NEWSLETTER NOV-DEC. 2004
The November Meeting
Experiences of a Military Police Officer
Neil Paxton was an army offi-cer for over twenty years be-fore starting a second career in BBC Television and the electronics industry. Military history has been his hobby for many years. His approach to his subjects combines drama with fact in a way that is entertaining for both specialist and non-specialist.
Tuesday, 16th Nov 2004
St Paul's Parish Rooms at 2.00pm
Wokingham U3A
Chairman: Len Smith 01344 775517
Secretary: Colin Mitchell.
Membership Secretary: Gordon Wall, 55 Priest Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 2LT 0118 978 6021
Editor: Paul King
Registered Charity No: 1049995
Chairman's Notes What a super crowd for the "Freshers Fair", organised by Pauline Riocreux, Patsy Thornton, Gill Borlace & Colin Mitchell. I was so pleased that such a lot of mem-bers and convenors could attend. It looks as if Pauline has her work cut out categorising the various groups for which people were signing up, but within three days I have seen she already is acting on some of the groups.
The National Conference and AGM was held this year at Leicester University and Colin and I attended as voting members. No-one took up the offer of our U3A paying for an additional member to attend so the funds that had been set aside for that were used as a contribu-tion towards the costs of our partners attending. This year Wokingham had submitted a motion to have single proposers and single seconders for motions and nominations for office, instead of what had been done previously with long lists of proposers and seconders. The way it had been done in the past gave the impression, rightly or wrongly that canvassing had been going on. We were most gratified that our motion was carried overwhelm-ingly. We were ably seconded by Witney U3A.
No sooner is summer over than we start thinking about the Christmas function and we have already started with our planning of that in the very capable hands of Joyce Bird to whom I say a hearty "Thank you".
I hope the new season brings you everything you wish for from Wokingham U3A.
Len Smith
GROUP NEWS -
Fallout From The Freshers Fair Many thanks to all who made this afternoon a success by signing up for lots of new and old groups. An extra special thaks to the conve-nors and committee members who turned up to talk to new members. The Visiting Speaker was fabulous.
Old Groups Names of those wanting to join existing groups have been passed to the convenors of those groups.
New Groups By the time this newsletter reaches you most of the members who put their names down will have been contacted by someone arranging an exploratory meeting to decide how the group is to go forward. If you have not heard yet, you will be contacted quite soon. Some groups have not enough signatures to take off but we will try again at a later date to build a group - watch this space - there will be more notices in the next newsletter.
Yoga - This group has been very oversubscribed. There is a long waiting list.
Needlecraft - Also full but there is a spin off to Patchworking that may interest some who like sew-ing.
Languages - Beginners in languages may have to wait a while as it is not easy to find leaders for these groups - work is ongoing to solve the problem so please be patient and borrow a book and tape from the library to get started while you are waiting. Programmes on BBC late at night that you can video can be helpful. Native speakers are also in short supply and make a lot of differ-ence to achieving a good accent and up to date use of language. If you can find anyone willing to help at group meetings we would like to know as soon as possible.
Origin of Languages - Three meetings are being organised by Alan Povall with input from Reading University. See separate article for details
Pauline Riocreux
More Industrial Archaeology Are you interested in the formation of a second Industrial Archaeology Group? If so please contact Colin Mitchell . Any new group would meet at a time and place convenient to its members.
Copy date for the next issue is Monday 27th December
Secretary Position Still Vacant
I still intend to stand down as Honorary Secretary of Wokingham U3A at the AGM in February 2005 and have not yet had to fight off hordes of members eager to fill the vacancy. It is an enjoyable and worthwhile role but I have been doing it too long for both myself and the U3A; it needs a fresh injection of enthusiasm. Please contact me for a chat about what the position involves.
Colin Mitchell, Hon. Secretary
Origins of Languages Workshops
The good response to the series of 3 morning meetings below has forced a switch from Woosehill to Rose Street Methodists Hall. Charge will be £3 total for all or 1 or 2 meetings. The workshops will comprise prepared talks followed by open discussion. The Research Teams are now formed and under-way.
