Ian Funnell, International representative for the UK Third Age Trust.
Name and location of my U3A: Fetcham U3A started in 2002. I was on the founding committee and chairman for three years. Fetcham is 30km South-West of London; about 45 minutes by train. The North Downs start about 700 metres from St Mary's church hall where we hold our monthly meeting.

How many members? We had 534 members in July 2010 and our annual membership subscription is £12. There are seven other U3As within 10km and they are all of a similar size to us.

Range of activities: We have about eighty interest groups and they range alphabetically from Alpine Gardening to World Civilisations. Half our groups currently have vacancies so new members have plenty of choice. We have an excellent social programme with a Quiz Night, a themed dance, a Summer Social and a Christmas Party each year. The photo shows a talk by Black Rod, a Christmas Party, our Japanese visitors and quilts produced for a local charity.

What I like best about my U3A: We keep looking for new opportunities and have a small team on the committee developing new interest groups; our latest outdoor activity is croquet . Last year we hosted a visit from seven Japanese who were interested in starting U3As in the Tokyo area. We enjoyed their explanations and demonstrations of their own culture and four members made a return visit. We participate in activities organised by the Surrey Network of U3As including study days at the Menuhin Concert Hall.

My personal message: I have enjoyed all the many opportunities offered by U3A, including lectures at the Royal Institution, projects at the National Maritime Museum and the Imperial War Museum and attending national and international conferences, most recently at Chitrakoot, India. Make the most of your own opportunities. http://www.fetchamu3a.org.uk/

Keith Richards - London North - UK
I'm the previous Chairman of the Third Age Trust, which is the coordinating body for UK's Universities of the Third Age. Our North London U3A was founded just over ten years ago -and formally opened by Jean Thompson!. The original six group format has now expanded to sixty and we meet all over north London (from Barnet in the north to Cricklewood in the south) in members' homes, church halls, synagogues and community centres.

Once a month there is a general meeting, usually with an outside speaker who is unpaid. It might be an idea to give a more detailed description of the two groups I attend: (found in a separate file here).

The greatest pleasure is hearing people say 'I never thought I would 'teach', isn't it wonderful?' The belief that every member can be the occasion of a new interest group is the mark of U3A. Everyone's experiential learning is excitingly valid and our curriculum is infinite.

Greetings from Central Siberia. Here is Elene Bukreeva, I am coordinator
of Zelenogorsk U3A.

1.Name and location: Open People's University, 140km.from Krasnoyarsk.

2.How many members? - approx 150

3. Range of Activities : astronomy, sports, Arts culture, roles and images, drawing, bases of crafts, knitting and scrap's mosaik, healthy way of life which includes healthy food, the art of cooking, psychology of elderly person, International Education projects, computers, english, law and the basis of law, plant- growing.

4. What I like best about my university- our members have the opportunity to show themselves and their works to other people in different cities.

5. My personal message- Our U3a is a great company, who wait your messages. top

My name is Marie-Paule Hewitt-Banville.
I belong to UTA Sherbrooke, Qé. Canada. Our UTA is French speaking and the campus is strech on 26 campuses in Québec. We have around 8,000 members from city and rural area.

We have three types of activities: classes, workshops, arts and gymnastic. Each campus has an association that is the master of its program.

I belong to UTA since 1990 and have been involved in the programming, the association and all kind of committees to help the UTA run.

I follow many classes; from History, to theology, we also develop seminars on the new generation of seniors, we prepare facts sheets to help people to reflect on the advance of age.

We also develop a "Think tank" to help us in our own volunteer works outside UTA. As you can see UTA is a very important part in my life. It is a big help in getting together all the knowledge gathered during a life time.

The UTA help us being a better involved citizen. We are thinking of building bridges with others generations and we have many encounters with the regular students on our campus.

I am Christopher Macartney-Filgate. President of U3A Northern Rivers (Lismore)
1. Where? Lismore is 800 kms north of Sydney, 200 kms south of Brisbane

2. How many members? 600

3. Range of Activities 32 classes a week: Latin, Computer studies, Science, Science Discussions, Italian (beginners, intermediary, conversational,) French, Geology, Fabric Art, Great Painters, Understanding
your car, Australian History, Psychology, Islam, Music (appreciation and performing), Writing, Boules, Tennis, Recorder, Discussion Forum, Investment, Photography, Reading aloud, Alternative medicine, Travel.

4. What I like best about my U3A. It is more academic than most, but a
wonderful social mix. Two thirds women, one third men.

5. My personal message. Our U3A is a great company of friends, who love
meeting, and care a lot about one another.

Aina Crawford, Secretary, writes.....

1. Hume U3A - the City of Hume covers a large area in the north of Melbourne, Australia

2. Approximately 250 and growing

3. We have around 30 courses - Exercise groups, Computers, Wood Turning, Art, Games (Scrabble, Mah Jong, Bridge) Craft, Languages etc.

