Teesdale u3a
Chair’s report to the Annual General Meeting, Thursday, 25 April, 2024
I am pleased to be able to say that this year has been a bumper year for our u3a, full of vitality, interest, and sociability. In a number of respects we have exceeded our scope in a rising trajectory ever since our founding in March 2007.
As you may know, our u3a‘s overarching organisation is a national body – The Third Age Trust. The first local u3as were set up in 1981, the movement grew exponentially and by the early 1990s, a U3A was opening in the UK every fortnight. There are now 1,035 u3as with approximately 400,000 members.
Teesdale last year peaked at its highest number ever at 420. Many thanks go to Tim Meacham our Membership Secretary for his conscientious work in growing and sustaining our membership. Members have been participating in a total of 40 groups from Android to Yoga (should we have a Zoology Group? Or Zumba?) which included seven new groups: Android phone, Art Appreciation, Automotive, Chess, Cryptic Crossword, Pickleball, and Yoga. Our grateful thanks go to Sue Overton and Ian Reid, who oversee and support group coordination and to all those whose steady work throughout the year goes into convening this superb cornucopia of activity. All of you deserve an appreciative pat on the back.
You will hear from our Treasurer, Hazel McCallum, that our finances are in excellent shape. Thanks to her hard work and stewardship the group convenors and the committee have been able to function in meeting the needs and developing the ambition of our u3a. Also working behind the scenes to ensure that we are connecting, networking and complying with the aims and aspirations of The Third Age Trust, is our Business Secretary, Liz Colley. Both of these jobs are demanding and rarely glamorous, but we in the Committee are enormously supported by their work, and proportionately grateful. I also must acknowledge the work of Mike Sweeting who has for many years been our Web Master, he has resigned this year, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his conscientious and unfailing support. I, as a near-idiot with all things technical, could never have survived without the generous gifts of his time, patience and expertise.
Looking back over the year’s editions of the Forum, our inhouse magazine, I think we can continue to be proud that it reflects the energy, variety and talent of our members. I am told that its unique quality is envied by many another u3a. The format has become even more vibrant and lively and I and my fellow editors, Celia Chapple, Ian Royston and Kate Bailey, continue to welcome contributions from all members. Pulling together the Forum every month is a labour of love, but nevertheless hard work, and so another big thank you goes to the Co-Editors – a terrific team.
Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to my fellow Chairs, Tim, Sue and Ian for their work and to the other members of the Committee who have steered Teesdale u3a from its inception, through choppy waters (the Pandemic) only to come out on the other shore stronger, and blossoming. We hope to assure all our members a continuation of what I think we do so well – welcome, sustain and nourish the spirit.
Annie Clouston April 2024
Teesdale U3A Printed19thMorchZ02417.'16 Inroffl•& EXrftUrK l# M¥¢h.291h F• SUMMARY Tota11ncomt Total Expenditu Bank BIF E31033.78 U7715.29 Groups Cash BIF TQTAL £642.29 Q1524S4 CUrrentAcnt É2704.03 Memborshlp OankAccount Unbanked mernbEf5h YJbsthFsons £16071. £161S.SO Groupscash £1134.01 TOTAL E21524.54 Examlner's Report IS y uPLY0¥L LO)Lfue Teesd•Fe uJ• Tr•ww•i Haiel Mccallurn AnnO$ton Stuart Abbott 8nure abj Date 12 I£10412¥ 201 112
Teesdale U3A Statementof Acwunts: all accounts PrJn¢ed 19th Mak2024 17.'16 om• & Exp•ndlwrg. Istmah. Z9th February 5tiirtyeor 2023 Cote40ry In Out ODn*ons £44.50 egulpment £1043.35 Éxpen5e5 (travel Etcl £77.62 Forum Printin8 £974.20 £1647. Groupcath TrnhSèCtTons £5304.54 £4812.82 Group Meetin8 Recelp15 Group MÈefjn8 Room Hlre Group Speaker Fees £1389.37 £91.80 £967.80 £885.50 Group Support GroupTrlp Contrlbufjons £278. £3W.49 £12954.10 £177.20 GroupTrlp Expen5Q5 MembÉrship Monihiy MeeOn8 Pecelpts Monthly meen6 Aooffl Hlre Mon¢hly Mt8 Speakers Fees £12890.rKJ £9380.OJ 1053.50 E1677.60 £995.C Other £2111.OQ £2253.99 her Prlnttn8 Expences Postaie & Stadonery £3.60 £31.6B £41.66 Regional £49.43 £408.C•) V3A National É2753,00 Walk5 Bookssurplus £162.LX) £385.47 Totèls In¢l41Th8 Groupcash TranM¢ttons £342Cp).74 £31033.78 212
Teesdale U3A Printed19thMorchZ02417.'16 Inroffl•& EXrftUrK l# M¥¢h.291h F• SUMMARY Tota11ncomt Total Expenditu Bank BIF E31033.78 U7715.29 Groups Cash BIF TQTAL £642.29 Q1524S4 CUrrentAcnt É2704.03 Memborshlp OankAccount Unbanked mernbEf5h YJbsthFsons £16071. £161S.SO Groupscash £1134.01 TOTAL E21524.54 Examlner's Report IS y uPLY0¥L LO)Lfue Teesd•Fe uJ• Tr•ww•i Haiel Mccallurn AnnO$ton Stuart Abbott 8nure abj Date 12 I£10412¥ 201 112
Teesdale U3A Statementof Acwunts: all accounts PrJn¢ed 19th Mak2024 17.'16 om• & Exp•ndlwrg. Istmah. Z9th February 5tiirtyeor 2023 Cote40ry In Out ODn*ons £44.50 egulpment £1043.35 Éxpen5e5 (travel Etcl £77.62 Forum Printin8 £974.20 £1647. Groupcath TrnhSèCtTons £5304.54 £4812.82 Group Meetin8 Recelp15 Group MÈefjn8 Room Hlre Group Speaker Fees £1389.37 £91.80 £967.80 £885.50 Group Support GroupTrlp Contrlbufjons £278. £3W.49 £12954.10 £177.20 GroupTrlp Expen5Q5 MembÉrship Monihiy MeeOn8 Pecelpts Monthly meen6 Aooffl Hlre Mon¢hly Mt8 Speakers Fees £12890.rKJ £9380.OJ 1053.50 E1677.60 £995.C Other £2111.OQ £2253.99 her Prlnttn8 Expences Postaie & Stadonery £3.60 £31.6B £41.66 Regional £49.43 £408.C•) V3A National É2753,00 Walk5 Bookssurplus £162.LX) £385.47 Totèls In¢l41Th8 Groupcash TranM¢ttons £342Cp).74 £31033.78 212