Our monthly emails seem to be proving to be a big hit with most people. It is a process that is undergoing refinement and requires a few tweaks here and there to make it even more successful. This month the email was delivered to 238 addresses and opened by 197 people – 82.8% success rate. Don’t you just love statistics, I know I do. Why some are not being opened remains a mystery; it might be because the email address “chairman@westwoldsu3a.org” is being blocked by your system so if you can, please look in your spam folder just in case.
If  there’s anything you would like included in the email, maybe something about your group activities, then please let me know.

And here comes the downside… Of the 197 of you who opened the email only 54 (27%) completed the survey. A few people have contacted me to say they have had a problem with some of the questions however 54 people have had no problems at all. To say I’m heartbroken would be a gross exaggeration however it is a little disappointing because the committee took several hours to put the survey together and it takes less than 5 minutes to complete it. We value your input and the survey is for the benefit of us all so if you haven’t completed it already please click here and do it now. There will be hard copies available at the February general meeting and the results of the survey will be published by the end of February.

Many thanks – Steve McCarthy, Chairman

Louth Riverhead Theatre – Wednesday 13th February.

Due to a cancellation, there is a ticket available to see the performance of ‘Alfie,’ the well known story of swinging 60s London.  Ticket cost is £9.50. The original play became a hit film with Michael Caine.  Meet at the theatre around 7.0pm.

Burton Constable Hall – a behind the scenes look at winter conservation work.  Wednesday 20th March.

As this first day out of the year is not far away, and the February General Meeting is the next time we will realistically all meet up to make bookings, I am putting out this reminder for those who have not yet put down their names to go, and paid the cost of £46.pp.  This includes the coach, driver gratuity, exclusive behind the scenes tour, ending with afternoon tea included.

For more information on either trip, email me at: briandgill@btinternet.com.

If you have the visit flyer for Burton Constable, and just need to book and pay, let me know if you will do so at the February Meeting: if you cannot be there, you can send payment to me at: 9 Redhills Close, Caistor, Market Rasen. LN7 6NE.

Time is of the essence!

Brian.

PS: Visit to Police HQ, Nettleham.  Tuesday 21 May.

Only two places remain available!

The Committee wish all our members

A Very Merry Christmas

and

A Happy, Healthy New Year

Over 40 members enjoyed an afternoon exploring and shopping in Harrogate, then an evening at the GLOW illuminations at Harlow Carr.  Here are some images which just I captured.  Other members of our digital photography group also enjoyed the challenges encountered!  The December Quarterly will give you another taste of what you missed.

ADDITIONAL VISIT TO THE PROGRAMME RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

Following our enjoyment of their performance of Swan Lake at Halifax earlier this year, I have booked 25 tickets to see a matinee performance of Nutcracker at the Hull New Theatre, on Thursday 21 February.  Coach departs Tesco Filling Station at 11.45.  Total cost £40.00 pp for coach, driver gratuity, good circle tickets.

Flyer will be available at December Monthly Meeting, but the January Meeting is closing date when tickets have to be paid for, so it will be a case of ‘first come, first served.’  Cheques payable to West Wolds U3A of course.  You can post to me at: 9 Redhills Close, Caistor, LN7 6NE, if you wish to make sure of a place.

Thanks.

Brian.

An AGM is ostensibly a formal meeting and, whilst it may not be the most exciting way to spend a morning, it is a constitutional requirement. It was therefore pleasing to note that a fair proportion of the membership had made the effort to attend however, for those of you who presumably couldn’t be bothered, it was your loss because, our Chairman and his committee made a huge effort to ‘spice’ things up for us this year. Whilst the main business on the agenda is a necessary chore, it was undertaken with relative speed and bonhomie so no, it wasn’t boring and tedious but informative and affable.

We are extremely lucky to have a Chair who takes his role very seriously yet conducts our monthly meetings with wit and humour so, this AGM was also relaxed, light-hearted and uncomplicated. His report was informative without going too deeply into detail and gave an optimistic look at organisational activities and initiatives which included examples of our successes and achievements over the year. This was followed by the treasurer’s report which confirmed the accounts are in order and meet all necessary requirements. The members voted to agree to retain our existing object clause and the election of the committee was accepted. Steve singled out a number of members for special praise and presented gifts to the three retiring committee members; and so the official business was concluded swiftly and professionally.

Under the leadership of our competent Chair Steve McCarthy, we have a lively, effective and motivated committee with a good sense of humour and, to reward us for sitting through the obligatory AGM agenda, they organised a communal activity afterwards. This proved to be an excellent way for members to widen their social circle and get the ‘old grey matter’ working as tables of six or less put their heads together to work out a picture puzzle and answer a general knowledge quiz. Unbelievably, three teams recorded identical scores so, to decide the winner, a tie breaking question revealed the victorious table who were each given a gift voucher. This was an extremely novel way to close an AGM and a most enjoyable one so well done everybody.

Although by necessity, Annual General Meetings are formal affairs where Is need to be dotted and Ts crossed, our meeting today was friendly, relaxed and actually fun so, for those of you who failed to attend your U3A AGM this year because you thought it would be ‘boring, dull and/or a waste of time, think again and support your branch by turning up next year.

Tuesday 6th November saw a dozen members at Louth Riverhead Theatre, to sit through an evening in the Little Shop of Horrors .. the story of a Skid Row florist’s shop where a new cross breed of plant becomes a source of fortune for the owner, Mr Mushnik.  But at what a price!  It grew and it grew and it wanted BLOOD!  Eventually the stream of victims caused the distraught florist’s assistant to accept the fact that he had no future in flowers, except as a victim of his voracious offspring.

Well acted by Louth Playgoers, and with a live orchestra and all the performers singing as well as speaking, it was a great evening’s entertainment, and we were glad to escape from not just the theatre, but also the bloody maw of the dreaded plant. Ugh ..!

Future shows at this lovely theatre, and for which we have tickets on hold, are as shown in the Visits Programme for 2019:

February 13          Alfie (by Bill Naughton)

March 13               Diary of Anne Frank (adapted from the famous book)

April 10                  Loot (by Joe Orton)

May 15                    Oklahoma (by Rodgers & Hammerstein)

Come and join us!

Our very own 2019 Calendar produced by the Digital Photography group is now available to view, and for you to order copies for friends at home and abroad, as well as for yourself. The layout is now larger and has more space for your notes and appointments.  The next General Meeting on Thursday 8th November is the last date for orders to be taken, for December delivery.  At a bargain price of just £5.00 each, this is a work of art not to be missed, with a range of choice photographs guaranteed to delight you!

For a little light festive relief, our December issue of your Newsletter will carry a special selection of photographs of some of our members – taken when they were considerably younger than now!  See if you can identify your fellow members, as you doze after your Christmas pudding.

Email the photo of your choice to: newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org.

And don’t forget to include the name of this person in your message!

Thank you from your Editors.  We hope you enjoy the gallery of ‘wanted’ faces.