Mansfield and District U3ANewsletter

Joyeux Noel report: Page 3_____________________________

Established 1999HMRC Charity Registration No.: XT30525

January 2013Website: www.mansfield-u3a.org.uk

Noticeboard: http://mansfieldu3a.blogspot.com

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Welcome from your chairmanI DO HOPE that you and your families had a very good Christmas and New Year. For all the concerns of the last year – the financial chaos of the banks, the increase in the cost of energy, the hike in food prices, the weather, Paul McCartney singing ‘Hey Jude’ at the Olympics, to name but a few – I believe that the good outweighed the bad, with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics still able to bring a smile and a tear to us.

So how do I review 2012? Certainly not in national or international terms: too long and arduous a task, added to which I can’t remember most of what went on as my selective amnesia (or ‘senior memory loss’) has cut in. Anyway, the papers and TV are full of lists of the best / worst / funniest / nastiest events / people / take-aways of the year. So I’ll give that a rest.

What about a Mansfield U3A review? Not really – I’ll do that in September at the end of my stint. I’d hate to forecast things that never occurred or were redundant by September!

However, it is the New Year ... that time of good resolutions that are made but never carried out. I’ve never been a great believer in ‘Good Resolutions’ since any I’ve made have tended to have been under duress – drink, nagging, guilty conscience; you know, the normal, everyday reasons we make promises. But I have made some resolutions this year that will be easy to carry out.

I resolve ...

1. Not to pay heed to the great panjandrums of health telling me that older people should eat, drink, make love far less as any of these activities will take ten years off their lives. I should worry. I’d just like to be able to.

2. Not to pay heed to the same lot (who always seem to be younger) who then tell me that I’m living too long and costing the economy too much. I’m going to see how much I can cost them just to be a real grouch!

3. Not to listen to the Government wanting me to spend, spend, spend on consumer goods. It’s their blooming fault that manufacturing has disappeared and I was brought up to only buy ‘stuff’ when it was necessary. Food and drink – yes, but ‘fashionwear’ and the latest technology? Tomorrow, perhaps – and that’s being polite. Perhaps we can start up a ‘hand-me-down’ service where the latest-but-one phones / techno gadgets / clothes are passed on down the families like coats and shoes used to be?

But that’s enough for now. Three is the magic number of things I can remember at any one time and anyway, I have to pour a drink, sit in front of the TV and snarl at the weather forecast yet again. Happy New Year!Mike Allen______________________________________________________________________________In this issue

Page 2 Chairman's Welcome.Page 3 Quiz night. Suggestion box. Holiday updates.Page 4 Recent Events: Joyeux Noel; Singing for Fun. Groups News (Start): Art

AppreciationPages 5 - 8 (Pt) Groups Meeting ProgrammePage 8 (Pt) Book table. New members meetingPage 9 Groups News (Cont.): Digital World; Theatre Visits; Wine Appreciation 2;

Family History Page 10 Groups News (Cont.): Luncheon Club; Robin Hood at Thoresby

Page 11 Help with PIN cards. On-line U3A courses.Page 12 Member's Contribution: Save old Specs. Dates for your diary. Notices.

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Annual Fun Quiz NightSATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH’S ACADEMY. 7pm.Join us at Queen Elizabeth's Academy on the 23rd February for our annual Quiz Night.

Pauline and Ian have been working hard to test our brains and your Social Committee will be providing your supper (platters of sandwiches, nibbles and cakes).

Organise yourself a team of 8 or join a table on the night; bring your own drinks and glasses and have a great night with friends. Tickets on sale today £6.50.Karen Troop

SuggestionsFIRST of all I would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year 2013 – let's hope it turns out to be a very good one for us all!

At the November meeting, I told you that the Committee had decided to re-introduce a Suggestion Box in order that members could put forward any ideas they had, whatever they may be, so that the Committee could consider them and, where possible, introduce them into the programme.

I am very pleased to say that initially we have had four suggestions: two for new classes, i.e. Yoga and an Art Class. (Linda Leivers, the Group Co-ordinator, will be putting out sheets at the meeting for people, if interested, to sign up for these and providing there are enough signatures then we will be able to move forward with them.)

