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Norwich U3A & Local NEWS:

This section contains information about new developments and activities within U3A Norwich.  Please help us to keep all members informed.If you belong to any groups, or have friends within U3A Norwich, it would be much appreciated if you would pass 'Hot News' details on to anyone you know who does not have a computer or access to the internet.

 

HOT NEWS:

 

April 2010

Events in Suffolk

 

Autumn on the Fen (September 23rd 10am -2pm) Join Plantlife's Tim Pankhurst for an Autumn walk at Redgrave and Lopham Fen which is owned and managed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Following a short introduction in the morning spend the day outside looking at a range of plants. In the case of bad weather we will make some collections and examine them inside. You should wear clothing and footwear suitable for the outdoors and be comfortable walking over rough ground. Suitable for those with little or basic knowledge about plants. To book please download and complete our booking form and email it to wildaboutplants@plantlife.org.uk or send it to Wild About Plants, Plantlife, 14 Rollestone Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1DX.

 

One-off Day School

Whilst the unending search goes on to increase the number of group coordinators  -  the backbone of U3A  -  your Committee are also exploring other ways of improving services to members.  And although a regular commitment, which coordinators ordinarily undertake, is not possible for others who may nevertheless have skills and/or knowledge they would be prepared to share in the shape of e.g. a “one off” day-school format.  The charge to members attending would aim to cover merely accommodation and refreshment expenditure.

 

If this departure from our usual programme appeals to you and you would be interested in discussing further participating, in principle, in any aspect of this new type of provision, please speak to John Ferguson or any other Committee member.  (One topic we could proceed with early in the New Year is, for example, Principles and Practice of Counselling but other offers/suggestions would be welcomed)

 

Chatterbox Needs Volunteers to Sort Returned Wallets

Some members of U3A Norwich assist Chatterbox with their weekly ‘Talking Newspaper’.  They have vacancies for two posts.  The jobs are described below.

Your commitment would be to work on a Thursday at the Chatterbox office, from 1.45pm to approximately 3.15pm, one week in every four.

This is the first job in the day to produce the week's Talking Newspaper. The cassettes with the previous week's recording have to be extracted from the wallets, the wallets checked for any messages from listeners, the address labels reversed, and the wallets sorted into numbered categories.

Chatterbox is produced weekly, but we have 4 teams of volunteers, each team meeting once every 4 weeks. We have 3 volunteers in each team to sort the wallets.

Other jobs that are done at various times later in the day, and for which vacancies occur from time to time, include: Sub. Editing, Tape Cleaning and Rewinding, Administration Assistant, Tape Copier and Tape Checker and Sound Recording and Reading.

If you can spare the time and would like to join us please leave a message for the Volunteers* Officer on the answer phone at the Chatterbox office: Tel. No.

01603 765365 (the office is staffed on Thursdays), or send an email to: volunteers’officer@chatterboxnorwichtn.org

Chatterbox, Petersen House, 240 King Street, Norwich NR1 2BU.

Tel: 01603 765365.  Email: chatterbox.norwich@virgin.net

Reg Charity No: 276432

John Ferguson

 

Local U3A News:

 

'Informer'

The newsletter of U3A Norwich:

A quarterly publication aimed at keeping all members up-to-date with changes, developments and news of specific and local interest.

 

U3A News

The quarterly magazine from the Third Age Trust. It contains news from U3A branches around the UK, plus articles and information of general interest. A copy is sent to every U3A member.

 

 

NATIONAL U3A EVENTS:

 

August 2010
 

1.    The 2011 U3A engagement calendar is available from The Third Age Trust at a cost of £5 [or £7.50 for the calendar and a U3A Parker Jotter pen which normally costs £3].  Cheques payable to The Third Age Trust.  Send to: Calendar Order, The Third Age Trust, 19 East Street, Bromley BR1 1QE

 2.    Anyone interested in Folk Dance?  14th Folk Dance Network Holiday 8-12 November 2010 in Crowcombe, Somerset.  Further details from Roy Phillips, U3A National Folk Dance Network co-ordinator  18 Beckford Gardens, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6QU tel.01225 420673 or via Anne Cardew 01603 507053  e-mail: anne.cardew@virgin.net

 

