Crouch End and District U3A Bulletin no 12 November 2018
 
First Anniversary Open Day
 
Our first anniversary Open Day, in September, was a great success, with a wonderful turn-out of over 300 people, at least half of whom were new. So far 101 have gone on to join our U3A, giving us a current membership of 671. A warm welcome to our new members and thank you to all those who came, and to all our conveners and helpers who have worked so hard to make Crouch End and District U3A such a thriving concern in just one year.

 
Membership Renewals

 
We will shortly be sending you a renewal request if your membership expires at the end of December 2018. This will come by email, or by post if you don’t have email, and will include details of how to make your payment for the coming year.

 
Help Request
 
We expect to have a large number of membership renewals to process in December and January. The membership secretary would greatly appreciate assistance with the clerical work involved – addressing envelopes etc. If you can spare some time to help, please contact membership@cedu3a.org.uk.

 

MONTHLY MEETINGS

 
These meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at Union Church & Community Centre Weston Park N8 9PX.

 
Thursday 8 November 2018
Francine Bates: The golden age of the music halls – the stars, the theatres and the song.

 
The talk will briefly cover the history of the music hall, culminating in their heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the emergence of superstars such as Marie Lloyd and Gus Elen.

 
Francine Bates, accompanied by Ben Coleman on piano, will illustrate the talk with some popular songs of the era. Audience participation will be expected!

 
Thursday 13 December 2018

 
Elizabeth Woodcraft: Hi-Heel Sneakers – Morals, Motown and Milkshakes in the early 60s.

 
As Britain moved from the shadow of World War II into the light of the welfare state, morals and society were changing. In this talk Elizabeth will describe how – through music, coffee bars and fashion – young working-class people made their way in this rapidly changing and uncertain world.

 
The monthly talks are open to all members, who are welcome to bring a guest. Please bring your membership card. It is possible to join at the meeting. Talks start at 10.45am, doors open at 10am for tea and coffee. Union Church is a plastic-free zone, so please bring your own cup or mug

 
Science of Health meeting

 
Inside Lives: a talk and discussion with Margot Waddell
Monday 26 November 2018 12.00 – 1.30 p.m.

 
This talk and discussion, the last of this year, will focus on our inner realities and how they relate to resilience and the capacity to stay engaged with our world in a hospitable way.

 
Margot Waddell is a fellow of the Institute of Psychoanalysis, where she is currently the Chair of Publications. She brings a wealth of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice to her understanding of the journeying of the personality through life’s stages. The later and last years of life are particularly close to her heart.

 
Venue: Union Church and Community Centre, Weston Park N8 9PX
Refreshments are not provided but you are welcome to bring you lunch if you want to munch and listen.

 
SOCIAL NEWS

 
‘First Monday’ Pub Lunches

 
As announced in the October bulletin we are launching our monthly pub lunches on Monday 5 November 2018, 1 p.m. at the Mossy Well in Muswell Hill. This will be an opportunity for members t o meet and chat in an informal and social atmosphere.

 
As the name suggests, the pub lunches will be held on the first Monday of the month, so our second date will be Monday 3 December, also at the Mossy Well. We plan to try out other local pubs next year. Members will, of course, have to pay for their own food and drinks.

 
If you are interested in coming along on either date, please email crouchendanddistrictu3a@gmail.com or just turn up.

 
Coffee Mornings

 
These monthly get-togethers, held in people’s homes from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., are a great way to meet other members.

 

There is one space for the next morning, on Wednesday 14 November, in Muswell Hill. Thursday 6 December, in Crouch Hill, is currently full, but sometimes people drop out, so if you’d like to go on the waiting list contact Jacki via https://cedu3a.org.uk/coffee-mornings/

 

There are places for the first morning of 2019, on Thursday 17 January in Crouch End. Contact Jacki if you’d like to book (please note that access to this venue involves two flights of stairs).

 

If you would like to host a coffee morning next year please contact Jacki. Expenses can be reimbursed.

 
Members’ Ceilidh

 
There are still a few tickets (£10.50, pay bar) still available for our first ceilidh, with the Muswell Hill Ceilidh band and caller, on Friday 16 November 2018 at the Royal British Legion, Muswell Hill Road, N10 3NG, 7.30-11.00pm. No experience needed – just come along and have fun. Members are welcome to bring guests. Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cedu3a-ceilidh-tickets-49278663810

 
GROUPS

 
Three new groups have been formed since the publication of the last Bulletin – Book Group 2, Futurology and Opera.

 
Guitar, Mental Health and Persuaders – are still in preparation. You can register your interest by contacting Jane Clarke at groups2@cedu3a.org.uk or, if you do not have email, on 020 8341 1239 or 07948 273960.

 
The following groups are in the pipeline. Their web pages will be up soon, but in the meantime you can also register your interest via Jane, as above.

