Text Box: Page 8 Text Box: Weymouth & Portland U3A Web Site     www.weyandportu3a.org.uk        Web Master— George Underhill Our website is best viewed with Internet Explorer, for up-to-date information on all our activities         Text Box:  WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND U3A CARE  Our aim is to offer local friendship and support,  with someone to talk to in time of trouble Please contact us if you are, or know of, a member of our U3A who is ill or has recently been bereaved. Coordinators:  Ann Mason,         Tel: 01305 783002                  Phyl Barnett,        Tel: 01305 773430   Text Box: NOTES FROM THE SECRETARY On April 4th we hosted the West Dorset Network Meeting at Southill Community Centre, attended by 12 of the 14 U3As in our immediate area.  Fran Elkin, our Western Region representative on the National Executive Committee, also came and was able to answer a range of queries.  Of real concern to many U3As, particularly in urban areas such as Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, was the spiralling cost of hall hire.  This, combined with the coming increase in the capitation fee to the Third Age Trust from £2.50 to £3.50 meant that many local U3As had significantly increased their annual subscription, and had lost members as a result.  Smaller groups, such as ourselves and Dorchester, have been less affected, as many of our interest groups are held in members’ homes, and hall hire is significantly cheaper.  There was the usual division between U3As who have a basic subscription, with members contributing to the groups they join, and those charging an “all-in” amount for which members can attend any number of groups. Larger U3As often choose this to avoid the huge amount of administration involved in collecting contributions towards hall hire from several dozen groups.   However, inclusive subscriptions can be as high as £30, and increases at that level do lead to loss of members. On balance, we feel that allowing our members to contribute to their chosen groups is the fairest option. Our annual subscription has remained unchanged at £12 for the last five years, and we hope to be able to absorb the increased capitation fee next year. What do you think?  Would you prefer to pay a bit more, and attend more groups? Carol Green, Secretary                           CAROL GREEEN Tel: (01305)  789191   Text Box: COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS   PAUL BRICKELL, HON PRESIDENT & VENUES TEL: 750993 RON GILL, CHAIRMAN TEL: 772533 PETER FLANNERY, VICE-CHAIRMAN & PUBLICITY: TEL. 772533 PAT WOODLEY, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY TEL: 832198 LINDA & MICHAEL MILES, JOINT TREASURERS TEL: 833878 CAROL GREEN, SECRETARY:  TEL: 789191 GILL HOPKINS, VISITING SPEAKERS’ COORDINATOR: TEL: 773611  GAIL GREGORY,GROUP COORDINATORS’ CONTACT:  TEL 750439 PAT FARMER, REFRESHMENTS COORDINATOR TEL: 832452 ANN MASON, THEATRE VISITS & OUTINGS, TEL: 783002   Our Website:  www.weyandportu3a.org.uk    National Website: www.u3a.org.uk  -  set up your own password for the members’ area.   Text Box: Contributions to the Newsletter should be sent to  Pauline Carter, 5 Longfield Road, Weymouth DT4 8RQ by Friday 23 November.  You can send it by email, on a disc or memory stick, but a handwritten piece will be just fine.

Rectangular Callout: Our secretary works very hard on our behalf.  So please do let her have your comments.  Just a note on a piece of paper, no need to put your name but your comments would be appreciated.  In order that she can present your views to the Committee. (from the Editor)

Text Box: Page 8 Text Box: Weymouth & Portland U3A Web Site     www.weyandportu3a.org.uk        Web Master— George Underhill Our website is best viewed with Internet Explorer, for up-to-date information on all our activities         Text Box:  WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND U3A CARE  Our aim is to offer local friendship and support,  with someone to talk to in time of trouble Please contact us if you are, or know of, a member of our U3A who is ill or has recently been bereaved. Coordinators:  Ann Mason,         Tel: 01305 783002                  Phyl Barnett,        Tel: 01305 773430   Text Box: NOTES FROM THE SECRETARY On April 4th we hosted the West Dorset Network Meeting at Southill Community Centre, attended by 12 of the 14 U3As in our immediate area.  Fran Elkin, our Western Region representative on the National Executive Committee, also came and was able to answer a range of queries.  Of real concern to many U3As, particularly in urban areas such as Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, was the spiralling cost of hall hire.  This, combined with the coming increase in the capitation fee to the Third Age Trust from £2.50 to £3.50 meant that many local U3As had significantly increased their annual subscription, and had lost members as a result.  Smaller groups, such as ourselves and Dorchester, have been less affected, as many of our interest groups are held in members’ homes, and hall hire is significantly cheaper.  There was the usual division between U3As who have a basic subscription, with members contributing to the groups they join, and those charging an “all-in” amount for which members can attend any number of groups. Larger U3As often choose this to avoid the huge amount of administration involved in collecting contributions towards hall hire from several dozen groups.   However, inclusive subscriptions can be as high as £30, and increases at that level do lead to loss of members. On balance, we feel that allowing our members to contribute to their chosen groups is the fairest option. Our annual subscription has remained unchanged at £12 for the last five years, and we hope to be able to absorb the increased capitation fee next year. What do you think?  Would you prefer to pay a bit more, and attend more groups? Carol Green, Secretary                           CAROL GREEEN Tel: (01305)  789191   Text Box: COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS   PAUL BRICKELL, HON PRESIDENT & VENUES TEL: 750993 RON GILL, CHAIRMAN TEL: 772533 PETER FLANNERY, VICE-CHAIRMAN & PUBLICITY: TEL. 772533 PAT WOODLEY, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY TEL: 832198 LINDA & MICHAEL MILES, JOINT TREASURERS TEL: 833878 CAROL GREEN, SECRETARY:  TEL: 789191 GILL HOPKINS, VISITING SPEAKERS’ COORDINATOR: TEL: 773611  GAIL GREGORY,GROUP COORDINATORS’ CONTACT:  TEL 750439 PAT FARMER, REFRESHMENTS COORDINATOR TEL: 832452 ANN MASON, THEATRE VISITS & OUTINGS, TEL: 783002   Our Website:  www.weyandportu3a.org.uk    National Website: www.u3a.org.uk  -  set up your own password for the members’ area.   Text Box: Contributions to the Newsletter should be sent to  Pauline Carter, 5 Longfield Road, Weymouth DT4 8RQ by Friday 23 November.  You can send it by email, on a disc or memory stick, but a handwritten piece will be just fine.

Rectangular Callout: Our secretary works very hard on our behalf.  So please do let her have your comments.  Just a note on a piece of paper, no need to put your name but your comments would be appreciated.  In order that she can present your views to the Committee. (from the Editor)