Special Interest Groups - More information
We have had a fantastic response for people to participate in and convene special interest groups, but we need more interest and more convenors.
Convenors
Just to clarify – a convenor does NOT have to be a subject expert. A convenor is an organiser, you get people together and everyone works out what the group is going to look like and do a brief reporting back each month for the newsletter. You may not know a lot about the subject, but want to know – which is great, you can learn along with your other group members.
Size of special interest study groups
Indoor groups will be limited by the size that will comfortably fit into peoples homes. Your group may decide to rotate where you meet, or always meet at one home, or somewhere else. Outdoor groups can be as big as you like.
We have set up a form below for you to update your interests or to fill in the form to show what you are interested in. Without a convenor, people will have to go on a waiting list – so please think about convening a group. Remember spaces will fill up quickly, so it’s a matter of first in.
Future Groups - Have a convenor, waiting to form a group - contact u3a at u3acambridge@gmail.com, if you are interested and we will put you in touch.
| Topic |
| Bridges of the World |
| Five Hundred Game |
| International Politics |
| Musical/Theatre |
| Social Bridge |
Groups with members but no Convenors - if you are interested in joining AND in particular if you are available to convene - please let us know at u3acambridge.gmail.com
| Topic | Members interested |
| Cycling | 5 |
| Te Reo | 5 |
| Philosophy 2 | 6 |
Groups with vacancies, if you are interested, email us at u3acambridge@gmail.com and we will put you in touch.
| Playing 500 | Op Shop Fashion | Mythology |
| Native Birds | Astronomy | Sketching |
| Harmony Singing | NZ History | Book Group 1 |
| Film 1 |
Groups that are full - but you can always set up another group, and there may be vacancies, let us know if you want to set up another one - or if you want to go on a waitlist. Email us at u3acambridge@gmail.com.
| Art History 1 (FULL) | Book Group 1 (FULL) | Current Affairs 1 (FULL) |
| Art History 2 (FULL) | Book Group 2 (FULL) | Current Affairs 2 (FULL) |
| Film Appreciation 1 (FULL) | Genealogy 1 (FULL) | Garden Ramble (FULL) |
| Film Appreciation 2 (FULL) | Genealogy 2 (FULL) | Memoir Writing (FULL) |
| Music 1 (FULL) | Philosophy 1 (FULL) | Recorder Playing (FULL) |
| Music 2 (FULL) | Walking Group (FULL) |
Remember, new groups can be formed at any time. Some of these will have to be defined more, which can be done when you get together (eg what kind of music, what kind of art?)
How do Special Interest Groups Work?
Special Interest Study Groups are for the participants to work together to learn about a shared interest or passion. They will all work differently, depending on what the participants want to do.
You choose:
- What will you study? (History in total or only one century of history?)
- When you meet? (Fortnightly, Monthly?)
- How long you will meet for? 6 weeks or ongoing until you are all sick of it! For example a Pottery group led by a skilled potter might be a 6 week course?
- How will you find out your information? Google? Ted Talks? Library? Books? DVD's? Online TV documentaries? University Library? specialist resources?
- How will you report back to the group? Each person have a little bit to do on a topic and report back each time, or a different person report each meeting?
There will be many other things that you will decide as a group. How many people, will it cost money (probably not, but a pottery course will for materials, use of a kiln).
The convenor (see article above) does not need to be a specialist in the topic, they are an organiser who gets everyone together to start with and may delegate to others to organise meetings, but reports back to the newsletter writer.
We are likely to have times when special interest groups do a 10 minute presentation to the general meeting about what you have learned - you may or may not want to do that.
And/or download the document prepared by the Tauranga U3A Club (thanks) on ideas for groups and descriptions of what they are about - below.
Also below is a summary from Browns Bay U3A that they use when they train people (we will be borrowing ideas from this resource for our training (thanks).