u3a

Winchester

Members

CHAIRMAN'S LETTER

Dear Fellow Members

It is with sadness that I need to tell you that Nick Vernon died in December. Nick was an active member of Winchester u3a for many years. He was an excellent Trustee and Committee member holding the role of Speaker’s secretary. He researched & found speakers for us and set up any equipment they requested at the monthly talks. He was also chairman of the Apple Mac user group and a member of a Quester group. In tribute to Nick we dedicated our December meeting as a celebration of his life. We offer condolences to Pauline and the family from us all in Winchester u3a.  

We are now moving towards our AGM in March when we shall be looking for offers of help for the various events we hope to organise throughout the new u3a year. On or off the committee – back up role – one off – ad hoc – it doesn’t matter. All help is welcomed. The delicious food at our Christmas meeting only happened because the cooking group made an offer we couldn’t refuse and what a success that was. A case of ‘many hands make light work’

Remember that it will be our 35th birthday this year and this should surely be celebrated in some way. Your ideas are always welcome.

We are very conscious that some members may find attending the monthly talks at Littleton difficult. Freda Bates has taken on the role of ‘Transport Arranger.’ Please make contact with her with your name and area in which you live if you either could volunteer to offer or need a lift. 

Meanwhile we’ve passed the shortest day so here’s to the Spring when we look forward to meeting many of our members over the coming months. The talks which I’ve listed on our diary entry will be interesting – thanks to Nick’s hard work throughout last year.   

Joan

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NEW WEBSITE

We have some great news for you all.

Thanks to the endeavours of our webmaster Barrie Brinkman you are now viewing our new WordPress Website. Barrie intends to stand down at the next Annual Meeting in March 2024 so I must repeat our thanks to him for all his hard work achieving this changeover.

The WordPress system is more user friendly than the old HTML system and we will be incorporating  ‘add ons’ from SiteWorks which is being developed by u3a National to simplify things even further.

Whilst we have some interest from members we feel that it could be advantageous to have a team to share and maybe work on a rota system to be involved with the maintenance of the new system. We don’t know until we try.   

Please make contact with either Barrie or me Joan Sherrin if you need more information.  

Ideally we need members who already have experience with WordPress or are happy to learn as there is extensive training material on line and National u3a is producing guidance for siteworks.

Barrie has updated it so it is up to us all now to carry it forward into this new phase of the life of Winchester u3a.

Joan

Winchester u3a Chairman

LITTLETON LIFTS

Can't get to Littleton for our monthly meetings?

Please contact Freda Bates well before the meeting date with your name and address, preferably by email Freda Bates or if that isn't possible by phone using the Telephone Directory.

Freda will then try to arrange a lift for you with a member who lives nearby if that is at all possible.

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GROUP SECRETARY REPORT

There are a number of Groups looking for new members. Groups who would welcome new members vary from Allotments, Cycling, Languages, History, Novels to Wine Appreciation - so there should be something to interest you. The Group Listing includes all the Groups looking for members. New Groups are always welcome. If you are Interested in or thinking of starting a group, please contact me: Group Secretary

TEAS AT GENERAL MONTHLY MEETINGS

Over the years individual Groups have been allocated the role of providing teas at the General Meetings. Now that we are again holding these meetings regularly and providing tea afterwards, it has been necessary for someone to co-ordinate this. I am pleased to announce that Angela Housden has kindly volunteered to do this.

With over 70 Groups the lot should fall on any one group very infrequently. The teas are important part of our socialising, enabling people from different Groups to meet and I hope that all will co-operate with Angela. The task (making tea, etc) is not onerous, with easily used equipment - including an excellent dishwasher - available. It could be regarded as a team-building experience for your group, and for those who do not normally come to our general meetings it will be an opportunity to hear one of our excellent speakers and to meet members from other groups.

John Craig, Group Secretary

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THIRD AGE MATTERS

Most readers will know that the Third Age Trust publishes an excellent national u3a magazine five times a year. The Winchester u3a annual subscription includes TAM and many members have opted to receive it. If you would like to receive TAM please contact our Membership Secretary, Marion Schiesser and she will add you to the distribution list.

The current magazine (issue 54, Winter 2022) includes details of the recent AGM where the resolutions to raise the annual subscription fee every year in line with the State Pension increase were defeated, which leaves the Third Age Trust facing a deficit of £250,000 next year. This clearly means the future of the Trust, which is the umbrella organisation that supports member u3as, is in jeopardy.

If you would like to get involved in the conversation regarding National Annual Subscription rates, please sign up to the electronic newsletter at u3a.org.uk/newsletter.

There are also articles explaining how the Third Age Trust is planning to improve communications within the whole u3a (pages 4 – 7 and page 35). Liz Thackray, in her ‘View from the Chair’ writes: The Board wants to ensure that u3as and their experiences are at the centre of decision-making. Other (similar) voluntary organisations ……. Have found a way forward is to create a separate body – provisionally called a council. To get involved in the conversation please sign up to the electronic newsletter at u3a.org.uk/newsletter.

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