Bank Holiday The building will be closed on Monday 29th May for the last Bank Holiday in May. I know the Monday groups have been hit hard by the Monday Bank Holidays but the staff have loved them!I will also be off on leave for the remainder of next week and won’t be back in the office until Tuesday 6th June.If you need something and it is not urgent, send me an email and I will deal with it on my return.Otherwise please contact any of the volunteers in the office who will be able to help you with any other query.
AGM
Thanks to all who attended Thursday’s AGM.It was a great meeting well run by Tommy Dunbar and Geraldine Kelley, our Chair & Vice Chair.All present at the meeting were delighted to hear that through well managed finances this year (up to the end of March 2023) and the huge generosity from members last year through our donations plea and the huge amount of fundraising including Quizzes, Craft Fair, Plant sales and much more over the past year that we are sitting in the black this year against all the odds.This is a huge feat in this time of a cost of living crisis and huge credit is to be given to you the members who stepped up strongly and supported U3A Foyle.All speakers yesterday thanked members for the support shown by members. Over £13,000 was raised in donations and fundraising which is incredible by any standards.On this matter the Board therefore proposed that there would not be a raise in the membership fee for the incoming 2023-2024 year.Caution was issued by the Treasurer that we have been told that our core funding is likely to be cut in the Health Trust’s new Financial year’s budget so we are not out of the woods yet. We need to continue to cut costs wherever we can, continue to apply for funding opportunities and to urge members to continue with fundraising ideas in the incoming year.
Drumming ClassUnfortunately the Drumming class will NOT start next week as we didn’t get enough members to make it viable this time.I know it is hard to commit at this time of year as people are in the garden or committed to grandkids or holidays!I will certainly have it listed in the Prospectus for September and hopefully we will get enough participants then.
Rathlin Visit
The Rathlin Visit will take place on Friday 2nd June.It is a full bus going and hopefully you will have a great day.
BUS WILL LEAVE AT 8AM – We had to change the time as too many people warned me that we mightn’t make the ferry if we left any later due to ongoing roadworks and the need to use the facilities on arrival in Ballycastle!The return ferry is at 5pm and the bus will depart as soon as you dock in Ballycastle.Payment for the Tea & scone (£5) and for the lunch (£10) will be collected on the bus by Avril and Helen.They also will have the tickets for the ferry for everyone.Please bring your Smartpass to link with the tickets.The Bird Sanctuary needs to be paid on entrance (£5)
Unfortunately this will be the only trip organised to Rathlin this month – dates and times were hard to negotiate a second trip.
Sorry that so many of you were disappointed. We will definitely try a trip some time in the future.
NIBU Event (BRIDGE)
Hosted by City of Derry Bridge Club on Sunday 4th June 2023 at 2pm in the U3A Foyle building. This one session event will cost £10 per head including tea & coffee.
There will be trophies for both Senior Team & Intermediate Team. Pre Entry is essential. NIBU Members please register with Una McFeely on 07586351055. Final Registration by Friday 2nd June. Four teams are needed to make the event viable so they are asking for your support
IT Class with Michael
There will NOT be an IT class on Tuesday 30th May with Michael Diver.
Classes will resume the following Monday and Tuesday.
Pilates Class
There will NOT be any Pilates Classes on Friday 2nd June or Friday 9th June. Classes will be added on into late June
Plant Sale
We are delighted that Catriona McGonigle will be hosting a Plant Sale to raise funds for U3A Foyle on the following days:
Tuesday 6th June 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 13th June 10.30am – 12.30pm
We invite everyone to come along and get your garden stocked up for summer.
