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GOOD MORNING! LEARN, LAUGH,

LIVE Please remember to SIGN IN!

Coffee/Tea and biscuits - FREE for everybody.

Macclesfield U3A - Members’ Morning

27th February 2020 Doc : MM2002

Welcome to Macclesfield U3A. If you are new please ask an organiser (Look for someone wearing an ORANGE LANYARD) to introduce you to people to start getting to know us. Our morning starts at 9:45 with coffee and meeting friends, getting to know what is going on in Macc U3A and the wider movement. At 10:30ish we normally have a speaker for about an hour, before we end the meeting around 12:00.

“When Hygiene was a dirty word” In a highly entertaining presentation, David explores the state of medicine used to deal with the Black Death in the 1300s, the world’s most devastating pandemic to date, killing an estimated 200Million people. Measures were ineffectual and weird, reflecting beliefs and prejudices of the time, seeming incredible now but taken seriously then. A sometimes shockingly funny source of material is used by David to give a sense of the desperation and hopelessness of the disaster, that only subsided when the cold Autumn came to kill off the real carriers of the plague. Prepare to look away… now. David’s show includes some insights to how and why operations were performed and the irrational beliefs that thought they were a good idea at t he time.

Today’s Speaker : David Bell - The Plague Doctor

Music and live performances are covered by U3A PPL Licence and Calvary Church PRS license.

Notes from the Chair Here in Macclesfield, we will be coming together for our AGM on Thursday 23rd April 2020. Last year we had 77 members at our AGM and we look forward to seeing a similar turn out this year, do please come along and help make the meeting a successful one. I’m pleased to say that we have a local interest key note speaker at the AGM this year, Dr Simon Hyde, the headmaster of Kings School who will tell us about the new development of their consolidated, co-educational campus currently being completed out on the Alderley Edge road. They are due to move in over this summer. There are some key dates for our AGM that we need to respect to comply with our constitution: AGM notification Date Monday 23rd March 2020.

Agenda, last year’s minutes will be attached. Every member will be notified by Email or Letter.

Last date for Agenda Items and nominations for officers to the Secretary or Chairman will be by Wednesday 4th April 2020.

It would be very helpful if all members could let the committee know of any questions or points of order as soon as possible, so that we can keep formal business as short as possible on the day. Alec Johnston Chairman

INFORMATION BOARD

Members’ Mornings : 4th Thursday of the month, this edition : 27th February 2020

Please visit the Members Morning Page at : www.maccu3a.uk/page/26734

Website links in these pages are Active, which means CLICK&GO

Read Macclesfield 2019/20 newsletters & year book

Next Members’ Morning:

26th March 2020

Philip

Caine

From BARROW to BAGHDAD and back

U3A National Newsletter February 2019

Sign up to the National Monthly Letter Updates Here

North-West region has it’s own Publication (and events) Follow this link.

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Get up to date event details and plans from our MaccU3A Web-site : www.maccu3a.uk/events and from the National Website including access to NW regional information and events:

Please feel free to suggest additional dates that might be of general interest to our membership.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! Next year’s programme of members’ mornings requires a team approach as several existing team members will be standing down this summer. We Need: Speaker secretary, to build the annual programme

and help event delivery each month. Someone to run the BookStall, bringing the books

each month and managing the cash. A door/ host person to welcome and dirtect people

on the day. Editor/Compositor for the Good Morning

publication. (You are reading and example). A tech support person to set up the presentations,

sound system and get the speaker ready. 3 people to help with various tasks at the Christmas

party, joining the existing team starting work in the summer.

If you can offer some help in any way, please let Allan, Alec or a committee member know as soon as possible please. Kind regards, Allan Trayes.(Current M.M leader)

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2020/21 All members are reminded that subscription renewals are due by March 31st and unpaid memberships will be set to dormant after the annual general meeting. You can renew (£28/member, £24.50 if already a member of another U3A) by Bank Transfer, Cash or Cheque: Bank Transfer to: Macclesfield Rural U3A : 99-99-99 : 99999999 : “MEMNO SURNAME”. Cash or cheque (“Macclesfield U3A”) at members’

mornings in February or March. Please be aware that there will be an extra 50p per meeting charge for the limited number of groups that meet in hired halls and leisure facilities, starting in the new year. This is expected to be formally approved at the forthcoming A.G.M in April.

