Information Board
Membership
We extend a warm welcome to all newcomers and hope that they are enjoying their involvement with Grantham U3A. If, as a newcomer, you are experiencing any difficulties, please let the Membership Secretary know.
Non-Attendance at Group Meetings
Also mentioned at the meeting was the problem of members’ not notifying group leaders if they are unable to attend a meeting. It is therefore requested that you please ring or email the contact person or group leader if you are unable to attend a group meeting. It’s only common courtesy, if you are expected, to let someone know if you won’t be there. Please note that it has also been agreed policy within Grantham U3A for a long time that if a member doesn’t attend three consecutive group meetings without notifying the group leader of reasons why then their membership of the particular group will cease.
Insurance Matters
Recently the Third Age Trust has had concerns expressed to them on two insurance matters which they wish to clear up. These are:
Using your car to ferry U3A members does not affect your ‘social, domestic and pleasure’ insurance cover and does not require you to pay an additional excess or upgrade to business cover. In addition, accepting a contribution towards petrol is perfectly acceptable. If any of members experience problems regarding this then you should contact the CEO/Company Secretary of the Third Age Trust, Sam Mauger, on 020 8466 6139.
Holding U3A meetings in your home should have no implications whatsoever on your home insurance, as it is no different from having regular dinner parties or coffee mornings with your friends. The problem emanates from insurance companies not understanding the nature of U3A and its activities. Again any problems, do contact the CEO/Company Secretary of the Third Age Trust on 020 8466 6139.
U3A members giving talks to other U3As
The Third Age Trust has drawn U3As attention to recent situations where U3A members giving talks at other U3As have asked for and received a fee. They ask members to be reminded that from the original principles of the U3A ‘no salary, fee or financial reward shall be paid to any member of the university’ and ‘all members of the university shall be expected to offer voluntary service to it’ so only legitimate expenses are appropriate.
Interested in joining a group?
If there is a group that interests you in the list of groups, email the Groups Co-ordinator via the Contact Button on the Website. If there are no vacancies, you will be informed and possibly put on a waiting list .
It may be the case that you cannot find a group covering your interests and, if so, please contact the Groups Co-ordinator. There can be no guarantees, but she shall always take steps to gauge the level of interest for either to supplement a group that is full or to provide something new or different. If there is sufficient interest, she will do her best to get the new group established.
Making new members of groups welcome
The committee is disappointed, from time to time to hear that a new member of a group has gained the impression of being unwelcome and ignored. We are aware that there are a number of groups that have existed for many years with little change to their membership and, as consequence, have become a 'cosy' social circle. The social aspects of U3A are very important but it is of paramount importance to remember that the primary purpose of U3A is to allow members to explore their interests as part of a shared learning process in welcoming and supportive groups.
Groups with no vacancies
The Group Co-ordinator is only too well aware of the restrictions on group numbers resulting from the limited space in Group Leaders’ lounges and dining rooms. However, she asks Group Leaders to ensure that new members are not turned away in circumstances where there is a member or members who are very irregular and infrequent attendees. Is there a possibility of some flexibility, for example a long term member might alternate attending meetings with a new member? She may sometimes be able, as indicated above, be able to set up another group but there may be insufficient interest. It would also assist, in the context of setting up a new group on an existing subject, if a member of an existing group volunteered to act as a Group Leader and share their knowledge and experience.
Newsletter and Bulletin Distribution
They are made available for collection on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Guildhall meeting. We have ceased delivering the uncollected newsletters from the Guildhall meetings.
Any uncollected newsletters will now be deposited with the Guildhall staff at the Box Office after the meeting ends. Any uncollected newsletters remaining at the Guildhall 4 weeks after the Guildhall meeting will be recycled.
Group Leaders and many other members can still collect for their group as usual and it has to be said they do a terrific job. This, as always, is an informal means of distributing the newsletters and is therefore subject to change. Can you deliver a few newsletters in your neighbourhood? Come and see the Newsletter Editor at the newsletter table after the monthly meeting.
At any time, you could elect to have your newsletter via email. Simply call our Membership Secretary or the Newsletter Editor and let us know. Telephone numbers are towards the back of the newsletter within the committee information.