LANCASTER & MORECAMBE (Registered Charity No 1014076) An Introduction to L&M U3A Learn, laugh and live April 2017
WELCOME Thank you for expressing an interest in the Lancaster & Morecambe U3A. We are a self-help organisation, run by the members for the members. L&M U3A offers its members the opportunity to pursue and share their individual interests and to meet new friends in a relaxed and welcoming environment. We have a wide range of interest groups and are developing new ones all the time. We have a variety of activities including Monthly Meetings on a wide range of topics and social outings to different locations. You are welcome to attend one session as a taster before becoming a member of L&M U3A. We hope you find the information in this booklet useful and informative. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES U3As in the UK are autonomous, self-help organisations with no religious or political affiliations. They are members of the Third Age Trust (a Registered Charity) which is our national support body. The Third Age Trust brings together all U3As throughout Britain and is itself part of a world-wide movement. The central concept of U3A is for members to participate in shared learning experiences, to which all contribute, in order to enhance the quality of their lives. The additional social aspects that our groups afford our members are an integral part of the whole U3A experience. With over 1000 members and numerous interest groups meeting each month, the Lancaster and Morecambe University of the Third Age (U3A) may be just what you are looking for. Each interest group is led or co-ordinated by one or more of its members. Activities can be of an academic or practical nature, or purely for relaxation. New members should not expect a formal classroom environment. Our groups do not have set curricula or exams nor are any qualifications awarded. However, we do encourage active participation by group members who set their own agenda and the levels at which they work. AIMS OF U3A To encourage and enable older people no longer in full time paid employment to help each other to share their knowledge, skills, interests and experience To demonstrate the benefits and enjoyment to be gained and the new horizons to be discovered in learning throughout life
To celebrate the capabilities and potential of older people and their value to society To make U3As accessible to all older people To encourage the establishment of U3As in every part of the country where conditions are suitable and to support and collaborate with them MEMBERSHIP Membership of the U3A is open to everyone who is no longer in full-time gainful employment, who are in their third age (defined not by a particular age but by a period of life after the first age of childhood dependence and the second age of fulltime employment and/or parental responsibility) and interested in the work of the U3A. There are no other entrance requirements and people of all backgrounds, ethnicity and beliefs are equally welcome. Single membership currently is currently 10.00 or 20.00 for 2 people living at the same address. This is for membership until the 31 st August. New charges for membership will be introduced from 1 st September. Full details will be given on renewal forms. If you are a UK tax payer and are willing to Gift Aid your membership fee, L&M U3A is able to reclaim tax at 25%. Further information about gift aid is on the application form. Subscription covers affiliation to the national organisation (the Third Age Trust), a copy of their quarterly magazine, insurance, the monthly Diary / Newsletter, subsidies for groups and administration costs. For further information: Contact:: Diane Crompton 01524 66348 or Ros Nicholson or 01524 221886 Email: lmu3amembership@gmail.com ICE CARDS In Case of Emergency (ICE) cards are issued to all members and it is encouraged that members complete their details. This is to facilitate dealing with an emergency situation. Completion of ICE cards is entirely voluntary but members are urged to do so. The information recorded on the card will only be used, as described, in an emergency. Members are asked to keep these credit card sized cards with them in an accessible place.
DATA STORAGE Membership records are held and maintained electronically by the database manager and membership secretary for the purposes of correspondence or contact by committee or group leaders on a strict need to know basis. If you have giftaided your membership fee, your records will be kept for six years after you leave the U3A, following which it will be deleted. ACTIVITIES Monthly Meetings There are two meetings held each month. The Lancaster meeting is held in the Dukes Theatre in Moor Lane and the Morecambe meeting in the Strathmore Hotel on the sea front. Each begins with an informal half-hour for refreshments and social interaction, followed by the main meeting, which is a talk by an outside speaker on a wide range of subjects. Groups Groups are the backbone of our U3A. All our groups are run by members and as such are not certificated. A list of current groups is available on our website. Our groups meet in a variety of locations in both Morecambe and Lancaster, including in our members homes. The maximum size of a group varies according to where it meets and its subject. The length of a session and the frequency in which it meets varies with the group. If you want to join a group the first thing to do is to check the diary. It will give information about when it meets and where. It also indicates whether or not you need to telephone before attending. If a group is full, you will be put on a waiting list by the Group Leader. A small charge may be made for each group meeting, including the Monthly Meeting. Costs are kept to a minimum and charges are set to cover only room hire and refreshments. There is no charge for groups that involve no direct cost to the organisation such as walks, although costs for transportation for these groups are charged according to distance. There is no limit to the number of groups a member may join. Social Events A varied programme of trips and events throughout the year are arranged by the Social Events Group. These events include outings to various cities, theatres and places of interest. In addition they organise twice-yearly coffee mornings for all members.
