Member Opportunities
"By the Members for the Members"
Our u3a is organised and run totally by members who volunteer. My name is Peter Cooper and I volunteer as Web Manager.
All the Trustees on the Committee are volunteers, all the Group Leaders are volunteers, and everyone who welcomes you to Open Meetings is a volunteer. All those who open their homes for groups, who make refreshments for meetings, or post on Facebook are volunteers. Everyone who contributes ideas for a group, gives feedback on events, or puts out chairs for a meeting is a volunteer. There are lots of other volunteer roles that members play.
Some volunteers have been doing it for many years, some do it just occasionally, some for a special occasion, some even without being noticed. In most volunteer roles there are people who can show you what to do, and we hope that in every role there are members who will support you. If you volunteer we do hope that you enjoy it, gain from it, and can do it as long as you like. But if, at any point, you need to stop, or stand back for a while, members will understand.
(We usually pay non-u3a speakers. And, although no u3a member receives any payment for what they do, we do pay peoples' expenses.)
If you are a member and volunteer, we all thank you very much. Without volunteers we are nothing.
If you are a member and would like to think about volunteering, thank you also. There are many ideas below, and we can help you find a role that suits you - why not enquire about volunteering?. Some are obvious and public, others are in the background and hidden. All are valuable and valued.
A Special Opportunity NOW
We plan to launch our new website in June 2024, and need several non-technical volunteers now to help with the project. If you would like to be involved in any way (eg admin, training, testing) please contact our Web Manager, who is managing the development and launch of our new website.
Volunteer in a Group?
If you are in a group, why not ask the current Group Leader if they would like some help? Maybe you could edit the group's web page, lead one or two sessions, or do the admin for the group? How about offering to take photos of the group in action (with their permission of course), or posting about the group on our Facebook group.
Not all volunteer roles are obvious - some help by welcoming new members, or inviting friends to join, or offering lifts, or offering encouragement to shyer members to contribute.
Maybe the Group Leader would like to share the role with someone, or even have someone else take over their role? If the group is full, or has interested members who cannot make the particular day you meet, why not think about starting a new group? It might even be that your group has one approach to the subject, and other members might like to approach it in a different way.
If you have a passion or hobby, why not consider starting a group around that subject. You can find thousands of ideas for groups in other u3as - how about Golf for Fun, Sea Shanty, Ten-pin Bowling, Model-making, Rummikub, Quizzing, or even Mindfulness? == Enquire about volunteering ==
Volunteer at Open Meetings?
We like to think that members feel welcomed to all our meetings, but particularly to our regular Open Meetings - can you help the welcome team? Or informally, can you look out for people who might be lonely to come and sit with you? Our reception team book members in to the meeting, and deal with any membership enquiries - maybe you could help here?
A key role is our Speaker Organiser, perhaps you could help with this role? Or you could help providing refreshments for members afterwards so they can meet friends, both old and new? Maybe you could even offer to give a talk at one of our meetings, or provide entertainment of some kind? == Enquire about volunteering ==
Volunteer for the Committee?
The trustees of our u3a (which is a charity) form the managing Committee. They are elected annually at our AGM, and have overall responsibility for what we do and how we do it. They have to deal with things like accounts, legislation, policies, and constitution. They serve all the volunteers doing the work of the u3a in groups, meetings, outings, trips etc. Volunteers are always needed to be trustees, and there is a lot of information and support if you want to find out more.
Most of the trustees, and several other members, have particular posts eg as Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary. Some of these are limited in our constitution as to how long they can stay in the post. Maybe you could help one of the current post-holders, or shadow them with the aim of taking on the role in future? == Enquire about volunteering ==
Volunteer to help Outings or Trips?
The teams organising Outings and Trips both welcome members to help staff their desks at Open Meetings. You could also play a role on the actual Outing or Trip xxx? == Enquire about volunteering ==
Volunteer for a Communications role?
We always need people to spread the word about our u3a, so could you help with placing leaflets where they will be seen, representing us at events,
If you have design, photographic or artistic skills, besides being part of an interest group maybe you could offer to help with the website, or our publications?
Our newletters and magazines need continual input, so maybe you could be like a journalist and find stories to publish? Or perhaps you could help the editors with producing them? == Enquire about volunteering ==
Volunteer with a skill?
Many of our volunteer roles require no special skills - just a willingness, and openness to learn. Others need particular skills, and all of these are very welcome. As well as those mentioned elsewhere, some roles are best filled by people with a skill.
If you are comfortable with computers, why not volunteer as part of the Website Editors or IT Support groups? Or if you like doing admin, why not consider helping a Group Leader or someone else with a role with their admin?
Almost any skill can find an expression within our u3a. Why not enquire about volunteering
Volunteer in other ways?
Perhaps you could join a working group to help develop our u3a (eg on Communications), or provide feedback when there is a questionnaire going around?
It would be really useful if some of us were specifically encouraging other individual members to volunteer, in whatever way they feel comfortable. Why not enquire about volunteering