If you would like to watch our December talk, please click on this link and follow the instructions to register for the talk: click here…
Once registered you will receive a confirmation email with a unique link in it to access the talk. A reminder email will be sent a couple of days before and 15 minutes before the talk is due to start. If someone registers and does not receive the confirmation email please check their junk or spam folders, or email speakerfinder@westwoldsu3a.org
If you are interested in learning how to use Zoom or just want to know what you might be missing out on then National Office have set up some new sessions.
Are you still managing to keep occupied during the various lock downs and restrictions, or are you fed up with gardening, decorating or cleaning the house/car/shed/garage, and wondering what else you could do?
As we are forced to spend more time at home, now is an ideal opportunity to learn to play a(nother) musical instrument – the ukulele. The ukulele was popular in the 1930’s and 40’s, interest waned in the 60’s and is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. The instrument is cheap, compact and relatively easy to start to play. Do you think you might like to learn to play the ukulele?
The very successful ukulele group, founded by Heather Barrett, has now restructured outside the U3A to follow its performance ambitions. This leaves the West Wolds U3A ukulele group the opportunity to rethink how it might move forward.
Having agreed to lead the West Wolds ukulele group, my thoughts are that we could focus on giving more individual support than was previously possible. This would mean directing group activity more towards developing technique, proficiency and knowledge and less towards fine tuning songs for public performance. Ultimately the direction and activities of the group will be determined by its membership.
Learning a musical instrument requires a lot of regular, individual practice, preferably with periodic support from a tutor. My simple plan is to provide that support directly to individuals or small groups when safe to meet, and via zoom, email and telephone whilst we are unable to meet.
Opportunities to learn, laugh and live, with the common interest of playing the ukulele will continue to be available, just not perhaps in the manner or on the regular basis we might prefer. We will have to adjust our life expectations and adapt to take advantage of, say a spell of good weather, to meet and play outdoors, using the time when we are locked up in our homes for individual practice or meeting via zoom.
If you are at all interested in participating with a relaunched ukulele group please do make contact with me.
You may wish to add a ukulele to your Christmas present list!
Contact: Tim Hirst, 01673 849571, mothyhirst@gmail.com
You can access the newsletter from this post or from the email the majority of our members will receive on 18th November 2020.
If you haven’t told us your email address or if it has changed… to avoid missing out send your updated email details to membership@westwoldsu3a.org.
If you would like to make comment on this newsletter or submit an article for the next issue then please send details to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org by Friday 4th December.
We would really like to hear from you during this lockdown period.
Mandy Murphy has asked for the details of June Hare’s funeral to be circulated.
Mandy writes: “She was a lovely lady and I think a number of West Wolds members would want the chance to join in and possibly send a donation to Cancer Research UK and Middle Rasen Methodist Church. Her husband Colin was a Chairman at one time and in their earlier years supported WW u3a in many ways.
At these difficult time the number of attendees at the funeral is restricted however details of joining the service online can be found by clicking here…
Available online on computer, tablet or smart phone.
ITS NOT WHAT YOU SAY
Ever wondered why you feel attracted to some people and avoid others? Most of us form an opinion about someone in just 90 seconds and rarely change our mind. But it is not based on the way people speak, or even what they say. Discover how Body Language speaks louder then words when we communicate with each other.
Talk length – 46 minutes.
We will send details of how to register for the talk, and you will be sent the link to click on 10 minutes before the start of the talk.
Watch this space for registration details in the next couple of weeks.
All initiatives are available at: National Programmes. Initiatives are intentionally released on a stagger to keep people’s interest and participation over the winter. Events which require members to book are at: Educational Events. The website will be updated regularly so please keep checking these pages.
1. National poetry competition. Nationwide search to find the best poem penned by a u3a member. Launched 12th October. 20th November deadline, then judging. Winner announced January 2021.
2. Programme of free talks delivered by members (currently being sourced). Talks are released on a stagger so people don’t bulk book. Talks confirmed to date:
Mayan civilization,
How to write your living history
Yoga (booking not yet released)
Bridge tutorials for beginners and improvers (booking not yet released)
Crown green bowling (booking not yet released)
Philosophy (booking not yet released)
Cryptic crosswords (booking not yet released)
Japan (booking not yet released)
Other TBC.
3. Made it! Make it! gets a Christmas update – you will be encouraged to send in pictures and explanations of how they have made decorations/items for Christmas and the festive season. This will use the same pages with updated wording and a push on social media. From 12th October, regular weekly updating.
4. Poetry reading. Encouraging members to read their poems aloud. Led by a u3a member. First session 14th October, 2:30pm. Second session TBC. Booking at: Educational Events
5. Winter Watch. Members send in pictures of winter gardens, scenes, animals etc. Launching 20th October, regular weekly updating.
