Welcome to Ringwood U3A, which was formed in 2012. We are a friendly club with some 200 members and more than 20 interest groups. Please take a look around the site to discover what we can offer to those who are no longer in full time employment. New members are always warmly welcomed.
Monthly meetings take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 2-4pm at Greyfriars. Please click the 'Meetings' button for more information.
All groups are organised and led by members with most taking place in members' own homes so that they are small and friendly. Full members may join as many interest groups as they wish at no extra charge unless the group has to hire a room when there will be a small additional cost.
Please click the 'Group Info' button to see details of all groups. If you would like to know more or after joining wish to join a particular group please contact the Group Leader - contact details are on the Group Info pages.
Please contact any of the Committee Members for general information.
Latest news
The new Membership Application Form for Sept 2018 to Aug 2019 is now available on the website. Printed copies will be available at the monthly meeting. This form is longer than previously due to the new GDPR rules on privacy - please help us by completing it in full at home before handing it in with your payment of £24 in order to avoid a traffic jam at the Welcome Table. Please do not continue to hand in forms once our Speaker has begun his talk.
The updated 2018-2019 Programme Leaflet is now available on the website. Printed copies will be available at the monthly meeting. Please advise Hazel if you notice anything that needs amending.
Do you have mobility issues, perhaps you would like to come to the monthly meetings or certain groups but have trouble getting there - if so please contact a member of the Committee to see if we can find a local member who could provide a lift.
We are looking for new Committee Members to shadow current post holders as 5 will be standing down at the AGM in April 2019 having completed a 3 year rotation. Most urgently we need a replacement Groups Co-ordinator as June will be stepping down at the end of the year. If you think you would like to be more involved in the club please come and talk to one of us.
At November's meeting we will be entertained by Jonathan Jones performing 'A Christmas Carol'
Tickets for the Members' Christmas Party will be allocated on a first come first served basis (80 maximum). If you would like to attend the event please give your name to June Edwards by email - tickets will then be distributed at the November Meeting. If you later find you are no longer able to attend please let June know so that the ticket can be reallocated.
The next Skittles evenings will be on Tuesday 23rd and Friday 26th October at 7.30pm at The Three Legged Cross Pub in Ringwood Road Three Legged Cross BH21 6RE. If there are insufficient responses, one of the evenings will be cancelled, so if people are interested in coming they will need to say whether they can make both or just one of the dates. The choice of prices is £8.50 with a basket meal or £5.50 without. Please contact Peter Knight whose email address is knight@lapalmera.co.uk These evenings are open to members and non members, but places must be booked in advance.
The Autumn - Winter Walks Programme is now on the Walks introduction page on the website.
Next walk will be on Wednesday 24th October - Linford Bottom 3.5 miles Led by Ros. Meet in the main Linford Bottom car park (map ref 181 071) and we will leave Linford and walk over fields, heathland and through the woods. May be muddy. The Autumn - Winter Walks Programme is now on the Walks introduction page on the website.
The Men's Group are meeting up at the Inn on the Furlong on the 25th October at 12.30 for 1pm for soft drinks and a dried biscuit as you do;-) everyone welcome as normal.
Our next pub lunch will be on Friday 26th October at 12.30 pm. This will be held at The Woolpack, New Cottage, 17 Ringwood Rd, Sopley, Christchurch BH23 7BE. Remember this is open to members and non members, so if you are thinking of joining Ringwood U3A why not give it a try, but please contact Margaret and Maureen beforehand (by 24th Oct at the latest) as they must know numbers in advance to ensure there is a place. Margaret and Maureen can be contacted on ringwoodu3apublunches@hotmail.com
The New Forest and Beyond Group are planning a visit on Thursday 1 November to the Blandford Fashion Museum and possibly the Blandford Town Museum. If interested please contact Jo
The first November walk will be on Tuesday 6th - Breamore Church and Mizmaze, 4 miles, led by Christine. Meet at Breamore Church car park (map ref OL22 153189).
