Chairman's Notes

Since the last newsletter we have attended the Regional Conference at High Wycombe. Although we initially had six members booked to attend, for various reasons four had to drop out, but we managed to get one other so that we had three attending covering discussion groups of "Managing a U3A", "The Arts", and "Electronic Presentations".

Before the Discussion Groups there were talks by Ivor Manley, a Vice Chairman of The Third Age Trust, and Elizabeth Gibson from the U3A National Resource Centre. Ivor's talk was largely focussed on the Principles and Objectives of the U3A, which are due to be debated at the AGM in York in September. These have been discussed in our committee and we have been in favour of a very simple set which fit easily onto one side of A4.

The presentation by Elizabeth Gibson reminded us all of the vast range of resources that are available for U3A branches to borrow free of charge. I am asking our editor to try to squeeze in a summary of Elizabeth's talk.

Just a brief note about the Discussion Group where I participated, "Managing a U3A". It seems that we are not unique with the problems we face of dissemination of information, busy committees and convenors and finding suitable accommodation. One U3A coped with outgrowing their room for monthly meetings by having two meetings per month, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and getting their speaker to present twice!!

By the time you read this, we shall have had the Summer Garden Party and I hope I shall have been able to meet a great many of you there.

Len Smith

July 2003

Which is your particular Vanity?               Sam Weller

 

	VANITY   Said the peacock to the peahen As he spread his lovely tail, "I'm such a handsome fellow, That to love me, you can't fail My feathers are exquisite' My neck, caerulean blue.   . .

 

VANITY

When I was young

 I would force my long suffering  feet

 Into uncomfortable shoes,

With four inch high heels

And long pointed toes.

I really am quite perfect And I want to mate with you." The brown peahen considered, With her head upon one side. He certainly was handsome ‑ Vanity personified. "I really am quite perfect." The peacock said again. "A most tremendous asset To a dowdy, brown peahen.               My crest is very perky And all of my eyes are bright ‑ I'm such a handsome fellow' But you, dear, are just a fright! Your feathers are so dreary' Your tail drags on the ground. My plumage is so showy. I'm the smartest cock around." The brown peahen considered As she stood upon one leg.  "It's true you're very handsome, But you cannot lay an egg!" The peacock was quite mortified' He turned and stalked away. The peahen winked her beady eye, And she settled down to lay.     Ann Mayers Poetry & Creative Writing Group

All because of vanity.

I would sit for hour after hour

In a trendy hair salon, having

My hair wound on curlers and

Soaked with chemical lotions

To produce unnatural curls.

All because of vanity.

I would lie on a couch

In a trendy beauty shop,

Having my face caked in mud

And my body massaged.

All because of vanity.

Now I am old and

My feet take revenge

For their earlier ill treatment.

My hair has turned grey, grown thin

And no longer shines.

My skin has relaxed,

Lost its earlier glow and

Developed countless wrinkles.

What price vanity now?

Cicely Siemssen

Poetry & Creative Writing Group

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INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY & RELATED ENERGY ISSUES

AWAY DAYS AT ABERGAVENNY

Were you ever a ‘Bevin Boy’ (or was it Bevan, I can’t remember)? 50 excited members of U3A from all over England (including five from Wokingham) congregated at the entrance to the Big Pit at Blaenavon to be kitted up with hard hats, gas marks and head lamps so that they could experience to a mild extent the hard life of a coal-miner. The Big Pit is a World Heritage Site. We went down in a vast cage into semi darkness with a very friendly ex-miner who had a story to tell at each of the stopping points. We walked through the passageways in a long trail and conversation was constantly interrupted by the sound of hard hats hitting the roof as the levels undulated followed by much laughter at the unfortunate victim. The industrial scene was explored in considerable detail and much enjoyed by all present.

We were on a three day seminar run very competently by the U3A Science & Technology Network who arranged accommodation at Ty’r Morwydd Environmental Study Centre, in the market town of  Abergavenny.(The Centre used to be a Nunnery!). Twin bed study rooms - no en suite, good food served in a friendly atmosphere of large tables, and coffees and teas served in a lounge, all to encourage communication between the members from different groups. Lectures focussed on the day’s excursion took place directly after breakfast and also during the evening. Other activities included visits to an 18C Iron Works. and the Clearwell caves where iron ore has been extracted, finishing at the Coleford Dean Museum. 

