THE WESTON U3A LECTURES.

Dec 2005 to June 2006

At St. Paul's Church Hall, Walliscote Road, WSM

WSM Members and guests 50p.

On second Fridays of the month, at 2.00 for 2.30pm

Full details can be found in the newsletter

or on our web site - www.u3aweston.org.uk

(See Latest News page)

Help is at hand

From time to time, as the leader of our computer group, I am asked if we can provide tuition to members new to computing. Unfortunately, we cannot do so, as we do not have access to computers at our regular fortnightly meetings. To be able to obtain any benefits from being one of the group it is necessary to have at least a basic knowledge of the subject.

However, all is not lost. There are several places in our area where help can be found. One of these is Weston College at Worle, located at 167 High Street opposite Summerfields supermarket)

They provide free three levels of training, the first being City and Guils Course No, 4248 aimed at beginners. There is no actual class, but participants follow the workbooks provided at their own workstation. The course takes 30 hours ( 4 hours a week). We have had very good reports from several people who have taken advantage of the facilities offered.

Having mastered the basics, two further courses are available. Information can be obtained by ringing 01934 411715.

Tom Grundon

Postings for this blog are coming in thick and fast. Our Secretary has just provided us with the following:

The Third Age Trust has advised me that it proposes to launch a new tutored online course in February by Jean Thompson on "Discovering the Russian Soul" and another by Horace Farquar-Smith in March on "Making your own web site". They are also re-running 5 other tutored courses in February. This will bring the total of tutored and untutored online courses from the UK and Australia to 24. The Third Age Trust website is at www.u3a.org.uk

They also advise me that the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre can offer a wide range of independent free advice on how to make your home more energy efficient. Freephone number - 0800512012.
MP

It's that lady again! After reading the item posted yesterday, Pat Hase has sent us the following message:

I'm giving a talk at the BBC event in Saturday but it isn't being broadcast, however the other two will probably be interviewed. Full details of the day on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2006/02/01/historyday_feature.shtml

If you click on to the link that Pat has provided you will find not only information about Saturday's event, but also other useful bits about Radio Bristol.

Pat Hase, who you will have read about in the previous posting, has just supplied us with the following useful information.

THE TIMES DIGITAL ARCHIVE

Many Weston U3A Members are members of the local library - Did you know that you can access the Times Digital Archive 1785-1985 from home using your library barcode number?

Simply enter the North Somerset Library site

http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/enjoying/libraries/index.asp

On the left hand side click on Resources, and once there, follow the link found in the last sentence of the third paragraph.

It's very easy to use and it's surprising what you can find out - there's even a letter from Yehudi Menuhin concerning the U3A in 1983.

STOP PRESS

The fame of our Family History Group Leader is spreading fast. Did you hear her on Radio Bristol on February 6th? She was taking part in a national promotion for the BBC’s Family History Day in support of their very successful programme “Who do you think you are?” She gave a short talk and then answered phone-in questions. What a brave and clever lady!

Next Saturday, the 11th February, she is making another broadcast from the City of Bristol College, supported by members of our Family History Group, some time between 10 and 12 noon. Dave Tyler and Mike Weller are also going to be interviewed.

I do hope members read this message in time to hear them all.

Martha Perriam.

Stand up and be counted

This blog (or web log) was set up some months ago after a meeting of group leaders during which most of those present said they thought it would be a good idea to have one. It was never intended to replace our newsletter (nothing can do that) but it was intended to be a means by which information could be passed on to U3A members on a day-to-day basis.

Since it has been established it has received little support, although it is gratifying to see that Pat Hase made a useful contribution during last month and she may be doing the same in the future.

It is not known how many members of Weston U3A have computers and therefore access to this blog. It would be very helpful to find out if anyone does occasionally look at the site. If you are reading this you are obviously doing so. I would be most grateful if you would send me an e-mail (my address is nodnurg@aol.com) with any comments you may have and letting me know if you think it is worthwhile continuing with the blog.

At the same time it would be nice to know if you ever look at our web site. The address of this is www.u3aweston.org.uk

Tom Grundon