2020 to 2021 LEAP YEAR!March 26th M.M Philip Caine Calvary

From Barrow to Baghdad

AGM Notification 23rd March, Agenda Items and Nominations by 31st.

7th and 14th K.E.M.S events at St Michaels

15th Macclesfield Rotary "Swimathon" in aid of Polio Eradication.

30th NW REGION A Journey Through Egypt, Bolton Museum, 12:45

April 23rd Macclesfield A.G.M at the Calvary Calvary

AGM Note : AGM questions to secretary by March 31st please.

Speaker: Dr Simon Hyde : Kings School Re-development.

23rd NW REGION Comms Workshop, Liverpool QMH, Free, See Wsite.

MAY 28th M.M. Jackie Boulton (U3A) Calvary

Parkside Hospital and me.

JUNE 25th M.M Joy Kewney Calvary

Growing Up in South Africa

3rd National U3A Day! Events and publicity across UK.

9th NW REGION Conference and AGM, Preston, The Exchange.

July NO Members' Morning

SUMMER HOLIDAYS16th Drama Group - Clonter Opera - Chris Hewitt - 01625 425740

August NO Members' Morning

SUMMER HOLIDAYS24th-27th NW REGION Summer School, Newton Rigg Ag.College.

25th-27th National Conference and AGM, East Midlands Conf. C.

September 24th Linda Pyatt - Macc. Samaritans Calvary

Behind the Samaritans

october 24th Rob Carroll - Singer/Song writer Calvary

Songs and their Stories

8th 3rd U3A Energy Conference. Rheged,Penrith, (Cumbria Network)

november 26th Marion Grant - Macc U3A Calvary

Travels in Ethiopia

december 10th Christmas at the Calvary Calvary

10th Macc U3A Christmas party at the calvary.

Tickets on sale from September

2021 to 2022january 28th Announced prior Summer Recess Calvary

2021 As usual, national events will be announced

U3A Website to find out details.

National Conference likely to be mid to late August.

February 25th Announced prior Summer Recess Calvary

March 25th Announced prior Summer Recess Calvary

April 22nd Macclesfield A.G.M Calvary

Notices out in Early March for AGM

BEACON SYSTEM NEWS. There are a surprisingly large number of Beacon users in our U3A. If you are one of them, you may be interested to know that the UK Trust has now approved the developers (APT) upgrade proposals and code writing has begun. On schedule for release later this year. I’m also pleased to report that changes seen as immediately beneficial are being released in the current functionality of the original version. This has simplified system administration and has also vastly improved the financial management capabilities of the system. We at MaccU3A decided not to implement the original financial module but may well have to reconsider that decision when the new release is available. All in all it seems like a very positive major re-development of an essential U3A tool. You can find out more by going to:

https://beacon.u3a.org.uk/

U3A Calendar 2020/21

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Newslines, Events & Information @ February 2020

Leaflets and flyers for some of these events are on the notices table, when available.

Macc U3A events, Groups and Local information:

NEW GROUP—Beginner’s Italian The new Beginners' Italian group is now up and running, and aims to give you enough Italian, in about a year, to get around as a visitor to Italy. We will mostly use the BBC 'Talk Italian' books and CDs. You should also feel competent at the end of the

course to explore the language further on your own, or to join a more advanced conversation group.

We meet at 2:00 pm on Thursdays, and it's not too late to join. If interested, please contact : Doug Hughes via the website under 'Italian - Beginners'.

By Helen Vernon– Jones : Groups coordinator.

The new wildflower group has been well supported and members are looking forward to ex-ploring the countryside together later in the year. Needles and tongues are busy clicking in the

knit and natter group.This friendly group would welcome more members. No experience is required as there are several "experts"who are more than willing to help others. The allotment gardening group has two new leaders. Patti Chu and Steve Fallows have taken over this role from Sue Townsend. The art appreciation group is now led by Julia Marwood. There are several vacancies if anyone is interested in joining. You can view groups at the GROUPS page on our website: MACC U3A GROUPS

Macclesfield U3A makes no gain from these notices,

THEATRE GOERS Clonter Opera

Thursday 16th July 2020 Doors open 6pm, pre-performance talk

6.30, Opera starts 7pm.