General Information All activities are only open to U3A members who must be in their Third Age and our insurance does not cover us for non-members. Please take your membership card with you to all activities as you may be asked to show your card at any time. Members are asked not to bring babies or young children to U3A meetings. It is L&M U3A policy that only guide / assistance dogs were allowed on walks. There is no intention to spoil anyone's enjoyment of the very popular and successful walking programme, but the reasons for the "dog ban" are numerous (e.g. not suitable in sheep farming areas like ours, car -sharing, dogs fighting, lots of people not liking dogs). DIARY AND NEWSLETTER A Newsletter and Diary are produced each month. The Newsletter provides reports on previous activities and advance information of special events as well as other items likely to be of interest. The Diary provides the times and location for all meetings in the coming month. New Members will receive their copies via email. A printed version is available for collection at the Monthly Meeting if you do not have an email address. Your copy will be posted or hand delivered by one of our members if not collected. From September 2017, there will be an annual charge of 4 for paper copies of the Newsletter and Diary. This is to help meet the cost of printing. LIABILITY For all L&M U3A activities, the ultimate responsibility for personal safety must rest with the individual member. Insurance is limited to public liability for U3A members. ACCESSIBILITY We endeavour to use venues which are easily accessible for members travelling by car or on public transport. Those who experience difficulty in reaching a venue are advised to speak with other members of their group who may be able to offer a lift for a small contribution towards petrol. There is a stairlift at the Lancaster Friends Meeting House for members having a problem using the stairs.
GETTING INVOLVED The U3A relies on its members to make the organisation a success. There are many ways you can help with this: Volunteering as a member of a working group Working groups range from filling envelopes, assisting at Monthly Meetings, developing our website, to serving on the Committee. You can see a full list of the working groups on our website. Please speak to a committee member if you would like to become involved in any way. They will be happy to hear from you. Helping as a group member As a group member, you may be asked to help with refreshments, tidy the room, or contribute to a session on occasions. This, of course, varies from group to group. Current Group Leaders may wish to share the load or retire, and it is important for other members to consider offering to help if groups are to survive. A booklet giving information on leading / coordinating a group is available from the Groups Coordinator. Forming a New Group If there is no group available that meets your interests, you may wish to start a new group. We have a large number of members and it is very likely others share your interests. If you are interested in starting up a new group, there are quarterly meetings for group leaders and potential group leaders to support each other. The Groups Coordinator is the first step in the process of setting up your new interest group.
INTEREST GROUPS At present L&M U3A offers over 80 interest groups. These include: Physical Activities walks (7), table tennis, tennis, in-door bowls, crown green bowls (2), rowing, bird-watching (2), yoga, Pilates Indoor Activities bridge (3), canasta, scrabble, dominoes and board/card games, crossword (2), film appreciation, wine tasting, solo whist Arts and Crafts art appreciation, painting, drawing, art Improvers, Painting for Pleasure, cards and crafts, needlework, photography, active photography Music singing, jazz appreciation, recorders, brass and woodwinds, concerts, ukulele, Singers and the Song, classical CD, acoustic musicians, Music Misc., folk dancing, tea dancing Languages French, German, Italian, Latin, Spanish Social Science family history, current affairs, history, philosophy (2) Science and Technology science and technology, geology, archaeology, computing, computer drop-in English Language books, classic books, creative writing, play reading, poetry A current list is available on our Website. www.landm-u3a.org.uk We look forward to welcoming you as a member of Lancaster and Morecambe U3A.