No2 Apr 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BARNSLEY U3A INTERIM BUZZ NEWSLETTER : No 2 APRIL 2019 This is the second of our new regular Beacon emails which we intend to send to members roughly midway between our Buzz magazine issues. We hope that you will find the information both interesting and useful. We include also the Minutes of the 2018 AGM which those members intending to attend our AGM in June will wish to read. These are also available on the BU3A website.[Click on ‘Documents’ and look for 2018 AGM Minutes] SPRING SCHOOL Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd May Our second Spring School at the Ibis Hotel (M1 Junction 37) is imminent. IMPORTANT!!! The Tour de Yorkshire on Friday 3rd May will possibly/probably/definitely cause early morning chaos with major routes closed between 8.30 and 9.30 as the riders set off from the Town Hall along Huddersfield Road and go through Gawber, Redbrook, Mapplewell, Staincross and Royston. PLAN YOUR ROUTE TO THE IBIS IF YOU EXPECT TO BE AFFECTED. NEW AND PROSPECTIVE GROUPS Barnsley leads the way in all sports (walking variety!). We are looking to create a Walking Netball group (male and female, needless to say). Linda McDevitt is to be the leader/Coordinator. Fourteen excellent, sterling ladies (What?! No men?!) have so far expressed an interest. Linda is to meet them on June 11th for a coffee/snack at Priory Campus to decide on day and venue for this venerable sport. Please let Beth Rudkin (Development) or any committee member know if you are interested. Following on from recent successful First Aid Courses, Carole Felton is offering to run another one in the next few weeks. It will be a four-weeks course, taking place on Thursday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. See Carole’s details on the contact list. EXISTING GROUPS ACTIVELY SEEKING NEW MEMBERS In the first interim letter, we mentioned that a number of our groups have spaces available and one that we would like to draw to members’ attention this time is Music For Pleasure, one of our most established groups but currently struggling for numbers. It could well appeal to many members of our existing choral and instrumental music groups but for anyone with a love of classical music or wanting to start learning about truly great music, why not give this group a try? See the contact list for the Coordinator’s details. The meetings take place on Wednesday afternoons fortnightly at Worsborough Bridge Social Club. DEVELOPMENT OFFICER VACANCY Members may be aware that Beth Rudkin is standing down from her role as our Development Officer. We are currently looking to create a small team of members to work together to help carry out this vital and enjoyable role. If you would like to learn more about this “best job in BU3A” opportunity, please contact Alan or any member of the Executive Committee for a discussion. The ‘job’ description can be seen on the BU3A website at Documents/Roles and Responsibilities. MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL For those members who have still to renew their membership, you can do so in person at the May Monthly Meeting on 13th May at The Priory. We will be in The Oak Room from 12.00 – 13.30. Please have your renewal slips and cheques completed. Many members have already renewed using the online BACS method, which has proven very successful and easy to use. Any member still to renew can use this method. MAY MONTHLY MEETING The next Monthly Meeting on Monday 13th May at 1.30 will feature Flutes Galore with popular tunes, a sing-along and a special arrangement for six flutes of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair written by Eric Longford Jessop, well known in brass band circles throughout Yorkshire and a member of our Old Blowers. Flutes Galore has grown from three members when it started in 2018 to eight members in 2019 and the rumour is that more are wanting to join. Is this now the largest U3A Flute group in the country? Seven of the eight will be playing at the meeting and have been working hard to offer us a great programme. We are saving our impressive BU3A Choir for their own Monthly Meeting later in the year. The May meeting was going to be shared by the two groups but surely better that each has its own spot in our calendar. SUMMER BUZZ The Summer Buzz will be available for collection at the AGM Monthly Meeting on June 3rd. All submissions from Coordinators and any other member (articles, photos, etc) for this Summer edition should be sent to [email protected] by Friday 10th May. SPRING BUZZ PHOTO CAPTION COMPETITION There is still time to add your entry to the amusing ones already received for the Photo Caption Competition on Page 27 of the Spring Buzz. Entries to [email protected] or to Buzz Editor