Coming Events & Other News

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Category: Latest News

David Wood is retiring from the committee

Because of his health issues, David has indicated that he is no longer able to continue on the U3A and the Senior Citizens Centre Committees.

David’s medical treatment must take priority over any committee positions he holds, hence his decision to resign.

I am sure we all wish David all the best with his ongoing assessments, treatment and rehab.

As you know, David holds the positions of Course Co-ordinator and Newsletter editor in Alpine U3A, and is secretary of the Senior Cits Committee. David is also heavily involved in Probus. Are there any willing members keen to take on one or more of these roles? Please contact the secretary, 0400 056 274.

Coming Events

There are two coming events:

  1. Coffee Morning with Guest Speaker, Friday 5th March starting at 10:00 am. Guest speaker is Richard Callinan whose talk and slideshow presentation will be about The History of Gliding & WWII Gliders.
  1. The first film night of the year – Wednesday 10th March, 6.30 for a 7:00 pm start.

This screening will be ‘Yesterday’ (A struggling musician realises he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles, after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed). Information about future films will be circulated to members closer to the dates.

The convenor, Sandra Eldridge, has planned the year’s program with some slots reserved for special requests. So get your requests to Sandra.

2021 Enrolments – the numbers…

109 of our 172 members have completed 200 course enrolments. We have 172 members. Some members enrolled in 1 – 4 groups and one person in 6! Note — enrolment is not required for the monthly film nights and coffee mornings so we would have a number of members who join just to attend those events.

There are 17 courses/activities on offer from 14 convenors who, without their generous offer of time and expertise, we would not have a U3A. Some convenors conduct multiple courses — Nola Skey (four), and Mary Pike, Luise Mock, Sandra Eldridge (includes films) and Laraine Zejbrlik (two each). Thank-you to all convenors. There is the possibility that Fay Mason’s very popular ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ course will happen in term 2.

I have extracted the 2021 enrolment data from our new online Membership Administration System (U-MAS). This data is in Course/Activity order and presented in a spreadsheet which I have attached [HERE] as a PDF file. It shows all the enrolments by Course/Activity with the convenors highlighted.

U-MAS — members will be hearing more about this Membership Administration System in the near future. Our first member to enrol using this online system was Annemarie Freyburger.

To find out more, check out the website www.alpineu3a.org.au and look on the righthand end of the menu bar (Login). While on the website, look at the ‘About Us’, ‘Course/Activities’, ‘Membership’ and other information about our U3A.

Members cannot login as yet, as they don’t know their membership number. Details will be communicated in a separate email to all members.

Welcome to new members

  • Rob & Sue van der Linden
  • Colleen Payne
  • Peter Zumpe
  • Linda Rice
  • Annemarie Freyburger

#some of these members have re-joined after a year or two’s absence.

Missing Nordic Walking Poles

Some years ago U3A purchased 12 sets of poles for the Nordic Walking Group which was active at the time. We have a very keen person who wishes to restart this group, but can find only a few sets of poles. Please… if you have set at home, can you please return them to the hall on the Friday 5th March Coffee Morning or call 0400 056 247 to arrange an alternative.

Did You Know

Some interesting statistical information about the U3A movement in Victoria.

  • There are 106 U3A’s in Victoria.
  • Total membership was 39,043 as of the end of 2020.
  • Females make up 74% of the membership.
  • The largest age group of members is 66-75 years.
  • Sizes by membership are: <200 (52 U3A’s – Alpine is in this group with 172 members). 201-500 (29 U3A’s), 501-800 (13 U3A’s), >801 (12 U3A’s). The interesting fact here is that 43% or 16,734 members of the total membership comes from the 12 biggest clubs.

Paul L’Huillier
Secretary
28th February 2021

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