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Newsletter No 49 January 2012

Kingborough Inc. P.O. Box 479 Kingston 7051 Mobile Tel. 0405 327 071 Email: u3akingborough@email4life.com.au

By the time this newsletter is in the community the " Happy New Year" will be a greeting of the past. But this welcome greeting goes to new and renewing U3A Kingborough members. The committee hopes you will enjoy the courses and take the opportunity to gather and make new friends or rekindle old acquaintances.

During the summer break many committee members have been working hard to prepare for Enrolment Day February 21st, 10:00 to 2:00 pm and the inauguration of our File Maker Pro database. In this newsletter, on a separate page, you maybe interested in reading the details of this recent computerized acquisition.

Not only is this newsletter the first for 2012 but it also is the last one for me as your president. So this means the Annual General Meeting on March 27th is time for you to consider a committee nomination. Some of the committee members listed at the top of this page, have completed more than 3 years and are looking forward to “retirement” or a rest. In order to continue this valued U3A; new ideas and committee members are urgently needed. All positions of the committee will be open. And it is time to pass the torch and share the load with other capable members. If you are approached or wish to join the committee, a nomination form is enclosed.

Just a glance back to 2011, at our year end Mediterranean lunch held at Westwinds, catered by Albe and enjoyed by all was another huge success. Ninety six people had fun with a name the capital to country quiz and the raffle winner for a 2012 membership was Pat Fripp.

In closing, my thanks to all who have helped keep this U3A vibrant and progressive, and to Marian Hearn and Neil Hore who provided the summer program. I hope to see you either at Woodbridge, Kingston, at the upcoming sausage sizzle or on the walking trails.

Sincerely Jane Mays

"Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them."
Harriet Naylor

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All lunches are at 12.00pm on the 1st Sunday of month (except in January and September).

A different venue is chosen each month to give variety of reasonably priced meals.

Bookings are required at least 3 days beforehand. Contact Marian Causon ph: 6267 1725 or email: gcauson88@bigpond.com

Members on the list will be reminded a week before each luncheon.

The next lunch will be on 5th February at Mermaid Café, Kettering

Be on the email reminder list to receive information on upcoming lunches: gcauson88@bigpond.com

U3A Kingborough Welcome BBQ

on
Friday April 20th , 2012 at 12:00
At Dru Point, Margate

All U3A members and family are welcome to our 4th Annual BBQ

Sausages, salad and conversation will be provided

BYO chair and drink

RSVP by April 13th
Email - pmpage@gmail.com
Mobile - 0405 327 071

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2012 Membership Subscription Due now. You will find a Membership Subscription Form in this newsletter. Your 2011 membership has entitled you to the first newsletter in 2012. Post as a friendly fridge reminder

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I ..................................……nominate .................................................... ...
for the position of:

President        Vice President        Secretary

Treasurer        Public Officer and/or General Committee Member

(Please indicate by circling a specific position)


Signature of the Proposer.............................................................................

Signature of Seconder...................................................................................

Signature of the person so nominated ..........................................................

Please forward. to "Nominations", U3A Kingborough Inc. P.O. Box 479 Kingston 7051 before 19th March 2012

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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FILEMAKER PRO
AND WERE AFRAID TO ASK

In December 2011 U3A KINGBOROUGH was advised that we were successful in our application for a grant from the TASMANIAN COMMUNITY FUND. We had applied for an amount of just under $3000 to cover the purchase and setup of a computer program called FILEMAKER PRO. We now have the program and a dedicated computer to run the special software. Why did the management committee take this step? What is FILEMAKER PRO? To bring all our members into the picture we are including an edited version of that application.

THE PROJECT
To purchase and install a relational database and file serving computer.

WHO WE ARE
U3AK Inc is a self-help co-operative of enthusiastic volunteers whose objective is to organise and maintain, on a non-profit basis, a program of Third Age learning for retired and semi-retired people in the local community. Members pay a modest annual subscription to cover the cost of rent, printing and postage of newsletters and course information, and basic office and classroom equipment. We receive no outside financial assistance apart from the occasional grant. We welcome as members people living in the Kingborough and surrounding communities. There are no conditions or educational qualifications required. We run courses at the LINC CENTRE in Kingston and at the WESTWINDS COMMUNITY CENTRE in Woodbridge. The strength of community support is well demonstrated by our continuing high membership.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Since its inception in 2000, U3A Kingborough has experienced a rapid increase in numbers. We now have a membership of around 300 and this unanticipated rate of growth has stretched the efforts of hardworking volunteers who perform all the programming and management functions – there are no paid staff.

The most challenging task faced by our programmers is to find suitable tutors and course leaders who are prepared to commit to a ten week term, then to prepare and publish the syllabus for each term. The committee’s routine management jobs include enrolling members, compiling and keeping membership records, preparing class lists, tutors’ lists and timetables, writing and distributing regular newsletters, keeping of accounts and secretarial duties, operating and maintaining classroom equipment, as well as day to day “housekeeping” duties. We also run a program of social activities through the year, and maintain a members’ book exchange.

In an effort to ease the burden on our precious volunteers, the management committee has investigated the setting up of a RELATIONAL DATABASE, a computer program to assist in routine repetitive tasks such as membership records, enrolment details, course lists, subscription payments, etc. During 2011 we have been trialling a relational database developed by one of our members whose contribution is estimated at 50 hours so far (at $50/hour that’s equivalent to $3000).

We now have the computer and software and are preparing for a trial run at the February enrolment day.

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Your subscription entitles you to Membership for the calendar year 2012.
You will be issued with a name-tag showing your Membership Number.
NOTE: If you do not enrol for any courses, the subscription is not refundable.

There are four ways to register and pay:

1. Bring your completed form on Membership & Enrolment Day, Tuesday, 21st February, 10:00 – 1:00 at KLINC, Block A Building, 8 Hutchins Street, Kingston.
2. Post your completed form with cheque to U3A Kingborough, PO Box 479 Kingston TAS 7051.
3. Email your completed form to pmpage@gmail.com
4. Email your completed form through our U3A website at http://www.u3akingborough.org.au

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There are four ways to enrol in courses:

1. Bring this completed form on Membership & Enrolment Day 21st February, 10:00 – 1:00pm, Adult Education, Block A Building, Hutchins Street, Kingston
2. Email this completed form to us at pmpage@gmail.com
3. Email through our U3A website at http://www.u3akingborough.org.au
4. Post this completed form to U3A Kingborough, PO Box 479 Kingston TAS 7051

(Please print)
Member No: K ......./.......... Telephone Number: ..........................

First Name: ........................... Surname: ............................................

Email: ..................@............................

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We will need volunteers to act as Course Representatives for Term 1. If you know you are going to attend a course, please consider being the Course Representative. Contact Bronwen on 6267 1632 if you want to know exactly what this involves.
If you can help, please detach the slip below and send (or bring) with your course enrolment form. A member of the committee will contact you to confirm the position.

Name____________________________________________________________Tel. ______________________

Email ______________________________________________________________________(please print clearly)

I wish to volunteer as Course Representative for: ___________________________________________

Items of Note:

• Visitors are welcome to attend our U3A courses. Please inform the course Rep when you bring a visitor.
• If you don’t enrol for a course before the start of term, you are welcome to enrol at any later stage with the Course Rep.
• Don’t forget to keep your eye on the U3A Noticeboard for upcoming events etc and members’ literary contributions.

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