Skye U3A news Issue #17 – September 2015 web: u3asites.org.uk/code/u3asite.php?site=325&page=0 Message from the (arm)chair Contact details Following our very splendid summer (sic), hosts U3A Facebook page. It is a 'closed group', so Chair of visitors, and 16 nose to tail campervans only those with a Facebook account, and an Tony Livesey heading through Glendale for Neist Point invitation to join, can see the posts. If you would ✆ 01470 511207; 8 (similar lunacy spotted up by Staffin heading like to be included just email myself or Joy. [email protected] for the Quiraing), life begins to return to normal. On the subject of computers we have three Vice Chair Christmas decorations and baubles for sale in Vacancy every shop and the rain is a little cooler than Secretary of late. Judy Atherton In June, Joy attended the Scotland U3A AGM ✆ in Oban. I found the ideas about computerised 8 [email protected] care for the elderly arriving in the very near Treasurer future, somewhat disturbing. It appears our Chad Killington morning routine will involve our tablets, both ✆ 01470 582384 those we swallow with a glass of water, and 8 [email protected] those we fire up for news, emails etc. But shortly a vast amount of our data will be stored Membership Secretaries in 'the Cloud' enabling the computer/tablet to Barbara Macdonald interact with us in spooky ways. Should you ✆ 01470 521576 wish to learn more, visit Rita.me.uk (stands for virtually unused machines which we have 8 [email protected] Responsive Interactive Advocate). decided to sell – watch out for details in an Peggy Hunter email very soon. The money raised from the sale ✆ 01470 521324 8 [email protected] of them will be very much needed, as with such a small membership, we don’t find it easy to Group Co-ordinators make ends meet. Pola and Tony Livesey Please do all you can to encourage your ✆ 01470 511207 8 [email protected] Skye U3A 5th Birthday Party in aid of Crossroads Care friends, family, simply anyone to come along and perhaps join the Skye U3A group. We The Isle of Skye U3A has been have barely half the numbers we need to be in existence for over four years. sustainable. I trust you will do all you can to aid It was originally based around the continuation, and development of our U3A the island’s capital, Portree, but has extended itself to include on Skye. Broadford. These two centres Hope to see as many as possible on Friday are separated by 26 miles and 25 September at the Shinty Hall in Portree for many members are scattered Also thanks to Joy for the information she our Coffee Afternoon in aid of the excellent in remote locations around the brought back about utilizing publicity in all Crossroads Charity. island. This presents special its various forms. We hope to utilize some of challenges but the Isle of Skye Tony these ideas here, and we now have a Skye itself is a major compensation, offering rich sources of interest in areas such as archaeology, Greater Tilted Red Fronted Calorigasious Lorriai geology, nature, and walking. Given the population of Skye we will never approach the Ophir has penned a poem on the rare It was decided to leave it in the ditch. size of city U3As but we are sighting of the Greater Tilted Red Fronted It didn’t seem to be in pain; nor have an itch. very much hoping to grow and Calorigasious Lorriai. Not to be confused with the No one had had previous knowledge; new members are extremely SuperCalorfragilisticexpialidocious which is somewhat Though one had been to college, welcome. larger, though of lighter build. Its song was last heard That part of the course suffered a glitch. Skye U3A news is published in the London (England) area, many years ago, though It was still there, to our surprise, when we returned. irregularly. Copy date for the no sightings, or better yet, photographs, have been We hoped it didn’t think it had been spurned; next issue is 10 October 2015. reported until now (see page 3). But there’s a limit to one’s skills, Send material for inclusion to We were on a ‘Nature' walk one day; And besides, where to send our bills? Ian Burn [8 [email protected]]. And came across one of the genus, Lorriai. Even though a salutary lesson had been learned. It was standing in a ditch, So, to sum up, Nature walks may turn out well. There seemed to be a hitch, Who is it, in this in this uncertain world, can really tell? For the trainer; where was he? Had gone away. One has to be prepared, We were lost to know what to do; For a burden to be squared2 We had a schedule that we had to follow through. And that my friends, is it, in a nutshell. So, plainly at a loss, We turned to ask The