6. Battle of Britain and the Blitz. You are encouraged to send in your stories of your experiences/ those of your families and friends. Stories will go up on the website. Launch date by 23rd October.
7. Paint or Draw (POD) – The monthly art challenge. Similar to u3a Eye. You send in pictures of your original artwork on a monthly theme. Up to 15 images are chosen for the online gallery. No prizes, just prestige. Launch date: 26th October.
8. U3A Maths Week (“Don’t retire from maths – count yourself in!”). Three events planned (publicity released 8th Oct including a prize draw) and booking at: Educational Events
Monday 9 November 2020, 2pm to 3.30pm Online talk by Rob Eastaway, “Maths on the Back of an Envelope.”
Wednesday 11 November 2020, 2pm to 3pm Maths problems and puzzles workshop.
Friday 13 November 2020, 2pm to 3pm Maths activities and games.
9. U3A Radio Podcast – Second programme to be released 17th November.
10. Friday watercolour painters – A series of five workshops led by a u3a member where participants are shown how to produce a to produce a finished piece of artwork at the end. Pictures of the final artworks to go up on a online gallery. Starts 20th November. Advertised at: Educational Events
11. Programme of ‘external’ talks. Includes to date:
National Gallery – Life and paintings of Artemisia (£5) on 24th November
Guildhall Art Gallery – Prerecorded talk about the Romans. Date TBC
National Trust – History of the National Trust (free). Date TBC
British Library – Christmas literature (free). Date TBC
Southwark Cathedral – TBC
National Army Museum – TBC
12. Christmas Choir – Group carol singing led by the U3A member who led the previous choir sessions. 10th December. A new weekly choir initiative, working towards a recorded song to start in January 2021.
13. Ongoing initiatives at: National Programmes
U3A Eye – Fortnightly photograph challenge on a different theme each time.
Maths challenge – weekly
Quiz – weekly
Birdwatch – Continuous with weekly updating
Creative Covid Collaboration – Members create ‘squares’ to form a digital patchwork. Continuous
Ideas to keep learning – weekly
Diary – now closed, submissions for each week to the end of July available to read
Creative Writing Competition 2020. Winners announced. The 13 regional winners’ stories are available to read
14. January – A series of Winter Schools are planned for 11th Jan – end of Feb 2021.
You can access the newsletter from this post or from the email the majority of our members will receive on 14th October 2020.
If you haven’t told us your email address or if it has changed… to avoid missing out send your updated email details to membership@westwoldsu3a.org.
If you would like to make comment on this newsletter or submit an article for the next issue then please send details to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org by Monday 2nd November.
We would really like to hear from you during this lockdown period.
Several Group Convenors have asked as to when their groups can meet again. The committee discuss this at every online committee meeting and at the moment our advice is not to meet in person. Below is the advice from National Office.
The government advice is that “Certain groups of people are at increased risk of severe disease from coronavirus (COVID-19), including all people aged 70 or over. Such individuals are advised to stay at home as much as possible and, if they do go out, to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside of their household.”
For more detailed information from National Office click here…
If you feel you are missing out by not knowing about Zoom meetings then why not try one of the U3A demonstrations. Several sessions have been arranged for next week and you can find out more by clicking here…
The British Red Cross is committed to delivering help to those who need it most. Over the last few months, the number of people at risk of feeling lonely or isolated has increased – in some groups at a disproportionate rate – as connections with friends and family may have shifted or changed in light of lockdown.
As part of their response to the Coronavirus crisis, they have partnered with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on ‘Tackling Loneliness Digitally’, an initiative to provide or improve digital connections for those more likely to experience loneliness.
A core element of this programme focuses on creating online resources to help empower people who may be feeling lonely, and provide them with tools to build confidence, coping skills, and connections. The resources are free and can be found by clicking here…
You can access the newsletter from this post or from the email the majority of our members will receive on 18th September 2020.
If you haven’t told us your email address or if it has changed… to avoid missing out send your updated email details to membership@westwoldsu3a.org.
If you would like to make comment on this newsletter or submit an article for the next issue then please send details to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org by Monday 28th October.
We would really like to hear from you during this lockdown period.
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If you would like to watch our December talk, please click on this link and follow the instructions to register for the talk: click here…
If you are interested in learning how to use Zoom or just want to know what you might be missing out on then National Office have set up some new sessions.
Ukulele Interest Group Relaunch
The November newsletter is 
All initiatives are available at: 
If you feel you are missing out by not knowing about Zoom meetings then why not try one of the U3A demonstrations. Several sessions have been arranged for next week and you can find out more by 