Newsletter May 2004 No 34

Spire University of the Third Age

Newsletter

ISSUE No.34 www.salisburyu3a.org.uk May 2004

SPRINGTIME THE TIME FOR NEW IDEAS

Surveying the fresh greens and colourful blossoms of the countryside we hail the start of a new season. I hope that it will encourage us all to think anew about future plans for our U3A.
A new committee, new group leaders and new members should all encourage the growth of new ideas for the coming year. As always, your ideas and suggestions are welcome.
At our AGM members welcomed the focus on our groups and their activities. It presented a fascinating insight into what our fellow members are doing. Sadly, no one has yet come forward to be vice-chairman.
Rosemary Nicholls, who for some 10 years has organised outings for Salisbury U3A (some of which have been made available to us), will be giving up at the end of this year. So, our three U3As are looking for somebody to take over from Rosemary and to work alongside her during the remainder of the year. Please let me know if you would like to do this.
Returning from a recent regional meeting our Salisbury U3A chairmen were discussing the pro's and con's of local eating-places. As similar discussions took place among our groups at our AGM, I wonder if we should compile a list. What do you think?
Once again a warm welcome to new members. I wonder if we shall reach our maximum of 250 members by the end of the year.
May you all have a great year and enjoyable holidays.
Anne Gould, Chairman

NEWS FROM THE GROUPS

The group coordinator, Sandra Barrett, will be supplying a form with the new membership cards for members to fill in with their requests to join groups. Strictly on a first come first serve basis it will be worth filling in and returning to her as soon as possible.
Digital Imaging Group
With more sales of Digital cameras it is bound to have members wanting to print their own photographs. Not that it is necessary to have a digital camera, a film can also be printed using a computer.
We show you ways to get your images into your computer and then how to edit them to produce excellent images from even the simplest camera.
A new group is planed starting on June 11^thand as this is before the next coffee morning there is a form at the back of the hall if you wish to join. Please add your name today or ring: 01722 501218.
Sheila and Peter Read

Garden Visit Group
This group continues despite Margaret Hooper not being well enough to make visits at present. She organised it very well and all members have a list of outings and are able to arrange lifts. This is a group open to all Spire members so should you wish to join a visit and do not know any one in the group ring Margaret on 01722 338145 May 19^th visit is to Furzey Gardens, Minstead, Lyndhurst meeting at the entrance at 11am.

June 9^th visit is to Stanbridge Mill, Gussage All Saints meeting at the entrance at 11am. This garden is only open one day a year and we have been waiting for the yellow 'Gardens Open' book to come out for the date. Regular members of this group take note the date is not in the written list! There are refreshments and interesting plants to buy but be warned it is a very popular garden for this one day.

Archaeological Group

The first meeting in April was disappointing because so few of the people who had signed on had turned up. Still we intend to meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 10 am at the Harnham Memorial Hall.

The next two meetings will be on:
25^th May 2004. Please come with ideas.
29^thJune 2004 Bill Moffat will give us an exciting talk about the proposed dig at Sorviodunum.
27^th July 2004 An outing to Silchester is planned so do come to hear all about it.
Ann Boutell, Group Leader Tel No: 01722 328469

Health Care Research Group At the Group's next meeting, in June, representatives from the local NHS trust will talk about patient communication - another of the Group's concerns.

A BOOK IS MISLAID

'The Dorset Squirrels' by Michael Todd.

Please ring: 01722 339466 if you know anything about it. Pauline Wade

Hope this makes you smile Part II

On a packet of peanuts: “Warning: contains nuts,”
(talk about a news flash!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: “Product will be hot after heating,”
(and you thought???)

On a bar of Palmolive soap: “Directions: Use like regular soap”
(and that would be how???)

On a bag of Crisps: “You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.”
(the shoplifters special?)

On a K-Mart iron: “Do not iron clothes on body.”
(but wouldn't this save me more time?)

HARNHAM --- What does it mean to you?

Where we hold coffee mornings? Yes, but do you know that a large swathe of it belongs to you?

A little way up the Old Blandford Road where you sometimes park, you will find a footpath. This is Bishop's Walk, and falling away to its right, Harnham Slope. Bishop John Wordsworth bequeathed them to the general public early in the last century. Then it was bare downland; the young people of those days found its openness a trial when they were courting. Now, simply by nature taking its course, it is a woodland where you can stroll westwards the better part of a mile until you come to the picnic place, where there is a panorama of Old Sarum.

This woodland has to be cared for. You contribute some of the upkeep through your council tax. Other work is done voluntarily by locals; the Friends of Harnham Slope (see the Journal of April 8 ^th). Do come and enjoy the trees birds and flowers.

If you want to know more about the Friends please ring on: 01722 334341 Mary Poynton

NEW MEMBERS, You will be receiving an invitation to a special coffee morning, just for you, in Salisbury on June 21^st. Held in a member's house in the city centre it is an opportunity to meet other new members. Some of the committee will be there to tell you all about Spire U3A.and answer any questions you may have.

Increase of Spire U3A Membership Fee from April 2005

At the Annual General Meting held on April 5th 2004 it was agreed the membership fee would be increased to £7.50 annually per member commencing on 1^st April 2005.
All members who have a Standing Order will receive a new form for forwarding to their Bank.
A joint membership will be £ 15.00.

Articles for issue 35 please, by July 3^rd 2004

Sheila Read.

OR by E-mail

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NEWS FROM THE GROUPS
The group coordinator, Sandra Barrett, will be supplying a form with the new membership cards for members to fill in with their requests to join groups. Strictly on a first come first serve basis it will be worth filling in and returning to her as soon as possible.	Digital Imaging Group With more sales of Digital cameras it is bound to have members wanting to print their own photographs. Not that it is necessary to have a digital camera, a film can also be printed using a computer. We show you ways to get your images into your computer and then how to edit them to produce excellent images from even the simplest camera. A new group is planed starting on June 11^thand as this is before the next coffee morning there is a form at the back of the hall if you wish to join. Please add your name today or ring: 01722 501218. Sheila and Peter Read
Garden Visit Group This group continues despite Margaret Hooper not being well enough to make visits at present. She organised it very well and all members have a list of outings and are able to arrange lifts. This is a group open to all Spire members so should you wish to join a visit and do not know any one in the group ring Margaret on 01722 338145	May 19^th visit is to Furzey Gardens, Minstead, Lyndhurst meeting at the entrance at 11am. June 9^th visit is to Stanbridge Mill, Gussage All Saints meeting at the entrance at 11am. This garden is only open one day a year and we have been waiting for the yellow 'Gardens Open' book to come out for the date. Regular members of this group take note the date is not in the written list! There are refreshments and interesting plants to buy but be warned it is a very popular garden for this one day.
Archaeological Group The first meeting in April was disappointing because so few of the people who had signed on had turned up. Still we intend to meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 10 am at the Harnham Memorial Hall. The next two meetings will be on:	25^th May 2004. Please come with ideas. 29^thJune 2004 Bill Moffat will give us an exciting talk about the proposed dig at Sorviodunum. 27^th July 2004 An outing to Silchester is planned so do come to hear all about it. Ann Boutell, Group Leader Tel No: 01722 328469
Health Care Research Group	At the Group's next meeting, in June, representatives from the local NHS trust will talk about patient communication - another of the Group's concerns.