Boss; Our leader for the day!! – at a loss too. Isle of Skye U3A 2015 programme Friday 29 May 2015 meeting University of the Highlands and Islands U3A stands for the University of the Third Age, Contact details which is a self-help organisation for people by Maggie Macdonald, Manager, no longer in full time employment providing [email protected] educational, creative and leisure opportunities in Portree College a friendly environment. It consists of local U3As Chair Joy Davies Our speaker in May was all over the UK, which are charities in their own Maggie MacDonald, right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local ✆ 01470 511727; 8 [email protected] Manager of Portree College, U3As are learning cooperatives which draw Vice Chair part of the West Highland upon the knowledge, experience and skills of Tony Livesey College, University of the their own members to organise and provide ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] interest groups in accordance with the wishes Isle of Skye U3A Highlands and Islands. of the membership. The teachers learn and Secretary Maggie outlined the wide the learners teach. Between them U3As offer Jo-Ann Cherry range of courses offered at the chance to study over 300 different subjects ✆ 01470 542777; 8 [email protected] 2015 programme the college. U3A members in such fields as art, languages, music, history, Treasurer were very interested in finding life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, Chad Killington out what arrangements photography and walking. ✆ 01470 582384; 8 [email protected] were available (course The U3A approach to learning is – learning for fees, bursaries, grants and pleasure. There is no accreditation or validation Membership Secretaries allowances) for retired persons. and there are no assessments or qualifications Barbara Macdonald . to be gained. ✆ 01470 521576; 8 [email protected] The U3A movement is supported by its national Peggy Hunter ✆ U3A calendar 2016 organisation, the Third Age Trust. 01470 521324; 8 [email protected] The Isle of Skye U3A was founded in September Group Co-ordinators Hopefully we don't have 2010 and originally operated in the northern Pola and Tony Livesey more than 12 photographs part of the island, with meetings taking place ✆ 01470 511207; 8 [email protected] submitted or we might have to in the ‘capital city of Skye’, Portree. It was call on the Chairman to make subsequently extended to the southern part the final selection! of the island, with meetings being held in the Ideally, suitable photographs ‘second city’, Broadford. These two centres are separated by 26 miles and many members should have a U3A link or are scattered in remote locations around the theme – eg, photographs of island. This presents special challenges but a U3A event – ideally taken the Isle of Skye itself is a major compensation, during 2015. Files should be offering rich sources of interest in areas such as landscape format (see dummy archeology, geology, nature, and walking. Given page below) in digital format the population of Skye we will never approach (jpeg, tiff, png) and at as high the size of metropolitan U3As but we are very a resolution as possible. much hoping to grow and new members are extremely welcome. Last year, as an experiment, Skye U3A produced a calendar highlighting events and activities of the group. We meet at 2.00 pm on the last Friday of every month, with the venue alternating between Portree Shinty clubhouse and The 2015 calendar was well Breakish Hall. At most meetings there is a guest speaker, but received by members and it now and again we hold internal events such as quizzes, group was suggested we should presentations, etc. produce one for 2016, but try to get it finished in time for Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available at all meetings. Christmas instead of in mid- January! Fri 25 September Preparations are now complete Crossroads Care for the 2016 version and we Jenny Millington hope to be able to have a few Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG. copies printed professionally Please email files to me. Any Friday 30 October for U3A members to purchase, questions, please get in touch. either for themselves or to give Many thanks, RSPB as presents. Dr Alison MacLennan Ian Burn Al that are missing are suitable Breakish Hall, Breakish. [8 [email protected]] photographs to include. Friday 27 November If any U3A members has photographs they would like Possibly special interest groups feed back to be considered for inclusion Shinty clubhouse, Pairc Nan Laoch, Struan Road, Portree IV51 9EG. please forward them to me.