Thurs 25 November 04 - "Origin & Evolution of Language" by Prof Steven Mithen
Thurs 27 January 05 - "Spread of People & Language into Europe" by Sylvia Nathan & Alan Povall
Thurs 24 February 05 - "Evolution of Romance & Germanic Language Groups lead by Romance & Ger-manic Research Teams.
Any one interested in attending the series contact me. Alan Povall Tel No 0118 9786240
Bridge For Beginners
There will be an inaugural meeting for this new group on Thursday, October 28th, at 10 a.m. We shall be talking about our intentions in running the group, suggesting useful materials, and there will be an opportunity for discussion of individual members' aspirations. We must emphasise that we are assuming no knowledge of bridge at all, though some experience of whist would be useful.
Following this, there will be meet-ings twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, at 10.00 - 12.30.
Because there has been far more interest in this group than first anticipated, we cannot possibly hold meetings in our house. We are currently looking for alterna-tive premises, so please ring us before October 28th to find out the latest information, or talk to us at the Monthly Meeting on Tuesday 19th October. If you can let us have an email address, it would ease communication consid-erably! We are really looking forward to the first meeting of what seems a very keen and lively group.
Patsy and Ted Thornton 01344 774812
Investment in Retirement
The Personal Finance Group have arranged for one of Hargreaves Lansdown's senior investment research managers to visit Wokingham U3A on 23rd November. As the manager specialises in investments for retired people this should be an interesting and informative session for many of us.
The session is open to all members of Wokingham U3A. If you would like to attend, and do not normally attend the Personal Finance group, will you please ring John Webb beforehand (0118 978 0065) so that he knows what numbers to expect - if the demand is very high places may have to be limited.
CHRISTMAS FUNCTION
The Christmas Function this year will take place on Tuesday 21st December at both Saint Paul's Church and the Parish Rooms.
We will gather in the Church for a carol service starting at 1.30 and led by our own music groups with Sheila Gambrell playing the organ. The carol service will finish by 3.00 when we will move across to Saint Paul's Parish Rooms for refreshments. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING ANY FOOD OR DRINK because everything will be provided. There will be no charge although there may be a collection for the church.
E-groups
For all those members who have access to e-mail we have decided to offer an opportunity to communicate their thoughts about our U3A to each other, and to learn what others may be thinking by setting up an e-group. It is, of course, also intended to help your committee to understand and try to meet your wishes The system works by individuals signing up to the group, thereby receiving any e-mails that are contrib-uted by others and being able to contribute themselves. The system is very safe from spam as the e-mail addresses are not listed anywhere publicly. We have a similar e-group running at my sailing club and I have never seen any spam at all. It is, however desirable that signed up members should have up to date virus protection on their machines. To sign up to become a member of the group please send a blank e-mail to wokinghamu3a-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You will then receive back from Yahoo an e-mail asking you to confirm your wish to become a member. When you have done that you will receive another e-mail giving you an e-mail address for you to communicate with whenever you wish to make a contribution. If, perish the thought, you decide you don't want to continue there is an "unsubscribe" address at the bottom of any e-mails received.
If you know of any member who is ill please inform Marion Povall on 0118 978 6240 so that she can contact them
.Sixty-Five Years Ago
November 2nd. Went to see Mrs. Maher. Came back laden with gas-mask, umbrella, basket and handbag. Fought my way to the top of the 'bus. It was awful and I felt exhausted by the time I reached home.
November 6th. Amazing weather. Jim went on duty at 3 o'clock this morning when the stars were shining brightly and the moon was on its back. At 9.30 it was bright and breezy, then sud-denly black clouds rolled across the sky and a terrific thunder storm broke: in a few minutes the garden path was a lake. To the Ritz cinema to see Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in Irene and Vernon Castle, a lovely film. Also Mr. Moto's Last Warning.
November 7th. Have toothache and a bad back and feel awful.
November 17th Went to the Ritz cinema tonight to see The Mikado, but was disappointed as Nanki-Poo had such a strong American accent.
November 22nd. Jim was on 12-6 duty so I had the afternoon free. Emily came, rustic and stupid as ever, and we went to the Ritz to see Lambeth Walk. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I refused to be clung to coming home, as I had to endure that going!
