CHAIRMAN’S   REPORT   2011

It is my very pleasant duty at this time to welcome you all here, so that you can hear of our activities over the last year, as well as our plans for next year, and also to hear any comments you may have on the running of this, your U3A.

You will all know that the core and heart of Wokingham U3A lies in the individual groups to which we all belong.  Those groups continue to thrive and expand, so that we now have 141, with over 30 new ones having started up over the last year, covering subjects as diverse as advanced French literature and Rummikub!  The Open House which was held at Emmbrook School last October was a celebration of those groups and their activities, and we are so grateful to all the convenors who put on such a splendid show.  It was heart warming to walk around the hall and see the energy and vitality of the displays, the friendliness of our leading members, and the amazing variety of the subjects covered.  The lively piano music was a great fillip to the atmosphere and the flow of free coffee helped as well!

To our pleased surprise, 65 new members signed up on the spot at the Open House, and many more in the following week or two.  Our membership has continued to rise in rather spectacular fashion.  This graph, kindly produced by Len Smith, charts that rise.  It seems only a short time ago that we were very excited about reaching the 1000 member mark, now we are well over 1400.  Occasionally, I am asked by members of other U3As why we don’t split into 2 or 3 separate units, now that we have become so large.  My answer is that it is only because we have so many members that we are able to offer such a wide range of interest groups.  The wealth of language options, alone, is spectacular.  It is just because of this that we attract a range of new members, from quite a wide geographical area. 

Another aspect of our U3A which steadily grows in popularity, is our website, lovingly and energetically maintained by Len Smith.  This graph shows just how the use of that website is increasing, though Len would still argue that many more of us could make good use of it.  I do recommend you have a browse, it’s fun!

We do aim, in your U3A, to provide activities and events, outside your normal groups, to stimulate and interest you..  It’s always stimulating opening new windows!

Last August saw the organisation of our 3^rd Study day at Wellington College, and the wide range of courses offered attracted more than 170 students, from many different U3As as well as Wokingham.  We were disappointed in some aspects of the hospitality offered by Wellington on this occasion, but the content of the lectures remained high, and we had many appreciative comments afterwards.

Our partnership with the Thames Valley Network of U3As has enabled us to take advantage of Study Days organised by different groups, and our members have enjoyed days out studying historic towns, music, gothic architecture and other subjects.

In the Riverside Project, we join with these partners to study the Thames in different aspects..  Many of our members have joined the walks along the Thames Path in different areas, and yesterday 31 Wokingham members were part of a group of more than 100 who enjoyed a splendid day at Dorchester, learning about the history as well as taking the opportunity to join a range of activities, led by experts.

With a U3A as large as ours, there is always a risk that we shall become a faceless organisation, and seem unwelcoming.  To combat that, we have new members meetings at regular intervals, to welcome our new arrivals, and help them to join groups.  We have also seen the splendid volunteers at our monthly meetings bringing new members into the hall, and encouraging them to gather in a social group over tea.

A new introduction this year has been the “Coffee Drop-Ins” at Cantley Lodge on a Tuesday morning.  For many new members, or intending members, this is their first port of call, and they enjoy chatting informally in small groups.

The Newsletter, received by every member, remains our core source of information, and it contains many fascinating articles.  Do read it!  I know that there is a strong tendency to go straight to the diary pages, but you are missing out if that is all you read.

This year we have also sent mailmerge messages to all members who are on email, and I thank Barry most sincerely for the work that he has put in on producing the articles for this, and for sourcing great illustrations.

We do our best to communicate with all our members as well as we can, but if you have any further suggestions, please let us know.  We are keen to improve.

And now for future plans.

You cannot have failed to notice that this summer marks a memorable birthday.  Wokingham U3A comes of age in August, marking 21 years of providing educational and recreational pursuits for folk in the area.  We shall be celebrating this event with a special tea party on June 1^st, at the Blue Mountain Golf Centre, when we hope to have more of our members together than we have ever had before.

Later in the year we have another first, with a residential event at Wellington College, which sees the culmination of all our work for the Riverside Project.  There will be an exhibition, lectures, walks and other activities, as well as poetry and music.  We shall be joined by colleagues from all over the Thames Valley, so look out for all details of what we expect to be a very popular event.

In the spring we are planning to have a day for all convenors, when through discussion and workshops we encourage and learn from these members, without whom the U3A could not function.

I cannot close without expressing my most sincere thanks to all the officers and committee members of our U3A.  We are incredibly fortunate in having such a talented group who are prepared to give up so much time to running the U3A

At this time, we have to say good-bye to Linda Herbert, who has led the Groups Co-ordination Team with much energy and efficiency.  It is a demanding, and essential job, and Linda has thrown herself into it, supporting existing groups as well as setting up new ones. 

You will all know that Stephen Smith had to give up his Vice-Chairmanship, halfway through the year, because of family health problems.  I miss Stephen very much, but his place was taken by Len Smith, whose support I really appreciate.  Len is a very safe pair of hands, and I respect and rely on his advice.  I am very glad that he will remain on the committee as webmaster.

Subject to their election, we are very happy to welcome onto the committee Lauraine Newcombe, who will represent the Groups Team, and Jon Cole as our new Vice Chairman.

It only remains for me to thank all of you for the support and encouragement you give to us all in our endeavours.