NW U3A Region Questionnaire
The U3A North West Region has produced a questionnaire, open to all members, to establish what the membership wants from the region. Questionnaires can be downloaded from the NW Region website. Please try to find the time to complete it - it is very short.
New Members' Lunch
NW U3A Region Events
There are events organised by the North West region which sound really good - eg a lecture on 'Black Holes'. Dates are on the Diary Page and on the NW Region website - see what they have to offer.
Rosemary Stokes' Research
Northumbria U3A Residential School, 11-14 April 2011
Hosted by the Physics Department of Durham University. Subjects are Earth Sciences, Biology and Physics, plus an evening lecture on stem cells. Cost is £220 including three nights accommodation and meals (field trip extra). Limited to 100. Sounds really good - I have booked a place for myself so would be able to take anyone without transport. Click here for further information, or see the Notice Board at monthly meetings.
Co-ordinators meeting 18th September
I hope you all enjoyed the meeting. Thank you all for attending. I was delighted with the discussions that took place. It's invaluable to get feedback so that we can direct our energies in the right direction. I will collate the questionnaires that you so kindly completed. The questionnaire results and a resumé of the meeting will be published shortly. If you haven't yet sent your membership lists please do so.
Neil Fitton
Neil is recovering well and is now moving about. He hopes to go to Ellesmere Port Hospital soon.
STEM Ambassadors in Cheshire and Warrington
Seth Clay (STEM Development Consultant, Connexions Cheshire & Warrington) is asking for volunteers who would be willing to assist and pass on their knowledge and skills in the world of work and life and how it is affected by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). His remit is to work with schools 5 - 19. He has looked at the work done by our members and thought it would be useful to contact us and explore whether we might be willing to take the work into schools. He is currently investigating a system whereby ambassadors are 'embedded' in local schools to allow a rapport to be built up with staff and students to enable a greater understanding of their educational needs. To find out more please visit www.stemnet.org.uk and click on the Ambassador section. The task is not onerous only having to commit to one activity per year and all Ambassadors receive a free CRB and insurance cover whilst working with young people under the STEM banner.
Seth is happy to meet with you and anyone else you think might like to know more to discuss how to take this idea forward.
Neil Fitton
Neil is still very poorly in hospital. He is going to have an operation next week and when he is recovered he will be transferred to Ellesmere Port Hospital where he might appreciate being contacted by our members. I have the telephone number of his step daughter should anyone need an update. Please (01244-680460) if you'd like her number.
The July meeting speaker
If you want to see more of the TV celebrity who spoke at our last monthly meeting on 6th July, he is now appearing again in Children's Hospital on ITV1 (Tuesdays at 7:30pm until 3rd August) doing his real job!
Update on Neil Fitton's progress
Neil Fitton, one of our ex Chairman, was taken ill last week. Several people are asking about him. The latest I have heard is that he is now in Ward 41 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Benefits
Following the talk by the Citixens Advice Bureau (CAB) last month I have collated a summary of benefits into this table. If you think you may qualify for a benefit please check with your local CAB office. The Chester office is located in Folliott House behind the Odeon Cinema.
If you want to know 'Who can inherit if there is no will' the CAB has produced an excellent document entitled 'Intestacy and family provision claims on death'.
Legal Assistance
Following the recent talk by the Citizens Advice Bureau I would like to remind members that there is a free legal service for U3A members. The free service is for an initial consultation only, is NOT commercially driven, and will not be touting for business. To access the 'First Assist' you will need a code number which I hold. Please for the code before telephoning 'First Assist'.
U3A Goods
At a party, bus stop or gathering you may wonder if anyone around you is also a member of this unique organisation. You can show that you belong by wearing a lapel badge or using a bag etc which bears the U3A logo. I have put together a list of the items which you can purchase from The Third Age Trust. Chester U3A does not carry any stock but you can order online in the Members Area of the U3A's website, or buy at a U3A event hosted by The Third Age Trust.
Tradesmen's List
Food For Thought
Co-ordinators are the backbone of the U3A, but many of you feel that you cannot commit yourself to becoming a co-ordinator as 'It's such a commitment'. There are ways around this, eg rotating the responsibility/allocating a time period for the co-ordinator responsibilities and I'm sure there are other ideas which can be used to reduce the responsibility. I would like you to consider another option - being a co-ordinator of a Short Session on a particular topic. Heraldry is currently running as a 6 week course. In the past we had an occasional Stock market course. Could you be the co-ordinator of a short course? What about Gardening (summer only) or Travel (winter only) or Cooking (possibly a 6 week course). These are only a few ideas. Have a think about it and if you think you could help increase our subject matter then I would be pleased to chat to you about it. Call me on 01244-680460 or Gordon Bowyer (Group Liaison Officer) on 01244-371779.