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... from the horse’s mouth Issue no. 32 March 2018

Chairman’s Report

Contents …. Chairman’s Report 1 Social Reports 2 Committee notes 2&3 Exec Job Descriptions 4 Interest Groups 5 Speakers 2018 8 And finally…... 9

Welcome to Spring. I am writing this looking out on at least a foot of snow. By the time this is published it will probably be 20 de-grees......probably well above that where we will be at the time (we will be in Australia so I will miss the March meeting). Therefore, I can but anticipate the preparations for election fever as we approach the AGM. Although most Annual General Meetings are tightly orchestrated to rubber stamp decisions already agreed, there is the opportunity to elect officers/trustees. This is vital to our organ-isation and we do need to find volunteers for a number of important tasks. The Executive Committee have taken the view that we must do all we can to make these tasks as straight forward as possible. To this end we are already investing in a dedicated laptop to run the da-tabase system and thereby make the role of Membership Secretary as close as possible to a push button operation. Having been somewhat unexpectedly thrust into the role of Chair-man about six months ago, I can but say that it is not too onerous a duty. This is largely due to founders of MIU3A who have set up the organisation in an efficient manner. Therefore, I can assure anyone who feels that they can step forward to volunteer that they need not worry about the amount of work involved. I will try to expand on this topic at the April meeting.

Finally, notices have gone out to enable you renew your member-ship, which I hope everyone will do. We have around 375 members at the last count which enables us to maintain a wide selection of in-terest groups. My thanks to everyone who makes these activities possible.

David Berry Chairman

Although most Annual General Meetings are

tightly orchestrated to rub-ber stamp decisions already agreed, there is the oppor-tunity to elect officers/trustees.

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Social Reports . . . . . . Anne Cruickshanks

We have a spring outing to Arundel Castle during the Tulip Festival on May 3rd when the gardens will be planted with over 60,000 tulips providing visitors with one of the most impressive tulip displays in the country. Please note: This trip is fully booked but names being taken for a wait list.

On July 19th there is a visit to Denbies Vineyard and Mayfield Lavender. This will be a full day out with coffee on arrival before a Classic Wine Tasting Experience tour at Denbies in the morning, then onto Mayfield Lavender Farm with its stunning 25acres of lavender fields for a guided tour, followed by cream tea before we leave at 5.30pm. The first pick up will be at 10am and we should be back in Maidstone by 7-7.30pm. The cost to include transport, coffee on arrival, guided tours and cream tea will be £33.00pp. Full details and Booking form available on the website – Book early to avoid disappoint-ment! I have yet to decide on a suitable outing for September so watch this space! And thank you all once again for your support of the outings.

Anne Social Secretary

Beacon and GDPR You may ask “what on earth are Beacon and GDPR”?

Beacon first….. just before Christmas the Executive Committee decided in principle that we would join the national U3A Beacon database service. With help from West Malling U3A, we had a good look at the system before making our decision.

With over 350 members, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage the membership just using Excel spreadsheets. The database will help us manage MIU3A more effectively, auto-mate many of the things we now do manually and gradually introduce some services which will help members. To start with, we’re just going to use it for membership, later we have the option to run our accounts, manage groups and even have an online membership applica-tion service.

The system is almost ready to use and the Membership Secretary will be putting all the re-newal information on it after 1st April.

And GDPR (no it’s not the same as the old East Germany!) – in short, we’re having to learn what this new data protection legislation means for a small charity like us and David Holmes is going on a course to find out! We’ll keep you posted but, having a professionally run data-base will help us to ensure we are compliant with the new legislation.

Martyn Roads Vice Chairman

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A WORD FROM OUR TREASURER

It is that time of year again when we have to empty our tins and jars to find the monies for the next MI-U3A year. There was a time when this did actually happen and monies were put into tins to cover rent etc. How times have changed with the advent of on line banking and the majority of our members pay their subscription by BACS, making the cheque book look redundant. It has been decided to stabilise the membership fee at £15 per member, for the next financial year and when the capitation fee to National Office has been accounted for we receive the sum of £9.40 per mem-ber. It also helps our finances if members who qualify complete a gift aid declaration. The audited accounts should be available for our annual general meeting in May and having been at the helm of MIU3A since the beginning I can assure all members that our financial structure is sound, properly accounted for and all records are available upon request. Having looked at the interest groups available this last week, coupled with excellent outings and theatre trips then I believe that for £9.40 per member represents excellent value for the annual subscription. I hope you all have a good MIU3A year. Patrick Judson

. . . . . . And from our Membership Secretary As you know, we will need a new Membership Secretary in May – do let me know if this role may interest you. At the beginning of April, we will have in place a Database for dealing with Membership which will make this role much easier to manage. If anyone is interested or wants to talk about the role, please email me or just come and see me at the meeting next Monday. I will be happy to help the new Membership Secretary in any way I can – please come and talk to me! Ros Roads

Borrow money from pessimists - they don’t

expect it back.

The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.

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MIU3A Executive Committee Post Descriptions

These short post descriptions give an overview of each role on the Executive Committee. The Officers Chairman

The Chairman is in overall charge of organising and running MIU3A. The Chairman’s responsibilities include: ensuring that a legal, financial and operational framework is in place to support the objectives of MIU3A; ensur-ing that all members of the Executive Committee are aware of their responsibilities as Trustees; chairing and controlling all Executive Committee meetings, representing MIU3A to other U3As and National Office; prepar-ing an Annual Report for the AGM.

Vice Chairman & Publicity Officer.

Deputises for the Chairman when necessary.

Produces a publicity plan with the objective of ensuring that MIU3A activities are kept in the local ‘public eye’. This may include maintaining regular contact with local newspapers, other local publications and local radio sta-tions to ensure that information about the aims of the U3A generally and MIU3A specifically are given as much publicity as possible.

Secretary

The Secretary looks after the administration of MIU3A. The duties of the Secretary include: receiving and send-ing communications on behalf of the MIU3A; producing an agenda for each Executive Committee meeting; maintaining the MIU3A Policy File; organising the AGM; taking minutes at the AGM; arranging bookings of Beechwood Hall; responding to general enquiries from the MIU3A website; keeping appropriate records.

Treasurer

The Treasurer accounts for all monies held by MIU3A, whether centrally or by individual Groups. This includes: keeping detailed financial accounts; ensuring that the Executive Committee has agreed appropriate procedures for financial matters; providing regular financial reports to the Executive Committee; recommending the membership subscription level; administering the MIU3A bank accounts; processing the refund of Gift Aid from HMRC; pro-ducing an independently examined year-end financial report and accounts for the AGM.

Further Committee Posts Membership Secretary

The Membership Secretary’s duties include: maintaining an electronic record of member’s details; processing new members’ application forms; replying to enquiries about MIU3A membership; maintaining the subscription list for U3A Matters magazine; liaising with the Newsletter Editor to send out Newsletters to the Membership.

Interest Group Coordinator

The Interest Group Coordinator is the link from the Interest Groups to the Committee. The Interest Group Coordi-nator’s role includes: liaising with the Committee on all aspects of Interest Groups; speaking up for Group Facili-tators generally; canvassing for new Group Facilitators; ensuring that Group Facilitators are aware of their respon-sibilities; organising Group Facilitator meetings for the purposes of education and inter-communication.

Social Secretary

The Social Secretary organises and oversees all aspects of social events. He/she agrees a programme of viable out-ings with the Executive Committee. For each outing, the Social Secretary’s role then includes: organising the de-tails (such as coach hire and venue admittance); publicising the outing; accepting application forms, along with monies collected on behalf of the Treasurer; keeping a financial account.

Newsletter Editor

The Newsletter Editor is responsible for the editorial content and production of a succinct but interesting MIU3A Newsletter. This role includes: producing deadlines for submission of articles for the Newsletter; editing the re-ceived articles as required; compiling the Newsletter; liaising with the Membership Secretary to send out the Newsletter to the Membership. The Newsletter is currently produced 6 times a year using Microsoft Publisher.

Speaker Coordinator

The Speaker Coordinator finds and books speakers for monthly meetings. The Speaker Coordinator’s responsibili-ties include: confirming arrangements with the speaker nearer the time; liaising with the Monthly Meeting Coordi-nator to ensure that any required equipment will be available on the day; liaising with the Newsletter Editor and the Website Administrator to ensure that the programme of speakers is publicised.

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INTEREST GROUPS . . . Liz Judson

Everything, from speakers to newsletters, website and cups of tea, needs someone to contribute a little of their time. This might be as a member of the Executive committee and, if you would like to learn more about what is involved, contact one of our Trustees. Don’t be put off if you’re a new member as your previous life experience could well be useful. Continuing with my relentless pursuit of recruiting members to host and facilitate new and, where a Group is oversubscribed, a second, parallel one, I am most pleased to report that two members have responded to my appeal resulting in an even greater choice of topics for members to enjoy, these being Local History and Etymology. It would be of enormous help if members would please respond to emails. Don’t ask ‘what can MIU3A do for me?’ but rather,’ what can I do for MIU3A?’ We all bring different things to the party; some can play a mu-sical instrument, sing, speak a foreign language, intricate sewing, Quilt-ing, Cake icing, Canoeing, draw, paint or knit, even be a rocket scientist! No matter what skill or knowledge you have it’s probably something that can be shared with the wider membership. All members have a lifetime of experience and all have something to contribute by sharing their knowledge and skills with others. Jobs within a Group can and should be divvied up between several Group members, thus sharing the load. Many Groups are limited by space and other constraints; the best way of enjoying your interest is by sharing with other like-minded members. If you’re unsure of committing to a long-term venture why not consider of-fering to Facilitate one-off sessions. If your particular interest is not yet catered for, make contact with Liz to establish the start-up procedure.

If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with

the rain.

Board Game Group We had enough members at the last meeting to allow two different tables to play games. At table 1 they started with Flamme Rouge The term signals the last kilometre in a race; it is the last stretch, and the competing cyclists know to give their all. Where each player controls a team of two riders: a Rouleur and a Sprinteur. Players move their riders forward by drawing and playing numbered cards, which show how far each rider moves. They had to cope with slipstream and exhaustion throughout the race. One member managed to finish first and second. They followed it up with looking at a game called Zip Up. The second table played Bearpark and built individual parks, deciding how many play areas, shops and animal enclosures they wanted. They then played Azul which using lovely coloured tiles. We were all enjoyed engaging with the delightful boards and pieces of the games. Sandy Tolhurst

Ed: Who was nominated on Table 1 to travel all over the continent with the jiffy bag full of, ahem, decongestants? As for Table 2, anyone want a job with MBC’s Planning Department?

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Grumpy Old Men The February meeting of Grumpy Old Men was notable if only for the absence of the inmates from Mote House Correction Centre. There was wide speculation that the escape tunnel had been discovered and the inmates placed in solitary confinement. Some members suggested an elite snatch group be assembled to undertake their liberation but at that point someone offered to get another round in and their plight was forgotten.

The Group Leader returned to the subject and endeavoured to throw light on the matter by explaining that he had come by inside information from an undisclosed source that indicated their absence was in fact due to work on the tunnel be-ing suspended as the result of fundamental differences within the Mote exit committee. The hard Mexiteers were de-manding a complete break from the House and restaurant (no meal is better than a bad meal), whereas the remainers were in favour of a transition period during which fees would be paid in return for a relaxation of conditions in the high security stable block. The Group Leader announced that a request had been received from the Editor of the Tabloid Newsletter for a group photograph taken preferably at the very acme of our enjoyment. As photo opportunities go this presented a very narrow window but the Group Leader persuaded a serving girl to oblige (by taking the photograph). The absence of the Mex-iteers from the photograph would allow its publication in unredacted form without compromising their security. Whilst members were excited by the prospect of fame they were of the opinion that the Newsletter had thus far failed to present the Group in a positive light and although they felt strongly about defending their status as Maidstone's leading discussion group they were at the same time determined not to be driven to the point of dexification. General disappointment was expressed at Lord Berry's ‘no comment’ response to a simple question: did he or did he not attend the Presidents Club Dinner. Some members asked if the group should consider organising its own Bunga-Bunga events. At this point Gordon began to say something about Hoorn in the Netherlands but everyone misheard and immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion. By the time the misunderstanding had been sorted out no one had any recollection of what he had been talking about. The next meeting of Grumpy Old Men is scheduled for 7 March same time same place. … and so to March (and the good news) Following nearly three years of frenetic activity, your two successive minutes writers have run a little dry and a decision has been made to discontinue minute writing for the time being. Before you all say 'about time' a final edition will take form over the coming weeks and it is anticipated that this may be of value to collectors. Lord Berry has been hard at work preparing these valedictory minutes paying particular attention to accuracy, an attrib-ute we all associate with preceding issues. Unfortunately the draft he submitted will take a little fine tuning and efforts to communicate have been interrupted by the activities of the Counter Terrorism Unit in the course of their enquiries into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. The latest information I have is that Lord Berry has left the country. Of course this need not be the end. If any other member of GOM (or anyone else for that matter) would like to continue this work and believe they can uphold the very high standards we have become familiar with, they can make themselves available for interview at the next meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday 4 April same time same place. (In the interests of equality this post is open to male and female applicants)

KBO

David Holmes

Ed: Bletchley Hall are currently working on the above. If cracked by the date of the next publica-tion, we will print a translation. In the meantime, if you read every other paragraph you will have wasted only half the time required. Stop Press: It has just been announced that a group of Grumpy Old Women are currently touring the country, fronted by Jenny Aclair. There is no truth in the rumour that our esteemed Lord Berry is to be seen (in drag) in the chorus line.

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INTEREST GROUPS . . . Cont’d

The following article appeared in the January issue, in garbled format, for which we apologise.

Behind The Scenes At The Archives In early December, members of Family History Group 4 accompanied by some from Family History Group 3 en-joyed an interesting tour of Kent Archives. The county’s archives consist of around 14 kilometres of historic collections relating to the ancient county of Kent dating back to 699 AD, from the earliest charters written on sheepskin to the present state of the art digital images and are housed in the purpose built Kent History and Library Centre in James Whatman Way. The tour included the Community History area and Search Room, the Reprographics Studio, the Strongroom and the Conservation Studio. The Community History area contains a range of books on the history of the county together with computers and microfilm readers. The Reprographics Section includes impressive scanning equipment capable of extremely fine resolution together with workflow software that allows a whole batch of images to be trimmed together. This means that scanning can be undertaken almost as fast as documents can physically be placed in position.

Digitisation and original research are paid-for services. A future project will involve mak-ing images of Kent parish registers available online which will be an invaluable source for family historians. The intention is that new scans of the original registers would be made available. We were also introduced to a major current project - the Manorial Documents Register. The manorial system was the predominant economic and social system of medieval times. A manor consisted of the Lord of the Manor (this was not an aristocratic title), demesne land farmed directly for the lord (“home farm”) and tenant land. The life of the manor was

regulated through various manor courts. The ubiquity of the system means that many of our ancestors will have been subject to this system. The Manorial Documents Register (MDR) is an index to English and Welsh manorial records, providing brief descriptions of documents and details of their locations in pub-lic and private hands. Manorial records include court rolls, surveys, maps, terriers (not dogs but records of land holdings) and all other documents relating to the boundaries, franchises, wastes, customs or courts of a manor. Manorial documents are of considera-ble interest to family historians because they may be the only record of ancestors in the years before parish registers. The MDR for many counties is already online via the National Archives web site and the Kent project is to some ex-tent a back marker. There are probably between 1300 and 1400 manors in the ancient county of Kent so this is clearly

not a trivial project. As well as meeting the needs of the Archives themselves, the Conservation Service also pro-vides a paid for service for outside bodies. We were able to see restoration in progress of a large detailed map. One of the basic tools appeared to “vulcanized rubber” which seemed to be an expensive version of a standard rubber eraser. Comprehensible technology! We were shown some of the 14 kilometres (thankfully, not all of them) of documents includ-ing, for light relief, the court record of the speeding fine handed down to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Peter Goodey