at [email protected] Results in the Summer Buzz. I can’t wait! BARNSLEY LIGHTBOX [NEW LIBRARY] SATURDAY 20TH JULY The new Barnsley Lightbox opens its doors to the public on Saturday 13th July and a week later on Saturday 20th July there is an event for Barnsley charities to publicise themselves. Barnsley U3A will have a promotion stand there and anyone willing to help to explain to members of the public what we do, should contact Alan Swann or Derek Bacon (see Contact list) for further details. CURRY NIGHT COORDINATOR We are looking for a Curry Night Coordinator to replace Trudy Atkinson who is standing down after several years doing the job. Many thanks, Trudy. Our curry fans are grateful to you. BU3A EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE POSTS At the AGM on the 3rd June, there are a number of Executive Committee posts to be filled; these can be seen on Page 5 of the Spring Buzz. BUSINESS SECRETARY Pam Clayton has stepped down as Business Secretary for personal reasons and Jacqui MacKinnon has been co-opted onto the Executive Committee to take over the role. Pam has done a tremendous job for BU3A over a number of years and we all thank her and wish her well for the future. SIXTIES NIGHT There are just half a dozen tickets still available. Contact Margaret Saxton (see Contact list). Thank you all for your continuing support and please keep on enjoying BU3A. Alan Swann (Chairman) Derek Bacon (Buzz Editor) 2018 AGM MINUTES MINUTES OF THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BARNSLEY AND DISTRICT U3A HELD AT THE PRIORY CAMPUS ON MONDAY 4TH JUNE 2018 PRESENT: Alan Swann (Chairman), Ernest Bradley (Vice Chairman), Pam Clayton (Business Secretary) Hilary Newton (Treasurer), John MacKinnon (Membership Secretary), Helen Dew (New Members), Margaret Saxton (Social Secretary), Beth Rudkin (Development Officer) Sue Rowley (Choir), Max Senior (Equalities Officer), Trudy Atkinson (Gift Aid), Mike Booth (Website Administrator). APOLOGIES: Mike Nevins (Room Bookings) 1 WELCOME The Chair welcomed members to the twenty-second Annual General Meeting and pointed out that copies of the twenty-first AGM Minutes had been published in the Spring Buzz and were also being displayed on screen at the meeting. The Agenda and the 2017/18 Financial Statement were available in the current Buzz, along with the Chairman's Annual Report. A minute’s silence was held in respect of members who had passed away during the last year. The Chair paid tribute to Dennis Avison, who was Chairman of BU3A in the early years, who died recently. 2 MINUTES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Members were asked to consider the Minutes of the previous AGM. These were then accepted as a correct record. Proposed by Trudy Atkinson and seconded by Sarah Taylor. 3 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising. 4 ANNUAL REPORT The Annual report printed in the Buzz will be submitted to the Charities Committee along with the end of year accounts for publication on their website. 5 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT BU3A continues to maintain its strong position in the region and this is down to its spirit of “we make it work”. We are able to offer a range of groups that are of interest to members and currently there are 100 activities available. The continued growth in new membership brings with it new ideas and opportunities to develop further activities. Advertising is one of our strengths and, historically, this was mainly done by word of mouth but more recently, we have added BU3A publicity leaflets. The website has undergone significant development, which gives an up to date summary of what we do. We also have the Buzz, which is now a real magazine that is often passed on to friends and neighbours. Overall, this high-quality publicity plays a big part in letting people know about us, which in turn leads to increasing membership numbers. Members were informed that there is now an excellent archive of Barnsley U3A which is housed at Age UK [Barnsley], Eldon Street. Thanks were extended to Michael Swift and Mary Burbidge for their excellent work in putting this together. The archive is available to view by request. The Chairman's Report was accepted – proposed by June Rolfe and seconded by Swaran Dhal. 6 TREASURER'S REPORT (Hilary Newton) The accounts are available in the current Buzz. The expenditure against room hire has increased this year but is mainly due to new groups being created. It was pointed out that the Affiliation Fees shown on the report are incorrect, showing some £950 too much. This is due to Beacon Access and the CLA licence being added to the wrong column. Buzz posting is less this year due to reduced postal costs as we are now able to use the franking facility at Age UK.