Uttoxeter & District U3A

Registered Charity No. 1121369

Chairman:  Phil Greenwood, e-mail: orbyhouse@gmail.com

Membership Secretary: Audrey Brown, Fair Lea, Oldfields Road. Uttoxeter, ST14 7QJ  Tel: 01889 569608

Website: www.uttoxeteru3a.org           

SUMMER 2010 NEWSLETTER

 Chairman’s Comments: 

At long last we have seen the end of winter and can look forward to some warmer weather and outside activities. However I have to say that the winter period has been extremely busy as far as U3A is concerned.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of our winter activities was the social evening organised by Audrey, Christine and Thelma. It was a great success: both as an entertainment and as a culinary event!! I am constantly amazed by the talent which exists in our members. The singing and recitations were most entertaining and the band was very professional. Many thanks again to everyone who helped on the day. This of course came after the excellent Christmas Carol concert organised by our Singing and Recorder groups. 

Since my last comments our membership has continued to grow steadily and we now have over 350 members and continue to welcome new members most weeks. Long may it continue! 

In the first few weeks of this year all our groups have been visited by Maggie Washington, our secretary, together with either me or Derek Green.

Our primary aim has been to meet all of our members to ensure they know who they have elected!! A secondary aim has been to encourage members to take a greater role in the running of our U3A, bearing in mind the fact that our AGM is getting nearer and we need volunteers to stand for offices. I have found these visits extremely enjoyable, giving me an insight into the great depth of talent we have in our members. 

The social side of our U3A continues to be a very important part of our activities and, looking at the programme so far arranged, I can see it is again going to be a busy year. We have a number of outings and holidays planned with the highlight being a week in Scotland in the Loch Lomond area. The full programme is listed later in this newsletter and will also be available on our website. Our thanks go to Audrey, Christine and Thelma for all their hard work in organising events. 

Our groups continue to gain in strength with new groups proving successful. I would urge anyone who has an idea for a new group to talk to any of our committee members as we are always keen to promote new ideas. I will finish these ramblings by wishing you all a great time enjoying the various U3A activities. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

Once a year, Uttoxeter U3A has a big get-together for the Annual General Meeting.

So, on Wednesday June 9th, the coffee morning will be replaced by our AGM at 10.30 am at the Cinebowl, with coffee to follow. You will get all the paperwork in May, but please start thinking now if you, or someone you know, might be willing to stand for the committee. This year we need a new Vice-Chairman and a new Secretary. 

MEMBERS OF OTHER U3A's

If you are a member of another U3A, you no longer have to join Uttoxeter U3A to take part in our activities. We have followed the lead of neighbours (Stone, Stafford and Cheadle) in doing this. The disadvantages are that if you don’t join you won’t get the Newsletter or e-mail updates, and if a group or outing is full, priority will be given to Uttoxeter members. If you want to continue to belong to Uttoxeter and list it as your second U3A, you can do so for a reduced annual fee as we don’t have to pay for the insurance or the U3A News magazine.  

GROUP REPORTS 

ART & CALLIGRAPHY: I am pleased to announce that Maggie Hatchard has kindly agreed to help me out.  She is taking the first Monday in each month and, as a newly retired Art Teacher, is able to teach the group all the latest techniques.  I am most grateful for her help.  We shall continue through the summer until numbers fall then we will close and reopen again in the autumn.  If you are a newcomer please check with me first. Telephone Winifred, 01283 585575

BEADCRAFT: Meets at the Catholic Guild Hall, Balance Street on the last Thursday morning of the month, unless advised differently,  9.30 – 12.30.  Please note that the April date will be 22^nd, not 29^th.  Future dates are 27^th May,  24^th June,  29^th July.  No meeting in August.  Newcomers always welcome.  ( Carole 01889 569945) 

BOOK CLUB: Meets on the 2^nd Friday morning of the month in the Library at 10 am. 

BOWLING – OUTDOOR: (Elkes Biscuits Sports & Social Club)  Fridays at 10 a.m. Club membership entitles you to play anytime. No news yet on fees – possibly no increase (£17.50 last year). The pitch is at the back of Fox's Biscuits by the Scouts' Hall.  New members very welcome , including beginners (we can always lend you bowls).     For more information contact Alan 01889 562393. 

BOWLING – TEN PIN : Will resume in October.  Contact Phil Belt 01889 565730. 

C A N A S T A:  This flourishing group continues to meet on Thursday afternoons throughout the year at the Bank House.  We meet at 1.50 pm to draw for partners. Telephone Christina for further details 01889 566688. 

