John Bercow will talk about: "The Role and Responsibilities of the Speaker of the House of Commons"

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1 MILL HILL NEWS FLASH Our Next Monthly Meeting: Thursday 15 th March 2018 (see below for venue) John Bercow will talk about: "The Role and Responsibilities of the Speaker of the House of Commons" PLEASE NOTE: This Meeting begins promptly at 1.45pm. when a Special General Meeting of MHU3A will precede the talk at 2.00pm. The Meeting takes place in The Levy Hall, Mill Hill United Synagogue and is a ticket-only event. DOORS OPEN AT 1.00 PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY PARKING IS V. LIMITED PLEASE CAR-SHARE! DON T FORGET TO BRING YOUR TICKET & MEMBERSHIP CARD!! Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 30, March 2018 Page no. 1

2 FORTHCOMING MONTHLY MEETINGS (1.20 pm for 2.00 at Hartley Hall) Date Speaker Title Info Apr. 19 th 2018 Sandra Simmonds A Day in Iran as a Housewife This is the second talk that she regularly gives to U3A Groups. Her first talk was excellent and many members requested this second talk. May 17 th 2018 Amalia Michaels The Royal Society & the Royal Institution To be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society is possibly one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a scientist and discoveries made at the Royal Institution have been life-changing for our modern civilisation. June 21 st 2018 Vic Botterill Body Language Why are some people more likeable than others? What are the secrets to be found in a handshake? Why are some women more irresistible to men than others? Find out the answers in this fascinating talk. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 2

3 ATTENDING THE BERCOW TALK? Most of you should be aware that we are holding a Special General Meeting at this. In view of the large numbers attending, we have now re-scheduled the SGM to take place immediately after Mr. Bercow s talk. Please do everything you can to assist in the speedy processing of the large audience into seats in the Hall. Please also be aware that the consumption of personal food is not permitted in the Hall. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF MILL HILL U3A, 15 March 2018 In order to control numbers at what has turned out to be a very popular speaker event, we had to make it a ticket-only meeting. This had meant that only those present would have been able to vote by a show of hands on the Resolutions (see next page). HOWEVER, we have arranged for all other Members with to vote online; if you are not attending the SGM, you should have received an invitation to vote. Please take the opportunity to exercise your democratic right! Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 3

4 Dear Member of Mill Hill U3A, MILL HILL U3A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING Along with the 1,000 plus other U3As around the country, the affairs of our Mill Hill U3A are governed by the Third Age Trust (TAT), We abide by a Constitution, provided to us by TAT when we set up MHU3A. We are at liberty to make changes to this Constitution with permission of TAT and the changes must be agreed by the membership in a vote at a General Meeting. We are now proposing to make two small changes that require the membership s agreement: 1. A reduction in the size of the quorum necessary for conducting business at Annual (and Special) General Meetings; 2. The abolition of the class of Associate Member of Mill Hill U3A. These changes have been approved by TAT and need now to be agreed by the membership by passing Resolutions 1 & 2. Furthermore, the TAT has recently issued a revised single object clause that defines the basic ethos of the U3A movement. We need also to agree Resolution 3 to adopt this new clause. The Resolutions are set out below (with explanatory text). The short SGM will immediately precede the talk to be given by John Bercow. I know that many of you have bought tickets for this talk and so we are sure to achieve the ~160-member quorum (~20% of current membership) required. If Resolution 1 is passed, then future General Meetings will not require such a large attendance. On behalf of the Executive Committee I hope that, if you are attending the meeting on 15 March, you will vote to agree these Resolutions. Yours sincerely, R Driscoll, Secretary, MHU3A. Secretary, MHU3A. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 4

5 AGENDA: NOTICE OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF MILL HILL U3A to be held on THURSDAY 15TH MARCH 2018 at 1.45 pm. in THE LEVY HALL of MILL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE, STATION ROAD, NW7 2JU Voting by a show of hands to agree the following Resolutions: RESOLUTION 1 The current constitution of Mill Hill U3A states: 16. NOTICES, COMMUNICATIONS AND PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS (iv) There shall be a quorum when at least 20% of the number of members of The U3A are present at any General Meeting. We agree to change the wording to: 16. NOTICES, COMMUNICATIONS AND PROCEDURE AT GENERAL MEETINGS (iv) There shall be a quorum when at least 10% of the number of members of The U3A are present at any General Meeting. Discussion: With a membership of ~830 (and growing) our meetings frequently do not have 20% attendance. Therefore, we recommend that MHU3A falls in line with the Third Age Trust (TAT) and only requires a 10% attendance to be quorate. RESOLUTION 2 We agree to abolish the class of Associate Member and with it the slightly reduced subscription fee. We would, therefore, for ALL members of MHU3A, pay the Capitation Fee to the TAT, thus ensuring that ALL member have the blanket insurance cover provided by TAT for our activities. Discussion: Like many other U3As, we find it difficult to verify that members requesting Associate Membership are full members of another U3A. If they are not and take part in our U3A activities, ALL participants in that activity are NOT covered by the blanket insurance. This represents a significant risk to members and especially Group Leaders and the Executive Committee. For this reason, we recommend adoption of the practice of other U3As to require all members to be full members. While the decision to abolish the class of AM does not itself require membership approval, any adjustment of the subscription does. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 5