On the 29th November the Men's Group have planned a visit to the Historic Royal Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth which was suggested by one of the Group. If anyone would like to join us they would be welcome just let Roger know as they are arranging car share as normal.
The craft group has been supporting the Innocent Big Knit again this year. The Big Knit started back in 2003 and over 6 million hats have been knitted in the UK. The small hats are distributed on Innocent Drink Smoothies each Spring. For each hat that is sent in Innocent make a donation of 25p to Age UK. The money is used to run activities to help prevent loneliness. Christine Rutherford has now asked for any completed hats to be handed in to her as the activity has now ended however any unwanted knitting yarn is always welcome by the Craft Group - it doesn't matter how small the ball is, what colour or what thickness. We can find a use for all yarn.
DO YOU SPEAK SPANISH? WE ARE NOW IN URGENT NEED OF NEW LEADERS FOR THE SPANISH GROUPS. Sadly as both leaders of our Spanish groups have decided to step down the groups will be unable to continue unless others come forward to take on these roles. If you would like to do so then the venue need not be a problem, as rooms at Greyfriars can be hired very cheaply if you prefer not to use your own home. June would be happy to give guidance on becoming a leader and no doubt both Sheila and Diana would also be willing to give advice.
With the return of our pianist, Peter, we are delighted that the 'Singing for Fun' group is now in full swing at Greyfriars from 1pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. And we have some new tunes. All members are welcome to join - no audition required! Men would be particularly welcome to bolster up the deeper tones! Feel free to just turn up on the day for a 'taster' session. A small charge per 'term' is made to cover room hire and refreshment costs. If interested please contact June on june.edwards1506@gmail.com.
There is still time to join the Bridge group and learn how to play - please contact Maggie.
Interest has been expressed by several people regarding a Theatre Group - to do so we will need a Group Leader - please talk to June Edwards if you think you might like to do this.
Appeal for new photos for the website - many of our group photos are several years old and it would be lovely to update our gallery so if you can take a nice picture when you are part of a group or event please do so (having first established that everyone is happy to have their picture published) and email them to Hazel.
Following the excellent presentation on Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in August it was decided to donate the proceeds of this year's Christmas Raffle to them. We will also have a collection box on the welcome desk at meetings until then so you can make a donation if you wish.
Did you know that we have a RED Suggestion Box at our Monthly Meetings? We would love to hear any of your ideas. In particular we are thinking about what to do in July 2019 when we again won't be able to use Greyfriars - would you like to have a speaker again in Trinity, have a Summer Party (if so any ideas on where) or perhaps a group outing such as a Coach trip or Poole Harbour boat trip. We'd love to hear from you.
Please remember to look at the Members' Only Page (Noticeboard) on our website which gives members the opportunity to publicise non-U3A events that they have a keen interest in or to invite others to join them for something particular like a cinema trip or garden visit etc. It will not be used for 'selling' items. If you would like something posted to the Noticeboard please email full details to Hazel via the contacts page. Inclusion will be at the discretion of the Committee.
How to join
If you are no longer in, or looking for full time employment you may join Ringwood U3A by downloading a membership form using this link or by emailing our Chairman, Pete Jackson.
When you have completed the form you may take it, and your £24 membership fee, to the Thursday monthly meeting.
Please also read the
RINGWOOD U3A CODE OF CONDUCT
Ringwood U3A strives to be a friendly and welcoming organisation, available to all who are no longer in full time employment. Our main aim is that our members enjoy the experience of being a member. We do realise, however, that problems sometimes occur and, whilst we do not want to control every potential difficulty with a raft of rules, we have prepared the following statements to cover any situation that may arise.
If any member or prospective member's behaviour or presentation causes distress or offence to other members, the Committee have the right to ask for that behaviour or presentation to change. If this change does not take place the Committee will have the right to rescind or refuse membership to that individual. In order to maintain our informal and friendly atmosphere, we would strive to deal with problems of such nature in a quiet and discreet fashion. If a member feels that certain behaviour is detrimental to our organisation or themselves, please raise the issue with a member of the Committee.
Pete Jackson
Chair
June 2018
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