3.    For those interested in Science:  Northumbria Region U3A Residential School hosted by the Physics Department of Durham University  Monday 11 - Thursday 14 April 2011.  Subjects:  Biology, Earth Sciences, Physics + an evening lecture on Stem Cells.  Further details  from John Leiper, Marlfield Lodge,  by Coldstream, Berwickshire TD12 4JT  tel. 01890 840494 e-mail lorbottle@tiscali.co.uk or via Anne Cardew 01603 507053  e-mail: anne.cardew@virgin.net

 

4.    XXIV AIUTA Conference 15-17 November in Costa Rica.  "Older People, Experience and Sustainable Development". If anyone is interested there are details on www.u3a.org.uk or www.gerontologia.ucr.ac.cr or via ian.funnell@iee.org [who will be representing the Third Age Trust at the conference].

 

 

July 2010

The Retirement Show, Olympia, London 16-17 July:  half price tickets available by visiting www.theretirementshow.com

 

The Third Age Trusts advises U3A members to put next of kin details and/or ICE [in case of emergency] against a number or numbers in their mobile phone book.

The Third Age Trust advises group leaders to know the postcode of their venue so that, if necessary, they can tell the emergency services and avoid delay.

 

January 2010:

 

2010 Photo Competition:

 

Theme "Coast"  the coastline of Great Britain throughout the seasons.

- pictures landscape ONLY

- digital photos preferred

- images should be of the British Coastline ONLY

- closing date is 31st March 2010

-  All entries to:  The Third Age Trust, 19 east Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1QE

-  Further details from www.u3a.org.uk members' area or Anne Cardew tel.01603 507053 or anne.cardew@virgin.net

 

1.    Wednesday 24 March 2010  14.00-16.30:  Neuroethics - What's right? What's wrong?

Wellcome Hall Trust Lecture Hall at the Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace London SW1

Neuroethics is the examination of what is right and wrong, good and bad, about invasion, manipulation and treatment to perfect the human brain.

£12.50 per person including refreshments.  Tickets on the door or from The Third Age Trust [DANA], 19 East Street, Bromley BR1 1QE

More details from Anne Cardew 01603 507053 or anne.cardew@virgin.net
 

2.   Who Do You Think You Are?  Live 26-28 February at Olympia.  You can get 2 tickets for the price of 1 by quoting ticket code EX241 when you book online at www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk or phone the hotline on 0871 230 5596  If you are there, visit the U3A stand [310].
 

3.    Full details of U3A Explores Science at the Royal Institution now available on the U3A website: www.u3a.org.uk in the Members area under events or from Anne Cardew 01603 507053 or anne.cardew@virgin.net

4.    U3A Explores Science at the Ri:  Tuesday 30 March at 13.30 for 14.00 [-c.17.00] at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street London W1

Speakers from the Ri's programme will speak on a variety of subjects including Extra Terrestrial Life and the Obesity Time Bomb.  Admission by ticket only at £15 each including refreshments.  Places are limited.  Apply in writing to The Third Age Trust, 19 East Street, Bromley, Kent BR1 1QE enclosing a 30p stamp for up to 4 tickets and a large letter stamp [47p] if you require more [max. 15 tickets per applicant] plus a cheque made payable to The Third Age Trust.  Details on www.u3a.org.uk in the Members area under Events.
 

5.     U3A Jazz Appreciation Network: Holiday to Rimini 22 - 28 June 2010.  Cost £739.00 pp [single supplement £139] plus travel insurance.  More details from Bob Jones, Jazz Appreciation Network Co-ordinator, 48 Mowbray Drive, Reading RG30 4XY  Tel. 0118 9413889 e-mail: jazzer@mypostoffice.co.uk  Limited further details from Anne Cardew, Secretary Norwich U3A tel. 01603 507053

6.     Software4Students.  If you want a microsoft product  and are happy to order on line you will get it considerably cheaper via this website.  See www.software4students.co.uk

 

7.    The Annual Seminar at Abergavenny of the U3A Science, Technology and Society Network.  9-13 August 2010  This will involve presentations, a debate on a topical subject and visits to local places of interest.    Booking will be from the end of March but members of any U3A are invited to make a presentation on a scientific or technology subject.  Please send offers of presentations as well as enquiries to U3aabergavenny2010@hotmail.co.uk

 

December 2009:
 

1.    "The U3A Story".  Francis Beckett, Editor of U3A News and a prize-winning journalist and author has written this short history of U3A and it is available from The Third Age Trust for £2.50, which includes postage and packing.