A further suggestion was that congestion may be saved by the signing-in sheets being split at the start of the meeting to both sides of the room. This is being looked at to see the feasibility of it.

Lastly, there was the suggestion that "We should get a new Mike!". For a moment there, my mind raced at the thought of a new Mike Allen! Finally, I realised that it was for a new microphone and I will ask the Chairman to see what can be done to negotiate this – Good Luck!

I hope, therefore, that you will all continue to give your thoughts and ideas. The Suggestion Box will be on the back table with pen and writing paper for you to use. In this way we can move forward and look at areas that perhaps had not been thought about before.

Thank you for your assistance.Glenis Carr

Holiday UpdatesAround Britain Cruise – 24th May - 3rd JuneBalances, the amounts of which can be found on the first page of your Invoice Guest copies, must be sent to Fred Olsen by 23rd February. (A few of you still have not sent passport or insurance details, nor the names of your next of kin, but travel tickets cannot be issued unless all these details are sent by that date.) Contact information is on the same page as your balances.

Tenby – 1st - 5th July 2013 Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates and the amounts of the balances owing. These must be paid no later than the March meeting. Final costs are:- £268 for those sharing and £280 for singles. These prices include the driver's gratuity. Cheques this time payable to Mansfield & District U3A.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular – 4th, 5th & 6th December Those going to Thursford have paid a £1 registration fees, which the company has received, but I will need your deposits of £10 no later than the April meeting at which time I will advise you of when your balance is due. Cheques are also to be paid to Mansfield & District U3A. The company is offering a £10 insurance premium should you wish to take it out for these three days away. You will need to add on this amount to your deposit amount – so £20 in total)Margaret Burlinson Details of all holidays are on the website ...

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Recent EventsJoyeux NoelIT WAS a lucky 13th of December when the Luncheon Club and guests from Worksop U3A got ready for Christmas in the French style at Launay's in Edwinstowe for what has become the club's traditional fine-dining highlight of the year.

Alain Launay and his kitchen team got us in the mood with platters of fresh oysters for the adventurous, mussels, pigeon breasts, pâté and soup with braised beef, guinea fowl, pork, sea bass and root vegetable pudding to follow.

But again it was the desserts that stole the show for many and I heard nothing but rave reviews for the poached meringue, apple tart or a chocolate creation served in a real plant pot!

Alison and her front-of-house team of servers were on top form too and everyone fully deserved the warm applause that showed diners' appreciation.

We'll be returning on December 12th so please make a note in your diaries!David Ling More photos on the website ...

Christmas ConcertsTHE U3A Choir had three Concerts in Dec. 2012. On Fri the 7th, at Kirkby Library, for switching on of their lights. Everyone was so welcoming & applauded for encores. "Can you come again please?"

Next on Fri 14th Dec, came the visit to the John Eastwood Hospice in torrential rain. Suzy & her Mum were soaked bringing in the keyboard, which miraculously still worked! Again we were welcomed in & we sang under the Christmas Tree. Everyone joined in with the Carols at the end.

Finally on Sun 16th Dec, at St Joseph the Worker RC Church in Sutton, both U3A & Bellissima Ladies Choir 'brought the house down'. Suzy sang the "Dormouse's Carol" & "The Little Road to Bethleham" & our pianist played "Sleigh Ride" & "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" With the audience putting everything into 3 carols & enjoyed mulled wine & minced pies afterwards

All the rehearsals paid off! So well done everyone and thank you very much to Suzy & John Sellers.Stuart Fell

Groups News (Check the Interest Group web pages for updates) ¶ indicates an item that was in the December on-line issue but is reprinted for the convenience of members who may not have seen it.

Art Appreciation ¶Members of the Art Appreciation Group enjoyed a selection of seasonal poetry and prose at their December soirée. We shared readings from a range of poets and authors that included John Betjeman, T.S. Elliott, U.A. Fanthorpe and Pam Ayres.

