Dear Member,
(This is going to every member who signed up for "emails from the chair")
There's lots going on in our u3a! We now have over 985 members - that's 100 more than 12 months ago!
MOTO and Reading for Pleasure have started, Fairweather Bikers are going on their first ride together, and Latin for Beginners and Masters of Modern Art and Architecture are starting in the new year.
Preparations and bookings for the first ever Event organised by our new "Events team", a quiz, are well under way. I see there are still a few places left, but you do need to book if you want to come.
I am told that the script is ready, and casting has begun, for a mini panto as part of our "making our own entertainment" meeting on December 4th in the Corn Exchange. (Yes it is the FIRST Thursday of the month this year!) Look out for further details of this event in the November newsletter.
Less fun but still important, your committee are working on reviewing and revising our policies, as they need to be kept up to date. They are also looking at some strategic aspects, in particular our budget for 2026 and when we might need to increase our subscription.
Reflections on u3a
I have been asked why we talk of ourselves as the "u3a" (lower case) these days, especially as I insist on changing it from the upper case version when I see it, so I thought I would summarise my thoughts.
Many of you will remember the old days when we were the "University of the Third Age", affectionately known as the "U3A". It seemed quite an ambition to be thought of as a "University"; and it was a recognition that it was mainly for people after their working life had finished.
Originally, the word "university" referred to a guild of either teachers or students, and came from the Latin phrase "universitas magistrorum et scholarium", which means "community of masters and scholars". However the term evolved away from being about people to describe a centre of learning itself. Although we wanted to maintain the feeling that we are an association of learners, at every level, our movement were concerned that the modern meaning of "University" put many people off joining - it felt elitist and purely intellectual.
The term "Third Age" was also very constraining in its image, especially given the way jobs and careers have developed. We want everyone who is no longer in full-time employment, and therefore has time to join in our community of learners, to be able to feel welcome to join - and to contribute.
Hence the decision was made by the movement to move away from mentioning the word University and the phrase Third Age. To maintain some continuity, it was decided to use what had been an acronym, but now just to use it as a brand ie "u3a". We are no different than before in our emphases, but hopefully more inclusive and attractive to everyone who is no longer in full-time employment.
Finally, there are a few places where you will still see the old "U3A" name:
- On our official documents (bank account, charity registration) - these are too hard to change
- Some particular U3As (eg Cambridge) that are not part of the main u3a movement - they offer courses very like a University
- the on-line platform "U3ACommunities" who aim to "put University back into the U3A" - they are a useful resource for enquiring minds, eg on AI
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If you want to comment on what I have written or anything happening in our u3a, feel free to click "Reply". If you want to talk, I will be in Wetherspoons every first Thursday of the month and at the Members' Open Meetings usually on the second Thursdays.
Best wishes
Peter Cooper, Chair, St Ives (Cambs) u3a, chair@u3aivo.uk