 

2.    U3A Summer Schools:  Both take place at The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and the dates are: Monday 16 to Thursday 19 August and Monday 23 to Thursday 26 August.  Details of the courses on offer at these schools and application forms can be downloaded from the website www.u3a.org.uk [see events] or obtained by post from The Third Age Trust, The Old Municipal Buildings, 19 East Street, Bromley BR1 1QE or from Anne Cardew, 133 Earlham Road, Norwich NR2 3RG.  The cost of either course is £305 per person residential & £116 non-residential [deposit £70 per person].

 

3. The Open University has provided on the web 5000 hours of study material FREE.  

This could be used by U3A members for individual or group study.  If interested go to www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.php and register [easy and free].  More information on this available from Norwich U3A secretary: anne.cardew@virgin.net 01603 507053

 

4. New Handbook for U3A Creative Writing Groups  by Maggie Smith, the national creative writing co-ordinator.  £2.50 including p.&p. (cheques to The Third Age Trust)  Discounted price for more than one copy.

 

5. Sources:  Tony Thornton is looking for contributions on environment and sustainable development for the next edition - tony.thornton@virgin.net or contact the National Office.

 

October 2009:

 

A reminder of the dates for the National Summer School to be held next year at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester:  16-19 August & 23-26 August  Full details by end of November.

 

Members can get access to all untutored UK online courses for 12 months by paying a £10 enrolment fee.

Members can listen to U3A News and Sources via the website www.u3a.org.uk or by request on a set of CDs.

Start-up leaflets:  2 new leaflets written by national co-ordinators can be downloaded from the website www.u3a.org.uk or requested as hard copies:

Drama/Theatre by David Morton

Living History by Barbara Bond

Other recent or popular leaflets include Canals & Inland Waterways, Local History, Astronomy, Family History, Geology, Languages and Storytelling.

 

August 2009:

Details on planned holidays to Northern India in March, Malawi and Zambia in July and Northern Ireland in September can be obtained from Gina Pointing tel 01202 880362 e-mail ginapointing@yahoo.co.uk

 

Online courses:  there is now a £10 subscription which gives unlimited access to UK untutored courses for a year.  Please see online courses website via www.u3a.org.uk for more information.

 

 

From January 2009 for a trial period the above publications will be converted to sound files which will be accessed from the national website.  This should help some partially sighted U3A members to enjoy these publications.  If there are members within this group who cannot access a computer, let the Third Age Trust know [tel. 020 8466 6139 e-mail: national.office @u3a.org.uk ] and they will consider producing a cd.

 

New Handbook for U3A Creative Writing Groups  by Maggie Smith, the national creative writing co-ordinator.  £2.50 including p.&p. [cheques to The Third Age Trust]  Discounted price for more than one copy.

 

Online Courses:  New batch of tutored courses starting 6 January ready for enrolment now via online courses website, accessed via www.u3a.org.uk

 

Sources:  Tony Thornton is looking for contributions on environment and sustainable development for the next edition - tony.thornton@virgin.net or contact the National Office.

 

ITEMS FROM OTHER U3A’s:

 

Oct 2009. Info required - Devizes U3A

Vivki Messam would like to hear from any U3A which has organised a trip to Hadrian's Wall.  Her e-mail is waterwanderer@hotmail.co.uk

 

 

2009/10 - U3A HOLIDAYS

 

1. Northern Lights - Short winter break , no date yet as waiting to see when the Sun becomes active again, it is very quiet at present and therefore less likelihood of aurora, so not till 2010 when could be February or October  Hurtigruten seem the best bet and cost would £740 for 5 days with option for 8 days £955.  Flying from Stanstead.  

 

 

Headquarters & National U3A  NEWS

BBC News-Norfolk: A live daily news feed - scroll down & click on links to view items on the BBC Website

Listen to Radio Norwich whilst using our Website.  Click on the icon below  & then minimise your player. To stop close your player.  NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE