NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY, 2018

U3A GOLD COAST INC.

Patron Learning for Pleasure
Councillor
Dawn Crichlow Telephone (07) 5591 6671

Situated at – MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2017-18

Level 1,
(Shop 1074),
Australia Fair,
Executive Committfee
Southport. Qld. Ph: (07) 5591 PRESIDENT: John Donnelly Alice Fairley
6671 Vice-President: Lesley Goodman Marvin Summers
Margaret Street Venue, Secretary: Peter Knight Robyn Clark
Ph: (07) 5532 1516 Treasurer: Doug Oliver Lyn Mayer
Class Co-Ordinator:
Office Hours: Alice Fairley
Mon-Thur. 9-00 am to 3.30 Office Manager:
pm. Marvin Summers
Friday 9-00 a.m. to 3-00 pm.
Social Committee:
Address all correspondence to: Lyn Mayer
The Secretary, Fire & Safety Officer:
U3A Gold Coast Inc., Lyn Sturm
P.O. Box 3365, Griffith University Liaison Officer:
Australia Fair. Qld. 4215.
Newsletter Editor::
E-Mail Address: Beverley Veivers
u3agoldcoastinc@bigpond.com
Website: u3agoldcoast.weebly.com
Facebook: U3A Gold Coast
Southport Inc.

The Presidents Message.

Happy New Year To You All.
Welcome back to our 1st semester for 2018, Xmas has been and gone and I hope you all had a great break
and are ready to begin learning and having fun with all your U3A friends.
During the break the carpets have been cleaned in our offices at Australia Fair, also Pest Control has been
carried out at both Margaret Street and Australia Fair.
Updates to Reception notice board have been posted by Marvin, our new Office manager.
As you are all aware by now, 2018 is the year of the Commonwealth games, which will begin on 4th April
and end on the 15th. We are advised that there will be heavy traffic from the 26th March. With this in mind it
has been decided to CLOSE ALL U3A classes from THURSDAY 29th MARCH and REOPEN ON
MONDAY 16TH APRI. Also keep in mind that Easter Friday will be on the 30th March.
Our AGM this year will be on the 22nd March at 10am at Lawson Street community centre and it is time to
think about nominations for the Committee.
The 22nd March is also our 30th Anniversary, and to that end we will be celebrating with a very special
Showcase on the 9th May to be held at the Lawson Street community centre Southport.
Regards
John Donnelly (President).
 -2-

“TREASURER’S MONEYBOX”

U3A Newsletter February, 2018

May I introduce myself? I am Douglas Oliver, your new Treasurer. I replaced Bronwyn Keddie in November
2017. I would like to offer my personal thanks to Bronwyn for her many years of commitment and effort to
U3A in the role of Treasurer and Finance Officer. I would also like to thank her for the wonderful handover
the she gave me last year.

I am also a tutor at U3A Gold Coast. I teach World History at Australia Fair on Fridays at 9:00 am and at
The Henley Retirement Centre on Saturday mornings at 9:00 am.

On 24th January, I briefed the Tutors on finance matters that concern them as tutors, and concern you as
students. A lot of what I said would be of interest to you, our students. I asked the tutors to be mindful that,
we can all be the very best teachers, but, if our students become unhappy over money matters, all our
efforts can be wasted. This also applied to the assets we use to conduct our classes, the buildings,
classrooms, equipment, furniture, etc. Safety is paramount. Not much learning with pleasure happens when
someone is injured in our classes. The bottom line is that we look after the money that you give us in your
subscriptions and the money spent within classes. We have to spend it wisely.

I reminded the tutors that we lease Margaret Street and Australia Fair from the Gold Coast City Council,
and have to comply with the conditions of those leases. For example, the leases prohibit the consumption
of alcohol and gambling on the premises.

I am the duty committee member at our Australia Fair offices on Tuesday. If you have something you would
like to me to sort out, or just to talk to me, I’d welcome your visit. But if that is inconvenient, please call me
on my mobile number 0416 982 806 and I shall see what I can do.

I conducted a stocktake of our assets in January. You may have noticed the small rectangular stickers on
the assets that I put on to show what I counted. Please do not take them off. I do understand that the
stickers don’t stick to all surfaces and may fall off.

