By Newsletter Editor
Please send your views and observations by the copy date as shown above.
Dear Ed.
Hi. This is not another letter about John´s opinions on this or that, or an analysis of his body language to determine which way he leans, sober or otherwise.
Just a letter to say that John is one of, and maybe the, most decent man I have ever met. Yes he snorts and harrumphs and sometimes forgets to take his happy pills. He may drive one more than half batty with his witterings, but he would not pass by anyone in need or shirk a duty, unpleasant or no.
So whatever his politics, whatever his creed, what I say is Up With Hopmuk!!!
Mike Creese
Hello Dot,
Like his predecessors I hardly think that John needs any advice about the content of the articles of a U3A.
The inclusion referring to politics and religion were clearly inserted to ensure that the organising committees take great care that no specific, religious or political group, could use the U3A structure to promote, or seek to influence other members about their particular beliefs. This has always been adhered to by each successive President and Committee.
I have always thought the original title ‘University’ a touch pompous, but that is what it is, and as such, the academic freedom to constructively debate any subject, including politics and religion, is embodied in that title. We are not children; we are all adults of the older generation and as such we have a vast amount of life’s experiences behind us. Over our lifetimes we have seen the positive and negative sides of the various religious and political parties that have shaped our lives. Of course, as a group, we have things to discuss and points to make, and in so doing we are not in any way contravening the articles as they are written.
If, such mild comments, as those made by John Hopwood are found offensive, then logically, the History group should close down because History is littered with the shortcomings of both religion and politics.
Best regards, Brian Nicholls.
Dear Dot,
I am writing with regard to your recent newsletter and the "New Feature - Your Letters". I also note that you have added an editorial comment that, as far as the exchange of letters re. "politics" is concerned, you believe:
"we have exhausted the subject of John's comments now but please all send in your views on any other topics".
It is not my intention to prolong the discussion further but, having given a talk to the Javea U3A on the history and development of the U3A movement, (which was also scheduled to be given to the Moraira-Teulada U3A in January this year, but was cancelled due to a clash of dates with the History Group), and which I will be giving to the Vall del Pop U3A next month, I believe that a few comments are necessary with regard to "Ian's letter".
Although in the early years following the creation of the first U3A in England - at Cambridge in 1982 - all U3As in the UK were affiliated to The Third Age Trust, this stopped being the case in 1989 following a row over the affiliation fees in the winter of 1988/89. A small number of U3As, including the founding U3A at Cambridge, broke away and continue to operate entirely independently from The Third Age Trust. Another example is one of the largest, at Huddersfield:"We opted out because they expected quite a substantial fee for affiliation and that would have had to be passed on to the members”, says Huddersfield chairman Philip Walton. "We are now entirely independent - we no longer have any relationship with the centre”.
When the Javea U3A was first created in 2005 (I was membership secretary at that time), we did have a discussion in committee as to whether we should affiliate to The Third Age Trust, and this was discounted due to the capitation fee required per member. As far as I am aware, there is only 1 U3A on the Costas which is entitled to use both the U3A name and its registered logo, namely the U3A Costa del Sol, which is registered with TheThird Age Trust to enable them to do so. Although the name "U3A" has continued to be used (and also in both Cambridge and Huddersfield), the U3A logo is not used by those who have declined to register with the Trust. I have read the Moraira-Teulada accounts for 2016 and please correct me if I am wrong, but I do not see any entry that suggests Moraira-Teulada U3A is paying a capitation fee; yet I see two recent examples of the logo being used (see attachment) - hence my letter to yourself which I have copied to John. Purely as a matter of interest, the current National Office capitation fee is £3.50 pp.
Keep up the good work!
kind regards
Angela Chantry
* Note from Editor. Thank you Angela for this information that I am sure will be gratefully received by our committee. I have removed the U3A logo from the newsletter.
Dear Dot.
I find myself reading the many free newspapers that are around these days. You get some news but mainly it's all about this group or that group that has donated money to some local charity. Or its a trip by a local U3A to somewhere local. Lots of jolly pictures. Today ( August 2nd ) in the Post I saw a article about a gift to a organization in Benidorm that is dedicated to the care and training of people with intellectual disabilities. I have no knowledge of this group. I am sure they do splendid work. I am very happy they are getting help in these hard times. What caused me to stop and reread was the fact that the help was given by two separate bodies. One was the local help group and the other the local U3A of Marina Baixa.
This got me thinking. Each month at our U3A general meeting, I sit and listen to the Treasurer read out our bank balance and wince at the amount we have. It is especially hard to listen to speakers at our meeting who represent some great charities who do great work and who need help. When I enquire why we do not help local charities more I am told it is as a result of the way our ( Moraira-Teulada U3A) "constitution " was set up.
I would like to propose that a General meeting of members be held in the near future and that we at least "Amend " our constitution if this is at all possible. If one local U3A can help a good cause then why can't we.
Let's not forget that maybe in the near future some of our OWN MEMBERS may well be in need of some financial help. Are we to turn them away.
I have read through the constitution as posted on the website and no where do I find any recommendations regarding the use (or not) of funds to support any outside charity or organisation
Geoffrey W Shean
