 This will be my last Newsletter as my time as Chair of our committee is at an end. I try to be as positive as possible in these newsletters but on this occasion, I bear only bad news. Despite repeated pleas for volunteers to become members of the committee we have had no success in recruiting. If this situation does not change and we have no nominations for these posts at the AGM I am afraid we would be in the position of seeing our u3a cease to exist as running the organisation would become untenable. This happened last year to the Dungannon u3a and I would hate to see us in a similar position. At the upcoming AGM, we will need a new chair, a new membership secretary, a new committee secretary and some new committee members. The executive committee meets once at the end of the month between August and May to plan the events for the next month, to review the financial status of the branch, to discuss how best to support the groups, to help establish new groups and interact with u3a central. Usually, new committee members are expected to hold one of the key positions (chair, membership secretary, treasurer, committee secretary, business secretary, group coordinator) after a year or two as a sitting member. These are not onerous tasks and entail a day or two commitment each month. So if you want our u3a to continue the only solution is for members to become willing to be nominated and seconded to join the committee and that nominations are forwarded to the committee before the AGM. All that needs to be done is for the name of anyone willing to become a committee member to be emailed with a proposer and seconder to denu3a@gmail.com before April 24th. A decision as to the viability of our u3a will be the key issue on the AGM agenda. Please don’t let this be the very last Armagh u3a newsletter .   The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held in the Cardinal O’Fiaich Library on APRIL 28th. As usual coffee will be available from 10.30 am with the meeting starting at 11.00 am. An agenda will be sent by email as soon as this is confirmed but the key issue will be the continuation of the branch.  ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Arrangements are in hand for renewing the annual subscription but of course this will only proceed if the u3a is to continue. This year we will send out an email with the subscription form attached. Payments can be made as either online bank transfer or by cheque but full details will be in the upcoming email .  March Calendar  Tai ChiThe first Tai Chi class was a resounding success with 20 in attendance and several more showing interest in the next 3 classes. These take place in Cardinal O’Fiaich Library at 2.30 pm on Wednesdays of April 26th, May 3rd and May 10th. Hill Walking Group This group complete walks along country lanes, in forest parks, hills, and mountains. Walks are usually 2-4 hours. They meet weekly on Thursdays at the Armagh Palace car park by the children’s play park and depart promptly at 9.30 am. For more information contact, Caroline at cbgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Tuesday Walkers For those seeking a more gentle walk and talk. The schedule for this month is……. .April 4th – Ballymoyer April 11th – Parkanaur April 18th – Craigavon Lakes April 25th – Navan Fort The group meets on Tuesdays at the Palace car park near the children’s playground at 10.00 am.For more details contact, Patricia McConville at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com. Cycling group. Given that poorer weather is likely over winter the group will probably meet infrequently. Cycling is mostly on secondary or minor roads, occasionally on major roads. Distance cycled is approximately 30-35KM (3 hours) with a coffee stop along the way. Members must have their own bikes, helmets and Hi-Vis tops and be comfortable with cycling on roads. Communication is by a WhatsApp group.Those interested or requesting date information should contact Peter Good at pdgood@doctors.org.uk and add your mobile number to join the WhatsApp group. Pilates Classes are underway once more with 2 classes each Wednesday (10.30 am and 11.30 am). At present these are full but we often have vacancies,If you are interested contact Margaret at tro111@hotmail.com Bridge – Online GroupThe online sessions are held on a Wednesday at 7.00 pm using the BridgeBase Online platform which is very easy to use, for full details of how to play online contact, Dennis at denu3a@gmail.com Bridge – Face-to-Face Group The face-to-face sessions are each Monday held in the Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich Memorial Library between 2.00 and 4.30 pm. We have a beginners group who are starting from scratch and a playing group for those with a little more experience. This is more social than Competition Bridge and we can arrange partners on the day. If you are interested please come along or contact, Patricia at patriciamcconville@btinternet.com u3a ChoirThe choir meet at 9 Vicars Hill on Wednesdays between 3.30 and 4 30 pm, so come along and get those vocal cords working!If you are interested contact Kathleen at Kathleen.daly41@icloud.com. Local History Group Another piece of great news! After the COVID hiatus, the Local History Group meetings have restarted. The group meets in the O Fiaich Library on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 11.30 am.For further information contact Mary McVeigh on mtmcveigh@hotmail  |