6 NOTICE OF A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF MILL HILL U3A RESOLUTION 3 to be held on THURSDAY 15TH MARCH 2018 at 1.45 pm. in THE LEVY HALL of MILL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE, STATION ROAD, NW7 2JU We agree to adopt the new single object clause defining the ethos of the Third Age Movement as: The advancement of education and the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development. QUESTIONS Any member who wishes to raise a question about any these Resolutions must present it BY (in the subject line please write: SGM Question ) no later than: TUESDAY 13 TH MARCH address: rdmhu3a@outlook.com Valid questions will then be read out, with the Executive Committee s response, ahead of the vote at the SGM FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT ATTENDING THE MARCH MONTHLY MEETING It has been pointed out to us that those unable to attend the March meeting would have been deprived of a vote. However, we have installed an online voting system and those of you not attending who have should have received an invitation to vote on our website. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 6

7 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2018 If you are having trouble with membership renewal, there is comprehensive help and advice on our website. Click on this link: Link to web renewal page Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 7

8 NEWS FROM THE INTEREST GROUPS NEW BRIDGE GROUP starting Wednesday 14th March pm in the cafe at Virgin Active, Mill Hill East Buses 382, 240 and 221 stop close by All levels welcome. No need to book. Cost: 1.00 a week towards the purchase of equipment Group leaders: Eleanor Bard and Jenny Pizer RECORDER GROUP? Linda wants like-minded people to set up a Recorder Group. Any level welcome we ll see if we need instruction when we first meet Contact Linda on lmfrielich@gmail.com Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 8

9 NEWS FROM THE INTEREST GROUPS JAZZ GROUP NOT TO BE MISSED Gerald Trevor will present: THE MUSIC OF LONNIE DONEGAN THURSDAY 12 TH APRIL 2018 IN THE GREEN ROOM AT HARTLEY HALL, FLOWER LANE NW7 2JA DOORS OPEN: 1.30PM START: 1.45PM FINISH: 3.30PM The usual price of 2.50 is payable at the door. Please bring your membership card. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 9

10 YOUR OUTING for Monday 21 st MAY 2018 HAMPTON COURT and the ISABELLA PLANTATION. Cost, which includes a Coach from Mill Hill, approx (minimum number required 40) We have to book and pay for this in advance, so are using booking this time as well as the usual booking in Room 3, Hartley Hall, on Thursday 19 th April between 1.00 and 1.50 only. Book now by - outingsmhu3a@gmail.com Please supply (i) Outing Name (ii) Your Name/s & Mem No/s (iii) Phone Number (iv) No of Tickets (max 2). Payment details will be provided on receipt of your . Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 10

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12 MILL HILL U3A TRAVEL GROUP THE QUINTESSENTIAL SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SPRING 2019 JUST IMAGINE standing on the shore at John `o` Groats, looking north out over the wild and tempestuous waters of the Pentland Firth, and seeing the Orkney Isles on the horizon. IMAGINE following the north-shore coastal road, which skirts the line of Loch Broom, and seeing the beautiful town of Ullapool nestling further up the Loch. IMAGINE driving through Strathspey towards whisky territory, visiting a world class distillery, and sampling a "wee dram" of the their finest malts IMAGINE driving beneath the tallest of Scotland`s munroes (over 3000 feet high) feeling humbled and dwarfed by the sheer natural beauty of it all IMAGINE being there! WELL, you no longer have to imagine it. You can now go there with the MHU3A Travel Group which is offering a rather exclusive, 5 day guided tour of the famous "NC500" route, recognised as one of the World s finest drives. There are only 16 places on the small coach which is solely for our group. These will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour starts and ends in Inverness ( EasyJet from Luton) and includes a luxury coach with driver/guide, overnight accommodation (including breakfast) in hospitable Scottish hotels and guest-houses. Meals, entrance fees, refreshments and travel costs to Inverness are not included. IF YOU WISH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP, PLEASE CONTACT OUR NEW TRAVEL TEAM MEMBER, ADRIAN, AT travelmhu3a@gmail.com WRITING SCOTLAND AS THE SUBJECT HEADER. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 12

13 MILL HILL U3A TRAVEL GROUP THE QUINTESSENTIAL SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, SPRING 2019 Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 13

14 MILL HILL U3A TRAVEL GROUP LAKE GARDA, VENICE & VERONA AND THE 2020 OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY THE PASSION PLAY Oberammergau, Lake Garda, Venice, Verona & Innsbruck 2 nights half board accommodation in Oberammergau Category 2 Passion Play ticket (upgrade to Category 1 for 29) 5 nights half board accommodation in Italy Full programme of included excursions Return scheduled flights from London (regional flights available on request) Professional tour manager Executive coach NOW BOOKING VIEWS OF VENICE Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 14

15 VERONA OPERA HOUSE LAKE GARDA LAKESIDE CAFE VENICE CANAL BRIDGE A PAINTED HOUSE IN OBERAM- MERGAU ST FRANCIS IN VERONA ST PETER & ST PAUL OBERAMMERGAU Visit Tailored Travel s web-site to see details of this holiday in Please travelmhu3a@gmail for more details. Or see us at the Monthly Meeting, Room 3, 1.00 til 1.50 pm. Mill Hill U3A News Flash No. 21, March 2018 Page no. 15

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