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Chairman' Report 2003 It is a pleasure to report that since our AGM of 2002 Wokingham U3A has continued to grow (the membership now stands at 474) but more importantly it has continued to develop in that we have had four new Interest Groups start up this year - Industrial Archaeology, Latin, Nutrition and Philosophy. This is just what is needed to keep a U3A alive and interesting and I hope there will be people inspired during 2003 to introduce some more subjects. The Groups that use visual aid in their programmes have been greatly helped this year because in May a local firm, Selway Moore Ltd., generously donated to us an Electronic Projection System consisting of an Infocus Projector and an HP laptop computer. In addition we received £500 worth of software from Microsoft and a cash donation from Barclays Bank which enabled us to purchase supplementary items for the EP system. Last year I reported on the programme of workshops we had held under the title 'Preparing for Later Years'. We advertised the booklet detailing these workshops in the Third Age News and consequently received over 40 requests for a copy from other interested U3As. Another spin-off from that series has been that several members have enrolled with the University of Reading's network for Ageing, Impairment and Disability research and attend their lunchtime talk series. Monthly meetings have continued to be well attended, due no doubt in some measure to the calibre of the speakers; in particular we were very fortunate that Professor Colin Blakemore found time in his busy schedule to talk to us about the Brain. Betty Hughes wishes to pass on the task of Speakers' Organiser now that she is convening the Nutrition Group and we thank her very much for the interesting programmes she has compiled. She has in fact already booked the speakers until May of this year, the end of the current season of Monthly Meetings. The weather was kind to us for our Garden Party which had a 'jubilee' theme to it; we changed the format of the Christmas get-together, having wine and mince pies here and then going into the St Paul's church for carols and performances by the musical Groups. This arrangement seemed to be well received. I am sure you would wish me, on your behalf, to propose a vote of thanks to all those who have ensured that Wokingham U3A has run smoothly in the past year - all the Convenors (without whom there would be no point to Wokingham U3A); the outgoing Committee (all of whom I am sure are well known to you); and all of those who have worked 'behind the scenes' (perhaps not so well known). I would mention particularly Lesley and Arnold George, Peter Harms, Margaret Horth and Ian Hughes. Finally, let me record a personal thank you - not only to all the above - but also to all of you, the members, for your support and friendship over the past three years. Thank you. Joyce Bird
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