AGM 2023 REPORT OF THE CHAIR
2022 was a challenging year for Preston and District u3a as we emerged from the Covid Pandemic. Most of our activities resumed in September 2021 and so 2022 was the first full year since 2019 when our activities were not disrupted or cancelled altogether.
Whilst the use of Zoom technology allowed some group and All Member activities to continue in limited scope during Lockdown we were pleased to end this practice as soon as possible and resume as a social, face to face organization.
Unlike many other u3as and in contrast to the National picture our membership levels continued to grow after Lockdown and at the end of 2022 stood close to their highest ever levels. New members joined in record numbers during the year.
We were able to resume our programme of All Member events during 2022 including a “Balloon Debate”, A “Night at the Opera” wine and cheese evening, a Fairport Convention talk, a “Tales from Liverpool” event and Local History talks for all members. Additionally there were several outings and theatre visits for members to enjoy.
Our 60+ Interest Groups continued to provide a very wide range of activity for members to enjoy and participate in. My thanks go to all Group Leaders and providers of support services to enable these groups to operate. However, we have seen some reduction in attendance at Interest Group meetings during 2022 possibly reflecting an initial reluctance to meet socially on the part of some members after the ravages of Lockdown. We hope that these concerns will recede during 2023.
Members of your Committee worked diligently during the year to ensure the smooth running of our u3a and its administration. They responded well to the challenges of resuming our programme after 18 months of lockdown. During the year we elected new members to the Committee and we said farewell to Committee members Pat Green and Margaret Jones after 9 and 8 years service respectively. My thanks go to both of them for all their efforts to serve the membership over a long period of time.
A Chair is only as effective as the team around him and I would like to thank my fellow Committee members for all their support in a challenging year. Finally, I should like to thank all the members of Preston and District u3a for their continued support.
Tony Cheetham
Chair, Preston and District u3a.
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE- PRESTON & DISTRICT BRANCH 31•t D•c 2022 31•t O•c 2021 DE31GNATED Pum. Ip¥fEPEST 13ROUP8 Incorryè: Attendanr Fees 19, 1•.800 6375 6376 Attommodation 18,948 s,3 24.327 6244 2424 Surpl4MID•ficlt lorth• y•v. Dwl•d 4.$28 InGom•: meMbersp Monthty Meebn Events, T¥Ms, QUze8. Tfatro & Oulr GiftAwJ Other 3.703 276 310 5.242 1.117 247 305 EXP£NDmJRE 150 1,391 642 105 Monthty Pa¢¢Ungs 415 AGM Taal 11e8 lAOnth Meetings Spew¥ & rdresh Everts, Talks, QuEz88. Th6atrg & OubTh Trnirring Equiwent maIntena & Soltwa Equipmgnt purcha8ed (urthr£21KJ } Thrd Ago frust Caytab Beaum Annual Fee AGM SuryJrfe8 Putsications & $bibj Costs Postage, PrintirYJ & 8latior P8yPal & Sumup Conwniss sut¥1 156 127 2.2&3 102 1824 102 114 77 7270 5,717 611 14.f O¥wall surpWi)èfidt -5,113 •4g-44 , 1"
UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE - PRESTON & DISTRICT BRANCH BALANCE SHEEf AS AT 31•t DECEIABER 2022 31 ASSE Flx4d A•8•ts: Audio Equtprnt Bird Watching Computers Fumiture 111 Current AT•et8: OperatKJnal Cash at Bank Contingéncy Cash at Bank Group Money Received sfter year-end Prepoyments & Debtors 17,346 21.254 20,636 21,007 Current Llabllllles: Memtership Fees recew In advar Prepaent for trips cditOrS (36) R•pres¢nt•d by: Reser¥es blfvAI surp1us1De in Yèar 41.754 -3.19) -5.113