Page 34 - Oundle Life May 2022

OUNDLE U3A
New members welcome
In January 2021, I wrote an article about our u3a and how Members were keeping in touch during the lockdowns.
Fortunately, life is getting back to normal. Our groups are meeting regularly again, and our monthly meetings are back in Queen Victoria Hall.
Last September, we held a recruitment event and 40 new members joined as a result! Here are some comments from new members:
“Having moved to Oundle during lockdown, it was difficult to meet people. I needn’t have worried because the u3a had a recruitment event and I joined
up for three groups. These are giving me great pleasure.”
“Oundle was new territory for me, as
was u3a, when I came to the town in
2021 – rootless but with high hopes. I
was impressed by the number of groups,
although puzzled by there being several
history groups: even in an ancient town
that seemed excessive. I discovered that
u3a’s system of holding meetings in
people’s houses dictated the numbers. It does limit the exchange of information, but not the warmth of welcome which I personally received.”
“When we studied the Oundle u3a website after retirement last year, we were amazed at
the wide range of activities available. We are
now members of six groups as diverse as rowing, genealogy and mindfulness, with many more that we would like to join, given time! We consider ourselves very lucky to be close to such a vibrant organisation which has enabled us to develop old, and start new, interests whilst meeting stimulating and friendly people. All for just £15
a year!”
So, in case you missed the previous article, u3a is open to anyone no longer in full-time work and gives Members the opportunity to share skills, take up something new and develop interests in a friendly atmosphere.
You might even want to join our Committee!
A couple of recently joined Committee members explain:
“Returning to UK after 23 years abroad I was keen to join u3a to pursue interests that had lain dormant in a foreign land – and then along came Covid, so I volunteered as Membership Secretary! How better to get to know the area and its populace as well as keeping active at the keyboard? I can definitely recommend u3a as a means of getting to
know people and developing new interests.” “I followed the classic pattern: we retired,
moved nearer the children, joined the u3a with every intention of massive involvement and then... too much happening elsewhere. Not until I saw a plea in a Newsletter for Committee members did I think: “really need to get stuck
in now”. So, I joined the Committee and, even after moving to Stamford, I continue to edit the Newsletter as part of the newsletter team. What I love about the Oundle set-up is the teamwork and the commitment of everyone involved.”
I hope that gives you an idea of the enjoyment we get from being part of u3a.
Gill Potts
I can definitely recommend u3a as a means of getting
to know people and developing new interests
To find out more, please visit our website:
www.u3asites.org.uk/oundle
or contact: oundleu3achairman@gmail.com
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