Grange & District

Messages from the Chairman

The last couple of messages from the Chairman, prepared for the Grange and District u3a quarterly newsletter.

March 2024

Dear Members,
This was to have been my last Chairman's Message.......
I'm afraid to tell you that it won't be ! Read on.

It has been a tumultuous year for many of us, so our u3a is fortunate to be approaching the AGM in a very good state of health, with membership exceeding 500. HOWEVER we cannot continue without your help.

Many of you will know that our excellent secretary, Ged Jones, is undergoing treatment and has had to step down from his role. His wife Susan is currently picking up emails, messages etc. and we are hugely indebted to her at this most difficult time for them both.

This situation CANNOT CONTINUE. As a charity WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A SECRETARY, so as our AGM is fast approaching, this is the time to think, not, What can the u3a do for me ? but What can I do for the u3a?

CAN YOU STEP UP TO BE SECRETARY ? - if you think that you could, please come to our next Committee Meeting on Friday 15th March at 10.0 am and learn more about it and us. Just ring any of the Committee and let us know.

We need a NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER to join us as VICE-CHAIRMAN with a view to taking over from me next year. Mick Love has withdrawn for various reasons but will remain a committee member, continue as the Out and About Group Leader and will fill the Speaker - Finder position.

I am willing to stay on as Chairman for the next year, with the support of Brian Loader, whilst the new Vice-Chairman shadows me, before taking over as Chair in 2025.

We are all members of an International Organization, which affords us a sense of belonging and has a real value. It gives us a structure for our groups, the use of Beacon ( invaluable to our Group Leaders) and most importantly INSURANCE for our numerous groups, amongst many other advantages.

If we want to continue as a u3a AND NOT BE DISBANDED AT THE AGM WE MUST HAVE A SECRETARY. WE NEED A VICE CHAIRMAN, WE NEED SOMEONE TO HELP with a new, improved website, under the guidance of Phil Nicholson. WE CANNOT ALL GO ON INDEFINITELY - if you want Grange u3a to continue to thrive YOU MUST OFFER TO HELP.

Sadly these are not empty words - I need you to realize that the threat to the continuance of our u3a is a real one.

Hilary Wade

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December 2023

Dear Members,

As we approach another Christmas - where has this year gone? - I imagine that many of you, like me, will reflect on all that has happened in the past 12 months and on those who for whatever reason aren't able to celebrate the festive season with us.

Our u3a has had a good year and our membership is nearly 500, with new people joining every month. However it has been noticeable that numbers attending our monthly meetings have been falling and are at a much lower level than in pre -covid days. The committee wonders if there is a specific reason for this and would find it very useful to have feedback from you, the membership as to why this decline is occurring. Please email our secretary, Ged Jones, with your comments and any ideas you may have for future meetings. Do you like the current format of the meetings? Would you like a talk on a particular topic? Have you heard a speaker who you would recommend? We will happily consider all suggestions.

With this decline in attendance in mind, we are changing the style of the meeting on December 19th, to make it a real Festive Celebration. There will be REFRESHMENTS in a cafe format FROM 10.0am before the meeting begins at 10.30 ish ! We will have Coffee, Tea, Mulled Wine, Mince Pies, Cake etc. Fool's Gold will entertain us with their music, which we will enjoy in a relaxed setting around the tables, rather than sitting in formal rows. This worked very successfully at Jan Tomlinson's talk about the Station Gardeners, so we've decided to give it another go.

During the holiday period we would like you to give some thought to helping your u3a to continue to thrive. Last month's magazine contained an appeal for a new Speaker-Finder and for a Deputy Treasurer to shadow Michael until his term of office ends - which it must. In this issue you will see that we are looking for someone to come forward to support Phil Nicholson - our Web Editor, until that person is ready to take over the role - which is important but not onerous.

PLEASE, if you or anyone you know might be able to help, let anyone on the Committee know (our contact details are on P.2, or see us at a meeting). Without your help Grange u3a and all the groups you attend cannot exist.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy 2024.
Hilary Wade