Scanning equipment

Conservation in progress

Exploring the strong-room

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Speakers 2018/19—Co-ordinator Alan Gupwell

19th March 2018 Brian Laverick-Smith: Bovver on the Hover A look at the operation of the Hovercraft between England and France from the pilot’s seat by 16th April 2018 Laura Murphy: The Dogs Trust The mission and operation of the Dogs Trust is to protect dogs and other animals from maltreatment, cruelty, and suffering, and rehome where possible. 21st May 2018 Annual General Meeting To conduct the constitutional business of MIU3A and elect an Executive Committee. This will be followed by the opportunity to mingle and discuss matters of interest with other members and the com-mittee.

18th June 2018 Leslie Allman: Life in a Victorian Rookery An historically accurate presentation given in realistic costume and for the first part of the talk in character as ‘Navy’, one of the thousands of poor living in Dickensian London. His character, dialogue, & stories are all painstakingly derived from contemporary factual accounts.

16th July 2018 Keith Simmons: Name dropping during 40 years in showbiz Keith presents a very funny and entertaining talk called 'Namedropping' which covers his forty six year career in show business. He is a comedian, writer. Director, musician and speaker who has worked with Morecombe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Les Dawson and many more.

20th August 2018 Mark & Pam Bathurst - The Medway Queen Covering the ships build in 1924, her early days doing her run on the Rivers Thames and Medway, then her career and bravery during the Second World War. They move on to cover the remainder of her time as a pleasure steamer, followed by her period on the Isle of Wight, and her sad years that followed.

17th September 2018 TBA – Great Ormond Street Hospital Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is an international centre of excellence in child healthcare, together with their re-search partner, the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, form the UK’s only academic Biomedical Research Centre specialising in paediatrics. Since its formation in 1852, the hospital has been dedicated to children’s healthcare and to finding new and better ways to treat childhood illnesses.

15th October 2018 Russell Bowes: The Devils Garden From the screams of the mandrake plant to the Forbidden Fruit of Eden, from ghosts in a plate of beans to something very nasty hiding in a pot of basil, this unusual talk takes you on a garden tour with a difference. Beware - these plants can seriously damage your health, your marriage, your sanity or your pocket (and if you are very unlucky, all four!).

19th November 2018 Steve Price: Magical Mayhem Steve Price is one of the UK's busiest and most established magicians. He is a Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Cir-cle, a past Secretary of The Magic Circle and he has also won The Magic Circle’s Originality Prize.Pick-pocketing is a par-ticular speciality of Steve’s – he has stolen from Lord Mayors, schoolteachers, vicars and policemen. He’s even managed to take a £10,000 Rolex without the owner noticing!

10th December 2018 Christmas Party Fun and frivolity make sure you book early.

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And finally . . .

If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

Newsletter Editor: Jim Tinsley

jimtinsley@talktalk.net

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

OK. So what’s the speed of dark?

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MAIDSTONE INVICTA U3A KEY CONTACTS Executive Committee Members

David Berry Chairman

Martyn Roads Vice Chairman & Publicity

Patrick Judson

Treasurer

Elizabeth Judson Business Secretary & Interest Groups Co-ordinator

Alan Gupwell Speaker Co-ordinator

Shirley Wentzell Minutes Secretary

David Holmes

Non Committee roles

Jim Tinsley

Newsletter Editor

Ros Roads

Membership Secretary

Anne Cruickshanks Social Secretary

Sonja Hoxey

Website Co-ordinator