 
Finance/economics
Polish conversation
Hula hoop

 
Several people would like groups on the following topics, but we don’t have members to convene them. If you’d like to help set up any of these, please contact David at groups@cedu3a.org.uk
Life in 1939/45
Knitting

 
If you have ideas for other groups, please contact David, as above.

 
Ukulele

 
We have been overwhelmed with interest from would-be ukulele players and have had to disappoint a number of members. If anyone would be willing to lead a second (and, possibly, third) group, please contact the convener via https://cedu3a.org.uk/ukulele/


 
Current Groups

 
The 1960s
Architecture
Art Appreciation 1
Art Appreciation 2
Art – Beginners
Art – Intermediate
Badminton
Birdwatching
Book Group 1
Book Group 2
Bookbinding
Bridge
Crime Fiction Book Club
Crochet
Current Affairs
Decluttering
Exhibitions and Galleries
Family History
Felt Making
Films
Foreign Films
French Book Club
French Conversation
Futurology
Gardens
Gentle Exercise (Feldenkrais)
Geology
History
Italian Conversation 1
Italian Conversation 2
Jazz and Improvised Music
Latin
Local History: Introductory Course
Local History: Further Research
London Loop Walk
Longer Walks
Machine Embroidery/Surface Textiles
Music Appreciation
Opera
Outings
Pétanque (Boules)
Philosophy
Photography
Play Reading
Poetry for Pleasure
Poetry Writing
Recorder
Relaxation
Science and Technology
Scrabble
Shorter Walks
Singing for Fun
Singing: Part Songs and Harmonising
Spanish Conversation
Table Tennis
Textiles
Theatre Visits: Fringe
Theatre Visits: West End
Ukulele
Wine Appreciation
Wine…and more
World Literature
Writing

 
An introduction to exercise for older people

 
In the new year Helen Maestranzi will be leading a free short talk/interactive session for anyone interested in learning about exercising successfully as we get older. It will include how to exercise safely, different types of exercise, how to know when exercise is effective, how chronic illness can affect exercising and how to sustain exercise. There will also be an opportunity to try different types of exercises (not compulsory) with an experienced exercise professional. This session will be aimed at people who are new to exercise, feel unconfident about exercising and who can walk freely and unaided. We can offer this to the first 12 members who apply. More details on date, time, venue and how to book will be in the next Bulletin.

 
Volunteering – coordinator needed

 
We need someone to be the main contact point for those members who express an interest in offering time, skill or expertise to our U3A. You would liaise with them, help them decide what they might like to do, forward their contact details to the relevant committee member or organiser and make sure this information is entered on our newly- formed volunteer database.There is a lot of scope to develop this area: all ideas are welcome. We estimate it will only involve a few hours a month. To find out more, contact Sue at suepicano@yahoo.co.uk

 
New members’ get-together socials – organiser(s) wanted

 
We’d like to offer get-togethers – either coffee mornings or afternoon teas – to new members to welcome them and let them know more about what’s on offer in our U3A. We would hope to run these about three times a year, with smallish gatherings of up to 12 people. Members of the Steering Committee will be there to provide support and answer questions. You’ll need to book a venue (don’t worry, we have a list), send out invitations, arrange tea/coffee, cakes and biscuits and confirm which Committee members are available to attend. This role can be shared and is a really nice way of meeting our newest joiners. If you’d like to find out more, contact Sally at vicechair@cedu3a.org.uk.

 

Help with setting up audio visual equipment at the monthly meetings

 
We have a great, reliable team but need additional help to cover absences. It involves help with either the projector/screen/laptop or sound and mic system. You won’t be needed at every meeting and can shadow for a few times if necessary. We also have full notes and a video of setting up the sound system. Contact Sue at chair@cedu3a.org.uk.

 

Facebook

 
We are exceptionally pleased with the number of people who have recently posted photos of their group activities on our new Facebook group page. Groups including Architecture, Art Appreciation, Outings, Pétanque, Singing for Fun and Walks have provided us with interesting insights into what is going on in our U3A world. However, some of our interest groups are under-represented on Facebook and it would be lovely if we could have a wider range. We currently have 116 members in the Facebook group so there is potential for plenty more.

 
Please note that our old Facebook page will be deleted on November 8. We will then be focusing on the group page where anyone can post comments and photographs without submitting them to admin first. It is YOUR Facebook page, so please share your enthusiasm by joining the group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/300181150556772

 
Crouch End Festival Christmas Market

 
The Christmas Market takes place on Saturday 1 December, 11-4.30 in the town hall square. Crouch End and District U3A will be there in the morning so come along and meet us.

 
Thanks

 
A great deal of work and commitment went into setting up our U3A, and the Steering Committee would like to thank Jayne Forbes for all her help and for taking on the role of treasurer for our first year. Our new treasurer will be Andrew Sich: treasurer@cedu3a.org.uk.