The Network is already discussing a programme for next year so look out for early announcements - it is only possible for the organisers to keep their finances in order if people book early and PAY early too. We enjoyed it very much.

P.J.R.

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WHY SHOULD ANYONE WANT TO BE A CONVENOR, FOR HEAVENS SAKE?

How do they win the job?  They put up a hand and say ‑ I think we should have a group studying............ and before they know where they are they have the job of organising it.

Well, I got caught in this way once or twice but have learnt one should never take on an unlimited liability.  Set out your stall ‑ say you will plan for twelve months only and make it clear that after that there will have to be a new group ‑ after all, it may be that someone else would like to tackle the subject from a different viewpoint and breathe new life into it, on a different day/time and with a different group of members, or it may be that it is a dead parrot, expired, with no need for resurrection. A group that dribbles on indefinitely tends to run out of steam and new things to say to one another ‑ far better to stop and sign up afresh ‑ see whether it is worth a continuation or a restart. If you know you will only be committing your energy for twelve months you are more likely to take on the job. Furthermore, expect that all members will play an active part in leading the study ‑ U3A is about SELF‑HELP and KEEPING YOUR BRAIN ACTIVE ‑ just sitting like a zombie and letting someone else do all the work is NOT LEARNING.

I have enjoyed the groups I have convened ‑ I stopped when I got bored with the subjects. The groups carried on with a new leader. Now I'm a contributing member of several groups and a passive listener in one or two others. I have learnt so much from preparing to share my interests with others that I can thoroughly recommend it as a mental exercise.

The above are my personal views and not any official standpoint.

P.J.R.

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CONVENORS NEED HELP!

Inevitably from time to time, a Convenor feels that he or she has done enough or reaches the point where enthusiasm or inspiration diminishes and wants to give up the role and hand on to someone else. This is likely to happen a few times this year ‑ 3 or 4 years as convenor may be quite enough and it is time for a rest or to seek or have new interests. Hopefully, someone will come forward readily ‑ but often this is not the case and there is the real danger of the topic folding altogether. Creating or being part of a small "committee" to run the group or at least acting as a deputy are both options to help succession. When a convenor gives notice to finish (usually 6 to 12 months), think about what you might do to help to enable its continuation.

The aim of U3A is that everyone participates as best they can, whether it is helping with the teas, putting away chairs, doing some administration or occasionally offering to take a session in the group's subject. Many members do automatically help accordingly and of course this is most welcome, but not everybody thinks of it. Offer to help your group activity and do not wait to be asked. Convenors can have time consuming tasks, sometimes doing almost everything themselves. If you haven't thought of it before ‑ see if there is anything you can do. It might not take too much effort or time. Please be a giver as well as a taker and do not leave it to the same trusted members who voluntarily take responsibility. They might eventually think ‑ is it worth it?

U3A relies on volunteers for it to function for everyone's enjoyment and benefit. Why not speak to your Convenor or a Committee member? Please volunteer to help.

D.T.

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COMMUNICATING SCIENCE ‑ DOES IT MATTER?

A Free Public Lecture by

Professor Colin Blakemore PhD, ScD, FmedSci, FIBiol, FRS

at

THE UNIVERSITY OF READING

7pm/7.30pm (TBC) on Wednesday 22 October 2003

For 15 years, Britain's scientific establishment has encouraged active scientists to communicate with the public, originally to improve the public understanding of science, and now to promote dialogue on controversial issues. Public understanding is better here than in many parts of Europe, but, paradoxically, confidence in science is inversely related to understanding, and anti‑scientific attitudes are rampant.

This lecture will consider the pros and cons of science communication and whether it is really worthwhile.

Professor Blakemore is a frequent broadcaster on radio and television and has written widely for the general public on a range of science topics. He will shortly leave his post as Chairman of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA) to become Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

The newly‑formed Thames Valley BA Branch is delighted to have such an eminent speaker for its Inaugural Lecture, which will take place in the Madejski Lecture Theatre, Agriculture Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading

If you would like to attend, please contact the TV BA Branch Secretary, Peter Graves, by either: (preferably) sending an e‑mail to

tvbalecture@warfieldberks.fsnet.co.uk; or writing to 90 Horatio Ave, Warfield, Berks RG42 3TJ.  Please include your name and organisation/address. Directions will then be sent to you.

