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Page 1 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
IN THIS ISSUE PAGE
CHAIR’S MESSAGE 2
TRUSTEE NEWS AND TOPICS 3
NATIONAL OFFICE 4
NW REGION COMMITTEE EVENTS 5, 6
AROUND THE REGION 6
NATIONAL EVENTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
7
REGIONAL CONTACT DETAILS
NW Regional Chair, Neil Stevenson
NW Regional Trustee, Gill Russell
Newsletter Editor, Jacqui Owen
NORTH WEST REGION WEBSITE
https://u3asites.org.uk/north-west
TO PRINT THIS ISSUE NON COLOUR CLICK PRINT-
PRINTER PROPERTIES - COLOUR MANAGEMENT.
WORDING MAY DIFFER
Page 2 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
U3A Health Check
Last year I served on a working party
looking at options for the future growth
strategy of the U3A movement. One of the
outcomes was to develop a Health Check
questionnaire for U3As to use at their
discretion. I am pleased to let you know
that this is now available in the Advice
section of our national website. See:-
https://www.u3a.org.uk/advice/downloads
/445-health-check-2019
Smartphone Apps
As you will be aware, the “Get healthy, get
hAPPy” seminar was cancelled due to the
low number of members who registered to
attend. Since then we have been working
with ORCHA, the organisation that
evaluates and rates these applications. Our
hope is that we can make a website
available that will advise members of the
relative merits of healthcare, fitness and
dietary apps of relevance to third agers.
Website
It has been some time since our website
has had an overhaul. I am pleased to advise
you that three members of the regional
committee have now been trained in Site
Builder. You will see changes and
improvements to the website over the next
few months.
Best wishes Neil Stevenson
Page 3 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
TRUSTEE NEWS AND
TOPICS
Dear Members,
I am sitting at my computer looking out at
a magnificent spring day with blossom on
the trees. In Japan, blossom season is a
time for celebration. The blossom is
beautiful but fragile and is a reminder that
we should enjoy the small things while we
can.
Through my years in U3A I have sometimes
been asked ‘How did joining a U3A change
your life?’ I have occasionally replied that
it is like the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by
Robert Frost. The writer reaches a fork in
the road where he must choose between
two paths, one well used, the other used
less frequently. He takes the road less
travelled, and that made a difference.
I woke up one morning in January 2008
with a choice. Should I go to a meeting
about a new U3A or take the easy option
and stay home where it was warm and dry?
I went to the meeting – the less known
option – and I have never regretted it. As a
result I have met some inspirational people,
made friends, attempted things I never
believed I would do – and enjoyed every
minute.
I would love to hear some of the stories
about your own U3A experience.
As Neil mentioned, our regional website is
being updated. The Regional team would be
grateful for photos but please ensure that
the people in them have given permission
for them to be displayed. (GDPR)
Gill
Gill Russell
NW Regional Trustee
TRUSTEE PRACTICAL TOPICS
VENUES
Whenever we plan an event we try to make sure
it is accessible by the majority of our members.
For this reason we try to place them near
mainline stations or where there is adequate
parking. The most popular venues have been in
Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington but we
have also used Preston, Lancaster and Crewe and
we are trying to find others. The Regional AGM
has been held in a different location every year.
Cost has to be considered, as does accessibility,
including the travel arrangements for facilitators
who sometimes have to travel very early in a
morning to help set up the facilities in time for
the start of the event. Inevitably we can’t please
Page 4 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
everyone and it isn’t feasible to try to run events
several times.
NATIONAL OFFICEU3A does not have a central organisation
so we do not have a Head Office. Instead
we have a National Office to provide
advice and support.
Sometimes people complain that it takes
time to get a reply to a question, but look
at these statistics and you will understand
why!
2009 – 751 U3As, 230711
members.
2018 – 1040 U3As, 430,000
members
Staffing:
2009 – 6 fulltime, 7 part time.
2018 – 10 full time, 2 part time.
National Office today:
Dedicated departments. Each department
has a manager and assistants.
Advice and Volunteering.
Education and Resources
Accounts
Communications
Resource Centre
Jan – Feb 2019
1356 phone calls. Emails – THOUSANDS!.
270 shop orders filled.
878 DVDs loaned
605 database changes
And don’t forget the newsletter, TAM,
Sources, IT and Beacon support, meetings
……..and more.
By the way the North West Region does
NOT have a regional office. We have a
committee which communicates
frequently by email and meets in
Warrington every two months to discuss
planning for events such as workshops,
AGM, Conference and Summer School.
