Plymouth U3A celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength, with now around 550 members. Last year the U3A celebrated  25 years  since its inception in 1982.  Although the U3A Trust is a national organisation with over 188,250 members and with 664 local area U3A's., each local U3A is autonomous and is independently run by its Committee and members 

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, Plymouth U3A will be producing a small booklet about our history.
This has been made possible by our success in obtaining an  Awards for All Grant which is available
for smaller community projects.  
See their website "Awards for All" for full details.        

What is the U3A?
The U3A is a self-help group of people who are no longer in full-time employment and this gives members time to exchange and share educational, creative and leisure activities during the daytime.  This provides new social contacts when work is no longer the main social environment, as well as giving people the opportunity to take up new interests.  Well over 30 different groups, ranging from Architecture to Walking cater for a wide variety of interests and the groups are run by members, for members.  This means that the costs of running courses are on an 'expenses only' basis. See the link to 'Group News' for further details.

A monthly meeting is held in central Plymouth, with many interesting speakers and the chance to meet friends and find out more about group activities and trips. The venue for most of the General Meetings has moved from the  Reel Cinema to the Salvation Army Hall, Armada Way. 

10th Anniversary Celebration
On Wednesday July 30th. about 120 members and guests enjoyed a delightful lunch at the New Continental Hotel.  We listened with great interest as Brian Sabel described how the U3A was started in Plymouth.  Many Founder members attended the lunch.  Our Honorary President, Professor George Giarchi, reminded us that we are not getting old, just older.  Our Chairman Janice Orme spoke for all of us when she stressed the friendship that exists between members.  Many of us have made new and very dear friends since joining Plymouth U3A.  We were honoured to have the South West Area Trustee Fran Elkin, the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Mary Aspinall and Deputy Lady Mayoress Miss Kate Aspinall, as well as members from the Looe Valley and Saltash U3As.  Many thanks to Pam Capps for organising such a wonderful event.

Monday 11th. August, General Meeting
"No matter How Bitter the Pill".  Dr. Jan Knight from Park Pharmacy Trust
N.B. From June 2008 meetings will start at 11.00 am

e-mail link for all membership enquiries - Ann Verden

Look at the Theatre page for the latest bookings.
N.B.  New groups for Spanish and German conversation and Yoga have been arranged. 
See 'Group News'. and for new programme for the 'Gardens' group.

SHORT WALKS GROUP - Latest programme - link to page
CLASSIC FILMS - latest programme - see Group News.

COFFEE MORNINGS
The Autumn Coffee Morning has been booked for  Wednesday October 29th.  These start at 10.30 am until 12 noon.  New and relatively new members particularly welcome - please wear your name badges as we are guests at the Athenaeum.
Visitors are welcome at the General Meetings with the opportunity to see what the U3A offers and to join.  See the 'Membership' link for full details.

16/08/2008
Sheila Prady
Website Administrator
More than 1400 visitors to the site each month