CERAMIC PAINTING: This group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at the Heath Community Centre.  PAINTING ON SILK is a new craft on offer. For more information please contact Pat 563078.

C I N E M A:   Watch for updates of films showing exclusively for U3A members.

COFFEE MORNINGS:   Held every Wednesday morning, 10am-11am  upstairs in Wetherspoons.  Check the noticeboard, book trips, find out what’s on.  Everyone welcome.

COMPUTER GROUP:    Uttoxeter U3A's computer training course has two or three spare places, both for beginners and for more experienced users.

There are two sessions each Thursday: the first begins at 9:30 am and will be suitable for complete beginners, though those who wish to reinforce basic training are also welcome. No previous computer experience is necessary, though it would help if students had some knowledge of the layout of a QWERTY keyboard. Areas addressed include getting started, emailing, basic word processing and internet searches. The second session starts at 11:00 and covers more advanced aspects of computing.  This is best suited for those who have already developed some confidence in computer use, including word processing and emailing.

A maximum of eight students can be accommodated in each session. It is not necessary for students to bring their own computers as we have our own laptops for training purposes.

Those wishing to enrol on either of the sessions are requested to contact Philip Jackson (  (01889 566092) or to email U3Acomputing@gmail.com)  

CRAFT GROUP:      This group meets at the  Heath Community Centre on Monday afternoons from 2pm until 4pm.  During the winter months the group has been busy knitting hats, gloves and scarves for “Headway” and are now working on crafts for a stall we are hoping to have at Hatton on the 3^rd May – 1.30pm at Thistley Place Meadow, for the Dove Valley Community Project.  We hope some of our many U3A members and friends   will come and support us. For more information ( Marian  562393 or Maureen 566025) 

D A N C I N G - Country Dancing: This lively group meets regularly every Tuesday afternoon at Bramshall Village Hall 2pm-4pm. New members welcome. No partners/experience necessary. ( Keith 01889 564427. 

D A N C I N G-   Tap Dancing (Appalachian):   The “Happy Hoofers” meet every Wednesday in the Methodist Church Hall, near the Library, from 1.30pm-2.30pm. New members would be very welcome and we are willing to run a Beginners’’ Class – no auditions nor partners, special shoes or experience required.  Contact Trish 01889 560151. 

DIGITAL CAMERA & DIM (Digital Image Maniplation) GROUPS: 2010 has started well.  The Digital Camera Group met in January, February and March.  They discussed after dark and architectural photography as well as looking at members’ videos and still photographs.  An intended outing to photograph kingfishers is waiting for a call from Howard Grigg as, apparently, the birds are later this year and fewer in number so the opportunity may not present itself. 

The Wednesday April 28th meeting has been opened to all U3A members who wish to attend.  Frank Daysh from Lichfield will be giving a slide show entitled “A Country Walk”.  Frank always collects for charity so we will be charging £2 per person (£1 for U3A and £1 for his charity).  He has won prizes for his photographs and it promises to be an interesting evening that should appeal to many.  The Camera Group look forward to seeing some new faces, whether photographers or not. 

Our next meetings are on May 26th and June 30th when we will be discussing techniques for taking action and landscape photographs.  On 28th July we are hoping to have an outing to actually take photographs – our track record on weather for these occasions is poor so we hope for better things this year!  For the rest of the year see the notice board. 

It has been really good to welcome back John Roberts to restart the DIM (Digital Image Manipulation) Group.  We have amalgamated those who wished to continue from DIM1 and DIM2 into one group.  Their meetings consist of the first half revising a technique and the second half discussing, and working with, members’ projects.  They have settled into a hard-core group of image manipulators!

The waiting list for DIM3 now needs another couple of people to fill it.  If you have photographs with signs you want to remove, skies to liven up, buildings to straighten, colours and brightness to change, people to add or remove etc etc. this is the group for you.  The programme used is Photoshop Elements but you do need to be computer familiar, able to cope with files, folders, memory sticks etc as well as being adept with a rodent – sorry, mouse! ( John  01889 562208 to find out more and have your name added to the list.  

FREEHAND MACHINE EMBROIDERY - NEW GROUP - All that is required for this is a basic sewing-machine with zig-zag.  If you would like to have a go and, particularly if you have any experience of machine embroidery, please contact Susanne ( 01785 819703 or primrie@aol.com  (label the subject “machine embroidery”) 

F R E N C H:  There will be no more meetings until late September when the group would prefer to meet on a Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m.  Once the venue has been established, we shall let everyone know.  We hope this change of time will encourage some more people to come and join us.  You don't need to be fluent in the language, but you would have to have basic knowledge and some communication skills.  Above all, don't be nervous, we are a friendly bunch!

