Minutes of General Meeting 5th September 2016

University of the Third Age Moraira-Teulada
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 5th September 2016
At the Salon G.L., Teulada at 10.30

It is confirmed that the President and Secretary attended this General Meeting as voted in at the AGM on 7th March 2016.

John Hopwood welcomed everybody to the Meeting and asked them to please switch off their mobile phones, in the inimitable way of Cheda at the Art and Literature Lectures. Brian and Cheda Celebrate their 120th Lecture, on Monday 12th September. Cheda will speak on ‘History of London’ and Brian on ‘Photos since they were first invented’. John H welcomed the 37 new members and thanked all the helpers for making a successful Moraira-Teulada U3A.

David Haxon read out the synopsis of the Minutes of the 4th July Meeting. The full Minutes had been posted on the Website and were proposed by Beverly Stewart and seconded by Sue Hopwood. The minutes were approved by the members with a show of hands.

President’s Address
John H hoped all members had enjoyed the summer, whether away from home or in Spain. It was a hot and busy season but how lucky we all are to live in this part of Spain. John gave thanks to members and committee members, Group leaders and all the members involved with arranging the many events. Some Groups are easier to organise and others take more effort. He also thanked Piotr for organising the website and giving help to Committee Members. Thanks go to Dot Garret for producing the News Letter and to John and Colin for providing the sound system at the Monthly Meetings. All these people go the extra mile for the benefit of others.

There are two events organised for the rest of this year:

  • Font Santa – This is to be held on Wednesday 14th September. The ticket price is €7.50 each. Food and entertainment is provided, details on the tickets
  • Christmas Dinner/Dance – Again this is held at Canor and is on Friday 9th December
  • The first of the new season for Golden Oldies Music Group(GOMG) and is to be held on the 10th September at Café Del Mar.

REPORTS
Treasurer – Carin Derksen informed the members that a full report would be on the website and gave a brief overview of the income and expenses for July and August. The majority of the income had come from the sale of the Font Santa tickets as well as two partial payments of the loan to GOMG. Income exceeded expenses with the highest outlay for membership cards and badges.

Group Coordinator

Prue thanked the Group Leaders for their help and Piotr for his support with IT issues, as well as Peter Bayliss. Thanks also went to Pat Clarke for her continued help. The new Support Group now had a Group Leader – Rona Hurst who would soon be organising a meeting with all who have volunteered to help. The Drama group now had a new Group Leader – Trevor Kemp. The Wine Tasting Group Leaders, Brian and Pat Clarke had asked Prue to mention that 231 members had re-registered. The first wine tasting will be next week and a reminder to those who have not yet opened their e-mails, in relation to Wine Tasting, to do so. A New Group, lead by Noelene Cummins, The Genealogy Group concerns family history and the updating of information for each family. The Chess Group required more members regardless of level of play. Complete novices are welcome to learn or just watch. Please contact the Group Leader via the website.

Travel Group

Carol Mantle welcomed all to the meeting, especially the new members. There are places left on the day Trip to Valencia on 16th November with two buses for this trip. There is a trip to Ikea in Murcia on 11th January 2017.

There is now a reserve list for the Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in February/March 2017 with an approximate cost of €3,300 per person with a €1,000 single supplement. The Trip will include shopping in Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and a cruise in the Halong Bay. Details of the Jerez Trip include, Horse show, Cadiz, Rhonda, Seville and Granada. The last night there is a Gala Dinner in the Hotel at Granada. The cost of the Trip per person is €595, with a single supplement of €150. Included in the cost is the entrance to the Equestrian School for the horse show. An optional extra is the visit to the Bodega and Horse and Carriage ride back to the Fair Ground €16.

Planned for next year is a Trip to Cartagena at Easter and one to Paris in 2018. All details can be found on the website and the travel desk at the monthly meetings.

Cultural Arts Events

Beverly Stewart advised the members that on Friday the 9th September Duo Intermezzo will be performing in the beautiful gardens of Finca Jacaranda, please take table and chairs for a picnic which starts at 5.30. Beverly reminded the members of road closures on that day, that might interfere with routes to the Finca.

Montgo Chorale invite anyone to go and sing with them on their annual open evening at the Social Centre in Teulada, which is on Monday 12th September from 7pm.

The Teulada Moraira Lions free concerts continue with Manhattan Jazz on the seafront on Sunday, 18th September starting at 7.30pm.

Teulada Moraira presents the Overtones on Sunday 2nd October at 8pm in the La Senieta, Moraira.
As last year, the Royal Opera House is broadcasting live to various cinemas in the area, including Alfaz del Pi and Calpe. Their first performance is on Monday 26th September with the opera Norma.
Concerts Costa Blanca has announced their new 2016/2017 Schedule, details are on the website and the notice board at the monthly meetings.

Members/Committee Liaison

Nothing to report.

Matters Arising from the Reports

Robin mentioned he would like to talk to the Social Events organiser after the meeting. Colin advised that Alan also helped with the sound system at the Monthly Meetings.

Any Other Business – John H had to sadly report that Peter Romain had passed away, after battling with a long illness. Sincere condolences go to Yvonne, his wife. John will be sending a suitable message to Yvonne from the U3A Committee and members.

Laura Hillstead, from the local Council said how pleased she was to hear of so many new members. A meeting was to be held at La Senieta the evening of the Monthly Meeting, starting at 6.30, concerning the Vuelta. This will all be spoken in Spanish but Laura would be there to assist. They require Spanish speaking volunteers for the Marshalling, from 11am to 6pm. The route of the Vuelta on Friday 9th September will be from Benitachell to Teulada, to Moraira and to Calpe. A news letter will be sent out on Friday by e-mail, this will include details of the October meeting with the Mayor and the Press, everyone can attend if they so wish. In November they will have a representative from the British Consulate to talk about BREXIT and in July, in Alicante, they will take questions on BREXIT and will produce answers at a later date.

Eileen Haxon mentioned the Speaker for the October meeting would be from the Hospice in Gandia for homeless men. In order to keep the Hospice running and provide for the men’s daily needs and nursing, they require around €5,000 per month. If any member of U3A felt they would like to help to keep the Hospice running they could donate tinned food, UHT milk, items of clothing, shoes, trainers, socks baggy tracksuit trousers and underwear. Any single bedding would also be welcomed. Members could bring any items to the October Meeting, they would then be collected by someone from the Hospice.

John H said the President of the Lions should be making a presentation, at the meeting, of a Certificate of appreciation to the GOMG for playing at all the Lions Concerts in 2016 raising €3,000/3,500. However, due to the dreadful fire in Javea and evacuations, this would be postponed.

John H advised that apparently arrests have been made in relation to the starting of the fires.

John H thanked Laura as the working successor to Sylvia Tatnell.

Steve Higham – As there will be lots of moving of tables and chairs and general setting up, ready for the start of the picnic at Font Santa on 14th September, would any member present be able to give assistance. Steve and David Haxon would be at Font Santa from 9.30. Anyone would be welcome to help on the actual day.

As there would be no Speaker for September, the raffle was drawn, the lucky number was 633 and won by Carol Mantle. The voucher was for a meal at Ca Pepe.

The meeting closed at 11.10