The BA web site is at:  http://www.theba.net/

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U3A Equipment

Due to the increasing number of individual units that Wokingham U3A is fortunate enough to possess, managing them and arranging bookings has become rather a task for me, despite setting up several "minders" of certain units. Therefore changes are proposed to make my life a bit easier. I will still be known as the Equipment Manager with overall responsibility but the slight change is that certain members will be responsible for both controlling and booking grouped items of equipment so that any enquiries should be directed at them rather than me. I will still be directly responsible for controlling certain items and the situation is now as follows:

35mm projectors, carousel magazines and one projector stand, flip charts, audio equipment (used at Open Meetings), general equipment enquiries:

Peter Harms Tel: 0118 978 2709.

Overhead projectors and small screens: Don Macdonald Tel: 01344 774386.

Large screen, one electronic projector, one VCR, one projector stand and one small speaker system:

Clive Tomlin Tel: 01344 774409.

Laptop computers, one electronic projector, one small speaker system and one VCR:

Brian Pettitt Tel: 0118 978 3824,

In addition to the listed items above, each equipment Group will have a reeled mains extension lead that can be borrowed with the equipment. Where possible, all bookings should be made by email and all equipment is to be used solely for U3A activities. These arrangements will be reviewed from time to time as changes in equipment and responsibilities occur. Existing users should retain this Note for future reference.

U3A Groups, either existing or potential should be aware of what equipment we have available as outlined above and consider how it could possibly assist them in their presentations. Myself or any of the above are willing to discuss such use if required.

Peter Harms

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SOURCES

Those members who receive a personal copy of SOURCES direct from Third Age Trust may have noticed that they must re-register. A copy of the letter from the SOURCES Editor and of the Subscription Form are enclosed.  If this affects you personally, why not complete the form now and send it off to TAT in Bromley.

RESOURCE CENTRE
INFORMATION FOR USERS

The Resource Centre in the National Office in London has a collection of
non-book material available for all U3A groups to borrow free of charge,
except for the cost of return postage.

There are slides, videos, audio-cassettes, CDs and DVDs available in
many subject areas. Lists on all subjects are free and available on request.

To loan items from the collection please contact the Resource Centre staff by letter, E-mail, fax or telephone (Tuesdays and Thursdays between9.30am and 3.30pm please) at the above address. Give the title of items you would like to borrow and the date of the meeting at which you expect to use them. The earlier you send your request the more likely you are to receive the items you want. Bookings can be made for up to nine months ahead.

Loans are for a period of three weeks and may be renewed on request if there is no other group waiting to use them. Items will be sent by post with a note telling you the date to return them. The reU3Able packing is strong but light. When you return the item to us please obtain a certificate of posting at the Post Office. This is free but can be used to re-claim the value of the item should the package go astray. There is no need to use registered post.

Three quarters of all U3As in Britain use the Resource Centre regularly for material to support and enhance their classes. If your group is not using us yet please pass this information on to your members and encourage them to contact us. If we do not have what you need we can always try to obtain it (if it exists in non-book form) as new stock is being added all the time at the request of U3A members.

Elizabeth Gibson, Resource Centre Manager

RESOURCE CENTRE

Elizabeth Gibson’s note about the Resource Centre contains no details regarding the Centre’s address. For those who may need this, the information is shown below:

Address:           Third Age Trust,

19 East Street,

Bromley,

Kent, BR1 1QH.

Phone:              020 8315 0199

Email:   resource.centre@u3a.org.uk

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If you know of any member who is ill please inform Marion Povall on 0118 9786240 so that she can contact them.

 

The SEPTEMBER MEETING   Professor Pockney, Emeritus Professor of Russian on   “Russia  -  what next?”   Tuesday, 16th September, 2003 St Paul’s Parish Rooms at 2.00pm Tea & biscuits will be provided

Copy date for the next issue is 30th Sept.

The OCTOBER MEETING

David Vaisey CBE

Talks about

“The Treasures of the

Bodleian Library”

Tuesday, 21^st October, 2003

St Paul’s Parish Rooms at 2.00pm

Tea & biscuits will be provided

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