14 May 2012

"King Zog" - Neil Rees

+ AGM 

11 Jun 2012 

"The History of the Panorama" - Ian Beckett 

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS

Over the last three years our membership had risen steadily - 228 in April 2010 to 280 in April 2012. During the year the demand for places rose and we started to have issues about waiting lists and having cleared our waiting list of 25 people In March, our waiting list in April already stands at 25. The Community Hall has been quite regularly full so it was clear to the committee that we had to find a solution to the increase in applications to join us. A number of avenues have been explored and our conclusions, recommendations and the thinking behind these will be presented at the AGM on14 May and you will be asked to respond to our ideas.

It was clear that there is no ideal solution but we all agreed that we believed strongly in the principle of inclusiveness, so waiting lists were unacceptable. The alternative approach we have put forward is to repeat our monthly meetings which we hope you will support. This is planned to start on the third Thursday in September where we have added an extra session for the October speaker. It will be held in the same venue as at present. This format will be followed throughout our year, with a slight variation at Christmas. After the AGM next year, another change will be made where the Monday meeting will move to the second Monday of the month thereby avoiding bank holidays.

A form will be made available at the AGM (or click here to download the form) with which we will ask you to state your preference for the Monday afternoon or the Thursday afternoon. However, where you miss your usual meeting day because of other commitments, feel free to come on the alternative day.

The way outings are managed will change too. The places will be divided between the two groups and to secure a place, payment will need to be made first. If the waiting list is sufficiently long, where possible, the outing will be repeated.

In the form, we have also asked if any of you are prepared to volunteer to support your committee which is becoming busier with the increase in numbers and activities. We welcome feedback on our ideas and hope you will help us achieve a U3A where people will not have to wait to join us.

Please remember to complete your preference form either at the AGM on 14th May or by downloading it from the website and sending it to the Secretary Peter Wenham 

Carol Mason

(Carol's full report to the AGM can be found in the May-June 2012 edition of the newsletter. Click here)

Dance Group

Theresa Smith is currently trying to find a teacher for the dance class from mid-May onwards

She is also trying to organise Tai-Chi style sessions from September onwards. If you are interested in this, please click here to go to an important message from Theresa

Proposed New Interest Group - Technology

There is a proposal to form a new Interest Group, based on technology. Suggestions for visits/talks include - Didcot Power Station and Railway Museum; Gaydon Motor Museum; RAF Museum at Henodn/Cosford; Duxford & Old Warden Museums (including flying display); specific tours of London Science/Natural History/Geographical Museums; Bletchley Park; Transport Museums at Coventry/Oxford/Covent Garden; Pumping station at Kew/Kingston

If you would like to join this proposed new group (and have not already signed up) please contact Edgar Skipsey 01844 290464 or es@eskipsey.plus.com

Haddenham Heritage Fusion Project

On behalf of Haddenham U3a, John Brandis has written to Chiltern Open Air Museum expressing our support for this project. At the heart of the project is the re-establishment of the Haddenham Cottage at the museum and the preservation of the art of wychert-building techniques. If you wish to see John's letter, please go to the Local History Group page by clicking here.

Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall

Greater Thame U3A are inviting Haddenham's members to join them on a trip to see the opera Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall on 27 February 2013. If you are interested, please find more details on the Opera Group page by clicking here.

French Conversation

Carol Mason has been exploring options for a French Conversation group. She is focusing in on the idea of two sessions per month on Monday afternoons, possibly in the Seven Stars at Dinton (which has a French manager). The sessions would be led by Odie who ran a successful "improve Your French" session for us last year. The sessions would start in September, although there may be a pre-meeting before then to agree materials and what we would all like to get out of the meetings.

If this appeals to you, please contact Carol on 01844 292236 or (mason.carol16@gmail.com)

First Aid Training

Following the success of the first course, we are now planning a repeat of the course run by St John Ambulance. 

We expect it to take place in the Walter Rose Room in the Haddenham Village Hall. The date is not yet fixed.The cost of the training is £26 (for this you get a good first handbook and a certificate). The minimum number we can run the course with is 8. We have 13 on the list at the moment.

If you, or others you know, are interested in joining this course, please email me (mason.carol16@gmail.com) or telephone 01844 292236

Thame River Project

Following the example of the TVN Thames Riverside Project, our local CHATT group (Chinnor, Haddenham and the two Thame U3As) have instituted a "Thame River Project" which members may find more easy and amenable to participate in. Three groups have been formed covering Walks, History and Natural History. The project will run until September 2012 when there will be a presentation at each U3A and a talk in Thame Museum.  The Haddenham contact point for the project is Alan Rose (01844 291004 alanrose524@googlemail.com). Please try to get involved.

Adopt a Lock

Haddenham U3A has adopted the Old Windsor lock and the Bell Weir lock with the area between. The area is of historical significance with Bell Weir close to Runnymede and its three important memorials.

A group led by Hilary Skipsey has undertaken the walk between the locks, and Hilary has submitted a write-up with photos to TVN. You can access and download the writeup by clicking HERE.

Bucks 50 Plus Forum

Bucks 50 Plus Forum aims to ensure that the voices of older people (50+) in Buckinghamshire are heard and that they influence the way in which services are planned and delivered, maintaining and improving the well-being of local older people.

Click here to view or download their latest newsletter.

You can find out more from their website by clicking here,

ICE - In Case of Emergency

Do you have a mobile phone?  Could someone find your nearest and dearest on you mobile phone in case of an emergency to you?

Click here to find out how to identify your next of kin or friend you would wish to be contacted in your mobile phone address book

Antiques & Collectables

Books

Card & Board Games

Computers

Cycling

Dance 

 Digital Photography

Discussion

Earth Matters 

Friday Lunch

Gardening

Local History 

Play Reading & Poetry 

Pub Quiz

Sunday Lunch

Theatre 

Walking 

Wine