CALDICOT & DISTRICT u3a Newsletter July 2021 www.u3asites.org.uk/caldicot/home Reg Charity No. 1071447 1 COPY FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER We welcome reports from all members and group Convenors for inclusion in the Newsletter or forwarding on to our website if requested. Word doc is preferred and should be sent to: [email protected] or tel. 01291 424997 by midday on the 29th JULY 2021 Typed or handwritten articles should be submitted a few days earlier if possible to:- Angela Hodson-Hirst, 44 Leechpool Holdings, Portskewett, Monmouthshire, NP26 5UB MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION 2021/2022 It was decided at the Committee meeting, held on 29th April by a majority vote, of those present, that Membership subscription for this year 2021/22 would be collected in instalments. However the option remains, of course, to pay the full membership of £10.00, and £6.50 for associate members, if members chose to do so. It was suggested that members could opt to, pay £5.00 now and £5.00 later in the year, as stated in Committee News. The past 2 years Membership renewal forms were issued, by me, to Convenors enabling them to collect your subs and give me your preferences regarding receiving the Third Age Magazine. These forms are not being issued this year, because of the two tier collection, so if you would like to no longer receive this magazine please let me know. I would also appreciate if you have any other change of details since last year to please advise me in order that I may keep our Membership list up to date. Your group Convenor will be collecting your subscriptions.... however you can, of course, send me your subscriptions at the same address as above under (Copy for your Newsletter) If you wish to pay by cheque please make your cheque payable to Caldicot & District u3a Angela Hodson-Hirst Membership secretary LINK SECRETARY We have many members who do not know the duties of the Link secretary so it is timely to remind members what they are. The position involves looking after the social side of our activities by sending out appropriate messages of congratulations on special occasions, such as, anniversaries or special birthdays and sending get well cards to members who may be sick or in hospital. Regrettably, these events sometimes include bereavement. If you hear of any member(s) who reach their 80th, 90th, 100th birthdays, Golden, Diamond, Platinum Wedding Anniversaries or even Marriages between members to please contact me so that I can send a Congratulatory card. If you hear of any member, or their family, who are in hospital, sick or any other reason I would be grateful if you would please inform me. [email protected] or Tel: 01291 421484 Betty Waite 2 LINK CARDS SENT Happy birthday Ron Prettyjohn on 90th year, many congratulations. Best wishes and congratulations to Diana and Richard Clarke on their 50th wedding anniversary. Betty Waite ROLAND CAREY Many thanks to everyone who sent me messages, cards and flowers after the passing of Roly. Your support over the last few weeks and months has been very much appreciated. Joan Carey CHAIRS NOTE Putting our u3a into context. Alongside Linda Stewart (Vice Chair) we have been attending zoom meetings of the South Wales Area u3a’s and to be honest we have been surprised at how well we are doing as a u3a in comparison to other areas. To our surprise much larger u3a’s than us have no plans to restart their groups until Sept, some have lost a lot of members and others are less than optimistic about the future. Indeed we have had requests from larger areas to look at our Covid Risk criteria and to discuss some of the ways in which we have worked together with convenors and members in order that our groups can restart. This is of course no reason to be smug, but as a u3a we should be proud of what has been achieved since the last lockdown. Any achievements are due to hard work, motivation and most importantly communication. The key words toward progress have been we, us and our and the fact that we have taken “Baby Steps” from Zoom to outside meetings and more recently inside meetings at identified venues. Working at the pace of our Convenors and members, taking on board their ideas, encouraging and gradually trying to rebuild people's confidence will take more time and patience but is achievable. Surely working, learning and supporting each other through what are still uncertain times is the essence of the u3a movement. Once again you will see in this edition of our Newsletter, either in Committee News, the 25th Celebrations information, the work of the Convenors, treasurers and notwithstanding our website, that there is so much evidence for optimism. Moreover from the experience we have gained so far, there will be plans laid for the future that will hopefully give us a sound basis upon which we can build our u3a in the future and also be at the heart of the Communities in which our members live. Many thanks to everyone for your support. Rob Harry Chairman COMMITTEE NEWS The Committee News this month is going to be a “Thank Fest”. Firstly the committee would like to thank everyone on the 25th Anniversary sub-committee for all of their hard work. Although the weather was dreadful the day was a great success and many members attended in spite of the rain. There are some wonderful photographs on the website. Secondly, talking about the website we would like to thank Ann Taylor-Heard for all of her hard work on the website. Also Jim Fenton for his creative and innovative Home Page, which changes several times each month. Check it out. To all the Convenors for their hard work in re-starting outside and now inside, if it wasn’t for their dedication and enthusiasm our members could still be waiting for re-start. Instead we have most of our groups re-started/re-starting and the members “chomping at the bit” to get going. 3 Your Committee continues to meet and are busy discussing and planning for the autumn when it is hoped an Open Day will be held. Keep checking the upcoming newsletters for details. We wish you all a Happy Summer Linda Stewart Vice chair CONVENORS REPORT As you will see from the Committee News, many groups have had face to face meetings either social gatherings, walking or indoor meetings. I have had the pleasure of attending a few outdoors meetings and seen the pleasure the members have of being able to meet again. I hope to attend many more both indoors or outdoors in the coming months. It has been encouraging for the future success of Caldicot & District u3a of the response by the Convenors arranging meetings and the number of members attending the outdoor meetings and the limited numbers wishing to meet indoors. My thanks again for the support I have received from the Convenors and for their wish for further Zoom Convenor meetings with the next one scheduled for July 15th. Glenice Dallow Group Co-ordinator A BIG THANK YOU I would like to thank all those people who organised our 25th Anniversary celebrations. It was so good to see so many people attending and able to catch up with them. Unfortunately it is impossible to organise the weather but the rain didn't dampen everyone's day and I believe everyone was just happy to be meeting others again. Thank you to the sub-committee for my lovely rose it has bloomed beautifully and as it's called Silver Jubilee is very apt. Thank you also to Angela and everyone for the voucher for me and my family to have a family photograph taken. We haven't done this yet but hope to during school holidays as I may be able to organise the family then. Once again Wendy did us proud with a beautiful cake. Thank you, Wendy. With restrictions opening up it is to be hoped we can soon all meet up and get back to as near as normal as we can. Until then please all stay safe and keep healthy. As always Pam Caines CALDICOT WOMEN'S INSTITUTE Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond their control Caldicot Women's Institute have to go into suspension after 80yrs. Therefore, having cleared their belongings from their store they would like to donate 12 tablecloths to the u3a to use for any of their celebrations. Jill Davies Caldicot W. I. President 4 CALDICOT & DISTRICT U3A 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS 2ND JUNE 2021 THE CORNFIELD PROJECT Firstly, we would like to thank everyone for attending when the weather was so atrocious. Also, thank you to everyone that contributed raffle prizes. Thank you to the team that manned the raffle table. There were lots of banners made by the Handicraft Group spread out around the site. There was a wonderful plant stall run by Pauline the Convenor of Gardening and some of her members. A big thank you to the dedicated Gardening team who have been working on the garden plots in the Cornfield these past few weeks are showing some beautiful results. 25th Anniversary Sub-group with Pam Caines The Handicraft Group had a stall that showcased some of the items the members have been working on. The 25th Anniversary Bench that Caldicot & District u3a had made with an engraved plaque looked splendid in situ. The planters looked excellent with all the plants the gardening group had planted. A huge thank you to the Science & History Group for the donation and planting of the trees.