U3A Network NSW E-Bulletin

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E-Bulletin : December 2018

FROM THE EDITOR:
We at the Network will be having a break until mid-January so we can recharge our batteries after a very busy 2018. We've seen some significant changes this year, some of which have been behind the scenes, which we will build on in 2019. We've also been working on bringing you an exceptional Conference for 2019, at which we hope to launch an exciting initiative that will not only place the Network on a sound financial footing, but also should provide your U3A with an ongoing source of interesting speakers and potential new members. More about that in the new year.

Many of you will have had your AGMs recently, so please share this E-Bulletin with any new members of your Committee, and invite them to subscribe here so they can receive our communications directly themselves. As always, we welcome feedback and submissions for distribution to member U3As - you can contact us by clicking here.

As we enter the period of festivities (and a well earned rest from our U3A volunteering) I would like to wish you all the best for the season.

Ian Robertson

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!!

Only four months to go until the 2019 U3A Network NSW Conference hosted by Tamworth Regional U3A, to be held 10 – 12 April 2019 at the West Tamworth League Club, with the theme of “Defy Expectation”.

Tamworth has lined up some great Keynote speakers including The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner with the Human Rights Commission and Meagan Lawson, CEO of the Council of the Ageing NSW.

There will also be high-quality workshops including sessions on "Raising the Profile of your U3A", "Three Ways to increase Your Happiness" and the legalities of running an Association presented by the Department of Fair Trading.

The Network and Tamworth Regional U3A are looking forward to hosting your visit to this vibrant city next April, and we encourage y'all to stay a little longer to enjoy a “Little Bit of Country”.

CONFERENCE 2019

Registrations are now open

Make the most of our Early Bird Special price of $95 (normally $110)
available only until 8th February 2019

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!!

Click here to see the Program (subject to change)

An answer to your Volunteer Problems?

This handy tip comes from the U3A Network Victoria's latest member E-Bulletin:

Centrelink Volunteers at U3A

Centrelink clients who are not yet eligible for the age pension are able to undertake volunteer work as part of their mutual obligation requirements when receiving Centrelink benefits.

Any U3A can register with their local Centrelink office as a volunteer organisation and can then be assigned a suitable Centrelink client for a designated number of volunteer hours per week. Some U3As use this to source experienced office volunteers.

What a great idea!

Spotted recently by our Network Treasurer, Richard, and his wife Susan (new President of Southlakes U3A) during their travels. Well done, Dunmunkle U3A (not far from Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup!).
If your U3A would like to consider erecting a similar sign, please contact the Network to ensure that the logo you use complies with out Trade Mark.

Newsletters, Newsletters and more Newsletters...

Our E-Bulletins are kept deliberately brief, and are designed to act more as a way of providing you with an overview of resources and events that may be of of interest to U3As rather than providing in-depth information. Newsletters, such as our own "Newslink", often contain more news and detail so it is worthwhile keeping an eye on what they contain.

These links may therefore be useful to you in catching up with the latest:

Questions we get asked

At the Network we get lots of questions from those volunteers who are involved in running their local U3A. We'd like to share some of these, and the answers we provide, with you.

Question: How long do we need to keep records?
Answer: According to the Department of Fair Trading website records should be kept for at least 5 years. This web page also gives a good run-down of all matters that must be recorded.

Attendance records are not mentioned but it would seem wise to comply with the 5 year minimum. You should also make sure that you keep any record that relates to any incident for longer if it is not yet resolved, as there may be a chance of future litigation or an insurance claim.

If you have a governance question, you can contact our Governance Officer, Carmen Champion by email at carmenchampion18@gmail.com

Social Media - Where Do I start?

One of the advantages of our closer relationship with the Third Age Trust(the peak body for U3As in the United Kingdom)is the enhanced sharing of resources. This article appeared in the November edition of "Third Age Matters", the Trust's online newsletter.

						Marilyn Jones, the Chair of Sutton-in-Ashfield U3A (UK), has designed a workshop for U3As that are thinking about having a U3A presence on Social Media and don't know where to begin. It also helps clarify what type of presence to build.

						Marilyn said, “The differences between setting up Pages and Groups are explored and demonstrated and what security levels to put in place. The workshop will hopefully answer all questions and put minds at rest.

						Download Facebook Workshop

From everyone at the U3A Network NSW
We wish you all the best for the new year , and a happy, safe and peaceful Festive Season.

U3A is about sharing knowledge - if you have something you think will be of interest to other U3As, please contact our Publications Editor, Ainslie Lamb, at editor@u3anet.org.au

Until the next E-Bulletin,
All the best,

Ian Robertson
President
U3A Network NSW

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