News & Group Updates

Wednesday 14 November

Find Out More

Please click on the link below for more information on the Newsletter and New Website

Newsletter & Website Nov & Dec 2018

Please note the the next Open Meeting is a week earlier than usual and is on Tuesday 16th October. Full details can be found on the Events Page

IMMEDIATE – Newsletter Editor: Until the end of last year, the Newsletter was put together by two editors, Sue and Hilary, with proof reader, Moira. Sadly Hilary developed problems with her hands and had to give up last Christmas. So this year Sue has carried on as the only editor, despite repeated advertisements for help.

Without help, the newsletter will have to be simplified to fit in with the available effort. (Some may remember the last time we became editor-less and the Committee produced a black and white starvation diet Newsletter shorn to essentials!)

We are ever more urgently looking for a member to help Sue Peters prepare the bi-monthly Newsletter.  The work environment is one of cooperation and flexibility. Modest word processing computer literacy is needed. Training will be given. Why not drop Sue ([email protected]) an email to find out more?

IMMEDIATE – Committee Member: We have a vacancy on the Committee which can be filled now, with a view to taking up a Committee role at next March AGM. The advantage of joining now is that you join in the Committee’s deliberations and are able to shadow one of the roles becoming available next March.

Vacancies next AGM in March, 2019:

MEETINGS SECRETARY: to provide committee administration services – prepare agendas, take minutes and hold the committee paperwork (constitution, procedures, minutes etc).

TWO COMMITTEE MEMBERS who, after a period of acclimatisation, will be prepared to take on one of the roles set out on the inside cover of the Newsletter. After some time on the Committee without a role, new members shadow an existing role holder, and subsequently take that role.

NEW ROLE – WELFARE OFFICER: (non-committee position).  Cheltenham U3A has begun to feel that there are many older members who are in need of support for a short time, and where visiting and a cup of tea could alleviate loneliness. We would expect the person in this role to help define this role and organise the visiting.

Please contact me by email, Maggie Conu or any existing committee members if you would like to offer help in running Cheltenham U3A.

Location: Café Zest, Cavendish House

This is a new group for those with little or no knowledge of the Greek language. We will be meeting on a fortnightly basis starting from Thursday 4^th October 2019. The group will learn basic Greek phrases that will enhance your holidays, as well as covering food, culture, places and tips on the Greek way of life.

ART APPRECIATION:

Location: Education Room, The Wilson

This group is concerned with discussing and exploring, informally, works of art and their context. It is not an Art History course but rather an informal exploration of works from a variety of artists and periods.

Due to the high level of interest, meetings will take place on the second Thursday of each month in the afternoon, and be repeated again on the second Friday in the morning.

By the time you read this, the Picnic in the Park will be over and we hope it was a great success and everyone enjoyed themselves.  It has taken quite a bit of planning by your committee members and group leaders.  I would like to say a very big thank you to all those who were involved both in the organising and on the day.  I would also like to thank all our members who came along to support us and would appreciate some feedback and ideas of how it could be improved if we do it again.

Our new website is now live thanks to the hard work of Martin Pettit and Purvi Shah. I hope you will all have a look at it and use it for up to date information.  The newsletter will be available in the members’ area.

You will see elsewhere in the newsletter that the Local History Group will now continue in the autumn, thanks to several people coming forward to bring it back to life.  We wish it every bit of good luck that it deserves and thank the old organising committee for their dedication in making it so successful.

At the September Open Meeting there will be a free raffle for vouchers for the Ivy Restaurant and Marks and Spencer.

If anyone would like to contact me about anything to do with U3A: moans, groans, queries or praise, I would be pleased to hear from you. My contact details are in the front of the newsletter.

Maggie Conu

At future Open Meetings at St. Matthews Church Hall, the Church will be putting out boxes for our members to contribute food that is in date and non-perishable for local foodbanks.  I hope that our members will support this initiative and bring items along to contribute.

Maggie Conu

Local History Group

The Local History Group is starting with a first meeting in October at the Albion Club (near Boots corner) and thereafter once a month http://www.albionhouse.co.uk/Social-Club-Cheltenham/Default.aspx  Membership of the Albion runs from January to December and current fees are £7 to join and £5 per annum ( £3 for OAPs ) thereafter.

Local History Group members must become members of the Albion Club, and this membership allows meetings to be held free of room charge. The Club is also available to its membership at other times, with a bar, food and has its own events too.

If you are interested in coming please email Barbara or Marion and include your U3A membership number.

From the replies we receive we shall make up a potential members list, and then contact everyone with details of the first meeting and any arrangements in relation to the Albion Club.

Barbara Jeffery, Leader

Marion Elliott, Treasurer

In addition to the regular talks at our monthly Open Meetings, Cheltenham U3A is planning additional extra talks on specialist subjects. They will take place at St Matthew’s Church.  Future newsletters and the website will include full details, so please keep a look out for them.

The first one will be a DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP led by a professional photographer on Wednesday 14 November in the morning.  Members of the two DSLR Photography groups and of the Photoshop Elements Computer group will be interested, but any U3A member is welcome to attend.

The November/ December newsletter, issued in late October, will carry more details.

Ruth Robinson    

Sheena Lesniowski 

Speakers’ Secretaries