'The Barber of Seville' by Rossini, sung in Italian

with sur-titles in English. £15pp in seating on rows E/F

Price includes an optional pre-performance talk. I have managed to reserve tickets for Conter Opera again this year and the good news is they are on the novice night and include an optional pre- performance talk which we can attend before the opera starts. Please book asap if you are interested, payment to me (not

U3A), my contact details: Chris Hewitt, 01625

King Edward Musical Society On Saturday 7th March, Macc. Contemporary Ensemble hosts a series

of events as part of the 3rd Festival of Contemporary Music for All – a workshop for players or singers, free afternoon concerts (3.30pm) and an evening concert - Living Music! Most events free or donation only, evening concert tickets are £7. St Michael’s Church. To book tickets: http://www.kems.org.uk/concertcontemporary.php Also Saturday 14th March, 7.30pm Macclesfield Sympho-ny Orchestra presents a romantic programme of music. They look forward to welcoming young soloist George Strivens, playing Strauss’s Horn Concerto No 2. Also music by Wag-ner, Glinka and Rachmaninov. Tickets £12 from: http://www.kems.org.uk/next_concert.php Moira Taylor

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PART 2 : National U3A Information and Events. Leaflets and flyers for some of these events are on the notices table, when available.

Weds. 3rd June 2020

NEW ANNUAL EVENT, ACROSS THE UK on one day. This will be the first annual event that will serve as a focus for showcasing the amazing and diverse things that our members get up to and will challenge preconceptions of what being an older adult means. Details and FAQs are now available, plus planning guides on Website.

The Family History Conference, Palace Hotel, Buxton: Friday 20th March 2020 It’s time to think about buying your ticket for our 2020 Conference (19th September) and/or the Spring Talk (20th March). Both our of last year’s events were well attended with great feedback from the delegates. I am pleased to report that the hotel staff have told me that they have bought new microphones! By popular demand we have booked both Nick Barratt and Debbie Kennett to talk again as they were well received when they attended previously. Please remember that you can obtain a free ticket for the Spring Talk if you buy your Conference ticket BEFORE the 28th February. Full details and a booking form are available here:

BOOKING FORMS FOR CONFERENCE & SPRING TALK Ian Taylor : Chair, U3A Peak District Family History Network

U3A National Conference and AGM EAST MIDLANDS CONFERENCE CENTRE, UNIVERSITY PARK, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 2RJ

27 - 29 August 2020 Together we will be sharing our views, ideas and experience in this year's conference "Sharing Inspiring Learning". With workshops focusing on lifelong learning, managing new educational resources, finance for charities, and supporting the growth and development of U3As, there will opportunity to discuss, debate and enjoy the views of colleagues across the movement. This annual event takes place over 3 days, cost ranges between £115 non-residential to £325 for fully residential attending the full programme. AGM day tickets are available. Video recordings of key sessions will be available on youtube after the event. Got to the conference page on the national website : U3A 2020 Conference

PART 3 : Information and Local Events. Leaflets and flyers for some of these events are on the notices table, when available.

Macclesfield U3A makes no gain from these notices, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Macclesfield Group of the Family History Society of Cheshire - 2020 Programme Meetings are held at the Salvation Army Hall,

Roe Street, Macclesfield beginning at 7.30pm. Non members are very welcome. Admission £2 for members and £3 for visitors, including refreshments. For further details please contact macclesfield@fhsc.org.uk Tuesday 24th March 2020. 7:30pm Studying the three R’s: an introduction to School and Education Records for Family Tree research. Tuesday 28th April 2020. 7:30pm WHAT did he die of?

TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS

A few people have said it would be good to have a speaker on family history and mill towns. I’m pleased to say we’ve got one in next year’s pro-gramme, courtesy of a recommendation by Pete Caulkett (Thanks Pete!). January 2021:Adele Emm.

Adele’s

books are available on Amazon if you want to get started before next

year!

Behind the Scenes of Dame Mary Quant Tues, 21st April 2020: 13:30 – 16:45 GMT,

Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XF London Cost : £17, Event run by National U3A, Booking on U3A Website(Eventbrite)

Enjoy an afternoon of fashion talks about Mary Quant British Fashion Designer. Learn about Mary’s motivation to open Bazaar in 1955, how she developed as a designer and hear personal memories and anecdotes of working with her. Listen to personal experiences from a

fashion model who worked with Mary in the 60’s and 70’s. A curator from the V & A Museum will discuss Mary Quant’s lasting legacy and the recent exhibition. The afternoon will include tea/coffee refreshments and free entry into the Fashion and Textile Museum (you

can enter the museum either before or after the event at your leisure). Note : These sort of events get sold out quickly, even though London Based, returns and a wait list are sometimes on offer though.