October 2009 - Issue 006

Virtual University of the Third Age
NEWSLETTER No. 6
October 2009

LAST MONTH’S ICEBREAKER QUIZ

We tried running an event which would need two members to work together to solve a quiz and in doing so would also get to know each other a bit. It is perhaps worth saying that vU3A is an entirely new concept that does require members to take an active part in what is happening. Without this type of pioneering response and a bit of enthusiasm we are unlikely to prosper. Last month only six members responded to the challenge of a quiz, which is a big surprise as no computer skills are needed other than the ability to send an e-mail request. It would help if you could please tell me why you are not responding: Were you on holiday? Did you respond but not receive a reply? Did you not receive newsletter 005?

The quiz will be kept open for another month to give you the opportunity to participate by request to me and my address is wariner@waitrose.com.

REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS – BY E-MAIL

Last month the newsletter introduced you to ‘vu3achat@vu3a.org’ and invited e-mails, in the knowledge that some members did not have Skype – and in the hope that communicating this way might be less daunting, but not one call was registered - please tell us why?   Mike sent an e-mail to members who had joined and then never visited the wiki site. A good proportion of these members answered with good reasons why this had happened but most said that they thought vU3A was a really good idea.  We have all been working hard behind the scenes hoping to provide an online community which meets your needs. Please drop us a line and let us know what bugs you and what YOU want. That's the only way we'll improve.

Don't forget we have a regular and very informal get-together, chatting with people from all over the world. We'd love you to join us.  Monday nights, 6.30GMT on Skype.  Please send your Skype name if you'd like to be included, to wariner@waitrose.com  We do want you to enjoy vU3A in your way but we need your input.

vU3A Support Group

The committee are to consider a proposal to form such a group to help run vU3A and provide a source for new committee members.  If you have an hour or so to spare then please contact me on wariner@waitrose.com

INTRODUCING COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
–JOHN M WARINER         

In telling you about committee members it is the easiest way to explain why John and other committee members have created vU3A. He is married and has two daughters and four granddaughters. He has been a member of Guildford U3A since retiring in 1997 having previously earned his living as a Chartered Accountant working mainly in service companies. He has held every position from objectives. office boy, through the accountancy jobs, to managing director and chairman of private and public companies. He failed to make his fortune but enjoyed the challenge of achieving objectives, and like the other long serving members, we bonded to create vU3A.

Following retirement he was a co-founder of Guildford U3A computer group and also involved in U3A travel group. He obtaining a lottery grant for a Guildford charity and become aware that the people they were assisting could not participate in U3A activities.  About the year 2000 at a national conference he discussed this with Paul who some years later approached him with a proposal which led to the virtual U3A. The rest is history but it does explain his long-standing  support.