Contributions were both festive and funny and as the soirée was held on the same day as the U3A Christmas lunch some members had double helpings of festive cheer and goodwill!

The Christmas lunch and soirée is now a favourite way for this group to launch the festive season.Pauline Boucher Groups News continues on page 9 ...

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Key to Meetings details:THIS TABLE SHOWS THE DAY of the month, time and frequency using the first two letters of the day, followed by numbers 1 - 5 to represent the week number. The final letter M (or F, W or V) indicates that the group meets monthly, fortnightly, weekly or at variable intervals.

So 'Tu2, 2.30 - V M' would mean a group meeting on the 2nd Tuesday at 2.30pm Monthly but with Variable finish times.

The main Mansfield and District U3A meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month (except for August and December) at the Oakham Suite, 155 Nottingham Road, Mansfield from 10 am - 12.30 pm.

Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact

Art Appreciation Mo1, 2.00 - 4.00 M Baptist Church, Rosemary St.

Pauline Boucher01623 644798

Next Meetings: 4th Feb. – Later in the 15th century & Peter Paul Rubens; 4th March – Into the 1500s & Children Picture Books with Molly Pollitt Next Visit: 29th April – Tea & talk at Thoresby

Beginners' Bridge (With Ashfield U3A)

Mo, Various 6.30 - 9.00

Enviro Centre, Derby Rd College,Mansfield

Maxine Rose/Glenis Carr 01623 459081/627735

Next Meetings: 21st January; 4th February; 4th &18th March (Also Acol sessions at the Mechanics Institute – Th, 10 - 12.30 W)

Bowls Th, 1.30 - 3.30 W Lammas Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield

Don Wright01623 628946

Next Meetings: January 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st; February 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th; March 7th

Chat and Stitch Mo3, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's Centre, Mansfield

Doreen Storer01623 407731

Next Meetings: 21st January; 18th February; 18th March; 15th April

Current Affairs

§ NB New venue

Tu2, 2.00 - 4.00 M § St John's Centre, St John's Street, Mansfield

Norma Shillinglaw01623 466934

Next Meetings: February 12th; March 12th; April 9th

Digital World Fri 2 & 4, 2.00 - 4.00 2/M

Stanton Hill Baptist Church, Albert Street, Skegby

David Ling01623 822994

Next Meetings: 11th January – Refreshing basic settings; 25th January – Thoresby photo comp

Family History Tu4, 10.00 - 12.00 M St John's Centre, Mansfield

Max Clarke01623 621744

Next Meeting: TBA

All members are invited to contact the relevant Group Leader if they would like to participate in any interest group or attend an event. NB: * indicates a waiting list.

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Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact

Film Studies* We1, 1.30 - V M Joy's home Joy Crowe01623 645400

Next Meetings: 6th February; 4th March; 1st April

Garden Visits During the Summer Various Marion Thornton01623 651528

Next Visit: TBA

Gardening Tu1, 10.00 - 12.00 M St Peter's Centre, Mansfield

Avril McGee01623 452688

Next Meeting: 5th March 2013 – Don Witton: Ten Top Gardens

Holidays (Home & Abroad)

Various TBA Margaret Burlinson01623 632538

Next holidays: 21st - 25th Jan. – Thoresby (See Terry Whitehead); 24th May - 3rd June – Around Britain Cruise

Introduction to Internet use

Various Stanton Hill Baptist Church, Street, Skegby

Terry Whitehead01623 626991

Next Meeting: Contact Terry

Line Dancing Th2, 2.00 - 4.00 M St Lawrence Church Hall, Pecks Hill, Mansfield

Carole Justice01623 491809

Next meetings: January 10th. No meeting in February. March 14th

Local History Fri1, 10.00 - 12.00 M The Rushley Inn, Nottingham RoadMansfield

Bob & Sue Longden01623 486903

Next Meetings: No meeting in January. February 1st – Jennie Roberts: Myths & Legends

Luncheon Club Th after 3rd Tu, 12.00 - 2.00 M

Various David Ling01623 822994

Next Meetings: January 17th – 281, Mansfield; February 21st – Lamb's at the Market, Mansfield; March 21st – TBA

Music Groups

Classical Music 1* Th2, 2.00 - 4.00 M Members' homes Alan & Marlene Radford 01623 427934

Next Meetings: 14th February – Chopin with Peter; 14th March – Donizetti with TBA

Classical Music 2 Mo4, 2.00 - 4.00 M Members' homes Peter Hart01623 620940

Next Meetings: 18th January – Violin and Cello with Peter Hart; 25th February – Borodin & Mussorsky with Sheila; 25th March – Saint Saens & Fauré with Marie

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Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact

Music 2* Mo4, 2.00 - 4.30 M Members' homes Eric Prescott 01623 631160

Next Meeting: TBA

Popular Music Appreciation

Tu4, 2.00 - 4.00 M St John's School, Mansfield

Peter Haynes 01623 610886

Next Meetings: January 22nd; February 26th; March 26th

Pudding Club* Tu1, 4.00 - 6.00 M Members' homes Sylvia Slack 01623 633981

Next Meetings: February 5th at Janet's; March 5th at Sylvia's; April 2nd at Janet's

Reading 1* Th3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Peter Dawson's home Peter Dawson 01623 882191

Next Meetings: 17th January; 21st February; 21st March

Reading 2 Tu3, 2.00 - 4.00 M Ravenshead Library Joan Hufton01623 557448

Next Meetings: 15th January; 19th February; 19th March

Science & Technical Tu1, 1.30 - 3.30 M Stanton Hill Baptist Church, Albert St. Skegby

Ian Boucher01623 644798

Next Meeting: 5th January – Satellite Communications with Ian Boucher; March 5th – Embedded Systems with Dr. David MarplesNext visit: TBA

Scrabble Mo2, 2.00 - 4 .00 M Brenda Thurkettle's home

Brenda Thurkettle01623 628136

Next Meetings: 14th January; 11th February; 11th March

Singing for Fun Th V West Notts College, Derby Rd. Mansfield

June Fell 01623 623547

Next Meetings: January 10th & 24th; February 7th & 21st; March 7th & 21stNext Concerts: TBA

Tai Chi Mo, 9.30 - 10.30 W St John's Centre,Mansfield

Cliff Laycock01623 481985

Next Meetings: Jan. 14th, 21st & 28th; Feb. 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th; March 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th

Theatre Visits Various Various Sheila Whalley 01623 453908

Next Visits: Wed.17th April – Blood Brothers. (Matinee at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.) Sun. 10th March – Me and My Girl. (Matinee at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield)

ATTORNEY: "Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice I sent?"WITNESS: "No, this is how I dress when I go to work".

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Interest Group Meetings Meeting Places Leader/Contact

Walking Groups

Hikers (all-day, 6 - 8 miles)

Th1 & Mo3, 9.30 - V 2/M

Tesco car park, off Oak Tree Lane

Peter Thurkettle 01623 628136

Next Meetings: Mon. 21st Jan. – Glapwell / Hills Town; Thurs. 7th Feb. – Whaley & Upper Langwith Valleys; Mon. 18th Feb. – Lathkill Dale; Thurs. 7th March – Roche Abbey

Strollers(a leisurely 2 miles)

We2, 10.30 - V M Various Barbara Massey / Marion Thornton 01623 628357 / 01623 651528

Next Meetings: 13th February – Brierley Forest Park; 13th March – Sherwood Forest

Walkers (an easy 4 - 5 miles)

We4, 10.30 – V M Various Joy & Nick Crowe01623 645400

Next Meetings: 23rd January – Linby and Papplewick; 27th March – Teversal to Brierley Forest

Wine Appreciation 2*

We3, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Mike Allen01623 653345

Next Meetings: Jan. 23rd – Taste of France Dinner; Feb. 20th – Gewurztraminers from 4 countries

Wine Appreciation 3*

Tu4, 7.30 - V M Members' homes Graham Allin01623 473662

Next Meetings: Jan. 29th – N.Z Red with Ian & Pauline; Feb. 26th – Chardonnay with Graham & Eileen

Writing for Pleasure* Mo2, 2.00 - 4.00 M The Stanhope Centre (Bridge St. Methodist Church), Mansfield.

Sue Ford / Hilary Miller 01623 844286 / 620067

Next Meetings: 14th January; 11th February

Book TableTHE FINAL book stall of the year (no book stall in December) collected a reasonable amount for funds: £45.10.

I have kept a check on the amounts raised and for 2012 we managed to raise £458.75 that didn't need to come from subscriptions. Now, as each book is STILL ONLY 40p, buy 5 books with your share of the money you have just saved.

Looking forward to another enjoyable reading experience.Lilian Whitehead.______________________________________________________________________________New Members’ Follow-up MeetingTHE NEW members’ follow-up meeting will be held on Friday February 22nd at The Rushley, Nottingham Road from 10.30 am until 12.00 noon. A warm welcome is extended to all new members who have joined Mansfield U3A since September 2012 to meet committee members and group leaders informally, and for you to comment about your membership. Refreshments will be provided, so please join us if you can.Avril McGee (01623 452688)

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Groups News (Cont. from page 4)Digital World ¶OUR last meeting of the year, on 23rd November, proved to be one of the most successful, with several new members coming along for the first time. Informality ruled, as usual, with a fascinating look at a new member's close-ups a highlight.

We re-start after Christmas on 11th January with a review of camera settings and basic editing with Picasa so that newcomers to the group don't feel lost and will be reviewing entries to the Thoresby Holiday photo competition on the 25th. Do come along to Stanton Hill Baptist Church at 2.00 on any 2nd or 4th Friday if you'd like to join in and share tips about making the most of your camera.David Ling

Theatre Visits ¶

• Sun. 10th March: 'Me and My Girl' – Palace Theatre, matinee, £9 tickets to be paid for at the February meeting. (A 5-hour parking ticket is available from the theatre for £2.)

• Wed. 20th March at 2.30: FREE talk and tour of the Palace Theatre Mansfield; limited numbers; put your name on the list.

• Wed. 17th April: 'Blood Brothers' – Theatre Royal, Nottingham, matinee, £24 payment no later than the 1st of February.

• Wed 15th May PM: 'The Mouse Trap' – Theatre Royal, Nottingham, £24.30 payment no later than 19th February.

For your information, the ODEON cinema does live satellite transmissions of opera etc. ( 'La Boheme' Tues. 15th January.) Contact the cinema for further details.

(Mothering Sunday is on Sunday the 10th of March the same day as the Palace show.)Sheila Whalley (01623 453908)

Wine Appreciation 2 ¶AS THE YEAR comes to an end, the Wine Group tasted four Spanish white wines. Spain is well known for its red wines, especially Rioja, and sparkling Cava, but the white wine is far less-known or appreciated. Much of it has been poor in the past – local wine not drunk outside the locality.

But in Rioja and the North West of Spain, white wines have begun to make a mark. They are fresh and fruity, to be drunk now rather than laid down. In addition, they are affordable.

Our choice was from Asda, reduced from £6.68 to £5.00. Very affordable. ‘Tierras de la Reina’ is from the high plateau of Rueda, along the upper reaches of the Douro River and embodies the best of the Verdejo grape. It was zesty, quite tart but the after taste was pleasant. A good wine to take away the richness of Christmas without being too acidic.Mike Allen

Family History Group ¶IT'S ALMOST unique to find a report from the Family History Group in the newsletter – after all, a list of the baptisms in Mansfield Parish Church between the years 1790 and 1800 makes rather boring reading for most people.

However, our last meeting held on November the 27th was a bit different. Instead of meeting at our usual venue, St. John's Centre, we met at the Mansfield Library.

Ralph Lloyd-Jones, the librarian in charge of the Local and Family History section of the library, was there to familiarise us with the many and varied collections, which are there for all to use. His enthusiasm in explaining the many books, maps, documents, micro-films and micro-fiches enthralled us for two hours !

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He patiently explained how to use the computers to access our ancestry, and also how to use and print the filmed material. Everyone, from the beginners to the experienced family historians, had a very useful morning.

As one of our more experienced members said, "I can quite happily spend a week there now".

Thanks to Mr. Lloyd-Jones for giving his time and experience with such enthusiasm.Max Clarke

Luncheon ClubWE ARE looking forward to welcoming the New Year on 17th January at 281 on Nottingham Rd, which many will remember as the Pine Lodge, although it's been extensively refurbished by the new owners and is already establishing an excellent reputation for its modern British cuisine and service.

Brian Harvey has negotiated a special menu costing £10 for two courses or £14.95 for three that will include pigeon & bacon salad, sea trout, vegetarian choices and desserts. (Some places still available.)

Then, on February 21st, Norma Shillinglaw is arranging a return to Lambs at the Market, one of the great successes of 2012, for a varied menu that will be priced at £10 for two courses and £15 for three. Space is limited so get your name down soon or you may miss out.

We hope to explore East European cuisine on March 21st so look out for details soon.David Ling Menus are on the website ...

Robin Hood’ at Thoresby Riding SchoolFOURTEEN sane, cultured, intelligent members of Mansfield U3A went to the lovely little theatre in the Thoresby Riding School on Friday December 7th at 7.30pm to see ‘Robin Hood’ performed by Oddsocks. By 7.40, the group had changed into a cheering, jeering, laughing, booing, waving rabble, along with the rest of the audience (all apparently as aged, intelligent, etc. as we were).

We had to cheer the fresh-faced Robin Hood, jeer and hiss at the evil Sheriff (who demanded a ‘re-boo’ if the booing was not loud enough), wave at Friar Tuck, empathise with Maid Marion (especially when her dress became undone), laugh at Little John on stilts (sometimes disguised ‘unnoticed’ as a female on stilts), warn the players of the Bear Behind Them and growl as convincingly and threateningly, with appropriate paw-claw movements.

And this was only the first set of ‘disguises’ the 5-strong group of actors assumed – Mitch the dim-witted miller, the slow soldiers (Norman by name), the nasty Bishop, the chained prisoner, the dozy wife of the Sheriff, and so on. And they all sang and danced as well as declaimed, orated, hyperventilated, sneered and romanced.

As for the story? Well, it mattered little, and I’m not sure that I understood what that little was all the time. Suffice to say that it followed the ‘real Mansfield’ version of the legend (i.e. daft) with Robin helping the slow-witted outlaws to regain their taxes (got a feeling there was a villain called ‘Murdoch’ somewhere), rescue Maid M from the groping clutches of the Sheriff and overcome evil in all its forms (‘bashing the bishop’ was something they suggested doing).

You know what I mean – a legend played to all the pantomimic possibilities, with all the additional laughs caused by damage to players, props, scenery, words and polite sensibilities.

Once again, Oddsocks provided superb entertainment to a packed and thoroughly appreciative house. This time, it wasn’t Shakespeare who suffered but a local legend. Why don’t you join the ‘regulars’ for this treat to see who they will demolish next year?Mike Allen

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Help if you are unable to use a PIN card ¶ (Abbreviated; full article in December issue.)THE FACILITY to make card payments is such an integral part of daily life that most of us hardly even give it a conscious thought. “Insert your card please, and enter your PIN.” Yet many people are unable to use a PIN because they have issues with their mobility, dexterity, memory or sight.

Chip and signature cards exist as the alternative for people who are unable to use a PIN – the cards don’t look any different to chip and PIN cards, but when inserted into a card terminal a signature is automatically requested.

Unfortunately, not everyone who would benefit from a chip and signature card is aware that they exist.

Feedback from consumer groups to the Payments Council’s Consumer Forum exposed concern at the relatively low awareness of chip and signature cards and problems with acceptance. To address these concerns, the Payments Council has been working on a National Payments Plan project throughout 2012 to raise awareness of the cards among bank staff, retailers and consumers who might benefit from them.

The project found a widespread knowledge gap over how the cards work; for example, only three out of nine user groups had heard of ‘chip and signature’, while only one attendee of the focus groups knew about the card. Many shoppers described themselves as feeling embarrassed or anxious, often due to hold-ups caused by the retailer not being aware of how the card worked. What’s more, although all banks offer these cards and all retailers are obliged to accept them, nearly two thirds (63%) of the people that said they currently struggle with chip and PIN didn’t even know that an alternative existed.

If you think you would benefit from a chip and signature card, or know someone who would, more information on chip and signature is available in the form of a free advice guide. To order one, email communique@paymentscouncil.org.uk or call the Payments Council’s public enquiries line on 020 3217 8259

U3A launches on-line courses ¶THE UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE is to launch a new programme of tutored online courses in January with three history courses, on the Vikings, the decade before Queen Victoria and the First World War.

They are designed for members who cannot easily travel to learning groups; and for those who wish to study at times of their own choosing rather than attend meetings at set times.

The writers and on-line tutors are volunteers from among the U3A's 293,733 members. Early this year U3A chairman Ian Searle called for volunteers to write and tutor courses; he now leads a group of 24 well-qualified and committed people who are working on ideas for on-line courses, which are at various stages of development. Many have long experience of teaching or creating learning materials.

U3A members wanting to study the courses will pay a small fee to cover administrative costs. Students will be given a password that will enable them to download the required course in eight weekly instruments. The first three courses will be launched in January, and are all on history subjects. They will be:

• Four Viking Women, written and taught by Val Bannister of Bridgwater U3A.• Just Before Victoria, by David Hopper of Thanet U3A.• The Great War, by Verne Hardingham of Rugby U3A.

They will be followed as soon as possible by an economics course and a guide to research methods.

For more details, log on to the U3A national website.

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Save old Specs.OVER the years Mansfield U3A members have collected many old spectacles and mobile phones that have been passed on to former Mansfield U3A member Richard White. These are collected by Hucknall Rotary Club as part of their recycling project to help the needy in Africa.

The spectacle frames are stripped down and cleaned by prisoners at one of Her Majesty’s establishments and the lens are cleaned and graded by professional opticians – all on voluntary basis.

Any donated mobile phones are sold to raise funds for transport etc.

This is a very worthwhile cause so start the New Year right. When you are doing your spring cleaning and are turning out your drawers – please gather up unwanted spectacles and mobiles and hand them over to me.

I promise you they will go a good home!Rita Turner

_______________________________________________________________________________________Speakers' CornerTHE JANUARY meeting is traditionally when members share their interests with us all and show-off their skills so we welcome this year's volunteers:

• Michael Morton: A life with a paintbrush• Mary Lewis: Florence Nightingale and Statistics• Sheila Whalley: Costumes• John Gilding: Piano and sing-along

_______________________________________________________________________________________Dates for your diary (Check the website for more information and updates.)Fri. 22nd Feb.: NEW MEMBERS' MEETING at the Rushley, 10.00 am Sat. 23rd Feb.: ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT at Queen Elizabeth’s Academy. (See page 3)______________________________________________________________________________ Event and Visit PaymentsMEMBERS are reminded that deposits and payments for events and visits organised by Mansfield U3A and its interest groups are non-refundable, but places so reserved may be offered to others.______________________________________________________________________________Changes of address, etc.PLEASE contact the membership secretary, Avril McGee (01623 452688), if you've changed your address, phone number or email since joining Mansfield U3A so that she can update our records.______________________________________________________________________________DisclaimerTHE VIEWS expressed here are those of the contributors, only, and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, the committee of Mansfield U3A or the Third Age Trust. Nor can any responsibility be accepted for errors that may occur.______________________________________________________________________________Next IssuePLEASE SEND contributions for the February issue to mansfieldu3a@aol.com, or in typescript to the editor, as soon as you can and by 1st February at the latest. Thanks!______________________________________________________________________________

Editor: David Ling (01623 822994) Printed by: Portland Print (www.portlandprint.org.uk/)

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