You may find my stickers on assets that are private property of a tutor or student. May I ask that, if that
property is yours, please use a texta pen to write “Private Property of (your name)” on the item of
equipment or furniture. Then we shall all know who it belongs to.

The stocktake included a condition survey to help the Committee understand what items are beyond end-
of-life and need to be thrown away and possibly replaced. It also tells us what needs to be repaired. I can
now work out how much it will cost and see if we have enough money to pay for the repairs and
replacements.

I am preparing the 2018 Budget and will be consulting with tutors about their needs. This enables the
Committee to wisely spend your money on the most important things. It also enables us to comply with the
law and keep the auditor happy.

May I take this opportunity to remind everyone that the grace period for membership renewals expires on
31st January. During the months of October, November and December 2017, and January this year, our
Receptionists have been busy taking membership renewals and new memberships. Hopefully, everyone
has renewed.

Our annual external audit review is now due. The report will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting on
22nd March. It is keeping me busy.
…….2
 -3-
(cont.)
At the tutors meeting on 24th January, I asked them to be aware of our By-laws, especially By-law 5. I would
also like to ask our students to be aware of the By-laws. By-law 5.2 states that classes shall be self-
supporting financially. By-law 5.3 states that tutors cannot be paid for their services, neither by U3A nor the
students at their initiative, unless approved by the Committee in special circumstances.

By-law 5.4 states that the tutor or any member delegated by the class should keep the management
committee informed of the general progress and concerns of the class, especially to avoid
misunderstandings. This leads into By-law 5.5 that states that the tutor or the delegated class member shall
render to the Treasurer an account of all monies collected and dispersed on behalf of the class. Our Social
Activities class do this very well, but other classes may not. No bank accounts may be opened by a class.
All assets purchased by the class become the property of U3A. Excess funds shall be handed to the
Treasurer for banking and holding for the class until needed.

I look forward to serving as your Treasurer and helping everyone do what our motto says: Learning with
pleasure. See you in my money box again next month.
Doug Oliver

CELEBRATIONS, OUTINGS and EVENTS

Can't always get in to have a look on our notice boards and see what's
happening ?
Well, it's easy now to keep yourselves updated without having to come into
town. All you have to do is visit our Facebook page at:
www.facebook U3A Gold Coast Inc Southport
Members are being encouraged to visit our Facebook page for instant news. You
can also make your own comments about anything you see on there or just simply
click on 'Like'.

Marvin Summers, Facebook Manager

WE NEED YOU
URGENTLY needed are VOLUNTEERS to help out with Reception
Duties in the Australia Fair office.
The hours are either from 9am to 12.30pm covering the morning shift, or 12.30pm to
3.30pm covering the afternoon shift, and it is completely up to you as to which shift and
day you prefer to help out with these duties.
Our receptionists are U3A's front line contact with the community which is a most important role.
Full training is given because you have to be aware of the overall aspects of how U3A functions.
It would be helpful if you have some typing and computer knowledge as well although it is not a
priority for the reception desk.

Marvin Summers, Acting Office Manager

E: u3agoldcoastinc@bigpond.com
P: 5591 6671
5532 1516
 -4-

CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT

Hi Members ,

A welcome back to all those familiar faces, and a HELLO to all those new ones who have
“taken up the cudgels” or even “braved the unknown” to join our U3A. We hope you enjoy
the class of your choice, and do meet-n-make friends along the way. There is nothing like a
new adventure, some curiosity or an interest to try something new. Remember, this world
is full of surprises when least expected – I should know, having been in this job for so long
and still I receive surprises.

First of all, with Marvin Summers on board, she has done a great deal of changes re
computers in reception area – all set to help with more details on classes, timetables, etc;
Secondly, Class Co-ordinator’s task has now been minimized a great deal – via the ‘office
computer ladies’, Mitzi and Edit(h),along with Marvin’s assistance again. My appreciation
and thanks to Marvin are boundless for the hours she has put in in helping to get all the
paperwork ready in time (last minute rush I might add!) for the Tutors Meeting – that is,
our members’ names onto the class list (of a sort!), and other information per location of
classes.
Thirdly, while the class time-table is not set in cement, there will a few minor changes
made in the next few weeks. And while this is still early stages, I would like to advise the
Expression of Interest re “Psychology” and “Current Affairs and the Arts” are still open for
anyone wishing to put their names on the list.

