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For our members, by our members...

STROUD u3a NEWSLETTER - November

For our members, by our members

Welcome

As usual, we begin by offering a warm welcome to Stephen Jawor, Audrey Leacy, Janet Keppie, Joanna Hughes, William Shrewsbury, Susan Staniforth, Stephanie Wray, Elsa Jones, Kate and John Bridges, Anne Jones, Colin and Heather Martin and Barbara Hale. who have all recently joined us. I hope you have explored the website www.stroud.u3asite.uk. If you need any help, please contact me (Peter Furtado) at news@stroudu3a.org.uk; or, if you can come to the monthly meeting in Lansdown, you will always find committee members who will be happy to assist you.

Dates for your diary

  • December 5th, 12.30 Clothiers Arms, Christmas lunch
  • December 24th, approaching midnight: Santa and Rudolph visit

AGM 2024

The Stroud u3a AGM was held in Lansdown Hall on 14th November. There was an excellent turnout in the hall, supplemented by several dozen members who could not attend but still were able to take part by using their proxy votes. All the motions – to appoint the new Chair and Committee, and to make alterations to the constitution that would allow officers to remain in post for longer (thus reducing the amount of arm-twisting we sometimes have to do) were passed without opposition. We expressed our heartfelt thanks to Judith Silverwood for serving as Chair for the last two years, and welcomed her replacement, Katherine Kirk, who introduces herself below. Formal minutes will be available in due course.

It is entirely possible, of course, that the bumper turnout on the day was not really for the AGM itself, but for Clive Edgington’s Social Quiz which preceded it. The questions zeroed in our knowledge of pop songs of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and they had us all twisting and shouting (mostly silently) for the rest of the afternoon. Be there or be square.

Meet Katherine Kirk – new Chair of Stroud u3a

I must first pay tribute to Judith for her commitment and achievements as Chair for the past years. It is a huge privilege to be elected Chair of Stroud u3a.  The u3a is a wonderful organisation which I know can transform a person’s life.  It is there when you feel that life is missing challenge, when you feel the opportunity to learn, to be with people who share similar interests, to have fun.   It has given me an objective after retirement, it has given me friends, and I have continued learning.  The u3a can and does hugely enrich people’s lives, keeps us healthy by offering all sorts of healthy activities, keeps our minds functioning well by offering learning and new skills.  I am a real enthusiast. The extraordinary part is that you the members are the service providers - it is as good as you make it.  It is a celebration of the skills of all of us. 

Although I am fairly new to this area, I do have experience the u3a in other parts of the country and have served as Vice-Chair.  I am also helped by long experience of chairing NHS Boards. 

I do hope and expect that we can all work together and contribute to making Stroud u3a even better and more exciting.  Katherine Kirk MBE

Christmas lunch – Thursday December 5th

I’m sorry to say this is now fully booked. For those who are attending, please note that the meal will commence at 12.30 but please arrive by 12 noon. 

Third Age Trust – message from the new CEO

I'm delighted to present my first update as CEO of the Third Age Trust. It's been a busy start as at October’s AGM, members voted overwhelmingly to approve the Fit for the Future resolution and create a new u3a Council..

In doing so, we hope to strengthen the voice of u3a members, ensuring that your views and ideas help shape the strategic direction of the Trust.

This new Council will be responsible for representing the views and ideas of the wider u3a membership, while a new, smaller, Board of Trustees will focus on governance of the Third Age Trust. It is the Board’s role to make sure we have a strategy in place to help us achieve our objectives. The Board will look to the Council to ensure the u3a voice is central to that strategy development process. 

We now welcome members to apply to take up a role on the new Council and Board. To allow future elections to happen in a phased manner and avoid a cliff edge of all members stepping down at once, we would like some members to serve shortened terms of one to two years.  

The timeline for the nomination and voting process for the new Council and Board is:

  • Monday 18th November 2024 - nominations open
  • Thursday 19th December 2024 - nominations close
  • Monday 13th January 2025 - voting opens
  • Friday 21st February 2025 - voting closes

When nominations open, we’ll send out information about how to apply for the roles of Council Representative, Council Chair and Board Trustee. We would love as many members as possible to put themselves forward to be part of the new Council. So please consider nominating yourself.

For more details, click here.
Iain Cassidy
CEO of the Third Age Trust

School Governor

Do you have an interest in the education system and would like to make a difference to a child's future? If so, please note that Gastrells Primary School Rodborough is seeking a Co-opted Governor – Education and Curriculum Skills.

Gastrells is a very popular school near Rodborough, Stroud with a wonderfully friendly, dynamic and supportive staff as well as an enthusiastic and equally dedicated governing body. The school community is a diverse mix and prides itself on giving all its children a “flying start to a life of learning”, by working together to ensure that every child is happy and safe and to offer them every opportunity to learn and to succeed. 

For more information click on this link.

GROUPS

Birdwatching

There is some interest in the formation of a Birdwatching Group in Stroud u3a. If this is something you may be interested in, then please email Richard Bedford in the first instance. I am willing to help get it started and to lead some outings but will not have the time to do it all, so please expect to help if this Group goes ahead. This might not be a monthly or weekly Group but may be a bit more occasional than that. I can be contacted at secretary@stroudu3a.org.uk or via the Birdwatching Startup group page here.

Gentle Yoga

This is really helping my aches and pains with stretching and twisting and my memory too, as it requires you to know your left limbs from your right ones. Jenny is an excellent tutor and very patient with us. We practice gently, slowly and calmly and no-one has yet lost their balance. Jenny is also careful to remind us constantly to only ‘do it until we feel it and stop before it hurts’. Currently we meet in Nailsworth monthly but we could do with two or three more regular folk to help fill the room and to spread the cost of the venue hire. If you want to feel well-stretched and calmer then perhaps give it a try. Jenny can be contacted via the link on the Gentle Yoga web page.  

Richard Bedford

Mediaeval Art and Architecture

We are tackling stained glass as a topic. How it is made, differences over time and just looking at some beautiful images of such glass. In late October we headed out and about again, this time to the Ampney churches and the stained glass of Fairford church.

Music Appreciation 3

We have experienced a lot of changes in our music group the last year or so. Some members have dropped out but new members have joined. We sadly lost Mike Doherty, one of our musical experts who passed away. A great loss for us. 

Miranda Davies, our wonderful coordinator (I can't overemphasize this), wishes to retire. Panic stations (for me anyway)! Thankfully one of our members, Mike Kelly, retired Mayor of Nailsworth, has stepped into the breach. He will be an excellent replacement coordinator for us.

Just goes to show, change can seem troublesome but can turn into a positive force.

Alan Severance  

Contacts