Newsletter, February 2010

  Events

U3A Enrolment days at Penrith and Lawson were a big success, despite the very high temperatures of both of those days.  Penrith in particular had a very large attendance of members and new members.
 The ladies writing receipts had a very busy time of it.  Alongside committee members Linda Sinclair, Shirley Gould, and Sandra Walker, were office volunteers Julie Plim, Gwen Astill, Maureen McCowan and Christine Bolton.  Sub Committee member Sheila Innins helped out with the writing of conference receipts at Penrith.  Many thanks to all of you, you did a great job.
 Brenda Emerson - Secretary and Office Manager

The Table below shows the number of students who enrolled on the 13th and 15th of January. However, additional students have subsequently joined some of the courses with the Tutors permission. Some Courses cannot take anymore students and are shown as “Course Closed”:

Architecture Demystified Course Cancelled – Peter Buckwell
My circumstances have changed. My wife Pauline now needs 24 hr care and for me to prepare and take a class just at this time would require a great effort and place me under even more pressure.
  It is with regret that I will not be able to present the architecture course this term. Would you please let all those involved, including BANC, know that it’s not on.
 Kind regards, Peter Buckwell

Legal Studies – Exploring the Law Course Cancelled
Edited email from Joe Harman:
I will not be in a position to run the class for term 1 for a number of reasons.  This is, in part, due to the small student numbers (most of whom have attended the course in the past) but also for a variety of other reasons……………
…… I greatly enjoy presenting on behalf of U3A and am always delighted with the interaction of students…………
………. I also have a number of other commitments throughout term 1 which will mean that I am unavailable for the course.  I find it increasingly difficult to enlist other practitioners in speaking with the group………
…………….. I do apologise and certainly wish to and hope to continue my ongoing involvement with U3A.
JOE HARMAN FDR PRACTITIONER

Photography – Analogue and Digital Course Cancelled
Unfortunately, Petr Malek has decided to move to Moss Vale and will not be able to run his very popular photography classes this year.

Philosophy: The Life of Humans and the Way They Behave Towards Each Other
This course will now be held in the Country Women’s Association (CWA) hall at 1 Tindale St. (around the corner from the Penrith School of Arts) because it has attracted over 50 students.

Singing for Fun
This course will now be held in the Activities Room, Penrith Seniors’ Centre, 86 Station St., Penrith because there are 23 students.

Joining U3A and Courses
You can still join our U3A and many of our courses at any time. But first contact the Course Tutors to ensure that you can join the courses of your choice. Then complete a Membership Application Form that can be obtained from:
Our website www.u3anepean.org; U3A Penrith Office; and most Neighbourhood Centres in the Blue Mountains and Penrith LGAs.
Forward your completed and signed Membership Application Form with your $30 cheque/money order to: University of the Third Age, PO Box 958, PENRITH NSW 2751
The U3A 2010 Year Starts and the Office Opens on Monday 1st February 2010

Movie & Supper Night at 8.00pm on Saturday 28th February at 136 Jamison Road, Penrith.
Relive and enjoy Old Time Movie Classics from the 1940’s to 1960’s on 16mm film with the Volunteer Projection Group at 136 Jamison Road, Penrith on the 4th Saturday every month.
The program consists of one full length feature film and (if it is less than 120 minutes) a Cartoon and Newsreel. This is followed by supper and a discussion on the presentation. A voluntary donation is requested to cover the cost of the refreshments.
On Saturday 28th February, the Projection Group will be showing: Road to Zanzibar (**) Starring: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Una Morkel. News & Cartoon.
U3A members and their guests will be welcome.
If you wish more details, contact John Morehead - Tel: 4721 0518.

U3A State Conference 2010
The Conference is getting very close now and we need everyone (especially tutors) to encourage members and their friends to make their bookings as soon as possible so that we can finalise all arrangements. The Conference will be held over two days, 9th and 10th March 2010 at the Penrith RSL Club, 8 Tindale Street, Penrith. The Conference Program and Registration Form are on our website: www.u3anepean.org
The daily cost will be $49.00 per person and will include morning and afternoon tea or coffee, and lunch.
The Conference dinner will be held on Tuesday 9th March at the Penrith RSL Club commencing at 6.30 pm. The cost will be $49.00 per person.
Entertainment and door prizes will be provided.
Conference and dinner bookings can be made at our U3A Office at:
The Penrith School of Arts, 3 Castlereagh Street, Penrith
Tel: (02) 4722 3405 Email: u3anepean@optusnet.com.au
You do NOT have to be a member to attend the Conference.
Tutors Option to Cancel Classes During the Conference i.e. 9th and 10th March.
If tutors wish to attend the Conference or, if some of their students wish to attend the Conference, then tutors may cancel their classes during the Conference, if they wish.

