Anton u3a Chair’s Report:
I cannot believe that another year has gone by as your Chair and gosh it has been a busy twelve months since our last AGM.
Once again, I need to thank all of you who have encouraged and supported me in this role. The Committee as always have been a great help. Jean Saunders stepped down as secretary last year and Carole Leonard has taken on the role as Secretary and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in u3a matters. Ann Barter took over as Membership Secretary which has been a learning experience for her, but she has been quick to learn. Taking over from Tessa was a hard act to follow, but is doing brilliantly.
As always, our Treasurer has kept our Accounts in good order and has also been a great support. He has been in this role for three years so we would be grateful if we could have volunteer for this role please. In addition, Pete Duncan has been casting his eye over these accounts for several years to double-check that all is in order, but has decided that this is his final year so we will be looking for someone else do this for us please.
Ann Bray decided to leave the committee during this year, as she felt that her support could be offered in a more informal way. Thank you for your contribution, Ann.
Our Group Leaders continue to do a sterling job in keeping us all busy with various activities. Barbara Dixon stepped down as leader of the Skittles Group and Pete Duncan took on the role. I am not sure he was so keen once I spoke to him about doing an updated Venue Risk Assessment! Thank you both for all your hard work. Our Questers Group continues to source and organise venues for us to visit for which we are very grateful and Robert Kemp has continued to drive the mini-bus when needed. Thank you all.
Attendance at our monthly meetings has been good so thank you Maggie Cunniffe for all your hard work in sourcing our speakers. Please do share with the committee any suggestions you have for speakers or topics for these meetings.
We have gained many new members this year and I do hope that you all feel welcome and are joining in with our group activities as well as attending meetings when you can.
Barbie and her team took on the task of organising our annual picnic in August and this year we opted to use the War Memorial Hall in Abbotts Ann. We were given a 1960s theme. Once again, it was a great success and thank you to all those involved. This year we are holding the picnic here at Burghclere Down Community Centre and it will be on August 12th and Lynda Stockings and Barbara Dixon have offered to organise the event.
Robert Kemp had his arm twisted and agreed to organise our Christmas lunch last year and has agreed to do this for one more year, but with Tessa Cross assisting. Thank you both. This event is on Monday 14th December and is again at the Abbots Mirte in Chilbolton, so please put this date in your diary.
Many of you turn up at the meetings and without being asked assist with the setting up for the afternoon. Several of you are also there to help when we must ensure that the BDCC is left in good order when we leave.
Dean White as Vice Chair for part of last year urged us to look at our Policies and ensure they were updated. Unfortunately, he felt he could not continue in this role, but your Chair, Secretary & Treasurer took on the challenge and have continued to look at these, three of them are now on our Website for your information. We continue in our endeavours to keep you safe and informed. Dean also helped with ensuring that the content of our website was up to date, so please look at antonu3a.co.uk for information and updates, this is a valuable resource. Thank you for your contribution. Our webmaster is Keith Saunders and we are grateful that he is always there for help when we have a query.
We have also made more use of the Notice Board that we have access to in Burghclere Down Community Centre not only as an information source of our members, but also so other users of the Hall may find us – and join. Thank you to John Hawke for supplying a monthly photograph which certainly attracts interest.
I would just like to remind you that all of your committee and group leaders are volunteers and give of their time willingly – so if you would like to be part of our team then please get in touch.
I trust we will all continue to Learn, laugh and live.
Sharon King