AWAKE

Latest News

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Whether you are a longstanding member or someone who is wanting to find out more about the u3a, have a browse on the website and get in touch for further details. This is the way to make new friends and maybe meet old friends as well as finding new interests.
It’s never too late to Live, Laugh and Learn which is the u3a motto.

Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal

We are looking for volunteers. Carol Britton is coordinating a collection point in Morrison’s Anlaby from Monday February 26th to March 10th, 2024.
The Idea is that AWAKE u3a have a day to cover shifts on Friday 1st March. If you could spare an hour to do a shift would you contact Denise Roberts so that I can compile a list of names and times to pass onto Carol. We need about 16 names for the day as people would work in pairs. If we get more we could spread it to two days. Please let us know quickly to help Carol organise it. Thank you, Denise

Circus Skills 5 week Short Course IS BACK

If you enjoyed the amazing circus skills that were on display at the AWAKE u3a Christmas Celebration and Talent event, then you can join our new 5 week ‘Introduction to Circus Skills Course which will run in the spring. Skills to be covered will include juggling, plate spinning, devil stick tossing, diablo throwing, hoola hooping, balloon modelling and even tightrope walking. Lots of laughter is guaranteed! The five-week programme will take place at Willerby Library, 10.30am to 12 noon on Fridays commencing on 17th May. Cost £2 per session. Places are limited. Please contact Gary Hughes to book a place.

Arts & Crafts Exhibition

Friday 31st May at the Anlaby Village Hall 10.00am to 3.00pm
We are intending to hold an exhibition of our members works in Arts and crafts to ring the changes from an open day and show members of the public what we do in our u3a groups. It is open to all members who like to paint, draw, take photographs and make things. Poems and writing samples are also welcome. All items must be ready to display by mounting, framing etc. All items to be brought to the hall at 9.00am on the day. Please let Denise Roberts or Sue McPhee know if you wish to submit (up to three pieces) for display. Thank you.

Proposed u3a Bench

Unfortunately, we have had to abandon our Bench project. The original idea was that a Bench would be placed in our area to celebrate and advertise our u3a. It would be placed in a prominent position where our members could chat to strangers about the great things we do. Yvonne Crabtree took the project in hand and contacted many people in the local councils only to be frustrated at every turn. Eventually a spot was found but the council would only allow a ‘Memory’ bench made of wood instead of the recycled one we had chosen. The cost of which had grown from our original budget by so much that the Committee made the decision on your behalf to abandon the idea. Our heartfelt thanks go to Yvonne for her sterling efforts on this project.

AWAKEN Newsletter change proposal

I have produced and edited the AWAKEN newsletter now for the last 8 years but because of my Epilepsy I find it increasingly difficult to carry out the detailed computer usage required. As a result, rather than give up the role I have proposed the following change to the regularity of issue to the Committee.
Currently the newsletter is issued every two months as follows: JANUARY, MARCH (the membership renewal edition), MAY (the AGM edition) JULY, SEPTEMBER, & NOVEMBER (the Christmas edition), 6 in total per year. I am proposing to change this to every 3 months, FEBRUARY (the Membership edition), MAY (the AGM edition), AUGUST, & NOVEMBER (the Christmas edition), 4 per year. The committee have accepted this change, and it is intended to start in February 2024. This change will be less work for Group Leaders who contribute to the newsletter but may make their contributions longer, therefore I may increase the number of pages and introduce another colour page for extra photographs (& more jokes!). I hope you will accept this change and continue to enjoy the Newsletter as it is our only means of communicating with EVERY AWAKE member.
Regards, Steve Roberts

The 2023 AGM was held on Wednesday 21st June 2023

The AGM was attended by 74 members which met the quorum required. The minutes from last year’s meeting were accepted as a true record and signed. The Accounts had been examined and found correct by Lambert Clerical and were also presented along with the treasurer’s report. An increase in membership fees was also explained and a flow chart of how this is spent was supplied to the meeting. Lambert Clerical was approved as our financial examiner for the year 23/24. This year the meeting was invited to vote on a new Chair as Sue McPhee has come to the end of her tenure. Chris Poole has been elected as our new Chair and Sue will support him as Vice Chair. Lynn Quantrill has stepped up for election as Treasurer and was also accepted by those present. Denise Roberts will support Lynn through the transition period. All of the standing members of the committee were also voted to continue in posts. Thanks were given to Sue and Denise for their hard work in difficult times and in building up our u3a to the present number of 477 members. The meeting responded with applause.
The afternoon was rounded off with a sing along and tea and cakes.
The next AGM will be Wednesday 19th June 2024 at 2,30pm.