We produce newsletters and updates.
We are all volunteers.
Page 5 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
NW REGIONAL COMMITTEE
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
NORTH WEST AGM AND
CONFERENCE 2019 PRESTON
JUNE 4TH 2019
REGIONAL CONFERENCE AND AGM 2019
Each year we try to move this around. This time
we will be meeting at the Exchange in Preston,
part of LCC County Hall, a few minutes away from
Preston Station.
In the morning there will be four short breakout
sessions. You can attend two of them.
They are
‘Interest Groups Matter’ with Gill Russell,
Regional Trustee. This is a shortened version of
the national workshop and a taster if you want to
attend the full workshop.
Constitutions with Samantha Mauger, CEO at
National Office. Charities are reminded to review
their constitutions regularly. Sam will be
explaining why and presenting information about
the new one which will be on offer this year.
Financial Question Time with Richard Teare,
National Treasurer. If you intend to book for this
group please send your questions in advance by
putting them on your booking form.
Mindfulness and meditation with Sean Orford.
Sean is a psychotherapist who is an advocate of
Mindfulness. This group offers an opportunity to
relax while learning more about this life-style
philosophy and simple meditation techniques.
The afternoon speaker will be Sid Calderbank,
who will talk about Regional Dialect, followed by
the AGM.
There is no charge for the event. Bring your own
lunch or use local facilities.
Full details and booking forms on the regional
website Events page.
www.u3asites.org.uk/north-west
Page 6 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
NORTH WEST SUMMER SCHOOL 2019,
NEWTON RIGG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
AUGUST 27TH – 30TH
NOW FULLY BOOKED THOUGH
A FEW NON-RESIDENTIAL
PLACES STILL
AVAILABLE
These are the courses. Synopses are on the
website
Archaeology: ‘Bards, Bedes and Boneless Ivar’ –
Britain between the Romans and the Vikings.
Art: Art Challenge.
Art Appreciation: Twenty Great Artists from the
North West and the Lake District.
Etymology: Track words in their evolution for a
better understanding of the English Language.
Geology: When Continents Collide.
Music Appreciation: Around the World with
Music.
Philosophy: Brothers in Arms – the work of Henry
and William James.
Ukulele for beginners
If you have any queries please contact Alan
Hough
Mobile: 07544 359 125
www.u3asites.org.uk/north-west. Please note:
all the tutors are U3A members who give their
time freely to share their expertise and interest. If
you ever feel you would like to run a course for
the summer school please let the NWREC know.
Page 7 U3A NORTH WEST REGION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2019 Charity Registration No 1159091
AROUND THE REGION
WORPSHOPS
April 30th from 10.30 – 15.30
Venue: CreweAlexandra Stadium
hospitality suite.
Details and booking arrangements
are on the regional website.
This is a proactive workshop which will
explore different ways to be an involved
and active learner.
The event will include opportunities to
discuss and exchange ideas about
approaches to organizing a learning event.
Attendees will develop a plan for working
with a single project incorporating varied
approaches and learning styles.
The seminar about health APPs in March was
cancelled due to lack of support.
FORWARD PLANNING
BIG SING II
Provisionally booked for September 05
COMMITTEE FORUM
An opportunity to meet and discuss good practice
and concerns, July 2019, date to be announced.
KEEP CHECKING THE REGIONAL WEBSITE!!
NATIONAL WORKSHOPS
We have had three national workshops in the
past few months. These were ‘Keeping it Legal’
and two ‘Finance’ workshops. All have been very
well attended.
Small groups of U3As can request a national
workshop. At least 5 U3As must be involved with
enough attendees to make it viable.
A list of the workshops and booking
arrangements are on the national website.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Why has the cost of TAM increased? Actually, it’s
not the costs of the Magazine. It’s the
distribution costs which have risen because the
distribution company, Whistl have increased their
prices.
Why does TAM have so many advertisements?
TAM is an expensive publication largely covered
by your membership subscription to the Trust.
Advertisements provide extra revenue to keep
the Trust’s costs low, which also helps to keep
your membership subscription low.
Why will we have to pay more for Beacon? In
order to keep Beacon secure the Trust uses an
outside company. With so many groups using
Beacon or waiting to migrate to it the amount of
work involved has increased. Beacon is going to
be updated to Beacon 2 but current users will be
given advice on how to migrate to the new
system.
Please keep sending your questions. They
provide a useful way to pass on information and
advice.