FALKIRK & District U3A
November 2017 e-Newsletter
Introduction
This is the first of our regular monthly newsletters that will be used to inform members of upcoming events, and to provide information about your U3A. If you would like any items included please contact Glenn Merrett -
______
Forthcoming events
The next Open Meeting will be Tuesday, November 7th, 2.30pm, at the usual location;
St Francis Xavier Church Hall
1 Hope Street, Falkirk, FK1 5AT
There will be a talk by Hamish Reid, who is a Volunteer Guide and Outreach Speaker for the Abbotsford Trust. The talk will be about Sir Walter Scott and Abbotsford. The talk covers Scott’s life and family, literary career, the reasons why he constructed Abbotsford, his financial problems, a brief update on all the renovation and conservation works carried out in the last three years and an overview of the visitor facilities at Abbotsford today.
Open Meetings
Meetings are held at the same time and location on the first Tuesday of each month. The following meeting is on December 5th.
Lunch Club
The next meeting of the Lunch Club will be at The Shore, Carron, 12:00 for 12:30 on November 14th http://www.shorething.scot/ Please confirm your attendance by e mail or phone by 5th November.
A provisional booking has been made for the Claremont Inn in Polmont for Xmas Lunch on Tuesday 12th December. This will be dependent on numbers going so it would be helpful to know at an early date if you are interested in going.
Photography Group
Novembers meeting will be a 'photographic treasure hunt' at Callendar Park, 23rd November at 10:00 am. Meet at main door
Litter Picking Group
Wednesday 1st November - outside the front door of Callendar House
Monday 6th November - Westquarter meeting place - park just opposite the end of Dovecot Road
Tuesday 14th November - Falkirk Stadium beside the electric car chargers to the right
Thursday 23rd November - Canada Wood car park in the first parking bays
Monday 27th November - Dollar Park at the house end of the car park
Dinner Club
The next meeting of the Dinner Club will be the Cotton House at Longcroft, for 6pm, THURSDAY 23rd November. http://www.cotton-house.co.uk/ A £5 per person deposit is required to book a place.
______
General information - website
Our website https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/home is a major source of information, including interest groups, membership and contact details. We are currently updating the information, but if there is anything you would like included please let us know. Group facilitators provide up to date information on future meetings on the website, so keep looking if there is something you fancy trying.
______
Interest Groups
The Interest Groups are the lifeblood of U3A and in Falkirk we have a diverse range of groups. Further information can be found on the Groups page on the website https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/groups
We are always looking to expand the Interest Groups, so if you are interested in starting, leading or hosting a new group we would be pleased to hear from you. The Groups Co-ordinator is Brian Greenhow, and you can contact him about any aspects of Groups by using the contact form https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/contact If you are interested in any of the existing groups you can contact the facilitators from the Groups page https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/groups . Updated meeting information can be found for each of the groups on their section of the website.
Focus on...... Dinner Club https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/page/65291
The Facilitator for the Dinner Club is Glenn Merrett. Each month the members meet at a local restaurant, in the evening, for a gossip and to enjoy the food. The meetings have been held in a number of areas, including Falkirk, Grangemouth, Banknock and Stirling. We are always looking for new suggestions and members, and you would be welcome to come and join us.
Focus on …..Family History Group https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/page/52640
Have you ever found a photo and wondered who that man or woman was? Or considered what life was really like for your grandparents? The Family History group is made up of around 12 people who meet once a month in Tesco Redding Community Hub. Each person’s ancestry is unique to them but our group attempts to find answers to the many questions people have about their family’s past. There are both experienced researchers and novices in the group and everyone is willing to share their knowledge and give possible routes to finding out about your ancestors. As a group, we have looked at where you should start your search, how to record the information you find, and how to add information to give a picture of the lives your ancestors may have led. For some meetings we have had visits to such places as Register House in Edinburgh, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, and even had a day out to the Scottish mining museum in Newtongrange, to trace our ancestry.
The facilitator for the Family History Group is Louise Westall.
Focus on ….. Lunch Club https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/page/52642
Twenty members of the Lunch Group met at the Tea House, Larbert on the 10th October for a very enjoyable meal served by efficient and helpful Staff.
At present there are twenty five members in the Group so if anyone else wishes to join, their name would have to go on a waiting list until a space becomes available. Danny Pace is the facilitator.
Focus on ….. Litter Picking Group https://u3asites.org.uk/falkirk/page/69396
The Litter Picking Group meets most weeks at various locations in and around Falkirk. There are a dozen people in the pool and each member comes when they are able. We have grabbers and gloves and we recycle cans, plastic bottles and glass. Anyone can come along and would be most welcome. Our picks last about one hour and start at the specified meeting places at 2pm. Dawn Corbett is the facilitator.
Out and about group
There has been some discussion about starting this new group that would visit interesting locations, including museums and art galleries, but so far nobody has volunteered to facilitate the group. If you would like to find out more, particularly if you are interested in leading the group, please let the Groups Co-ordinator know.
Chess
Glenn Merrett has offered to teach members how to play chess. This would consist of 3 sessions where the basic moves would be taught. A facilitator would be needed if members would like a chess interest group to continue. Please contact Glenn for further information.
______
Executive Committee
Led by the Chairman, Ian Crozier, the Executive Committee consists of a group of members who are responsible for running the U3A in Falkirk and supporting the interest groups. There are currently vacant positions on the Committee which we would like to fill. Please contact Ian for further information.
______
Group Facilitators
Reminder to keep your group information updated by sending information to Brian Greenhow or Glenn Merrett
______
Glenn Merrett –