a dramatised reading in Victorian costume.
Groups
Strollers
Thursday 24 November
(2-3 mile gentle walks with a pub at the end)
Meet at car park of The Hampton Inn, near St Thomas’s Bridge on the London Road at 10.00 am.
If you are coming, please let me know on Monday 21 or Tuesday 22 November. New members are welcome.
Aileen Manchee (01722 742368)
Striders
Thursday 1 December
Please meet at GR 934 315 OS Explorer 143 at 9.45 am. Follow the B3089 to Fonthill Bishop. Just after the village there is a left turn that goes under an arch to Fonthill Park and on to Fonthill Gifford. Follow the lane until the grid reference (grottos). Here the road runs near to the lake. Please park in the road and Mick will give us a better place to park.
Please phone Pauline and Mick Watts (01722 322116) for more details a couple of days before.
Marilyn led 9 of us on the November walk – a lovely walk from Great Wishford over the downs to Druids Lodge down to Stapleford and back along the river. Thanks to Marilyn and all the leaders for doing such a splendid job – it is appreciated by all of us.
Walking Group
Thursday 24 November
The October walk at the coast had to be cancelled to everybody’s disappointment – few members wanted to go in the bad weather forecast for that day. There have been many requests for a repeat of the walk next year. The original leaders for November have had to cancel so Alan and I will lead another easy walk. This one is fun even in bad weather and finishes as usual with an optional meal at the pub.
Please meet at the car park at the Duck pub in Laverstock, EX 130 GR 160 304, or down the road if you are not staying to lunch. We shall walk up to Clarendon Palace and back
for lunch – about 4½ miles. Please phone Irene and Alan on 01722 322289 on Tuesday 22 November if you are taking part.
Appreciation of Trees Group
We had a visit in October to the gardens of Leadenhall School and to the grounds of the Cathedral School in the Close to observe the autumnal effects on the many and varied wonderful specimens. Some of them cover a long period in the history of Salisbury. Fortunately the weather was extremely kind and the light beautiful so some dramatic photographs provide a record.
Next month a visit is planned to go to Hillier’s Arboretum. Members gather at Leadenhall School.
Jim Watkinson
Science & Technology
Monday 28 November at 10.00 am
Harnham Memorial Hall
Watersmeet Lane, East Harnham
£1 on the door to cover costs : Just turn up.
“Air Traffic Control” with Colin Macklin.
Rummikub
Rummikub has made a successful move to Alderbury Village Hall. The lighting in the hall is better, the tables are just the right size and, of course, the cost of hiring the hall has been halved.
Some comments overheard were that the game is great fun, easy to learn, good for the brain and very enjoyable.
People said they were looking forward to next month, that other players were very friendly and that if you can play rummy this game is easy peasy.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 7 December at 2.00 pm and all are welcome.
Brenda Leach and Maureen Pardy
Sarum Wine Tour
The date for the wine trip to Spain has to be moved to 21 October 2012. This change has been caused by the ferry company.
Anyone who would like an application form or further details, please contact me at the coffee morning or by email at mpardy@hotmail.co.uk or by phone on 01722 504295.
Maureen Pardy
Visit to Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens
Sarum U3A members in the bushes. To see more look at the Gallerey HERE or click the photo above.
Salisbury U3A Outings
Please see details of these outings on the Notice Board at the monthly Coffee Mornings
Tuesday 29 November 2011
To the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton for Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Thursday 8 December 2011
Visit the American Museum near Bath in the morning followed by an afternoon in Bath for the Christmas Market.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
To Mayflower Theatre, Southampton for Verdi’s La Traviata.
Cruising in 2012?
Ask for a Cruise Pack today!
If you are interested in any outings, please contact John Ewington, Flat 5 Arlington House, Bourne Avenue, Salisbury SP1 1LS.
Tel: 01722 500699
Contributions
Please send all contributions by mid-day on 2nd Tuesday in the month (13 December) to the Editor: Judith Copeland, Field End, Hackthorne Corner, Durrington SP4 8AS.
Phone 01980 655665 or by email to enjay666@btinternet.com