I ended up with 50 more email addresses, all of whom should receive the Blog Update alert and a link to the material on a Google Internet server. This time there will be around 350 such alerts - up from 30 this time last year. So welcome to my new readers.
Although this is technically a Blog it is basically a series of news letters about Swansea U3A activities. There are facilities for the entry of comments though this is seldom used or useful. It is a private blog for those who know the Internet link address, which cannot be found by the general public via a search engine such as Google. The opinions expressed both about U3A activities and whatever other topic takes my fancy are my own.
In general the only posting worth reading is the latest, the one you see when you click the link. I frequently do minor edits to the immediately previous posting to correct errors or to clarify points. Postings start with a small Date and an underlined Heading in orange capital letters. Save the link and at any time you can easily access the very latest news.
Tina Barker and I have committed all the information collected that day to computer in the form of a spreadsheet, this is the first time I have had help in this tedious task and thank her for her efforts. Those lists have already been emailed to the group convenors and no doubt they will follow up by contacting those who signed the lists. Additional groups will have to be formed to satisfy demand. In the case of Book Reading we are already planning an initial meeting of the fifth such group in Hazel Court starting10.30am Tuesday 1 December, and thereafter the first Tuesday in month, in the Exercise Room. Creating the painting group is more difficult - so watch this space. In the meantime I would particularly welcome support for those groups which are currently below strength - turn up and try them out.
David Michael, who leads our walks, introduced me to the newly elected Chairman of the Cardiff U3A Mary Martell Allen, who had come to see how we operated in Swansea, with a view to starting a catch up exercise in Cardiff who currently number just 200 members to our 700. To put this in context remember we increased membership by 150 last year alone.
CONVENORS DAY
As reported last week it was a particularly good meeting and that was confirmed once I had a chance to look at the questionaires completed by each group convenor. This information has for the first time allowed us to take stock of the state of the groups. We shall be even better placed to compare and draw conclusions once Tina and I have collated the information in a spread sheet. However it is already apparent to me which groups will be easy to expand, which are currently too small to be really viable and the areas in which we will soon need to form new groups.
Mike leads Tai Chi
Joan,? , Mary Lane,Joy Gillard, Past and Mal Herbert
Val Day and ART/Painting
Mike Lewis and Sybil Jiving
Margaret Winter with History
Alf, Kay, Roly Govier
PANTOMAGORIA - SLEEPING BEAUTY
- Your chance to walk the boards
- Calling old friends and unknown talents
- First read through of script 2pm to 4 pm either tomorrow Monday 19 October, or Thursday 22 October. upstairs in the Monkey Cafe (opposite Swansea castle). You choose which session - just turn up
- Rehearsals thereafter 2pm every Monday
- Contact Jill Govier 01792 455303
- jillgovier@btinternet.com
- This group is run by Jill Govier who also directs/produces/stage manages/ and edits the script for our very popular pantomine (this I think will be it's third year).
Me, Rita, Pat Herbert, with cross dressing Gerwyn as our instructor
See Bob waving at rear
SOUTH WALES U3A OUTING TO HOLLAND
- Art galleries and museums
- 18 - 26 April 2010 including 5 day river cruise
- Prices excluding only lunches ans entrance fees from £699 to £913, depending on single or double room/upper or lower deck
- Must book and pay £150 deposit by October - so hurry
- Contact Mo Ellard 363465 mo.ellard@btinternet.com
- or Margaret Winter 771725 winter728@btinternet.com
- for details and booking form.
Please note change in parking details for tomorrow
- Llandeilo-Llangadog area
- 10.30 am Monday 19 October
- Leader Dr Robert Owens
- Meet Large Car Park at Dynevor Home Farm just passed original meeting place (which was roadside around Grid Ref OS Sheet no.159 SN 6190 2308)
Note also the November meeting has been changed from a Monday to the following day Tuesday 10 November at 11am.
Contact Yvonne Thomas 01554 832337
yvonne@lunn-thomas.fsnet.co.uk
GROUP ACTIVITIES
CHESS for FUN
A group formed last year which needs additional members. They will meet in the Exercise Room at 10am Monday 19 October. It really is for fun, we are not aiming any time soon to challenge for the World Championship, but we might one day aim to take on other U3A's. It would be particularly nice to break down the idea that this is a man's game, which exists solely in peoples minds. My wife Joan will greet you tomorrow. So come along along on Monday and try us out. If you don't know the rules or moves we will teach you, if you can hardly remember them from your school-days - then join the majority, if you fancy your chances we will put tutor Ken Huntley onto you.
