Anne Nelson Happy New Year to all U3A Benalla members. I hope you have enjoyed catching up with family and friends over the Christmas and New Year period.
Thank you to all Convenors for the time and effort they put into organising the wonderful U3A Benalla programs that were available in 2023. Convenors are the life blood of U3A Benalla, and the Committee really appreciates their commitment to running each program.
At the end of 2023 we saw the retirement of John Hanlon as Co-Convenor of Investment. Malcolm Sanders will be continuing the group in 2024 which is undergoing a name change to Australian Shares and Stock Market. Thank you, John for your thoughtful and helpful sessions throughout 2023. The wisdom in what you presented was enjoyed by all members of the group.
In December we advertised for three new positions in U3A Benalla. The first of these was a Course Co-ordinator position. U3A Benalla now has consistently over 45 groups available to its members, and the introduction of each new course takes a little time and effort to help the new Convenor decide on content of the course, and where there is a slot to fit it in. We are pleased to announce that our current Vice President, Anne Nelson (pictured) has accepted the position of Course Co-ordinator, and will commence in this role in January 2024.
Anyone with an idea for a U3A Benalla course is encouraged to contact Anne on 0438 447 379. Also, Anne is available to talk with any Convenors who need assistance.
We also advertised for an Assistant Secretary to help Geraldine with her growing number of duties. I am pleased to announce that Helen Jeffree has agreed to help in this role. Thank you, Helen for also agreeing to come onto the Committee.
The pianist for Singing for Fun, Gwen Barnes, said in late 2023 that she would appreciate an assistant. Gwen has played for Singing for Fun for 19 years, and has done a magnificent job during that period playing the piano three Thursday mornings per month.
In U3A Benalla we have many multi-talented people, and one of those is Deb Saunders who has indicated that she is interested in becoming our Assistant Pianist at Singing for Fun. Welcome Deb. Singing for Fun has a great bunch of people who all enjoy singing, and are great company at morning tea.
I would also like to thank the Volunteers who are opening the U3A Benalla office each Wednesday morning from Wednesday 17 January 10am to 12 noon until the end of February. Thank you to Ruth Jelliff, Rina Caddy, Julie McNeil, Geraldine McCorkell and myself. The office will be open to accept new memberships, answer questions, give you a guided tour of the Website, let you know when various activities are on, and assist with other general enquiries.
During December we received news that U3A Benalla had been awarded a Building Digital Communities Grant by The Good Things Foundation, who run the Be Connected program. Whilst the Good Things Foundation is administering the grant, it is being funded by the Bendigo Bank to help some of their customers who wish to improve their digital skills to do on-line banking. There were 40 of these grants available throughout Australia, and U3A Benalla was fortunate enough to be awarded one to assist Bendigo Bank customers in Benalla. More information on this will be available shortly.
We are looking forward to Enrolment Day for U3A Benalla which will be held in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, 18 Fawckner Drive on Wednesday 10th January 2024 from 9.30am to 11.30am. We are hoping that all Convenors will be available that morning to talk with new and current members of U3A Benalla about their courses. Morning tea will be available, and it is a great time to catch up with friends. Hope to see you there!
Margaret Jenkins
Thank you to all Convenors for the time and effort they put into organising the wonderful U3A Benalla programs that were available in 2023. Convenors are the life blood of U3A Benalla, and the Committee really appreciates their commitment to running each program.
At the end of 2023 we saw the retirement of John Hanlon as Co-Convenor of Investment. Malcolm Sanders will be continuing the group in 2024 which is undergoing a name change to Australian Shares and Stock Market. Thank you, John for your thoughtful and helpful sessions throughout 2023. The wisdom in what you presented was enjoyed by all members of the group.
In December we advertised for three new positions in U3A Benalla. The first of these was a Course Co-ordinator position. U3A Benalla now has consistently over 45 groups available to its members, and the introduction of each new course takes a little time and effort to help the new Convenor decide on content of the course, and where there is a slot to fit it in. We are pleased to announce that our current Vice President, Anne Nelson (pictured) has accepted the position of Course Co-ordinator, and will commence in this role in January 2024.
Anyone with an idea for a U3A Benalla course is encouraged to contact Anne on 0438 447 379. Also, Anne is available to talk with any Convenors who need assistance.
We also advertised for an Assistant Secretary to help Geraldine with her growing number of duties. I am pleased to announce that Helen Jeffree has agreed to help in this role. Thank you, Helen for also agreeing to come onto the Committee.
The pianist for Singing for Fun, Gwen Barnes, said in late 2023 that she would appreciate an assistant. Gwen has played for Singing for Fun for 19 years, and has done a magnificent job during that period playing the piano three Thursday mornings per month.
In U3A Benalla we have many multi-talented people, and one of those is Deb Saunders who has indicated that she is interested in becoming our Assistant Pianist at Singing for Fun. Welcome Deb. Singing for Fun has a great bunch of people who all enjoy singing, and are great company at morning tea.
I would also like to thank the Volunteers who are opening the U3A Benalla office each Wednesday morning from Wednesday 17 January 10am to 12 noon until the end of February. Thank you to Ruth Jelliff, Rina Caddy, Julie McNeil, Geraldine McCorkell and myself. The office will be open to accept new memberships, answer questions, give you a guided tour of the Website, let you know when various activities are on, and assist with other general enquiries.
During December we received news that U3A Benalla had been awarded a Building Digital Communities Grant by The Good Things Foundation, who run the Be Connected program. Whilst the Good Things Foundation is administering the grant, it is being funded by the Bendigo Bank to help some of their customers who wish to improve their digital skills to do on-line banking. There were 40 of these grants available throughout Australia, and U3A Benalla was fortunate enough to be awarded one to assist Bendigo Bank customers in Benalla. More information on this will be available shortly.
We are looking forward to Enrolment Day for U3A Benalla which will be held in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, 18 Fawckner Drive on Wednesday 10th January 2024 from 9.30am to 11.30am. We are hoping that all Convenors will be available that morning to talk with new and current members of U3A Benalla about their courses. Morning tea will be available, and it is a great time to catch up with friends. Hope to see you there!
Margaret Jenkins
