On Being a Subject Network Co-ordinator

I have been a Subject Network Co-ordinator for about 8 years now and have found the experience very pleasant. The job of the SNC is to help other members of U3As anywhere in the country either to set up a local group or give ideas and help for existing groups.

For U3As wishing to set up a group the first contact is usually head office. Here they hold Start Up leaflets on most topics. These they will send for free.

The second thing to do is to contact the relevant SNC directly and to this end the contact details are printed in every issue of the U3A News. They will have other helpful material such as Newsletters with content gleaned from other people in the Subject Network. In my case I have not written Newsletters since my subject of Photography does not easily lend itself to this except for stories and perhaps images from network members. Instead I have attached a web site of my own to the main U3A site. This contains everything you need to run a group. There is content from members of my network here with links to their sites or pages directly on my site.

Some SNCs organise Study Days where members gather to discuss ideas and learn new methods for teaching their own U3A group. Look out for these in the U3A News.

There are other SNCs who organise conferences or seminars that can last several days. Such a one is the Science and Technology network who for the past 8 years have had an annual gathering in Abergavenny. Talks on a wide range of topics are given by members of the U3A. Also included in the 4 day conference are trips to sites of interest. Having been to this conference a few times I have now also been to see the SS Great Britain, the Big Pit, Cardiff Art Gallery, the Mappa Mundi in Hereford cathedral, St Fagans Museum of Welsh Rural Life and the underside of the new Severn Bridge.

Thus each SNC runs their Network as they wish. The minimum requirement is to produce a Start Up leaflet. I have written a Start Up Leaflet for Photography but as I said earlier I amplified this idea with my web site. This system has the advantage that I can rapidly add or modify the site. Because Sheila and I run local Digital Imaging classes we are always producing new techniques for our students and these ideas are added.

So the message is that if you need a group locally and it does not exist or is full you can start one yourself. If you have no idea how to go about setting one up then contact head office and the relevant SNC.

Help is also available from the U3A Resources Centre and from Sources magazine.

Remember that expertise in your subject is not needed in most topics. No qualifications are required - just your enthusiasm. Members will be very grateful.

Peter Read

Spire Family History Course

Another 8 week course for Family History for Beginners will start on Monday 6th Sept 2010 at 2:00-4:00pm
and subsequently every two weeks until Christmas.

Also this year we will run a follow-up session once a month for those who would like some help &/or support. This group will meet every second Monday 2:00-4:00pm.

For details ring Mike Kirby 01722 330123
or Les Hankinson 01722 321283
or see me at the monthly meetings

Sci-Tech page now with added changing articles

If you check on the Sci-Tech Programme you will find on the right of each event a box that has a upward rolling set of apt stories. 
See HERE

BBC2 Documentary Series

BBC television is making a documentary series about attitudes to money and would like to speak to people about the role money plays in their lives.  For an informal chat please contact Tara Nolan on 020 7557 2364 or email her at tara.nolan@bbc.co.uk

ITV General Knowledge Quiz Series – The Chase

If general knowledge is your forte and you would like to be considered for the show, please email thechase@itv.com.

Bookbite Project

This is a new project led by the reading charity Booktrust which aims to inspire older people to discover or re-discover reading and creative writing. There will be a magazine containing information on books, stories, book clubs etc and a website with other useful resources www.bookbite.org.uk

WHAT THIRD AGE LEARNERS WILL BE ASKING THE POLITICIANS

Britain’s 743 U3As, and their 229,871 members are to be asked to quiz political candidates on their views about adult education, third age education and informal adult learning.

“The U3A is resolutely non-political, but it does want to see legislators who understand the benefits of adult education, and are willing to work for a better life for those in their third age” says U3A national chairman Ian Searle.

“We will never advise our members how to vote. But the answers to these questions may inform their voting behaviour.”

Mr Searle will circulate the questions to all 743 U3As in the UK, suggesting that they should be put to candidates for the local authority elections in May and those who will be standing for Parliament in next year’s general election.

He will tell them that candidates should be asked:

Do you intend to continue with the policies outlined in The Learning Revolution, especially those requiring close co-operation between local authorities and voluntary organisations?

Will inter-departmental consultation be continued so that health, pensions and education continue to work together for the benefit of older citizens?

Do you recognise the financial benefits and savings as well as the health benefits that accrue from encouraging informal adult learning ?

Do you appreciate that the allocation of funds is heavily weighted towards the young, as pointed out in Learning Through Life, and that this is not only unfair, but socially divisive?