NEWSLETTER WINTER EDITION2019 HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS ‘Undeterred by the July heat, 'Oot-n-Aboot' ramblers conquered Beacon Hill on the Orton Scar limestone escarpment refreshed by an ice cream from the Chocolate Factory This Newsletter was printed by Colophon Print & Design of Carlisle Www.u3asites.org.uk/Carlisle A New Members Pack may be obtained from the Membership Secretary LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Hello everyone Another year rolls out ahead of us. Having had to pass on my ‘Secretary hat’ to Kath Denyer, I was persuaded to remain on the committee and the only way was to be Chairman. Hilary’s shoes are hard to fill but I will do my best to fulfil the role, with the support of our committee members. I am pleased to welcome Julia Dobson (recently moved to the Carlisle area) and Andrew Trappe as new committee members. Our U3A can only function with a full committee, people willing to take on the various roles which help our organisation run smoothly. There is much work done ‘behind the scenes’, attending meetings, writing policies and making sure we run our U3A in line with Charity Commission requirements. In introducing myself, although a lot of you know me as I’ve been around quite a while now: I joined Carlisle U3A in October 2011 and very soon was persuaded onto the committee, by Dave Stevens! Three months later I was asked to take over the Secretary’s position which I have done since then. I also ‘volunteered’ to be Membership Secretary when my predecessor needed to hand over as she was moving away and no one else wanted the job! I soon realised that the U3A is an organisation I am passionate about. I think, and hope, we make a difference to the lives of our members. The main emphasis when I joined was educational; continuing to learn after retirement. Thankfully now the social side of what we do has been embraced by the organisation, recognising the value of our groups for those who are lonely, bereaved or just needing something to do with their lives. This ethos is reflected in the new U3A logo, have you noticed the change? LEARN! LAUGH! LIVE! No longer using the name University of the Third Age. I trust we continue to provide groups and activities which meet those requirements. I am always interested to hear members’ views on this. We are always looking for new groups to start up, we need people to facilitate them, you don’t need to be an expert 2 An ongoing challenge is how we spread the word about our U3A, this is a national challenge too. There are lots of people out there who have never heard of the U3A, you can all help, tell your friends; we have posters to put up where you live, leaflets you can pass on, just let me know if you want some! Janet Dutton 01228 542338 [email protected] Other Useful Contacts Website Administrator. Hilary Farrer. 01228 512257 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Maurice Dutton 01228 542338 [email protected] -o0o- MEMBERSHIP UPDATE As of November 2019, we have 728 members. This number has decreased as 121 members did not renew their membership in September. If you know anyone for whom this was an oversight it’s never too late to renew. U3A OPEN DAY 3 JUNE 2020 U3As across the country are being asked to mark the day by hosting eye catching events which showcase and celebrate what happens in their U3A. We intend to get involved with this and your committee has started discussions about where we could hold this event and what it might include. We will be looking for other members to help - any ideas of what we could do, maybe being part of a working group to help organise the event – we need to make it a spectacular day! Let me know if you are able and willing to help in any way, the more the merrier! Janet Dutton 01228 542338 [email protected] -o0o- 3 Quiz Group The quiz group continues to meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month in Brampton. Questions are set by various members of the group and are, usually, not too difficult. At our last quiz Keith had brought us an actual 11 plus paper to do. Now that really made us think. We are a very friendly group and new members are always welcome. You don’t have to come as a team, we usually just join whoever is there. With tea, coffee and biscuits at half time it is a very enjoyable way to pass an afternoon. Please contact Sally Jones on [email protected] for more information. -o0o- GROUPS New & Old Firstly the bad news….we have over the past few months lost some of our groups for various reasons, these include Learn Jazz, Alternative French, Talkin ll Art and Hearts Aerobics. If you feel you can start one of the groups again then please contact Sandra White The Hearts Aerobics group was very popular and is sorely missed by many members so if you know of any person who could run this or a similar group . Now the good news….Alan Nash is proposing to start a Mandarin Chinese Language Group in December or n the New Year. If you are interested then please contact Alan Nash on 01228 526263. Singing for Pleasure needs some MEN!!!! Lately some men have expressed an interest in joining this group. For more information please contact Jean Postlethwaite on 01228 560728. -o0o- Coffee Mornings These are held on the first Monday of every month at the Crown & Mitre Hotel in Carlisle city centre from 10.30 to 12 noon. A great opportunity to meet with other U3A members and make new friends -o0o- 4 Did This Little Gem Pass You BY….. According to our bank, HSBC ,there are now new rules regarding how you write cheques. You must now use a black ink pen only (no other colour) and definitely not a felt tip pen. Why you may ask….well this is because cheques are now scanned by the receiving bank and the image sent to your bank for processing. The original cheque is subsequently destroyed. -o0o- The Philosophy Group meets on the 2nd Thursday afternoon of each month, from 1.30-3.30 pm, in the Philosophy Room, at Fisher Street Gallery's Carlisle. The cost is two pounds per session with refreshments available as we have a break half way through. The format is informal, friendly and group led. We have a particular focus each month which might be a philosophical concept, a philosopher or a topical talking point. Sometimes I facilitate it but people also volunteer for which I am grateful, but there is no requirement to volunteer a topic and lead it. The topic is published in advance ,our topics have been wide ranging and have encouraged a lot of thoughts, reflections and opinions. There are always lively views .experience ,insights and many laughs. Conclusions are not reached, there are only more questions. Philosophy for us is about examining and questioning how we think about the World ,and the Human condition. All new Members are welcome as we want a good cross section of views, opinions and life experiences. Unlike many other subjects philosophy is not a body of facts and theories to be learned, it is an activity, to be enjoyed together, discussions are never boring and the time goes in a flash. My contact for more information is [email protected] -o0o- 5 A HISTORICAL APPROACH TO SOME DEVELOPMENTS IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY A Proposed New Group Using works of historical enquiry, aided by some linguistic analysis, I am hoping to start a study group to look at contributions from the Mystery Religions, particularly the Egyptian variant and from northern India into early Christianity. Recent scholarship supports a view of strong cultural influence along the Silk Routes which rose to a peak between 200BC approx. and 200AD approx. The flow was two-way but possibly stronger from East to West. Using sceptical enquiry not hagiography (biography of saints) I want this study group to offer adventure to the mind. We will try to use historical probability rather than belief to link speculative probing to an emerging groundwork of historical fact. I am proposing that we study a well researched work as a basic starting text: The Original Jesus: The Buddhist Sources of Christianity by Gruber and Kersten (Element Books 1995). Group members would read a chapter of this book before each monthly meeting, which we then discuss at the meet. To begin with, and numbers permitting meets will be at my house near Dixon’s Chimney off Dalston Road, and will last approximately two hours (Day and time to be decided). Any U3A member who is interested is invited to contact me, Paul Greenaway, telephone 07963 379712, email: [email protected]. I will then give a more comprehensive 3 page A4 syllabus. (Further background is available for reference on my bookshelves at home). Paul Greenaway -o0o- 6 THIRD THURSDAY TOGETHER This is the new name for our monthly meetings. They are held on the Third Thursday of the month at Harraby Community Centre starting at 2pm. There will be Varied Interests, Talks, Discussions, Drama, the Arts, Literature and Presentations. Come and join us. It is open to all members of the Carlisle & District U3A. An opportunity to meet and get to know members from other groups Refreshments provided and there is no charge.