Recent News

It is always sad to see groups come to an end and recently we have had two: Needlework & Patchwork and Science.  Eileen Timmins decided to give up her two Needlework & Patchwork Groups due to dwindling numbers (but she is still willing to help any interested members); she still leads Homebirds Luncheon Group.

As you will have read recently, after 10-years Jill Taylor gave up running the popular Science Group, and regrettably no other group member came forward to lead it.  The good news is that she has started a Geography Group, so popular that there is now a waiting list.  Not only that, she has started a second Scrabble Group that meets on the 3^rd & 4^th Wednesdays at 2.30 and at other times that suit.  In addition she still leads Understanding Music, another highly popular group, has taken over running the refreshments at the monthly meetings and is trying to get a Cryptic Crossword Group formed.  If only we had more enthusiastic and energetic people like Jill.

The further good news is that we have another two new groups Archaeology and 10-Pin Bowling.

The Archaeology Group is an exciting addition to our U3A as not only will they be doing digs and research but also plan to visit places of interest.  Talk to group leader Terry Cook about the first planned project – it is amazing.

The other new group is 10-Pin Bowling, which had its first meeting in October when 13 members came and 11 played. The group meets at the Bowling Alley, Madison Heights, Maldon.  It was agreed at the initial meeting that they meet fortnightly and if you are interested contact Lynne Leech 741029 for details The next two meetings will be on the 15^th & 29^th November. All standards of play are welcome from beginners to the experienced.

It would be good to see some more new groups formed to keep our U3A growing and vibrant so if you would like to start an interest group please contact me and we will endeavour to do so.

Enjoy your groups and please support your group leaders, as without them you would not have a group.

Diane Caulkett

TEN PIN BOWLING 

After the successful Ten Pin Bowling Social Outings many of the participants wanted to bowl more regularly and asked if a group could be formed. With autumn and winter approaching now is an ideal time.

So here are the details – the first meeting will be on 4th October at the Bowling Alley in Maldon starting at 2.00 p.m. The cost for two hours bowling will be £4.25 per person payable at the bowling alley on arrival; it also includes shoe hire and a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits.

For the initial session two lanes have been booked (but if demand is greater more can be added). At this session it will be decided if the group plays weekly, fortnightly, or monthly – I will not be running the group so a leader will also have to be chosen.

If you are interested do try and attend this first meeting and just so that I have some idea of numbers please let me know in advance if you are coming. If you can’t make the first meeting but would like to be on the group list please contact me.

Diane Caulkett (01621 783786)

Regrettably we say farewell to the Poetry Reading Group led by Beth Greaves.  Although Beth has run the group for many years it was formerly run by Ann Pennington-Legh and I believe was one of the first groups formed in our U3A.

Like many of our group leaders Beth has been running groups for many, many years and felt it time to give up.  Thanks go to her (and all the other group leaders) who have kept and will keep our U3A continuing.

Although we no longer have the Poetry Reading group we do have the Poetry Appreciation group run by Ruth Walsh and if you are interested in joining the group Ruth’s details are on the group listings page.

This is a good opportunity to thank all group leaders for their work but it is also up to group members to support them by attending the groups they join and contributing to the sessions, so keeping them vibrant.

Diane

Group Co-ordinator

2 March 2018

Dear Member

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)

This letter is to give you notice that an EGM will be held at the start of our monthly meeting on Friday 6 April 2018 at 2.30pm (postponed from 2 March due to weather conditions).

We have been advised by The Third Age Trust (our National Office) that there needs to be an amendment to our Constitution.  The ‘objects’ clause (Charitable Purposes) must change to cover all our activities including those of a social nature.  The Third Age Trust has been negotiating with the Charity Commission over the last few months and has now agreed suitable wording. They have agreed to a ‘blanket opt-in’ arrangement whereby we advise The Third Age Trust that we wish to make the change and they will notify the Charity Commission.  There is a deadline of 20 March 2018 to do this.  Following the EGM and provided that members agree the Resolution, we would have to notify the Third Age Trust formally of the change.

While U3As do not have to accept this amendment, we are strongly advised to make the change so that all our activities are considered to be ‘charitable purposes’.  If we fail to do so then none of our social activities will be covered by the U3A insurance policy which, as you know, we pay for through membership subscriptions each year.  We very much hope that members will agree to the following Resolution:

THE RESOLUTION

To change the wording in paragraph 3 of our Constitution entitled Charitable Purposes from:

‘The charitable purposes of The U3A are to advance education and in particular the education of people not in full time gainful employment who are in their Third Age (being the period of time after the first age of childhood dependence and the second age of full time employment and/or parental responsibility) residing in Burnham on Crouch and its surrounding locality.

In this constitution ‘people in their Third Age’ has the meaning set out above. 

The charitable purposes of The U3A may only be altered with the prior consent of the Charity Commission’

To the following wording (which has to be exactly the wording agreed with the Charity Commission):

‘The charitable purposes of The U3A are:  The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development’

The charitable purposes of The U3A may only be altered with the prior consent of the Charity Commission’

Yours

Barry Davis

(Chair)

January 2018

Dear Member

NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)

This letter is to give you notice that an EGM will be held at the start of our monthly meeting on Friday 2 March 2018 at 2.30pm.

We have been advised by The Third Age Trust (our National Office) that there needs to be an amendment to our Constitution.  The ‘objects’ clause (Charitable Purposes) must change to cover all our activities including those of a social nature.  The Third Age Trust has been negotiating with the Charity Commission over the last few months and has now agreed suitable wording. They have agreed to a ‘blanket opt-in’ arrangement whereby we advise The Third Age Trust that we wish to make the change and they will notify the Charity Commission.  There is a deadline of 20 March 2018 to do this.  Following the EGM and provided that members agree the Resolution, we would have to notify the Third Age Trust formally of the change.

While U3As do not have to accept this amendment, we are strongly advised to make the change so that all our activities are considered to be ‘charitable purposes’.  If we fail to do so then none of our social activities will be covered by the U3A insurance policy which, as you know, we pay for through membership subscriptions each year.  We very much hope that members will agree to the following Resolution:

THE RESOLUTION

To change the wording in paragraph 3 of our Constitution entitled Charitable Purposes from:

‘The charitable purposes of The U3A are to advance education and in particular the education of people not in full time gainful employment who are in their Third Age (being the period of time after the first age of childhood dependence and the second age of full time employment and/or parental responsibility) residing in Burnham on Crouch and its surrounding locality.

In this constitution ‘people in their Third Age’ has the meaning set out above. 

The charitable purposes of The U3A may only be altered with the prior consent of the Charity Commission’

To the following wording (which has to be exactly the wording agreed with the Charity Commission):

‘The charitable purposes of The U3A are:  The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development’

The charitable purposes of The U3A may only be altered with the prior consent of the Charity Commission’

Yours

Barry Davis

(Chair)