NEWSLETTER Issue One 20th June 2006
Contribute to Issue Number Two by e mailing: poOlle2156@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone Kathleen 01506 412707
Welcome to the first issue of our newsletter.
The West Lothian branch of the University of the 3rd Age is well and truly established. Admittedly at the last count there were only eighteen members, but that is a good start, and with the publicity campaign that is planned this will soon rise upwards. There is however competition from the 50+ group, but then competition is healthy. I am joking of course, the 50+ group is an inspiration to us, it is thriving as it expands, and hopefully we will do the same.
Mary Clark was our first Chairperson, and we thank Mary for all the effort that she put into this task, she was a brilliant chairperson, and we were saddened by her resignation due to many personal reasons. However, Mary is staying on the committee as Vice Chairman to steer us through the first year at least. Our secretary Barbara Green also departed, indeed she moved to England-a bit of an extreme method of resigning! Barbara did a wonderful job of being secretary, and left everything in a meticulous state ready to hand over to the new
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Connie Payne
Vice Chairperson: Mary Clark
Secretary: Pat Lawson
Treasurer: Margo Aitken
Committee Members: ; Margaret Copland; Kathleen Ross-Hale
There are plans to start a large variety of groups, and already some are underway. Everyone is welcome to join, they are free, with the only stipulation being that you must be a paid up member of the U3A. This costs only £15 annually, so if you have not already joined, do so now, you will love it. There are monthly meetings held at the Community Centre, Uphall. This month as you know-because you are here hopefully-is the first to be in that venue. The previous ones were in the High Church Hall in Bathgate. There is usually a speaker, and a cup of tea/coffee, for which a donation would be appreciated, but is not obligatory.
There will be no meeting in July, next is Tuesday AUGUST 15th from 2pm till 4pm. There will not be a speaker as such but Kathleen will be giving a resume of all the clubs and allow questions to be asked, and from that more groups should start and more join those already in existence.
GROUPS UP AND RUNNING
COMPUTER USERS GROUP
Connie Payne is contact for this: telephone 01506843901
It is held on alternate Wednesday afternoons from 2 pm till 4 pm in the Resources Centre, which is part of the Library at Craigshill (attached to the shopping mall at Craigshill)
This group is partly a self help, with members helping and advising each other, under the guidance of Connie and with help from West Lothian Council. It is a social group as well as learning, and gusts of laughter were heard coming from the last meeting. Next is on 28th June, all welcome, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced, and if you are willing to become a 'buddy' that is even better.
DISCUSSION GROUP
So far there have been 3 meetings, and all have been highly successful. We take it in turns to have it in our own homes, there are 9 attenders at the moment, if it gets bigger then we will have to hire a room, but that is all right. Nor is there any pressure to have it in your own home, we know that that is not possible for everyone, small house, other people living there, too many animals, etc, so don't let that put you off. We all take a turn to choose the topic for discussion. First week it was Women of the World, next Euthanasia, then Books, and coming meeting is to be 'Travel'. It is being held in Ann Montgomery's home, 9 Alberta Avenue, Howden, Livingston. I think I am perhaps the contact from this group, Kathleen 01506 412707, email (which is preferable) poOlle2156@blueyonder.co.uk As you can imagine this is a real stimulating group and we have formed great friendships from it.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
This is on a Wednesday morning, and has approximately 9 members, leader is Peter Cunningham, telephone 01506 439936. It is making excellent progress and everyone is very satisfied. It is held in rotation in members own homes. So Parlez vous Francais, on a Wednesday lOam tillll.30am. Contact Peter for more details.
PROPOSED GROUPS-IN THE PIPELINE
Armchair Travel
Art appreciation/History
Bridge-only one name down for that so far, want to join?
Cycling-again only one name
Family History-what is this, only one name!!! Actually I would be interested, only another 2 or 3 and we have a club. I find them all interesting, but unless some were held through the night I just would not have the time.
The subject of the discussion group last time BOOKS led to an enquiry could we start a book club, and the answer of course is yes, we can start any club we like. Whatever interests us will interest others. So make contact if you wish to join anything.
Canasta, Scrabble, Painting as in Art, Writing, Poetry. The Poetry may be nearly off the ground and the person to contact for that is Pat Lawson tel. 01501730796. Gardening is another subject suggested. Contact Kathleen as above, or Pat, or Connie if you wish to comment, join, or make a suggestion (only pleasant ones please!!)
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. Hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter. Any criticisms either give to me or bury them forever. See you on August 15th Uphall Community Centre 2pm
Secretary. The only executive who has stayed the same is the treasurer, whom we hope to keep for a long long timeespecially as the committee meetings are at present held in her house, a house whose location totally fascinates me. It is at Torphichen and appears to be in a field with a magnificent cherry tree in bloom in the middle of it-the field that is, not the house ....
