Pop-Up Gatherings
POP-UP GATHERINGS
In response to the fast-growing Bicester u3a membership, the group coordinator helps its members to arrange POP UP GATHERINGS.
What does a “POP-UP GATHERING” look like? This is a GATHERING hosted by a member who invites other members to GATHER. It is not a regular ongoing ‘group’.
It might be, for example:
- A ONE-OFF GATHERING
- A SERIES OF SEVERAL (4 to 6?) GATHERINGS TO EXPLORE A TOPIC.
How does a POP-UP GATHERING work?
- One or two members agree to host. They have a specific idea for the content of a GATHERING.
- The host/s plan content, how many people the GATHERING may accommodate, and think about an appropriate venue. Numbers at a gathering might range from two upwards.
- The group coordinator can be involved in the above planning but would not be the host.
- The group coordinator emails the rest of the membership to ascertain interest in the suggested GATHERING topic.
- The GATHERING would normally be open to all members including those whom the host/s may not have met but who may share a common interest.
What happens at a POP-UP GATHERING? The list of possibilities is endless actually. The slogan might be: Just try it!
Here are some examples of GATHERING formats, and some content examples. Note the content examples below are just ideas. No host/s plans have been made for these.
1. A one-off visit somewhere. A small group with no need to hire a coach. Content examples: Oxford Open Doors; Thame Country Fair; a visit to Abingdon Astronomical Society for STAR GAZING; The Vue cinema.
2. Gathering for exercise: Content examples: walking football; walking netball; outdoor badminton; gym visits.
3. Gathering in the host’s or co-host’s own home. Content examples:
Practical; - show collections, share seeds, share a skill Cooking.
Explorative; History, Family History, Egyptology, Philosophy, Science, Psychology, Dream interpretation, Sport, or Gardening, A sing-along.
4. Gathering in a venue other than the host’s home.
Voluntary work: tree planting, Gardening. Dog walking.
5. Gathering on ZOOM. Zoom may be useful during winter evenings
6. Gathering to watch something together and discussing it after: Content examples:
YouTube or podcast talks or series. Films, football, a concert.
Role of the host/s might suggest the topic encourage discussion or use other ways to explore the topic proposed for one or two GATHERINGS.
We are delighted that POP-UP GATHERINGS have begun to happen. Two that came to fruition in 2023 are Family History, and square dancing. Some GATHERINGS lead to permanent groups forming, but not all.
THE IDEAS and willingness to host come from Bicester u3a members. A host may, but does not have to, be an expert at anything, just have an interest and desire to GATHER with others to explore it!
Jan is Bicester U3A Interest Groups co-ordinator, and is there to help with any aspects of a GATHERING. She can be contacted by clicking on this link: Group Co-ordinator.
Our ethos could be perfectly described by saying that: