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Money Information re our U3A
Our financial situation has improved. The Community Centre haven’t put their rates up for over a year; also, Third Age Trust subscription did not increase at 1st April this year. There has been an increase in the cost of printing the magazine Remember, the magazine is free to you as part of your membership. We have several volunteer distributors who deliver to their local areas, or you can collect from the Thursday coffee mornings when it is being distributed. We are going to have to ask for postage costs in future if that is the only way we can get it to you. Please keep your eye on this website to see any changes. If you know members who do not have access to the internet, please pass the information on to them. Thank you The Community Centre The Community Centre, which is such an asset to the U3A, has been having problems. The roof has now been repaired and other work is underway Rent for the Community Centre is still under consideration by the Centre Committee. The Room cost has been set at £2 Some members are under the impression the U3A owns the Community Centre. This is not so, it belongs to Burnham via the Council. It is an amenity for everyone, but the U3A would have a much more difficult time if it wasn't there. The benefits are : a HQ for our U3A : A place to pay membership for those without on-line access : A weekly social meeting at the coffee morning : Lets the Day Trips and Holiday Groups have a place to be contacted for their events : Gives Group Leaders easy access to pay money to the Treasurer : Gives members to get computer advice from as IT expert OUR U3A COMMITTEE
We are a Registered Charity, managed by a Committee of Trustees : The Committee helps provide an environment for social interaction, learning and to go on day trips and holidays : The Committee, especially the Treasurer, take responsibility for keeping us solvent and fulfilling our financial obligations (eg to the Third Age Trust and our HQ the Community Centre) We strive to run our U3A successfully, but the key point is that we are a team of volunteers who give up their time to create an enjoyable experience for as many members as possible At the AGM several of our Committee members stood down from the roles they have been carrying out and we are in need of new Committee members. We thank those officers who have been carrying out those roles. If you feel you can join our Committee and can contribute to running our U3A-- please contact our Chairman,Gail on chairman@burnhamu3a.com or Geoff on secretary@burnhamu3a.com |
Membership
Your membership renewal for Burnham U3A became due on 1st April. The membership rates are now £13 for standard (“Individual”) membership or £9 if you are a fully paid-up member of another U3A. These rates are a modest increase (a £1 increase) on last year’s rates (an increase was approved at last year’s AGM). You can pay: Online using a credit or debit card via PayPal. To do this, log on to to the Members Portal from our website (it’s the big button labelled “CHECK YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OR GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT GROUPS” ; or go there direct from this link). OR By post: Cheques should be payable to Burnham U3A; a stamped addressed envelope will be greatly appreciated. Please use the Membership Renewal Form if you possibly can, as this allows you to sign for Gift Aid if you are a taxpayer. this supplements our Subscription income to the tune of several hundred pounds. Please note we will have removed non-payers during June
Access to the Digital World at the Community Centre – New Wi-Fi System
Thanks to a grant from the Town Council the Community Centre Executive have recently installed a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi system throughout the Centre. Given the age of the building and the thickness of the walls, this has proved something of a challenging process. Wi-Fi signals do not travel well through solid walls, so the installation has involved running fixed cables both internally and externally to five fixed access points around the building. The system will allow users to log onto the internet from anywhere in the building and it offers a reliable connection at good speeds. To use the system, you will need to know which access point to select to give the best connection, this depends on your location within the building, also you will require the password for that access point. You will also be requested to agree to the conditions of use. Cards are available on request from the Centre Office (Room 6) providing the details of the most suitable access point and the password to use for the room you are using. Or you can request the information when you make your booking. Assuming that you are using the same room for each session you should only have to enter this information the first time that you logon, after that the process is automatic and your device should connect automatically whenever you are in range. Several filters are in place which are designed to prevent abuse of the system but apart from this, which we don’t expect will trouble any legitimate user, you should have unfettered use of the internet. Currently we are anticipating that users will bring in their own portable equipment to use with the system. Members of U3A Groups that use the Centre, and who feel that live access to the internet will enhance their sessions should discuss the opportunities with their Group Leader. If there is sufficient demand it may be possible to purchase equipment to be held as part of the U3A Equipment Store. Over time, if funds allow, it may also be possible for the Community Centre to purchase equipment such as digital projectors and laptops for communal use. Experience shows that with the pace of change IT equipment quickly becomes out of date so it is not an effective use of limited funds unless it can be assured that it will get intensive use. It is hoped that this facility will be a significant step in improving the appeal of the Centre for users. Any feedback from your experience of using the system will be very helpful in future developments. Paul Hambleton |
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