READING LITERATURE
They will meet at 2pm on Tuesday 20 October to read the third and final act of 'The Dolls House' by Ibsen. A group recovering from probable collapse last year, now re-vitalised by Lawmary Champion who encourages all to participate by reading the parts aloud. They too would welcome more members.
ASTRONOMY
First meeting of term in Grove theatre at university after the Wednesday lecture 21 October will collectively outline program for the coming year. Nick Hill, our Treasurer is handing over to new convenor Roly Govier 455303
roland.govier@onetel.com
after this meeting. Roly in turn has handed over the Discussion Group to Rob James - healthy movement I would say.
rob3james@btinternet.com
TAI CHI
Note however that this week only, Friday 23 October, will have just the usual two sessions starting at 9.30 and 11am.
This very popular group formed last year will break into three hour long sessions every Friday morning starting from 30 October. The classes will start at 9am, 10.30am and Midday, with the 12 noon session being aimed at absolute beginners.
As we have to employ Mike, a professional young tutor, £3 a session is collected by the convenor.
Contact Cecily Hughes, Pat Herbert, Barbara Ellis or convenor Sue Hutson - all on your membership card.
CALLING U3A MEN
Both the JIVE group every Wednesday at 10.30 in the Monkey Cafe, and SINGING for PLEASURE at 2pm every Friday at the West Cross Community Centre require above all more MEN. Now's your chance fellows!! Just turn up please.
ITALIAN
Also meet in Hazel Court at 10am every Monday in the Dry Craft Room. This group was formed last year and is one needing increased membership. If there is sufficient demand we will take up ex-DACE tutor Carolina's offer to take two one hour sessions, one being aimed strictly at beginners.
Mervyn Howell 202126, mh8@talktalk.net has taken over as convenor but will be absent for the next two weeks so contact Brian Blog.
FRENCH
Gilly Jordan 01269 824876
gillyjordan@talktalk.net
has taken over this group as convenor, a change to your card. Beryl Edney and Celia Phillips will usually share the task of leader. Gilly is working on alternatives for when they cannot teach.
SHORT MAT BOWLS 1
Angela Ball 412701 wants 6 more bowlers.
angela.ball2@ntlworld.com
They meet every Monday at 1.30pm in the West Cross Community Centre. SHORT MAT BOWLS 2 meets on Tuesdays but has a waiting list.
CREATIVE WRITING 1
New last year requires additional members. They meet in the Exercise Room at Hazel Court on the 4th Monday of the month at 10am, next meeting 26 October.
This group is run by Jill Govier 455303
jillgovier@btinternet.com
who also, directs/produces/stage manages/edits the script/and acts as enforcer, for our very popular pantomime. (This I think will be only it's third year).
DIGITAL MEDIA
There was an encouragingly large turnout on Friday so Bob and I having decided the time before to reduce to a half room are desperately trying to correct that blunder.
Remember the U3A motto from last week's blog.
'Those who teach shall also learn and those who learn shall also teach'
The previous session I showed Beryl Edney how to load the software to interface her computer with Epson slide/transparency scanner, and pointed out the way to proceed with digitising slides. This Friday, as I came in late from Tai Chi, she greeted me with scarcely concealed delight because she had in fact scanned four slides. So could I now show her how to put them in a folder - no peace for the wicked! In between times she had been teaching me with her professional skills in our French Conversation Group. We were helping each other, the U3A is nothing if not a co-operative.
Some members are apparently expressing interest in improving their skills with digital photography, including photo shooting expeditions as was done in the summer.
CALIGRAPHY
Maureen Thomas 401132, g.thomas37@ntlworld has given me notice that for four successive Thursdays at 2 pm in Hazel Court, starting 21 January 2010, she will be running another taster course. She will take a mix of absolute beginners and those from earlier tasters.
NEW GROUPS
One suggestion I have received is that we should start an Investment Club, not concentrating solely on the Stock Market but more basically on exploring where to invest cash in these confusing times. Any interest, and above all anyone prepared to lead such a group?
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