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Press
Report Sarum U3A Meeting 20 August 2003
There was a good turn out at St Francis Church Hall for the Sarum U3A August Coffee Morning. The Chairman opened the meeting at 10.30 a.m. and before proceeding to the business of the morning, began by saying that Bryan Griffiths our Treasurer was recovering from his recent hip operation, and that greetings have been sent on behalf of all members of Sarum U3A wishing him a comfortable recovery and a speedy return to full mobility. The Chairman mentioned there were tickets available for those members of U3A Arts Groups who wished to attend the Art Study Day at Southampton Art Gallery on Friday 26 August. Tickets are £6.10. The Secretary Phyll Mullins said that a good number of new members had joined. Many were attending a U3A Coffee Morning for the first time and she asked they be warmly welcomed, which glad tidings brought a spontaneous round of applause. Mary Cole, the Leader of the Coffee Team, strongly supported by the Chairman, made an urgent appeal for more volunteers to help in providing this vital service. For the third or fourth time there was a plea for some help from the men. So far, with one notable exception, they have resisted; which seems to indicate that male chauvinism is not yet dead. The business of the morning concluded, Ena Baldock the Speakers Organiser introduced Nick Thomas to a Sarum U3A audience for a welcome second time. His subject on this occasion was public speaking and was entitled “Triumph of Technique over Terror.” His talk covered all the pitfalls confronting the novice speaker, graphically illustrated with some hilarious anecdotes, many drawn from his own experience. He offered a variety of useful tips and much sound advice on how the fear which grips most people can be reduced, and even overcome by looking upon public speaking as an opportunity and not an ordeal. His confident delivery was itself an excellent recommendation of his methods. Judging by the loud applause at the end of his talk, the audience were delighted by his own obvious ‘terror free’ public performance. |
