This note includes:
- Welcome to new members
- Open day 16th September
- Lawn Bowls
- Owls about town
- Winchester Christmas market
- Ambling
- News from the u3a Trust
- A warning from Hampshire County Council
Welcome to new members
You should by now have received an email with your username and password for the web site. When you have a moment please take a look through our walkthrough that introduces you to the available features.
Unfortunately email providers can be over-zealous with their spam checks so some of our emails might end up in your junk/spam folder. Click here to find out more, and how you can help prevent your - and other members' - emails from going astray.
Please check the details we hold about you in your profile (linked from the bottom of this and all HIU3A messages). In particular, please consider adding emergency contact details.
Open day 16th September
The sun was shining and the weather warm. Doors were opened at the Community Centre at 8.30am and Radford Hall at 10am.
Visitors started to arrive immediately and there was a continuous flow of people throughout the day. The attendance level was fantastic, and there was definite buzz throughout.
All exhibits were popular and had many new expressions of interest to join their groups. The outside activities of Petanque, Croquet and Walking Netball were particularly busy with many people joining in the taster sessions.
The music groups put on an excellent programme of music between 10am and 2pm demonstrating their musical talents. Visitors listened on whilst taking refreshments and sampling some of the lovely cakes that many of you donated.
The membership desk was frantic at times with long queues of people wanting to join our organisation, so our Membership Secretary Peter Haskell has been very busy going through all the forms!
The Mayor of Havant, Rosie Raines, joined us at 1.30 pm and wandered around the exhibits, talking to the exhibitors and visitors and finding out about our activities. The day was ended with our afternoon speaker, Malcom Wells with a talk “So far so Good” followed by tea and cake.
There will be much to do in the coming weeks and months to start up new groups to meet the needs of our members both old and new.
Anne and I would like to thank all of you who for your help in putting together such a successful event. Working together with you all has been brilliant.
Click here to see a write-up of the day on the website together with photos so please take time out to look at them.
Lawn Bowls
We are setting up a Lawn Bowls group using the Hayling Island Bowls Club all-weather facilities. The club is hosting a taster session for us on Friday 8th October from 10 am to 12 noon. It will provide coaching and equipment so all we have to do is turn up wearing flat/soft soled shoes. Its free to try. Please register your interest with Julie.
Owls about town
Our next monthly meeting will include our AGM. The meeting date is Thursday, 21st October and it will start at 2pm. Once the AGM is concluded there will be a talk from Andy Kendall from Owls About Town. He will be giving us an opportunity to be up close with some of the most majestic creatures of the world and learn about their protection and conservation. Do come along and see some of his feathered friends.
Winchester Christmas market
The next visit will be 1st December when we'll go to the Winchester Christmas market with time to spare to visit other attractions including the cathedral. The cost for the day is £20. Click here to find out more and how to book your place.
Ambling
We're pleased to announce resumption of the Ambling group. Ambles are relatively short, undemanding, social walks. The first of them will be on Thursday, 14th October starting at the Ship in Langstone with the opportunity to car share from West Town car park. More details here.
News from the u3a Trust
National u3a podcasts are back following the summer break. Click here to listen to the latest one.
National u3a 40th Anniversary Woodland - As part of the u3a 40th anniversary, the National u3a is creating a woodland which u3a's and members can contribute towards. Read more about it here, and buy a tree or copse on the brand centre. Please let members and friends know.
The National u3a September newsletter is now available. We've created a new page on our site that automatically lists all recent u3a Trust newsletters and new ones as they are published. It also provides a link for you to request new newsletters be sent direct to your email. You can see the page here (and via the 'News and articles' menu on the site).
A warning from Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council have sent out a warning regarding doorstep callers. There are currently a number of scammers going round offering steam cleaning of conservatories, drives, and patios. So please be careful.
Thank you all for your support,
Julie and Anne
Hayling Island u3a co-chairs