G E N E A L O G Y:    The Genealogy group meets on the first Tuesday of the month.  Future dates – 6^th April,  4^th May,  1^st June and 6^th July. No meeting in August. Resume 7^th September  For more details ( Phil Greenwood 01889 565922).  

H I S T O R Y:  Following are the dates for another varied series of talks to take us through to the summer holidays. You will note the inclusion of two new speakers (May 17^th & June 21^st ) and I trust that you will give them both your usual magnificent support. As always new members are welcome to attend these sessions which commence at 10.00am at the Cinebowl except for the June 7^th  visit and the July 26^th walk around Tean.  

 Meetings will re-commence 13^th September.    Leader: Derek Green ( 01889 560122) 

MAH JONG:   This group continues to grow and we now have 12 members. Anyone interested, including beginners, will be very welcome.  We meet fortnightly at the Bank House. For more information please contact Ann, 01889 569993. 

MUSIC APPRECIATION:    This group is now successful and has attracted a reasonable core of listeners. We are always eager to welcome more people who enjoy hearing good music in a pleasant and comfortable environment. So please come along and give us a try.  Meetings are on the following dates at 10.30am at the Cinebowl. Joint leaders are John Kenny, Chris Washington and Derek Green         ( 560122)  Next meeting dates are  20^th April, 4^th May, 18^th May, 15^th June, 29^th June, 13^th July. 

P O E T R  Y : This NEW GROUP  proposes to meet monthly to share favourite poems and hear what others enjoy.    If this appeals please contact Sheila, ( 01889 592995   or email  sheilarosemorrell@hotmail.co.uk ) 

RECORDER GROUP:    We meet at the Heath Community Centre on alternate Monday afternoons, from 2.00pm to 3.30pm.  At the moment we are concentrating on arrangements of Renaissance and Baroque music, usually playing trios and quartets “one to a part”.  Planned dates for the summer are as follows: 12^th April, 26^th April (to be confirmed),  10^th May (possible visit from Lichfield U3A practical music making group),  24^th May,7^th June  &  21^st June. Contact Brenda 01283 814710, welch646@btinternet.com 

SHORT WALKS FOR PLEASURE:  NEW GROUP  We will meet at Bramshall Recreation Ground at 9.30 am for car sharing.  

The cost will be £2.50, which includes    £1 group fee.  All walks are circular and everyone is welcome (the pace will be quite gentle) 

APRIL  22^nd Thurs. - Froghall Wharf - 2½ miles – 1 to 2 hours.

MAY    20^th   Thurs.-  Hanbury, Fauld Crater & Greaveswood - 5½ miles – 2 to 3 hrs.

JUNE  24^th  Thurs. -  Hollington & Croxden Abbey – 3 miles – 2 hours.

JULY  22 ^nd  Thurs. -  Colwich Abbey & River Dove - 4½ miles – 2 to 3 hours.

For further information please contact Thelma 01889 566461 

SINGING FOR PLEASURE: This friendly group continues to grow under Wendy’s inspiring leadership and accompanied by our pianist, Marie. We are hoping to perform at another summer soiree, provisionally booked for Wednesday, 23^rd June. New members will be very welcome, especially men.  No auditions – just turn up! We meet at the Guild Hall, Balance Street, fortnightly, 11.30-12.30. Future dates are: April 28^th,  May 12^th & May 26th, June 9^th & June 23^rd.  We will reconvene in the Autumn. ( Maureen 01889 566025. 

W H I S T  G R O U P:  This group met fortnightly on a Saturday afternoon through the winter months.  It will recommence in the autumn. ( Cynthia 01889 563608. 

SOCIAL EVENTS DIARY

 In closing:         

 Eye halve a spelling chequer

It came with my pea sea.

It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a word and weight four it two say

Weather eye yam wrong oar write

It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long and eye can put the error rite

Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye’v run this poem threw it,

I am shore your pleased two no,

Its lettuce perfect awl the way

My checker told me sow. 

 See you all at the AGM – Wednesday, 9^th June at the Cinebowl

(in lieu of Wetherspoons’ Coffee Morning) 10.30 am with coffee

STOP PRESS:  Breaking news – 2 items hot off the press!