Special General Meeting, 2 September 2026
The Executive Committee is proposing to move from our existing constitution (the u3a’s
2012 Constitution) to the 2021 version. The latter, in addition to other improvements,
reduces the quorum for our Annual General Meeting (AGM ) from 20% of total
membership to 10%. Both current and proposed constitutions are available to view on the
website under ‘Links’
As many of you will be aware, it has been difficult in recent years for the 20% figure to be
achieved without constant pressure on members from the Executive Committee in the run
up to our AGM in October. Adoption of the 2021 Constitution will remove such pressure.
However we still require 20% of the membership to attend the Special General Meeting on
2 September to enable us to adopt the 2021 constitution. Implementation is immediate and
the 10% quorum will apply for the AGM on 7 October, 2026.
The Special General Meeting will be held at the start of the Coffee Morning on 2
September and, since adopting the 2021 constitution is the sole item of business, should
be brief. We will then start our traditional ‘Pimms’ Meeting.
Please attend.
U3a Volunteering Opportunities
We wish to make appointments to two vacancies at the AGM on October 7th, 2026.
Coffee Morning Speaker Co-ordinator
Jenny Deville, our Coffee Morning Speaker Co-ordinator, is stepping down at the Annual General Meeting.
We shall soon be starting to put together the Programme of Speakers for 2027. The appointee will play a key role in this process and, when the programme is finalised, will liaise with speakers on all aspects of their presentation at our coffee morning. A full job description is available on the website.
Training will be provided before taking over the position and continuing advice and support will be available when in post.
Committee Member
We announced in January that Penny Ackland, our Newsletter Editor, was handing over the Editorship to Jerry Allen but would serve as a Committee Member until the A.G.M. We are looking for a replacement.
The Executive Committee meets six times a year. If you are interested in either job or would like to talk/have further information, please contact the Chair - Ray Proctor through the Committee page of the website.
November 2025
We are revising the 'Links' page on the site to provide members with better access to the policies and documents which determine the way in which Wirksworth and District u3a is run.
For a start we have provided links to the four policies which all u3as must adopt...Safeguarding, Equality/Diversity/Inclusion, Data Protection and Health and Safety Policy.
To learn more about these policies, the u3a at national level offer regular short (2 hours) Zoom Training Sessions on these themes. For further information, please contact Kay Mathur through the website
October 2025
The 2025 AGM was held on 1st October at The Maltings.
Lake District Holiday
Members of Wirksworth u3a had a great holiday in the Lake District in early October. There were 21 participants in total, mostly Wirksworth u3a members plus one or two friends. They stayed at the HF Holidays Derwentbank hotel near Keswick.
Some people took part in the guided walks which went to Whinlatter Forest, Borrowdale and Patterdale. Others did their own choice of walks or explored the local area by bus, visiting Buttermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. Nearby Keswick was also explored, with a few people finding their way to the pencil museum.
They also got together in the evenings, just missing out on the quiz victory! All in all a lovely short break, and a good way of getting to know other people.
Cheques payable to Wirksworth and district u3a. BACS payments should be paid to 30-98-97, Account Number 54329460