Newsletter

From the Chairman

Last month I explained two aspects of our strategy that were ready for implementation, i.e. appointing a New Members’ Champion, and issuing a new Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy. The great news this month is that someone has stepped forward and volunteered to take on the role of New Members’ Champion. During the next month, the person will meet committee members and think through how they want to tackle the role, and I hope to formally announce their name in next month’s newsletter after the new members’ meeting at the end of September.

The other implementation this month is the formal issue of our new EDI policy which I hope you have read and that you found the content to be a very pragmatic way forward. I feel we are already pretty much compliant, but I do hope that you will comment on any areas where you feel we may need to improve within this policy. One example of this came as feedback at the last general meeting when one member told me afterwards that he had only heard about two-thirds of the afternoon. Unfortunately, we can only turn up the volume so far before we get that other sort of feedback, the horrible acoustic noise you sometimes get when microphones are in the wrong position in relation to the loudspeakers, but after the (good) feedback we have discussed how to improve the volume without getting the (bad) feedback. Let’s see (hear) what happens at the next meeting.

Our next area to tackle is to ensure we have adequate cover for the many technical and administrative jobs that are done behind the scenes. Have you ever wondered who puts out all the chairs and tables (and clears away again afterwards) at the General meeting? Who keeps our IT equipment (lap-tops, projectors, AV equipment, etc) operational and up to date? Who maintains our web-site and Beacon sites? Who puts all the newsletters into envelopes and addresses them for the people who receive their newsletter through the post? Well they are all volunteers and we need to ensure there is continuity in all these areas, and many, many others, to keep Cirencester U3A running as smoothly as it does while all the Group Leaders do their wonderful jobs at the forefront of our U3A.

In the meantime there is a busy September ahead of us all with the national Summer School at the RAU on the 10th, the general meeting on the 17th (with a talk on growing up in Cirencester in the ‘40s and ‘50s), a committee meeting on the 25th and a new members’ meeting on the 30th, as well as all the group activities going into their “Autumn term”. Oh yes, and don’t forget that the Internet Café is back after it’s Summer break. Enjoy it all.

WELCOME! 
We are delighted to welcome a further 14 new members this month

Forthcoming meetings-

September 17th - “We’re shiftin!”. - Growing up in Cirencester in the 40s and 50s. - Richard Pottinger

October 15th - “On two wheels” - The fascinating story of the bicycle. - Bill King

See the Events Diaryfor a more detailed list of meetings

Meetings held in the Ashcroft Centre, at 2.30 pm on the third Tuesday of the month unless otherwise stated.