'UNIVERSITY' CHALLENGE TO SET UP IN FORFAR
PLANS to set up a local branch of The University of the Third Age will take a step closer this month with a meeting in the Guide Hall in The Myre, Forfar on Wednesday, March 10.
Known as U3A, the organisation is not a university in the normal sense of the word; it is a co-operative venture for people who have stopped full time work and wish to be active with others, broaden their horizons, and do different things with the extra leisure time which comes with retirement and semi-retirement.
It is also suitable for those who simply want to share their experiences and skills with others.
The U3A is a social club which organises activities according to the needs and abilities of its members.
These activities can cover a huge range – learning a language, studying local history, philosophy, literature, geology, archaeology, listening to music, yoga, scrabble, chess, walking, fishing, dancing, bowling, gardening, crafts – whatever the "university" wants to organise from its own resources.
One "University" even has a Pub Lunch group which has visited over 34 pubs!
Even for "academic" groups there are no qualifications required, no assessment – just a group of like-minded people exploring a topic together for the fun of it and as friends.
These interest groups meet monthly or fortnightly, often in each other's homes.
As well as such activities the "university" will hold regular meetings featuring a guest speaker and giving members an opportunity to discuss the activities of the organisation.
Speakers will be chosen according to the wishes of members, and trips to places and events of interest will be similarly organised. Members can participate in as many, or as few, activities as they please.
Ian Scott, vice-chairman of the Steering Group, said there are already many U3As up and running in Britain and abroad including one in Dundee and one in Arbroath.
He said: "Plenty of information can be found on www.u3a.org.uk and on www.u3ascotland.org.uk. After one inaugural meeting we now wish to get a U3A properly up and running in the Forfar area, including Kirriemuir, Alyth, Newtyle, Letham, Brechin and surrounding areas.
"The net is spread wide because the success of a U3A depends on numbers as well as enthusiasm.
"Among the older people of this area there must exist a huge reserve of diverse talents– and probably a huge need for more variety, human contact and fun in later life; if we can pool all these talents and needs together everyone will benefit."
Anyone who feels that this could enrich their leisure time or who wants to know more should go to the introductory meeting at 2 pm on Wednesday, March 10 in the Guide Hall in the Myre in Forfar.
If you want more information meanwhile or can't make it on the 10th and want to register your interest, then call Isabel Readman on 01307 467221 or Ian Scott on 01575 575912.
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
