No doubt by now, you've all turned your clocks back an hour so we have a little more daylight in the morning - for now.  Mind you, I'm sure we'd all like to turn the entire year back and start it all over again, fresh and new, if we could.  And by now I imagine that not many of us are too concerned about, or even know what day of the week it is, let alone what time it is.

Meanwhile, a herd of  goats keeps the hedges in the Welsh seaside town of Llandudno well trimmed, and April Fools Day was cancelled because no-one could think up a better prank than Covid-19, but, acts of Random Kindness are growing daily:-

• Health care workers are finding home-made food deliveries on their doorsteps.

• A 9 year old boy, lovingly dubbed the TP Fairy, delivered toilet paper to his elderly neighbours with a note letting them know there are people looking out for them.

• A woman came to the aid of an elderly customer by paying for her shopping by credit card when the shop wouldn’t take the customer's cash.

• Residents in lock down all over the world are opening their doors and windows together in the evening to applaud and cheer their health care workers.

• Supermarket Shoppers are buying chocolates and handing them over to check-out staff to share in their break room.

Covid-19 Working Group Update

As mentioned in our last e-Bulletin, our Working Group, along with the IT Team, is pulling out all the stops to implement new systems that will allow us to continue classes in Term 2, due to start on 14 April.  While it's clear now that face-to-face classes will not be possible for the foreseeable future, there are exciting new times ahead as we move to online learning.

Jim Pribble, CoM and a member of the Working Group, has once again provided an update of the behind-the-scenes efforts over the past week, and in this report he details more about how many of our Courses will resume in Term 2, albeit in a very different format.  You can read Jim's detailed report here

Zoom - Try It For Yourself 

Have you tried using Zoom?  All our Online Courses will be using this popular communication platform, so why not give it a try?  Click here to check out detailed 'Using Zoom Guidelines' on our Website. 

From Monday 6 - Friday 10 April, there will be “Try It & See” Zoom Practice Sessions between 10:30 & 11:30 each day.  Every Practice Session will have a member of our IT Team on hand to help you out, so join us any time in the hour, have a chat to others at the Practice Session and see how it all works - it's easier than you think, but please ensure you have familiarised yourself with the Using Zoom Guidelines first.  

Click here to view the Zoom Practice Sessions, but please note you'll need to be logged in as a Member to do so.   Once you've decided which session/s you want to join, access this page at the appointed time and click on your chosen session.

For future reference, the  Zoom Guidelines can be found on our Website's Home Page under Hot Topics, while the Zoom Practice Sessions are in the Courses & Enrolling drop down box entitled Online U3APP Course Links and can be accessed from the Website Home Page.

We're Zooming Ahead So Keep Calm & Zoom On

Just like you, we've read recent media articles, and also listened to some of our Members' concerns over the use of Zoom as a communication platform for U3APP Courses.  Our IT Team, fortunately chock-full of experts in basically everything IT, has considered all of the potential pitfalls and has initiated further protocols to ensure the privacy and security of our Members - some of them as simple as urging our Members to only accept Zoom invitations from U3APP, their Tutor (or people they know).  

Zoom has also reacted to many of these concerns and is updating their platform accordingly to protect the privacy of users.   

Helen Vorrath, our resident IT Guru, has created a useful checklist in our new  Hot Topics section of our Website, entitled "Keep Calm and Zoom On" - simply click here to be taken to the Website Home Page where your "Why Zoom?" questions will be answered.  Just select the "Keep Calm and Zoom On" button then click on the arrows next to each of the questions for a detailed answer.

New On-Line Course - Term 2

While our Tutors are currently confirming how they will run their Courses in Term 2, we already have a new Online Course ready and open for bookings - click on the Course name for more details:-

• 2T26 Basics How to use your iPhone Camera - 8 week Course starts 28 April

The new Course Guide will be released next Sunday 12 April, so look out for the e-Bulletin after you've enjoyed your Easter eggs.  If you are currently booked in a Term 2 Course, you'll also receive an email advising how your course will be run.

Tutors' Corner - Support for our Tutors

• Zoom for Tutors - offers information about how to run an on-line Course, and can be found under the Volunteering tab on our Website - or click here to be taken to the page.
• Tutors' Forum - a place where Tutors can discuss and exchange information and ideas.  You'll find some of our Tutors, as well as IT Team Members, have already written some informative posts.  The Forum is also found under the Volunteering tab on our Website - or click here to be taken to the page

Things to do in Lockdown

Have you checked out our Covid-19 page yet?  There are lots of important links to various sites to keep you updated on everything Covid-19.  Plus we also have a constantly growing list of online "outings" you can take advantage of, including virtual plays, concerts and things to do while in Lockdown.  We've just been advised that the Australian Chamber Choir will be putting on a Good Friday performance, so we've added that to our list.  You can find details about how to book for this performance by clicking here and to view the Covid-19 page on our website, click here

Spotlight On! Our Members - Who Are You?

We're keen to share your story, a few lines telling us who you are, or several pages detailing your exploits; whether it's your daily routine filling us in on what you're doing to stay busy or a tale about past adventures, we'd love to hear from you - please don't be shy.  Simply email webmaster@u3app.org.au - oh and feel free to include a photo or two.

This week's Spotlight On! is from Ann Gibson, long time U3APP Member and Course Co-ordinator Extraordinaire.  Ann says:- "A big part of the interest and enjoyment we get from being part of U3A Port Phillip comes from not just learning new ideas or gaining new skills, but from our social interaction with other Members and Tutors.  While we enjoy their company in class, we may know little of their former lives, their interests or skills; some special place they have lived or special occasion of which they have been a part.  While we stay physically isolated, it is an opportunity to get to know each other better.  Not face-to-face and not even 1.5 metres apart, but through the miracle of the internet and our U3A e-Bulletins.  Having suggested this idea, I will start, and hope that many of you will follow on with your stories."  

To read Ann's fascinating story, which takes us back sixty years to her adventures in Goose Bay, Labrador, please click here 

We're Keen to Chat - Are You a Facebook Fan?

We had a great response to last week's plea for more Facebook Members, but we'd like more - plus we'd like to know what topics you'd like to 'chat' about. Have you seen an Event on-line? Or had a party on Zoom? Or maybe you've finally gotten round to cleaning out those cupboards. Send us a message on Facebook (include a picture or two if you like) and we'll get the ball rolling.  Why not 'like' us here?

Important Reminder 

We would like to remind all our Members that for the safety of all, if you are diagnosed with Coronavirus, it's important you advise the Committee of Management by email at Committee@u3app.org.au.