NEWSLETTER FOR January 2012

NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE

The Committee had one of its regular meetings on Tuesday 15th November. Much of the business was routine but there was some good news in that revisions to the 2011/2012 Programme have now been completed and the final version is enclosed with this Newsletter. We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.
John Carberry has settled into plans for 2012/13 and work on that is now well advanced. Incidentally, the response to the annual request for suggestions for possible speakers was rather disappointing this year. We do appreciate the ideas members put forward though there is sometimes a considerable delay before suggestions actually appear on the programme but please keep them coming.

The Committee has now turned its attention to the membership of the Committee which will take office after the AGM in March 2012. The present Committee has two vacancies which were unfilled in April 2011 and there are likely to be at least one and possibly two more vacancies as some present members come to the end of their three-year term. So we would welcome new members as we would like to see more newer members of Oxford U3A offer their services so that the work is constantly refreshed.

The commitment is not heavy - four afternoons a year - and the meetings seldom last more than one and a half hours. If you are interested and would like to know more about what we do before committing yourself please talk to me or any other Committee member

Mary Greaves
Chairman

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NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE

The Committee had one of its regular meetings on Tuesday 19th July. The continuing problems caused by the lack of a Secretary were discussed. However, John Carberry has agreed to start work on the 2012/2013 programme with the help and encouragement of Irene Lusted. The programme of talks for 2011-2012 was circulated with the last Newsletter in August despite the existence of several gaps. These have now been filled but certain re-arrangements have been necessary. An amended programme will be circulated with the January Newsletter.

Mary Greaves
Chairman

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NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE

The Committee met on the 17th May. The main item for discussion was the problems created by the lack of a Secretary and also a Co-ordinator of Speakers as from September 2011. It was agreed that the Chairman should write to members who had joined within the last three years to try to elicit volunteers. In the meantime Joan Airey will continue as Business Secretary. The Programme Planning Panel, under the chairmanship of Irene L the Committee for their hard work. There had been 34 talks in the past year. Peter Wilkinson has taken over the organisation and production of the Newsletters following Irene Lusted continues to operate and the programme for 2011-2012 is now almost complete and will be distributed with this Newsletter.

Mary Greaves
Chairman

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NEWSLETTER for October 2010

APPRECIATION

Whatever changes we see in the presentation of the Newsletter it will be some time before we do not automatically think of Irene Lusted as being the one to turn to.

Nineteen years is a long time to be in charge of anything - even monarchs rarely rein so long. So heartfelt thanks are due to our 'Queen' who, luckily, will still be around to fulfil other posts: Committee, Programme Planning, Chairman etc. Etc.

CHRISTMAS TEA

Michael Walker has arranged a repeat of last year's very successful Christmas Tea in Christ Church Hall. This year it will take place on Wednesday 15th December. A booking form is enclosed. This gives us the opportunity to socialise and enjoy tea in magnificent surroundings. However, numbers are limited to 60 so please return forms as soon as possible if you wish to come along. The cost will be £7 per head. Again there will be an opportunity for a brief tour of the cathedral before the tea.

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NEWSLETTER for AUGUST 2010

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

In April next year we shall need a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. But right now we need a Co-ordinator of Speakers. A programme exists until next June, but the retiring Co-ordinator needs someone to take over in September to start on planning the programme for September 2011. There is a sub-committee (Programme Planning Panel) for support in making suggestions and a questionnaire goes out in the Autumn for members to contribute ideas. Once a speaker is booked someone else does the paperwork.

The Secretary is crucial to the running of the Branch as he/she receives input from Head Office and other Branches to be passed on as appropriate. Having e-mail is a must. The Treasurer needs to keep our accounts in order. In every case help will be given by the current incumbent.

As for the Chairman - well apart from keeping the Committee in order, it is a largely PR position: getting to know people, being open to new ideas, and turning up fairly regularly.

We prefer volunteers to the press-ganged. Can you do it? Yes, you can!

Elizabeth Bremner (Chairman)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The newly-elected Executive Committee met on Tuesday 18th May and the two new members were warmly welcomed. It was reported that the Treasurer had resigned (though he will remain a member of the Committee) and a volunteer had agreed to take over until the AGM in April 2011 when a new Treasurer will be needed.

SUMMER OUTINGS

The two last outings - to Gloucester in June and to the Vyne in July were well supported and enjoyable. The guided tours arranged by the Gloucester Civic Society were excellent and still allowed plenty of time for those who had opted for them to explore Gloucester further despite the intermittent rain.

The outing to The Vyne was particularly popular with a full coach and a waiting list and the fine weather was a real bonus. We work in conjunction with West Oxford so that their members have the opportunity to join us if there are places available.

The Panel will be discussing future outings at the end of November/early December and the usual questionnaire will be circulated with the October Newsletter.

AUTUMN WALKS

Friday 24 September Meet 11.15 am on South side of Folly Bridge to walk along towpath to Osney, then through Osney to the Willow Walk and thence to North Hinksey where a drink/lunch can be obtained at The Fishes pub. After lunch we return along the Willow Walk and then across the fields to Botley Road for buses into town.

Friday 22 October Meet at 2.00 pm at entrance to the Botanic Garden in High Street for a walk round the gardens, and then into Christ Church Meadow following the river walk through the meadows to St. Aldate's. We have free admission to the Botanic Garden, courtesy of the Director of the Garden.

PROGRAMME FOR SEPTEMBER 2010 - JUNE 2011

The new programme can be seen if you click here.

Information on later speakers will be sent out with the January Newsletter. There is a note below giving a number to ring if we have a recurrence of last January's severe weather.

A CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS

When we were very young Christmas was usually a magical happening, although there could be disappointments and disillusionment. For the group event on 9 December I hope we can produce a number of experiences (accompanied by music) which will entertain and, perhaps, move.

What I would like is to receive a written reminiscence which would take between 3 and 5 minutes to read. I will connect these by a narration to form a whole, lasting about an hour. In the past there have been 8-10 people taking part. If you have a rooted objection to appearing on the platform someone else can read for you.

Some ideas to spur you on: the best ever present, the most disappointing, Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree, carol singing, the family, Christmas in an unusual place, missing Christmas through illness - the list is endless.

Please let me have contributions by the end of November at the latest.

Elizabeth Bremner

In future, if there seems a possibility that the meeting will be cancelled because of adverse weather conditions you should ring Rewley House (01865 270360) to confirm. A message will always be left with Reception.

Further information will also be placed on the notice board at Rewley House.

EDITOR OF NEWSLETTER

After 19 years Irene Lusted is resigning as editor and is delighted to be able to hand over to Peter Wilkinson who volunteered to take over this interesting job. Peter has been active in Oxford U3A's affairs, having served on the Executive Committee, and currently he is a member of the Programme Planning Panel. He also organised a very successful trip to Slimbridge earlier this year. I hope he enjoys being editor, as I have done.

Irene Lusted

The next Newsletter will be published in October. More contributions would be very welcome. Please send them to Peter Wilkinson at his home address or by email (pjwilk@hotmail.com) by 6th September.