  General Information

Congratulations to Allan Bond – Our Ballroom Dancing Tutor
On Australia Day, Allan received an Australia Day Community Day Award from Penrith Council at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. The following details were published in the Penrith Press on January 26, 2010: “Mr Bond, of Cranebrook, and his wife Bev have run dance lessons to raise funds to buy and restore the 109-year-old St. David’s Church. They have given countless hours and raised about $10,000 over the past 10 years.”

How to Play Chess on the Internet
During Seniors’ Week, Dave Evans will give a free class open to all Seniors on How to Play Chess on the Internet at 11.00am to 12.30pm on Tuesday 23rd March at: Penrith Valley Seniors Computing Club, Penrith Seniors Centre, 86 Station St, Penrith

U3A Photos and You
If you've ever visited our web page you'll know that we have a very interesting on-line photo album. What you might not know is that it's interactive.
Being interactive means that when you view any of the 130 photographs already there you can add your own comments, including remarks and information.
Just in case you haven't seen it yet, you can find it here: at Google's Picasa albums.
All the photographs have simple captions but few have any information about the people, the classes, or the situations they show. That's where you come in.
Whether you're a tutor or a student, why not visit the page, view the pics, and add some information to make it more interesting for others? All you need to do is click on the “Add a comment” box below any photograph.
It's easy.
Many of the pics have been contributed by Alan Lees and Jim Tiberi, and without their help the album wouldn't approach its present quality. You can help there, too. What about sending in some photographs of your own U3A activities and people? We'd love to have them. Just email them to the Webmaster. Everybody is welcome to contribute.
And while you're checking out the album, remember to LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS.

Christmas Function of the Canasta Group and the Friday Line Dancing Group
Chris Bolton forwarded photos of the Christmas Function at the White Swan on Friday 4th December, 2009. The Ladies from the Canasta Group and the Friday Line Dancing Group enjoyed a lovely lunch and nice company. The photos can be viewed HERE.

MS Access Tutoring
A lady approached Jim Percy at the Lawson Enrolment Day asking if we could assist with tutoring in MS Access
“I was not able to give her a definite yes as we have not had a request previously or I would have attempted to get the member to look at MS Access as a substitute. However we have an offer from an Access experienced person and I would be able to help. Could you put an item in the next newsletter along the lines of:
Desperately seeking lady requiring MS Access tutoring
Would the member who approached me on Lawson Enrolment Day enquiring about Access tutoring please contact me again - as I can now help
Jim Percy - 4758 6009”

Anyone for Lawn Bowls?
The Penrith Bowling Club are willing to set up a program for tutoring our members in the fine art of lawn bowling, members would need to join the bowling club ($5). The Penrith Bowling Club would run this coaching class weekly and would also be prepared to advertise our U3A in their monthly magazine.
We now have 6 members interested in Lawn Bowls. If you are interested in joining a Lawn Bowling Group, please contact Jim Tiberi on 4735 1981 or jtiberi@optusnet.com.au

Anyone for Tennis?
We have 4 members who would like to form a Social Tennis Group.
We also have 6 members for Table Tennis at the Penrith School of Arts.
If you are interested in joining a Social Tennis Group or a Table Tennis Group, please contact Alan Lees on 4736 5541 or alanlees@y7mail.com

Walking with a Touch of History starts on Monday 1st February:
Details of all Walks for Term 3 are shown elsewhere on our website. Please CLICK HERE to see the program.
U3A Members can join any Walking Group, but The Kookaburras and The Hekarwe are for “Medium walkers” and The Snails are for “Gentle walkers”.

  Committee News

Newsletters:
The closing date for submissions to the monthly Email Newsletter is one week before the end of each month. However, if you miss the date, your submission will go in the following month’s newsletter – if I remember. Submissions should be sent to the Office – Attention Curriculum Convener or preferably emailed to alanlees@y7mail.com

Next Committee Meeting
The next Committee Meeting will be held at the Penrith School of Arts at 1.30pm on Tuesday 9th February 2010.

Disclaimer – Articles contributed to this Newsletter and published as a service to members; do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of this association. Articles are intended as opinions and items of debate only and should not be acted on without expert advice

Tony Bayes sent me this email: I did what you told me... I sent your last email to 10 people like you said. I'm still waiting for that miracle to happen To all my friends who in 2009 sent me best 'wishes', chain letters, 'angel' letters or other promises of good luck if I forwarded something, NOTHING WORKED! For 2010, could you please just send a new computer, money, champagne, chocolate, petrol vouchers and airline tickets instead? Thank you!