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Dyffryn Conwy u3a walking group enjoying a walk up to Cwm Idwal
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Dear <<First Name>>,
I was delighted to be asked to guest introduce our first newsletter of this special year which marks our 40th birthday. There are many exciting opportunities ahead - especially to learn something new and to celebrate our anniversary (lots of ideas and suggestions in this newsletter). Most of all I hope this year turns out to be a healthy and happy one for all of us and provides many opportunities to meet up with friends we may not have seen for some time.
I have to confess I have no musical talents and I envy those that do – one day I might tell the story of the tests for school choir in secondary school! However, I do urge you to take part in our survey on musical tastes, intergenerational music and perceptions on age.
The learning team also want your help in shaping the national learning programme in the months ahead. Other exciting news is a milestone in our tree planting scheme, which is due to the commitment and enthusiasm of u3a members. Finally, look out for the latest edition of u3a radio which you can now listen to on leading podcast channels.
I look forward to hearing your news and stories and meeting many more of you in the months ahead, be it in person or online.
With very best wishes
Liz Thackray
Chair of the Third Age Trust
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Click here to open the newsletter in your browser, in which format you can zoom in to make it easier to read.
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In this issue...
What's the soundtrack to your life?
What do you want to learn in 2022?
We are 40
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Your Stories
4 January 2022 saw the launch of a new u3a in the Market Harborough area. Formed from the merger of two u3as, Market Harborough and South Leicestershire, into one, it has the new name of Harborough Welland u3a. It is a new beginning with a new look, new website and newsletter and a new venue for monthly meetings.
With over 70 interest groups and lots of volunteer support, we’re hoping to widen knowledge of and interest in what u3a can offer in the Market Harborough area.
- Kate, Harborough Welland u3a
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What's the Soundtrack to Your Life?
We're undertaking some research into members' music tastes in our continued work to challenge preconceptions about age. Within the survey, which closes on Tuesday 25 January at 8pm, there is a chance for you to share your favourite songs and artists and think about the intergenerational nature of music sharing.
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Once you've taken the survey, we'd also love to hear your stories about what music means to you. Do you bop around the kitchen to BTS or to Drake? Or have you influenced someone younger than you to listen to Pink Floyd or The Beatles? Get in touch.
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6,000 Trees - Planting the Future
Thanks to the support of u3a members, 6,000 trees are on their way to be planted in the u3a anniversary woodland. This is an amazing number to reach in three months - especially as our original goal was just 5,000 trees.
We're creating a new goal of 10,000 trees. Planting season ends this March and starts again in November 2022. Support the woodland now.
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Listen to u3a radio now on podcasting platforms
For the first time, the January episode of u3a radio has launched on podcasting platforms. Members can listen to it on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts - and it is still available in captioned video form on YouTube.
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A Beacon Milestone
We're almost up to 500 u3as on Beacon - a huge achievement for a management system created and run by u3a members. Look out in the coming days for our landmark announcement. Beacon helps u3as to manage membership and finances - find out more about Beacon on the u3a Beacon website.
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What do you want to learn in 2022?
We loved connecting with you through learning in 2021 - see some of our stats from last year above - and we want to hear what you want from the u3a national programme in 2022. Please take our survey by clicking the yellow button below.
Photos: Bee photo by Elizabeth of Syston u3a for 'Different Sizes' theme of u3a eye, Dunham Massey painting by Joan of Hale u3a for the Autumn theme of Paint or Draw. See both original pictures on our website.
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Poetry Competition
2022 brings in a new Poetry Competition. The theme is ‘new’ and poems must be no longer than 16 lines and rhyme. Submit your entry before Friday 25 February.
This is what one of last year's judges had to say about the experience:
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“It was a pleasure and a privilege to be a judge in the u3a National Poetry competition. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. The clever and witty poems I read are a credit to the poets and testament to the creative talent within our u3a movement.”
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Speaker Swap
Your u3a can access new and interesting talks from speakers from across the u3a movement with the Speaker Swap initiative, which has recently expanded to include Art History talks. Read more on the scheme and the talks that will be available on our learning news section.
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The current theme for u3a eye submissions is ‘words/text’ and the deadline is 27 January at 1pm. Submit your photos on our website.