As the Community Centre management has advised of the safety/security guidelines, all
popular classes now have a waiting list due to the room maximum number and must be
adhered to for fire and security reasons – these class-lists will be checked in the next
three/four weeks.

All classes should now be aware of the two-week break over Easter and the Games –
from Friday 29th March through to Sunday 15th April 2018.

All for now, cheers,

Class Co-ordinator, Alice

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The more you give, the more you get, the more you laugh, the less you fret;
The more you do unselfishly, the more you live abundantly;
The more of everything you share, the more you’ll always have to spare;
The more you love, the more you find that life is good and friends are kind;
For only what we give away enriches us from day to day.
(From 1993 Newsletter)
 -5-

CREATIVE WRITING
Rorschach Test
A Psychiatrist was giving his patient the Rorschach test. This Psychiatric examination is more commonly
known as ‘The Ink Blot Test’ because the differing photos of black splotches, smears and smudges, look
very much like spilt ink patterns.
Pychiatrists show various photo patterns to patients and by using a complex set of Algorithms can arrive at
what is called a ‘Psyscho Diagnostic’ result.
The patient having this test was shown each photo and his replies all had sexual overtones, some of which
were extremely perverted.
At the completion of the tests the Psychiatrist said to the patient: “I’m sorry but I can’t allow you to leave
this room, you’re very disturbed and quite possibly dangerous, I’ll make arrangements for you to be
immediately interned for further analysis and emergency treatment.”
The patient became very angry and yelled at the Psychiatrist: “It’s not me that needs treatment it’s you,
you’re the one that’s showing me your filthy pornographic photo collection.
Neville Parker

THEATRE GROUP : REMINDER....ticket price for 'ALADDIN' must be

paid in full by FRIDAY, 02 MARCH, 2018.

WALKING FOR PLEASURE

Another overcast November day for our Brisbane walk. It was a very long day as the train service only
took us to Yeerongpilly and then we travelled to South Bank by bus. After a quick coffee at the DOT café,
we then commenced our walk passing by the Maritime Museum and the Lady Cilento Hospital. Further
along the white cliffs which some brave climbers were ascending, we then took the ferry across from
Thornton Street jetty to Eagle Street pier. It was a very pleasant stroll around the City Botanic Garden –
such a beautiful Victorian style park.
We stopped for lunch at the kiosk where they serve coffee shop style food with a difference – I enjoyed a
hot corned beef & sauerkraut toasted sandwich (complete with Russian Dressing). We then walked along
the riverpath and across the Goodwill Bridge to commence our journey back to the Gold Coast.
The December walk was a stroll around Ashmore Gardens which was followed on the 19th December by
our end of year luncheon at the Benowa Tavern.
NEXT WALK: Saturday 10th March, 2018.
TO: Coolangatta & Tweed Heads. Lunch at Tweed Heads Bowling Club.
MEET: at 9 a.m. Opposite Scarborough St entrance of Australia Fair.

Diane Newbould.
 -6-
Social Report:
Hope you all had a merry Christmas and are looking forward to a happy, healthy new year ahead.
The first bus trip of this year, will be on Friday 23rd February 2018, going to the stunning Scenic Rim. This
will take us through Nerang, Beaudesert and onto Mount Lindsay Highway. Here we will head south
through Rathdowney past magnificent mountain ranges and abundant dairy farms.
Lunch will be at Kyogle Bowls Club, which will consist of a lovely roast with veggies, desert and tea and
coffee after lunch we travel close to the base of the spectacular Border Ranges National Park , passing Uki
and on through the picturesque Tweed Valley.
Cost is $60
As there are only 7 seats available, you need to get in quickly and place your name on the list with your
deposit on the noticeboard in the Southport office. The ladies at the desk will take your deposit and receipt
it. Balance needs to be paid by Friday 9/2/2018.

Lyn Mayer

Dates for your Diary

Annual General Meeting
U3A GOLD COAST INC.

Thursday March 22, 2018.

10 am
Lawson St, Community Centre.

ALL CLASSES WILL BE CLOSED

From
THURSDAY 29TH MARCH
To
SUNDAY 15th APRIL.
Due to Easter and Commonwealth Games.

U.3.A. GOLD COAST INC.

SHOWCASE
Wednesday 9th May, 2018.