Dear <<First Name>> (ID No. <<ID No.>>)

The Committee of Management has agreed that face-to-face classes may resume from Monday, 7 March, provided tutors and class members are willing to meet in person while observing COVID-safe practices.

The Course Coordinator and Let's Do Coordinator are following up with tutors and Let's Do leaders, who will then be in contact with class/activity members concerning this option.

While we wait for classes to resume at city venues on 7 March, or perhaps if you are still hesitant to venture too far, we have some interesting and engaging classes still available through Zoom. You can download the full list of all courses (Term 1, yearlong, Zoom, face-to-face) with vacancies here. Some highlights are described below. You can enrol via MyU3A.

It seems that we have just started Term 1 and it is already time to call for Term 2 short course proposals! Whether you are an existing tutor or you are interested in becoming a tutor for the first time, we welcome your course proposals for Term 2 courses.

This year we are suggesting themes for each term. The theme for Term 2 will be Living Younger Longer. You don't have to specifically address this theme in your course, but we would encourage anyone who might be interested in offering a course around this theme. Examples could include sports, dancing, exercise, strength training, yoga, tai chi, pilates or courses involving keeping the brain active.

If you would like to offer a course, please complete the 2022 SurveyMonkey form.

Please note that the deadline for submission of course proposals is Monday, 28 February 2022.

For any questions, please contact Shirley Arbuthnott, the Short Course Coordinator, at coursecoord@u3amelbcity.onmicrosoft.com or shirleya@u3amelbcity.onmicrosoft.com.

Via the MyU3A Portal (preferred)

Log in to MyU3A and select the Classes 2022 button twice. Select the day of the week or the course category to get a shorter list of all classes for the year.

1. Tick the check box next to Request for the course you want.
2. Check the last column for the course enrolment status: Open, TBA, Wait list. TBA means the enrolment must be reviewed by the tutor before acceptance can be confirmed.
3. Very important: Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click on the Next button.
4. Check that the class you have just enrolled in is Listed. If it is not listed then you did not succeed in enrolling. You will need to try again.

For more detailed information, see the instructions on How to use the MyU3A portal.

Via the office

If you are unable to enrol online, please email citymelb@u3a.org.au or call us on (03) 9639 5209, and office staff will attend to your request as soon as possible.

Membership cards

Your memberships cards for 2022 will be posted to you after 28 February. The cut-off date for getting it posted will be for those who have renewed or joined by 19 February. After 7 March the office will be open to visitors, at which time new members can collect their cards from the office.

Zoom link emails

The Zoom links for your classes have been sent to you via class emails. If you can't find your Zoom link email, please search for emails from auto@myu3a.net. Move it to a special folder for later reuse, or if you are using Gmail, click the star next to the email and then find it again by clicking on "Starred" instead of "Inbox".

Note: You need to use the same Zoom link for your class for every session.

Office closed until 7 March

In order to protect the health of our volunteers during the latest COVID-19 outbreak, it has been decided to keep the office closed to visitors until face-to-face classes recommence on 7 March.

You can continue to contact us by leaving us a message on the phone at 9639 5209 or send an email to citymelb@u3a.org.au. An office volunteer will respond to your request as soon as possible.

Sandra Joicey

How fortunate are those who can retain a passion for fifty plus years - Sandra Joicey is such a person and her passion is for Shakespeare. Our U3A has been the beneficiary ever since since she started her Shakespeare Revisited classes in 2006.

Born and brought up in Seddon, her school Shakespeare lessons were, as for most of us, a matter or reading aloud around the class with our minds on something other than the Bard. The passion had to wait for its ignition until she went to La Trobe University, the first in her family to do so. At university it exploded and she was stopped from taking any more Shakespeare classes - Chaucer and various other poets proving a poor substitute in her opinion.

When she began her career as an English teacher she was determined to make Shakespeare accessible to Year 7 pupils - most educators at that time thinking this was way too young. She persisted, relying on Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences (for those not in the business, Gardner's Theory is similar to the more widely known Edward de Bono's Six Hats). Sandra cultivated each student's predisposition to a particular way of thinking and so brought them to an understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare's universality.

She continues this approach with her U3A classes, so no matter whether your background is in science or business or carpentry, she will find a route for you to make a connection. And you won't have to wear any coloured hats either.

Approximately three plays are studied every year, so in the past sixteen years Sandra has more than worked her way through his entire canon.

When asked for her favourite Shakespeare play, she nominates King Lear. In the play, Lear's faithful friend the Earl of Kent declares "Sir, I am too old to learn" - certainly not a suitable motto for U3A members; even if some of us might be "sans teeth", we are far from being "sans everything".

Sandra lives in Niddrie with husband Rob, who is a volunteer artist with St Vincent's Psychiatric Unit. They have two sons and four granddaughters, including ten-year-old twins, all in Melbourne, and Sandra is looking forward to introducing the younger pair to Shakespeare very soon.

There has always been a waiting list for Shakespeare Revisited classes and Sandra is disappointed that, instead of the usual twenty-five participants, this term's face-to-face class beginning in March has had to be reduced to fifteen because of COVID restrictions. She didn't do Zoom during lockdown and has been missing contact with her students. Consolation has come in the form of a grown-up granddaughter introducing her to gardens and gardening. Could this be the birth of a new passion which might make her connection with Shakespeare even stronger: "This our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything". Surely a sentiment that resounds with those of us who have found such solace (even in a window box) over the past two years. And, in case you're wondering, the quote is from As You Like It.

Thank you Sandra for sharing your passion with us for so long - such longevity must be proof that we do like it!

Merilyn Harris

Discount book offer: Big, by Richard Denniss

Dr Richard Denniss, thechief economist at the Australia Institute, has a new book coming out on 15 February 2022, called Big: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy. Big explores how who we elect determines which problems we, as a society, get to solve and why "democracy thrives on high expectations".

Richard has been a guest speaker at many U3A events over the years, and has a special pre-sale offer for U3A members. Pre-order online for just $15.96 (RRP $19.95) by using this code upon checkout: AUSINSTITUTE20.