4pm Thursday 22 nd May on zoom
MINUTES
Attendance:
U3a Representative Other attendees Apologies
Ashford, Wye and District
Bearsted and district Graham Gibson
Borough Green Janet Lewis
Canterbury Robin Terry
Cranbrook
Dartford Margaret Trueman
East Medway
Edenbridge
Faversham
Goudhurst and District Ian Agnew
Gravesend
Hawkhurst
Isle of Sheppey
Kings Hill and District Melanie Blewer
Knole Debbie Magness
Maidstone Mary Rix
Maidstone Invicta Carol Gupwell
Malling District
Medway Kevin Booth Will lend banner
Meopham Mike Chantry, in favour
of the £30 fee.
Orpington
Paddock Wood Fred Lemont
Pembury
Saxon Shore
Sevenoaks Doreen Pascall Beryl Mansell
Sheppey and District
Swanley and District John Baker
Tenterden John Russell
Thanet Margaret (Meg) Harvey
Tonbridge Lionel Sheilds
Tunbridge Wells
Westerham Tony Pearson
White Cliffs Country Mary Venables
Plus Committee Eleanor Brooks
Carole Dickenson
Frani Hoskins
Rob White
David Murray
Chrys Short
Angela Howe
Council Member Sally Ingledew
1 Welcome and apologies
Frani Hoskins welcomed all to the meeting including Sally Ingledew. Sally is
interested in attended as many network meetings as she can.
2 The minutes of the last AGM were agreed.
3 The Kent County Show
Rob White reported that our major event this year is the stand on 4-6 th July at the
Kent County Show. Eleanor gave details and members offered to loan equipment.
4 Chair’s report.
It was presented by Frani, the vice chair in Chrys’s absence, and is attached to these
minutes.
5 Treasurer’s report.
David Murray presented the accounts, which had been circulated with the agenda.
6 The accounts were accepted unanimously.
7 Funding Proposal.
David explained the proposal, which had been sent out in advance. There was open
discussion and a chance to understand reasons for and against doing this.
2 against, 10 in favour: the proposal was carried.
Sally said she would raise the matter of grants no longer being available for internal
training for networks as a council member. Whilst this will probably not help us this
year, we are very grateful to Sally for making our needs known for future TAT
decisions.
U3a’s will now be asked for an annual contribution, which will remain under review
and will be reduced to zero should our circumstances change and we find we do not
need it.
8 Elections
Appointments:
Chair Sue Edwards
Treasurer David Murray
Other appointments can be made by the committee and currently include:
PR Rob White
Beacon Mary Venables
Website Mary and Rob
Committee member Beryl Mansell
Also ex-officio are
Volunteers Carole Dickinson and John Russell
The appointments were agreed by the meeting.
Please note that we have had offers of vice-chair and secretary after the
meeting, to cover the posts until officers can be found. We will welcome more
offers of help during the year.
General questions and comments.
Debbie Magness from Knole u3a thanked the committee for the work they had done. This
was echoed by Trust Volunteer Carole Dickenson, particularly to those leaving the
committee.
Carole invited feedback on how to make the study day 2026 as accessible as possible.
Fred talked about how to share best practice in terms of producing a newsletter. This might
be something that we include in our next study day.
It would appear that some u3a’s do not understand what the network does. Do we want to
offer to visit u3a’s committees who do not participate to explain what is on offer?
Conclusion of the AGM
Chairs Report 2024-2025
This year has seen a lot of change for U3a at national level and l think we are all waiting to see what
positive impact this has on our U3as in Kent. Our regional trustee Susie Berry died just after the
national AGM and her presence is missed. Sally Ingledrew is now council member for the Southeast
Region and is keen to attend as many network meetings as she can and also to visit individual U3as.
This is my last report to you as my term of office as chair is now complete. I have hugely enjoyed my
time as chair and working with a great group of people as part of your committee. I thank each and
every one for their support and hard work and will miss you all.
During the year we set up a whats app group for chairs and vice chairs which has proved successful
in providing a forum for exchange of views and information - we also have our own website that
receives a reasonable number of hits.
The committee took the decision to not hold a study day but to focus energy on having a stand at
the Kent County Show 4 th – 6 th July 2025. A project group has been working hard over the last few
months to make sure everything is in place, and we have received help from a number of volunteers
from various u3a in Kent who have not only helped with the planning but will be present on the stall.
This is a fantastic opportunity for us to raise awareness of u3a and l hope you will all support by
visiting the stall.
We received a grant from national office without which it would not have been possible. On the
subject of Grants - unfortunately National Office changed the rules and so we were no longer eligible
to receive a grant to support our annual study day. We are continuing to lobby hard to have this
grant reinstated but without it we are starting to run out of money, and you will have seen the
proposal attached to the agenda about how we can deal with in the short term. Our treasure will
reflect this situation in his report on the Accounts.
So finally – l wish the new committee all the best for the future, my home is now in Wales and l look
forward to being part of the Swansea u3a and Wales Network