Christmas Social Evening 2023

This evening will be held on Saturday 2nd December at the St Andrew’s Memorial Hall. The doors open at 7pm for a fish and chip supper at 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 per person this includes food, entertainment, and a raffle. The entertainment will be country and 50's and 60's music by Diane and Dave. Please bring your own drinks and glasses (no hot drinks served).
Ring Sue McPhee for tickets 652766

Open Day 2023

A very successful Open Day was held in September to coincide with the National u3a week. Many of our interest groups demonstrated the benefits of their groups with some very impressive circus and Hoola-Hoop skills on display. Refreshments were provided by Yvonne and her team, and the Barely Awake Ukulele group provided musical entertainment. The event was co-ordinated by Sue McPhee while our new Chair, Chris Poole carried out the Master of Ceremony duties. Many existing and prospective members attended what was an excellent and productive event. Thanks to all who participated.

Help with Transport to Monthly meetings

Due to the lack of buses around this area the Committee asks that if you can bring someone to the Wednesday general meeting could you please offer them a lift. Thank You.

Awake u3a Situations Vacant

Newsletter distribution
As we are thankfully continuing to get new members, and some present distributors are unable to continue, we are always in need of more people to help distribute the newsletter every two months. Please contact me on 653964 if you feel you might be able to help. You would be asked to deliver to a small geographic area, but as it may not be near your home, you will need a car – unless you are an enthusiastic walker!
Michael Ebeling

u3a Equipment

We are greatly indebted to Gill Blacksell, who after Denise’s plea at the October General meeting kindly came forward and has now taken control of the Awake equipment as our new Resources Manager. Should any Group Leader/member wish to borrow the Laptop, Projector, screen, Projector stand, or Body Microphone please contact Gill on 656792 to arrange pick up.

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Discounts from Local Businesses

Show your u3a Membership Card and save money by supporting these local businesses:

Bell & Higgins, Anlaby Road, Hull: 10% discount excluding Fence Panels & Power Tools
Cibo Italiano:
Gough & Davy, Paragon Street, Hull: 10%
Savoy Tyres, Main Street, Willerby: 10% off Tyres & Repairs excluding MOT’s or special deals
Sweethearts, Hull Road, Anlaby: 10% over £5 (cash only)
Tea & Bisque-it, Kingston Road, Willerby: 10% off Pottery Painting
Wickseys, Willerby Shopping Park: 20% off Dry cleaning, 15% off Shoe repairs, Key Cutting & Stock

Also please note that, by showing your u3a Membership Card, you can become a Corporate Member of Haltemprice Leisure Centre. (See their website for details)

*Please continue to use these deals or risk losing them*

Looking for Reliable Tradesmen

You will all, I suspect, have a number of those magazines which pop through our letter boxes every month. The ones I am referring to are those with names like 'On Your Doorstep', 'Door to Door' or 'Hessle Villages'. They are all full of advertisements and useful telephone numbers of local tradesmen. However how do we know that they are reliable? I know that I asked one of them to give me a price for creating some steps from a paved area to a raised area of garden. The man duly arrived and looked at the job and said that he would leave a price for me through the letter box. I am still waiting and that was three years ago.
So I have asked around and found that one of our members was inconvenienced one Saturday morning when the only toilet in her house decided to stop working. She checked one of these magazines and chose a plumber who was advertising there and he made her the first call of the day and did a very satisfactory job at a reasonable price.
It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to create a register of good reliable workmen that U3A members could call with some confidence. I have started the list with a few who I either have used and recommend or whose names have been passed to me from other u3a committee members. If you are aware of someone you feel should be added to the list please contact either me on 659852 or Steve Roberts who is compiling the on-line U3A News Letter on 659816.
Please click on this Tradesmen Link to view the current list. I would be pleased to add to the list at any time.

Les Holmes

Ready Steady Read volunteers

Can you help?
We have been asked if anyone can spare two hours a week to help children read in schools. If you are interested contact Sue McPhee (652766), or see the notice board at the General Meeting for further information.

Newsletter and Website

The next issue of the bi-monthly newsletter, AWAKEN, will be published at the relevant monthly meeting.

Please let everyone know about your group's activities by sending contributions and photographs for the next newsletter and website by sending them to Steve Roberts, Newsletter Editor with copies to Chris Moody, Website Manager and Sue McPhee, Interest Group Coordinator or click the Contact page here to get in touch. The deadline for submissions to the next edition of AWAKEN will be the 2nd Wed of the Month for January, March, May, July, September & November, but contributions for the website and any future editions of the newsletter are welcome at any time.

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WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR AWAKEN and WIN £20!

Write an article for AWAKEN and win £20. Your article will appear under the title ‘IN MY OWN WRITE.’ What we are looking for is a reflective, interesting, amusing or opinion piece rather than a purely informative article. The content can be light hearted or serious but it must be suitable for the AWAKEN readership. Your article must be approx. 450 words long (one side of A5). Avoid religion, politics and too many exclamation marks!!! Include your Name and Membership no.

Contributions should be sent to Steve Roberts or on paper copy to 18, Ellerker Rise, Well Lane, Willerby HU10 6EY

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Amended CJM

Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.