Form a New Group ?
STARTING A NEW GROUP
The following information is aimed at helping you to form a new group.
Have you thought about becoming a Group Leader?
We need to offer more subjects
The Committee of Eastbourne Meads u3a is always looking for new Group Leaders. As our membership grows, there is a need for more Group Leaders. Please be aware that Group Leaders are not expected to be teachers or University Lecturers - all that is needed is a certain enthusiasm for a subject and a wish to share that joy with others.
Group Leaders are not expected to carry on for years doing the same thing although many of our Group Leaders have been leading a group for many years because they enjoy doing so. The Group Leader decides exactly how often, when, and for how long the meetings will continue. Please contact the Groups’ Co-ordinator who will give you every support to start up your group. It is usual for meetings to be held in people's homes. It does not have to be your home.
Once you have set up your group, then you can ask the members if you can either have meetings at several different abodes or in one particular house. Normally, a host or a Group Leader provides refreshments for which each member contributes £1.00. There is a start up allowance for new Group Leaders to cover start up expenses if needed.
There is an extremely well equipped Resources Centre at your disposal where tapes, DVDs and books can be borrowed to help you plan your material. Experts from The Third Age Trust are on hand to guide and give advice on your courses. In fact once we have organized the u3a magazine to be sent to you, you will also receive a very. useful Sources magazine. Your committee is also there to help you solve any problems.
Other members of the Group you lead could be encouraged to take over a meeting and prepare the material. The Group Leader is a facilitator. He/She guides the groups. Sometimes it may be necessary to cancel a meeting. Everyone is very flexible and group leaders can do, within reason, what suits them.
Another source of possible Group Leaders is the groups. If you have been attending a group for several years, you know what is expected and have a lot of experience You would be in a position to lead a group yourself. Please, Group Leaders, look at your group and ask people who you think might be able to take on a group to do so. You could also offer your help and support to those friends who are willing to become Group Leaders.
We need to move forward all the time, extending our present courses and offering new courses, so please think about becoming a GROUP LEADER.
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Points to ponder: (copied from an advertising brochure of the U3A) A copy of this brochure will be available at the next monthly meeting by the notice board.
u3a is different:
There is no curriculum-people learn what they wish and if they see an interesting angle, they follow it.
There are no entrance qualifications - a desire to learn is all that is needed.
There are no exams or certificates - people enjoy their learning; they do not need to prove they've done it.
There are no terms. u3a groups decide their own times to meet.
There are no lecturers-u3a's embark on voyages of discovery.
There is no campus and no buildings, Sometimes the u3a uses public buildings sometimes a member's home.
LEARNING IS FOR LIFE - LIFE IS FOR LEARNING