November 24th. Dull and chilly. A lovely still moonlight night. Germans are sowing bubble mines by parachute in the sea around Britain. Pray God we shall soon find the answer to that.
December 4th. Shopping at Richmond with Mrs. Head and Mrs. Martin. Wright's and Smith Bros., excellent. Goslings not so 'posh' as I'd expected. Bought a few Christmas presents and hope people will like them.
December 7th. To see Me and My Girl at Victoria Palace with Mrs. Pridham. Met Joan (Mrs. Pridham's daughter) there with Clive, her fiancé, and his sister. Good show. Glad Clive and Joan came to Victoria Station with us otherwise we should have been lost in the blackout.
December 11th. A beastly misty day. No moon, no stars tonight. Inky black. Bought another pair of flannelette sheets and a roller towel at Edmonds. Also a bath towel for Win's Christmas present.
December 25th. Lovely Christmas dinner at Twickenham, though not the usual crowd, more George's people. Had to leave at 3.15 to get the last 'bus home.
December 26th. Walked in the rain to the cemetery this morning. The big water main by the cemetery had burst last week, and it was a pitiful sight to see the graves sunken in and the stones shored up. Thankfully none of our family's graves were affected. Later had to get ready to go to Win's. Changed into my wine coloured frock and was frozen, but it was a lovely party.
December 27th. Clear and frosty morning with actually the sun shining. Didn't want Emily to come, but of course she did, and I nearly quarrelled with her; she's so very dull and uninteresting.
December 28th. Got up and saw Emily off. Always feel more kindly about her when she's gone. Uncle Bill came bringing me two pairs of stockings and a Christmas pudding. He's an awful bore and I'd hate to live with him. Was glad when he went back to his country home.
Rosemary Goldschmied
Research into Ageing
The "Ageing Research Group" is a group of researchers in the Psychology Department at Reading University who carry out studies into the way in which mental abilities change as we get older. If you are aged over 59 years and in a generally good state of health then you may be able to help us with our research.
If you decide to volunteer we will invite you to an introductory session in which we will ask you to carry out a range of tasks looking at different aspects of mental function, such as memory, perception and intelligence. The session lasts around 2 hours and most people find the tests quite fun. Following this, we may contact you again from time to time when we have other studies for you to take part in.
All information will remain confiden-tial and you will receive £5 per session towards your travel costs.
If you are interested in taking part then please contact us on 0118 378 8523
. Changing The Quorum For Annual And Special General Meetings
The Committee suggests that it is time to change the quorum for an AGM from 20% of the membership to 70 members. Our membership is now well over 500 which means that we shall need in the region of 105 members for a quorum at the next AGM and even more the following year if we continue to grow. Whilst with favourable condi-tions we do manage to get attendances of about 100, we are concerned that, for example, with bad weather conditions we will not get the necessary quorum.
The draft of a formal Motion to be put to the AGM is attached below. You will see that it is in the form of 'the fewer of 70 members or 20% of the membership'; this allows for the eventuality of overall membership numbers dropping for some reason.
That the quorum for an Annual or Special General Meeting shall be changed to whichever is the fewer of 20% of the paid up members or 70 paid up members and that the third sentence of Paragraph 5.1 of the Constitution shall be changed accordingly to read "A quorum shall be whichever is the fewer of 20% of the paid up members or 70 paid up members"
This Motion would change the Constitution and, therefore, cannot be passed without the approval of two-thirds of those attending the AGM.
The Committee welcomes comments on and possible changes to the draft Motion. These should be forwarded to the Secretary I writing (e-mail ac-ceptable) before 22nd November.
The formal Motion will be published in the December newsletter and there will be an opportunity for members to propose Amendments for considera-tion at the AGM.
Colin Mitchell Honorary Secretary
THE CHRISTMAS FUNCTION
Tuesday 21st December
CAROL SERVICE 1.30pm at St Paul's Church
REFRESHMENTS 3.00pm at St Paul's Parish Rooms
No need to bring food or drink as both are provided.
Collection in aid of the Church