Epping Forest

Groups

GROUPS - SPECIAL NOTICES

EFU3A is seeking volunteers from our membership to run two existing groups whose convenors are retiring: Bridge (on Thursdays) and Play Reading; and to run two new groups: Current Affairs - 2 and My Garden. After many years, the two existing groups will cease to run if no one comes forward!

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We currently run over 60 groups, and are very grateful to all the volunteers who have come forward from the general membership to run groups for the time and energy they give to support EFU3A.

For more information regarding groups, please contact our Group Co-ordinator, via the Contact page.

The Links on the right provide click-through access to general advice to Group Convenors about setting up and running groups as well as links to educational and informative materials on a wide range of topics that can be utilised by Group Convenors and other members

Group Convenors should be aware that there is a range of help resources available through the Third Age Trust and accessible through the National U3A web site. A resource centre contains an extensive stock of video and other materials covering a wide range of subject areas. These are available on free loan to local U3A branches.

Group Convenors can also get advice from national subject co-ordinators. There are more than 50 of these that can be accessed through the Subject Advice area of the National U3A web site.

Each year, EFU3A runs a Group Convenors workshop which provides an opportunity for Committee Members and Group Convenors to meet each other and discuss group activity developments and issues.

Group Convenors can get further information from the Epping Forest U3A Groups Co-ordinator or they can contact the national office of the U3A directly themselves: Telephone number: General - 020 8466 6139; Resource Centre - 020 8314 0199; Web address: www.u3a.org.uk.

Prospectus

For full details of all our Groups and related activities, please consult the Epping Forest U3A Prospectus for 2018-2019. Our Members receive a hard copy of this booklet and an electronic version can be seen via the Link in the right-hand column of this page.

Members are advised that where Groups are described as having 'closed' membership, this does not mean that a Group is 'full'. It means that the Group has a 'restricted' or 'limited' membership capacity usually due to limited space available to accommodate Members at its meetings. With these Groups it is usually necessary for Members to register their interest in a Group with the Group Convenor before attending its meetings. Groups described as being 'open' have unrestricted membership. Members may usually turn up to meetings or events held by these Groups without giving advance notice and without the need for advance registration with the Group Convenor.

Members' Suggestions

EFU3A is always interested to hear from its Members with ideas. Anyone with suggestions for new groups can send them to the Web and Information Officer using the Link on the Contact page or by posting the forms placed in the Suggestions Box located on the Information Desk in the foyer of Theydon Bois Village Hall before the Main Monthly Meetings.

Finding New Group Convenors

All our study groups are run by volunteers. As well as ideas for new groups we also welcome interest from Members who wish to run groups. The Committee can provide help and support of various kinds for new Group Convenors. We can help them to submit information about the kind of group they wish to run to use in promoting it to Members, to construct an entry for the group in the EFU3A Prospectus, and further advice on how to run it. Anyone who would like to run a new group should contact the Groups' Coordinator in the first instance, but in their absence, any other member of the Committee will be prepared to offer their help.

U3A Members and Group Etiquette

Group Leaders make a vital contribution to the Epping Forest U3A. They give up their time and energies voluntarily to provide a wide range of interesting activities for Members to pursue. The EFU3A Committee will do all it can to ensure that Members gain access to Groups they would like to join.

Because many groups are run from Members' homes, however, space can be restricted and this means that membership numbers are limited for certain Groups. It is important therefore that Members who do join any group with restricted membership ensure that they try to attend its sessions and provide support for its activities.

If a Member cannot attend a group meeting because they are indisposed it is good etiquette to let the Group Leader know why they cannot attend as soon as they can and preferably in advance. If circumstances mean that a Member is unable to give advance notice, then they should try to let the Group Leader know why they were unable to attend as soon as reasonably possible and also when they expect to attend again.

If a Member finds that a Group does not meet their expectations or that their circumstances more generally have changed making it difficult for them to attend its meetings, then they should let the Group Leader know and formally give up their membership of that Group to allow other Members with an interest in the Group to join it instead.