Crouch End and District U3A Bulletin no 13 (December 2018)
 
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
 
Members who joined our U3A in its first year will have received membership renewal requests, by e-mail, or post for those who do not have access to e-mail. The request includes details of how to make payment for the coming year: we have made this as simple as possible.
 
Please note that if you renew online with PayPal you must enter your details exactly as registered (as in the renewal notice), paying attention to case and spaces.
 
New membership cards are emailed to those using PayPal or are available at monthly meetings or by post to those making payment by bank transfer or cheque.
 
Membership expires on 31 December and our Membership Secretary would be very grateful if you could renew in good time (as many already have). A big thank you to those who have offered help with the admin.

MONTHLY MEETINGS
 
These are held on the second Thursday of the month at Union Church & Community Centre, Weston Park N8 9PX.
 
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 describes how, through music, coffee bars and fashion, young working-class people made their way in this rapidly changing and uncertain world.
 
Thursday 10 January 2019
 
Hugh Hayes: A Park for Finsbury
 

A talk celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of Finsbury Park, outlining the complex history of the creation of Finsbury Park up to its opening in 1869 followed by some highlights from its history, followed by questions. It will be illustrated from Hugh’s large collection of ephemera relating to the park and the surrounding area.
 

Hugh Hayes was chair of the Friends of Finsbury Park for five years between 1999 and 2005. He wrote a history of the park entitled “A Park for Finsbury” at the millennium, now out of print. He has often led walks in the park detailing its history and also ran the community garden in the park for eight years. He lived in Stroud Green for thirty-one years, but now lives in Cornwall
 
Thursday 14 February 2019
 
John Withington: Living to 100 – The Secrets of the Centenarians
 
What is it like to live for a century and which of us will survive to find out? Drawing on his acclaimed book Secrets of the Centenarians, John Withington examines: Why are there 90 times as many centenarians as there were 100 years ago? Why do women outnumber men by about 5 to 1? What determines who will make it to 100 and who will fall by the wayside? And can we go on expanding human lifespan or have we reached our limit?
 
John will also tell the stories of the oldest people who have ever lived and the famous people who made it to 100 – the celebrity centenarians.
 

John Withington is an award-winning television producer and reporter and the author of a number of books, including London’s Disasters, A Disastrous History of the World and Storm: Nature and Culture.
 
These talks are open to all members (please bring your membership card), and you are welcome to bring a guest: it is possible to join at the meeting. Talks start at 10.45 am, doors open at 10 am for tea and coffee. Union Church is a plastic-free zone, so please bring your own cup or mug

START THE NEW YEAR LEARNING ABOUT EFFECTIVE EXERCISE
 
Helen Maestranzi will lead a short talk/interactive session for anyone interested in learning about exercising successfully as we get older. The session will cover 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 a fully insured experienced exercise professional.
 
This session is aimed at people who are new to exercise or feel unconfident about exercising and who can walk freely and unaided.
 
There are only 12 places available. The session is free to attend and will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday 16 January 2019 at the Small Hall, Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, London N8 9LP.
 

▷ Book a place

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. The December morning is full, but there is space on Thursday 17 January, near Crouch End (please note that this venue involves climbing two flights of stairs) and Wednesday 13 February, in Crouch End. To book, or if you would like to host a coffee morning please contact Jacki via https://cedu3a.org.uk/coffee-mornings.


GROUPS
 
The following groups are now up and running and can be joined via the website:
 
Economics
 
Polish Conversation
 
Futurology – How to solve the world’s problems, big and small
 
A Yoga group is being worked on. Check the website for its appearance very soon.
 
The Family History Group has vacancies. Now’s your chance to find out about your ancestors.
 
Writing Groups 1 and 2 each have one vacancy and a third Writing Group will be starting up in 2019 so look out for details of this on our website
 
Modern Greek Conversation. If anyone would be interested in a group please email David at groups@cedu3a.org.uk
 
For details of groups see https://cedu3a.org.uk/interest-groups/
 
For those without e-mail ring Jane Clarke on 020 8341 1239 or 07948 273 960

CURRENT GROUPS
 

The 1960s
Architecture
Art Appreciation 1
Art Appreciation 2
Art – Beginners
Art – Intermediate
Badminton
Birdwatching
Book Group
Bookbinding
Bridge
Crime Fiction Book Club
Crochet
Current Affairs
Decluttering
Economics
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
Pètanque (Boules)
Philosophy
Photography
Play Reading
Poetry for Pleasure
Poetry Writing
Polish Conversation
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
 
NB to be eligible to book you must join the relevant group

HELPING OUR U3A
 
Volunteer coordinator
 
We now have a Volunteer Coordinator who will be the main point of contact for those members who express an interest in offering time, skill or expertise to our U3A. You can contact her by email jenny@dreamcountry.org. For non-emailers the phone number is 020 8340 0681.
 
New members’ get-together socials – organiser(s) wanted
 
We would like a volunteer (or volunteers) who can organise get-togethers, either coffee mornings or afternoon teas, for new Cedu3a members, to welcome them and tell them 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 support and answer questions.
 
If you’d like to find out more, contact Sally vicechair@cedu3a.org.uk
 
Help with setting up audio visual equipment at the monthly meetings
 
We have a good, reliable team for this but need additional help to cover absences. It involves help with either the projector/screen/laptop or sound and mic system. You will not be needed at every meeting and can shadow for a few times if necessary. We have full notes and a video of setting up the sound system.
Contact Sally vicechair@cedu3a.org.uk
 
Monthly Meetings
 
We would welcome additional help with organising the Monthly Meetings. This would involve just a few hours a month and you can choose how to help out: liaising with other helpers and the caretaker; supporting those setting up the audio visual equipment; ensuring the hall is ready for members and welcoming those arriving. Any of these tasks can be shared and can easily accommodate absences.
Contact Sally vicechair@cedu3a.org.uk

DATA PROTECTION
 
Data Protection regulations require that the Crouch End & District U3A keeps up-to-date records of its membership.
 
To this end we should be grateful if you would inform us of any changes to the details you provided us when you first joined.
 
You can make the changes yourself online by logging on to our membership database with the details you provided when you joined, ie forename, surname, membership number, email address and postcode. Once logged in you can update your record.
 
If you prefer to have your membership details updated by one of our membership team, please email crouchendanddistrictu3a@gmail with your changes.

This is our last bulletin of 2018, a year which has seen our U3A go from strength to strength. We wish all our members Season’s Greetings and a very Happy New Year.