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Subject advisers are u3a members who volunteer to share their expertise on their specialist subject and members can contact them for advice on their subject.
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Learning More About: New Year's Resolutions with Philosophy Subject Adviser, Shri
In the new year we often make New Year's resolutions and I've shared some quotes from famous philosophers on some of the most common resolutions.
Resolution: Keep your mind challenged
‘Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.’ - Albert Einstein
Resolution: Stay connected
‘Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.’ - Thomas Aquinas
Resolution: Enjoy more Laughter
‘Laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly.’ - Thomas Hobbes
How lucky we are to have the u3a where we can do all these things and more. Whether or not we do make resolutions there seems to be good reasons to do at least some of these things.
Read more on our Sources blog, and see more from Shri on the Philosophy Subject Advice page.
Discover more about Subject Advisers on the u3a Subject Advice page where this month, there have been updates from the Opera, Genealogy and Creative writing subject advisers.
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Your Stories
40 members attended 'A Day of Dances from around the World' Bournemouth and Christchurch u3a's International Folk Dance Groups. A brilliant day with lots of smiles, the opportunity to meet other members, learn something new and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy!
- Peggy, Bournemouth & Christchurch u3a
Read more on our u3a blog, Sources
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Whitby Whalers Pantomime
Whitby Whalers u3a Third Age Stagers are performing a Snow White Pantomime this month. Break a leg Whitby Whalers.
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Looe u3a Brave the Chill
Looe u3a's Walking group ventured to the top of Kit Hill, Cornwall. Member Christine says, "A biting wind meant that we just had time to marvel at the 360 degree view, before retreating to the shelter of the hillside...and hot coffee in the café!"
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Happy Birthday North Cotswold u3a
North Cotswold u3a celebrated their 25th birthday by planting a tree and hosting a lunch. Read reflections of their last 25 years and their celebrations on our blog, Sources.
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News about Trust u3a
Since its inception in early 2020, Trust u3a has proved to be an invaluable forum for providing learning opportunities to members. Membership has been steadily increasing and now stands at over 1,000 members, all enjoying access to over 80 online interest groups.
The Board has decided that effective from April 2022, Trist u3a will become a part of the Trust’s overall learning provision. Volunteers will continue to lead online interest groups but Trust u3a will become a key part of the Trust’s Online Learning Platform and the change will enable Trust u3a activities to be managed alongside the National Learning Programme, the Shared Learning Programme and the activities of Subject Advisers.
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Celebrating Our 40th
Now that it's 2022, we're looking forward to all the ways we will be celebrating the u3a 40th Anniversary this year. From picnics to theatre projects, we've got big plans, which you can find out more about on our website.
We're going to be sharing all the amazing things you are doing in your u3as this year on our 40th blog, so send your photos, stories and any special plans you have to mark 40 years to our new email address - weare40@u3a.org.uk.
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Updates from Trustees, Sue and Ann
"The New Year is starting with the news that the Covid restrictions may be eased further, and we can start to look to the future with optimism. Don’t forget though, that caution is still advised when groups meet. There is a possibility of a new u3a starting near Ammanford. I shall be talking to potential members shortly. If you know of a potential new u3a or are considering relaunching your u3a, help and advice is available on the Third Age Trust website or contact me direct."
- Sue Shannon-Jones, Trustee for Wales
"I am travelling to Banchory on 31 January to attend a steering committee meeting of a potential new u3a. Banchory is a lovely town in Aberdeenshire on the river Dee. Further up the river is Balmoral. I wonder if we could recruit any new members from there?
Some Scottish u3a members are going to take part in a focus group on 25 January organised by the David Hume Institute. This is the first of a series of discussions on older people and their attitude to risk.
Hopefully Scottish u3as will soon be cautiously getting back together face to face now that the three household, Covid regulation has been lifted. We are looking forward to a year filled with fun."
- Ann Keating, Trustee for Scotland
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Special Holocaust Memorial Event
Thursday 27 January, 2pm
To commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, hear the story of Alice Svarin, who managed to evade the Nazis whilst living in occupied Slovakia. After the war, Alice started a life and learned a new language at age 54. Alice's story will be told by her daughter, Vera.
