This is only a short newsletter, as the main Summer (printed) Newsletter will be available later during August with a lot more information.
In this newsletter:
- Dates for your diary
- We need your help on the committee
- u3a online learning events
Dates for your diary
Our next monthly meeting is on Thursday 21st August 2025 – Historic Old Portsmouth by Steve Trevenna – a tour guide with a passion for Portsmouth. More details here.
AGM – Thursday 18th September 2025 with entertainment from our own D'Ukes of Hayling.
Visit – The next visit will be on Wednesday, 8th October to the Watercress Line. The tickets for this visit will be subsidised by the Hayling u3a and will include a cream tea. The cost will be £40 which covers the coach, train and cream tea. More details and a booking form here.
Christmas buffet – 11th December, 2 pm. This will be a ticketed event at a cost of £5.
Island litter picking campaign – Several organisations are getting together to launch a major litter pick across the island. Watch out for more details in the next few months.
We need your help on the committee
Every year we ask you all to consider volunteering to help on the committee. For you to enjoy the many activities that the Hayling u3a supports, there are several people working in the background to make it all possible.
Many of the current officers have served numerous years on the committee. It is unfair to expect the same people to continue doing this work and indeed bringing in ‘new blood’ can only bring new ideas for the organisation to thrive and develop.
There are currently nine officers either due to retire or unable to continue their work on the committee after September 2025. (This leaves only one committee post that is not up for re-election). If these posts are not adequately filled, the Hayling u3a organisation could fold. As a charity we are required to have a core number of officers on the committee.
Please take a moment to consider whether you would be able to step up and help.
The following officers are due to retire at the next AGM:
- Chair
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Interest Group Co-ordinator
- Network Liaison Officer
- Newsletter Editor
- Speakers Secretary
- Publicity
- Visits Co-ordinators
So, what do these roles involve? The following is a very quick resume, but the current officers will be happy to provide further details.
Chair – This is an overseeing role that provides support and direction to the other roles. Their main job is to Chair the committee meetings, monthly meetings and other adhoc meetings throughout the year. They are supported by the Vice-Chair.
Treasurer – Their main role is to manage the bank accounts and petty cash, paying bills as they come in. The busiest times for them is the end of year when the accounts are finalised, and memberships are due. The Treasurer has well developed spreadsheets to aid the processes.
Secretary – Their main role is to take minutes of committee and AGM meetings and publish the agendas accordingly. They maintain the signed minutes for future reference.
Interest Group Co-ordinator – This work is mainly based around the website, monitoring expressions of interest in groups and helping group leaders set up and maintain their webpages. The role is aided by the web site editor.
Network Liaison Officer – The Hayling u3a is part of a local network of u3as within the South East region. The network has meetings to share knowledge and good practice and provides feedback to the National u3a organisation. This officer is a point of contact for the local network and their role is to pass information to the relevant person in the Hayling u3a. Information tends to be via email, so the role is to mainly monitor and distribute emails that are sent from the network.
Newsletter Editor – Have we got any budding journalists in our midst? The Newsletter editor role is suitable for a job share, as there are two main thrusts to the work. Firstly, to provide a monthly newsletter which is emailed out and secondly a biannual printed version. Both newsletters provide information on monthly talks, group activities and upcoming Hayling u3a and local events. The editor’s activities tend to be focused more towards the end of each month.
Speakers Secretary – The Speakers Secretary organises the talks for our monthly meetings. Generally, the programme for speakers is arranged almost a year ahead, so anyone taking over this post would have some time to find their feet. Names of good speakers are shared amongst the local u3as and also from suggestions from members, the WI and online sources.
Publicity - Currently the publicity officer organises and distributes posters advertising the speaker for next monthly meetings and writes an article each month for the Hayling Herald.
Visits Co-ordinators – This role is suited to a couple of people who are keen to organised visits throughout the year. Anyone interested in this role will get some support from the current Visits Co-ordinator who will happily guide them on aspects of the processes required.
JOIN US AND KEEP THE HAYLING u3a ALIVE!
u3a online learning events
There are many online learning events coming up this August. Click/tap here to find out more about them.
Julie Taylor