GEORGE NEWS - Over a year has passed since the local University of the Third Age (U3A) last met face to face at a general meeting.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted the lives of everybody but one thing it has taught us is the need to maintain the connection between family and friends. Sadly some friends have died while others have moved or, in some cases, are still stranded outside the country.
"So here we are, in 2021, about to get rolling again and the committee would like to connect with our existing members and welcome some new ones into the family," says U3A marketing person, Sue Rijsdijk.
U3A is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community - those in their ‘third age’ of life.
The local branch was started by Karen Marshall in 2003 and has grown, along with Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, to be the central gathering place for like-minded people in the Garden Route.
They meet on the last Wednesday and the middle Friday of every month for tea and a social chat before settling down to a lecture of interest by a local or visiting speaker. These have ranged in recent months from “Mastering the art of public speaking” to “Everything you ever wanted to know about pruning”.
Wide variety to choose from
During the rest of the month, there are a variety of events for members to choose from such as walking, writing, listening to various genres of music, discussing international affairs, enjoying armchair travel to exotic places, and learning about photography with the Digi Club. Members can also pit their skills at Scrabble.
Interested persons are invited to the next Friday meeting on 23 April where Prof Maureen Coetzee will discuss “Malaria - then and now” or the general meeting on Wednesday 28 April where Div de Villiers will be talking about “energy conservation” and living off the grid.
Both meetings will be at the Outeniqua Shell Hole of the Moth Hall in Rijk Tulbagh Street, Loerie Park, with tea at 10:00, while the talks start at 10:30.
Attendees must wear masks and maintain Covid-19 safety precautions. Guests are welcome to attend at an entry fee of R20.
The annual membership fees are R80 for a single member with e-mail service and R120 for a couple with e-mail service, thereafter members pay a R5 entrance fee per meeting.
For further information on U3A, contact Mike Holland on 082 418 8545 or mike.jill.holland@gmail.com, or Ciska Tempest on 082 444 4775 or ctempest@mweb.co.za.
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