This month's "Previous Chair" reflection is from Lesley Elkington, our Chair from 2015 to 2018:
My husband John and I joined Southwell u3a in the new year of 2008. It wasn't long before John was running his history of architecture group, the course of which lasted two years. I joined several groups and led some of them. When Roger and Chris Bennett decided to stop editing Newsline, I, with a background in publishing, volunteered to become editor of Newsline.
This was quite a challenge as it was done in Publisher in a 4-page A5 set up with all articles formatted and pictures pasted in with frames. Also included was a monthly calendar with details of meeting places, times and dates which was very helpful, particularly for new members to know where they should be! Every three months we published a complete list of all groups and leaders along with their contact numbers. I know we have our website and Beacon, but nothing is as quick as reading a piece of paper!
After a relatively short time I decided that I needed to be on the committee to understand what I was writing about and to make sure it was correct. In 2015 I thought I might stand as chairman, there being no other volunteers. I felt I had lots to offer, and I have always been an ideas person. Standing at the front of the hall at the first meeting with so many people staring at me I looked back at them in fear and trepidation but with a few jokey comments and a flapping of arms as I did the requisite health and safety statement I got through.
I was very fortunate to have a brilliant committee behind me who supported me through every decision we made. I was also fortunate to follow Peter James as he had created most of the policy documents, so we had guides as to what was permitted under u3a rules. Six months later it was our 10th anniversary, and we planned a fairly low-key celebration. We hired the small hall as well as the sports hall and most groups had a display of what they did. We had a beautiful cake decorated by one of our members which our first chairman, Clive, now deceased, Michaela Moody our East Midland representative to the Third Age Trust, and I, cut the cake and it was distributed to all our members along with a glass of fizz.
When I became Chairman, we were faced with an embarrassment of funds as we had too much in our reserves. That was when we bought the staging so that everyone at the monthly meeting could see whoever was speaking at the time. We also bought a portable PA system for use in other places such as the Baptist church and other pieces of kit which groups needed.
Another less successful decision was to establish a u3a office. We rented a room in the old Minster Chambers (The Old Grammar School). It was big enough for groups of up to 20 members to meet and for the committee to meet. The beauty of this was that groups could use it without charge, and it was readily available. We were able to store a lot of equipment there which freed up my dining room! The only drawback was that it was on the top floor which meant accessibility was a problem. The upkeep costs were nearly covered by the tax rebate from HMRC for Gift Aid.
At this time, we had a membership of almost 800 people and so we felt we ought to provide a social scene as well. That was when the social committee was formed and soon absorbed into the trips committee. So it was that we started to organise quizzes, wine tasting, murder mystery plays and other similar events, which were well attended. The other thing which we established were the Workshops, the first ones being First Aid, a solicitor talking about wills, and a driving course.
I am so pleased that the workshops programme is expanding further, and it is heart-warming to see membership similarly increasing. It is notable that as members from the pre-covid era have thinned a new generation has taken their place. In 2018 I retired from the Chair just a couple of weeks before my 70th birthday, exhausted and relieved but also pleased that most things had worked out. The one thing I did miss was that most of the committee, with spouses, and the speaker, went for lunch together after the monthly meeting. It was a good time to cross question the speaker as well as getting to know your colleagues.
We have so many committee members who worked hard for Southwell u3a and have decided to retire. So thank you all for your contributions to the successful running of our u3a. I would also like to pay tribute to those who are no longer with us. I have fond memories of them.
Lesley Elkington