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Climate Change Subject Adviser Surgery
Wednesday 16 February, 10am
Are you already in a Climate Change Group or are you thinking of starting one in your u3a? If so, then come along to this event with Climate Change Subject Adviser, Frances, to hear what other groups are doing, ask questions and share your ideas.
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Exploring World Faiths
Wednesday 23 February, 10am
The Exploring World Faith Subject Adviser is organising several events in 2022 - more details will appear on his Subject Advice page closer to the time. The first event is on Spiritualism and can be booked via the online events page.
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Your Stories
We are back in Theatr Brycheiniog for our 2022 Thursday meetings, with morning talks being transmitted over Zoom as well for those not yet desiring to attend face-to-face. Our members are very happy with our gradual progression back to normality.
The future is still unclear, but we promise to do our best to continue with live meetings in the New Year. Social interaction is the essence of our organisation.
- John, Brecon u3a
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Diversity and Inclusion Coffee Morning
26 January 2022, 10-12
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee are holding a Coffee morning for anyone interested in diversity and inclusion or curious about the committee and what they do. Find out more.
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Learning to be Retired
Monday 28 February - 4 April, 2-4pm
u3a member led course, 'Retiring with Attitude; Learning to be Retired' is back. Bromley u3a member and course co-leader Carol says "We will be covering what’s important to each of us, which of our skills we’d still like to be using in retirement and looking at the options open to us." Find out more.
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South East u3a Region Summer School
Monday 20 - Thursday 23 June
The South East Area Forum are hosting a summer school at the u3a University of Chichester where members can connect over topics from cycling to Earth Matters and Poetry. Find out more.
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New Workshops for u3as
Get the new year off to a good start by joining our workshops to support your u3a. Members bring their background and experience as Trustees, u3a Chairs and Committee members, to make the online workshops informal and informative with a unique opportunity to meet u3a members from across the UK. Topics include Running Your u3a - Information for Trustees, Interest Groups Matter and Finance Matters.
See all the available tutorials and book now on our website.
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Dogs and Downton
Medical Detection Dogs ambassador and actress Lesley Nicol, who plays Downton Abbey cook Mrs Patmore, talks to the February issue of TAM about the dogs who are sniffing out Covid and reveals some on-set secrets as 'Downton: A New Era' is released in cinemas in March 2022.
Picture credit: Karwai Tang
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Let us Showcase Your Social Media
What interesting things are you doing on your social media? We're launching a new feature in the newsletter in which we will showcase some of our favourite social media posts from u3a members and u3as each month. Do share your social media posts with us by tagging us in them - @u3auk on Facebook, @u3a_uk on Twitter, @u3auk on Instagram - or you can share your social media accounts with us by contacting us.
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Research News
A researcher in the Psychology Department of Lancaster University is running an online Parkinson’s disease study. The study investigates difficulties in words that describe physical movement in people with Parkinson’s disease, and the effect of lifestyle on these difficulties. The research are looking for native British English speakers aged between 50 and 80 years with a current diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and unaffected, healthy individuals. To find out more, email e.oosterhuis@lancaster.ac.uk.
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There are lots more member-led stories on our u3a blog, Sources.
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Discover wine tasting, a new network in Wales and much more on our u3a blog, Sources.
What's happening at your u3a? Get in touch with us to feature on Sources.
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Gloria, Sherburn & Villages u3a
"I joined u3a in October 2021, after it was suggested by a lady I met when walking my daughter’s dog.
I was a civil servant for most of my career and set up the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at UCL. It's fair to say that before retiring, I was fairly busy!
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I went along to the AGM and heard about all the groups that were available to join so immediately joined the flower arranging group, as I have always wanted to learn. They were really friendly and welcoming. I am also planning to join the gardening group, Science and Technology, and Serendipity.
These are the ‘formal’ elements of u3a that I am looking forward to, but it is also important to say that as a relative newcomer to village life and not knowing anyone in the area I am so pleased that the u3a group is so full of kind members. They really have made me feel most welcome – including gently correcting my flower arranging errors!"
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This is an easy way to share the newsletter. Click this link and copy and paste the URL to share on other platforms, including Beacon.
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