BORDER PERENNIALS to include:
Agapanthus, Ajuga, Anemone (Jap.), Anthemis (tinctoria), Astilbe, Astrantia,
Bergenia, Brunnera, Campanula, Dahlia (tubers), Francoa (Bridal Wreath),
Geranium (‘Johnson’s Blue’), Hemerocallis (Day Lily), Iris, Lilies (Asian) + (Giant),
Lysimachia (L. punctata) + (L. firecracker), Oenothera (Evening Primrose),
Phlox (p. paniculata; P.p ‘White Admiral’),
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal), Rodgersia,
Schizostylis (Kaffir Lily/Hesperantha), Sedums, Vinca, Zantedeschia (Arum Lily – white).
HOUSE PLANTS to include:
Pelargonium, Plectranthus, Unusual pink-edged Ivy, Begonia.
HERBS: Variegated Pineapple Mint, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Perennial Chives.
No Reservations possible sorry.
Art Club
The Art Club is changing its meeting time over the summer months starting next week.
They will now meet on Thursdays at 12noon in the Art Room so if you fancy coming along, finishing off paintings or drawings you have started or to get inspired for new artwork please feel free to come along. It’s a lovely chilled atmosphere and a very nice group of painters chatting and getting inspiration from each other.
Oils, watercolours, drawing and calligraphy or any other medium are all welcomed.
Concert Tickets
A member bought tickets for a concert in Christ Church on Saturday 17th June at 7.30pm – Music for a Summer’s Evening with Margaret Keys & Eugene O’Hagan.
She is now unable to use the tickets and she has generously donated them to us to sell for U3A Funds. If you would like to purchase the tickets please get in touch with me by email.
Catch up Radio Programme A member sent me details of a programme she listened to last Sunday on Radio 3 and thought it would be good to share with members. “If you would like a treat, listen to ‘ Words and Music, a sequence on the theme of a long life, what it means to live longer than 70. Suitable for all ages.”
You can catch it on BBC Sounds – Words and Music, Sunday May 21st, 5.30pm.
Repair Cafe Foyle
The Big Fix is on Saturday 27th May 2023 from 10am – 1pm in the Great Hall in Magee. There is free parking in the Uni carpark on Rock Road. Take a ticket – you won’t be charged. It is only one item per person. This is a free public event. Tea, coffee and cake will be plentiful – nut free and gluten free options will be available.
Bring your broken wooden items, small electricals, bikes, textiles, laptops etc. The guys will give everything a go..
Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement Document will be on display at Derry Central Library on Tuesday 30th May 2023.
You need to contact the Library to book a slot to get in and see it.
BBC Proms
The world’s greatest classical music festival is coming to the Guildhall for a chamber concert on 15th July. Tickets on sale now at www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezc4mb
Snooker Tuition Is there any member who would be willing to show the basics of snooker to two other members who are completely brand new to the game?
Get in touch with me if you would be up for some teaching!
Ageing & Climate Change Workshop
Are you aged 60+? Age Friendly Network is looking for people to join their workshop on
Friday 16th June at 10am at the Europa Hotel in Belfast
This is an opportunity to share your thoughts about what climate change means to you and your community.Refreshments & lunch included.
To attend, email Liam:
age.friendly@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
Third Age Trust
The U3A radio podcast released the May episode earlier this week.
As always, it’s a celebration of the learning and connection going on across the U3A movement, with stories directly from U3A members.
The winners of the TAT 2022/2023 U3A Poetry Competition. Members from all across the movement entered, and they received over 600 entries. Congratulations to Ilkley & District U3A member Jo who won the competition with her poem, ‘Home’. The poem explores the climate crisis and the judges were impressed by the beautiful writing, strong message and powerful final line.
Sidmouth U3A member Philip and Sandbach U3A member Kathryn took second and third place with their poems, ‘A Clamour of Rooks’ and ‘A Letter from Kharkiv’, respectively.
Read the top ten poems on our learning pages.
Men’s Health Week
I am pleased to attach a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the special Men’s Health Week 2023 edition of ‘E-Male Matters’ – the newsletter of the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI). I hope that you will find something of interest to you in it.
You can also access an online copy of this newsletter (and earlier editions) at: www.mhfi.org/newsletters/about-e-male-matters.html