4. Hume U3A members are a very friendly lot and the Committee are forward thinking - looking to the future of U3A, accepting members a little younger than 55 to attract baby boomers etc.

5. U3A is a wonderful concept which gives people a great way to spend their time, making lots of friends and occupying their time. This leads to improved health and wellbeing.

Stan Miller - Evesham U3A - UK

1.Name and location of my U3A: Evesham is a market town situated in the South Midlands near Stratford on Avon and close to the Cotswolds, an area known for its pretty villages and splendid countryside. The Vale of Evesham is famous for its produce: plums, apples and many vegetables.

2. How many members? Evesham and District U3A is not yet 4 years old but has already nearly 400 members.

3. Range of activities. Each month there is a general meeting, with a speaker, held in the Public Hall in the centre of the town - the attendance is normally about 100+ and tea and coffee are served at the end of the session. In addition, over 40 different interest groups meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly in various locations including members' homes. Almost all of these groups is led by a U3A member who may or may not be an expert in the particular subject or activity but who organises the group on behalf of its members. Among the groups are Aspects of Modern History; Bookworms; Bridge for Fun; Country Dancing; Family History; German Conversation; History; Listening to Music; Maths for Fun; Painting Together; Scrabble; Villages Strolls and other Walking Groups. During the year there are also regular outings to London and to other places of interest.

4. What I like about my U3A. U3A provides a practical and social way of making sure that we use our brains and don't lose them as we grow older and stop being involved in busy working lives. For older people new in an area it also provides an excellent way into a new community and an opportunity to make new friends.

David Stove - I chair Pegasus U3A which serves the eastern, coastal suburbs of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The club is only about three years old and has about 200 members.

We hold monthly meetings with an invited speakers and also run seminars lasting about four days spread over a month twice a year on topics as varied as Genetic Engineering/Modification, The History of Jazz or Energy resources. The Monthly meetings are held in a Community Centre Hall while the seminars are held in the conference facilities of a local hotel. In addition we have several sub groups which meet independantly as special interest groups with areas such as music, art, geology, mah jong, film History/geography, Antiques & Collectables and Cooking for men.

U3A Asociacion International COSTA DEL SOL - FUENGIROLA 30 km. from Malaga ( Andalucia -Spain) My name is Carmella Dight. I am the founder and President of this branch since 1998.

2. There are 280 members from 27 different nationalities . The common language is English. Annual fee 24 Euro p.a.

3. We offer 30 + courses, ranging from Art, Music, Drama, History, Politics, Mind, Body, Sprit, Games/Leisure, Languages, Geology, Philosophy, Current Affairs; We have 6 "Monthly Lectures" mainly by outside speakers on general topics. Most of the lectures are illustrated with slides. Because of our transient population many course are of 8 - 12 weeks duration . Some are even shorter. We offer 3 to 4 trips a year in Spain. One trip is normally of 2 to 3 nights away. We feel that because many of our members are alone (widows/ers, divorcees, never been married etc.) travelling with like minded people enables them to see some places of interest and share the experience. Last year we ventured out of Spain - 2 groups travelled to Russia: 10 people who studied Russian literature travelled to Moscow, Tula Pskov and St. Petersburg on a literary tour (in search of the Russian soul) the other group consisting of 40 people visited Moscow and then sailed up the river Volga to St. Petersburg.

Our geology course group-leader takes his members on local sites to reinforce his theoretical material.

4. Sharing interests, intellectual stimulation and meeting people from diverse nationalities.

5. Exchange and visits of U3A members throughout the world. A kind of fraternity.

Name and location:John Pullin of Ilkley & District U3A, West Yorkshire.

1. Annual fee £9.00 and £9.00 per subject.

2. How many members? - approx 400

3. Range of Activities- 40+ different courses including - Bird watching, bridge courses, cosmology, scrabble, travel groups, environmental studies, circle dancing, debating/discussion groups, gardening, history, Languages - French & Spanish. studying literature, lunch groups, music - classic & jazz, theatre and opera, painting, philosophy, poetry and reading groups, religious issues, singing, understanding science, table tennis, tai chi, walking (to the pub), writing life stories.

4. What I like best about my U3A - the breadth of activities and the intellectual stimulation.

5. My personal message - Can we ever create a common link through this mess of potage?

Our names are Jean and Ron Westrup from U3A Brunswick Valley Inc. which is in New South Wales, Australia. It is approx. 15k from Cape Byron the most easterly point in Australia. The principal towns in our area are Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores and Mullumbimby. We are approximately an hours drive away from three other U3A clubs one each to our north, west and south.

2.. We have approximately 120 members

3.. Despite our small membership we have managed to cover a wide range of interests - languages (French, German and Japanese), social history, Australian history, philosophy, comparative religion, yoga, tai-chi, drawing and painting, clay modelling, china painting, music appreciation, keyboard, book discussion, play reading, film appreciation, genealogy, needlework and beadcraft, wine and cheese appreciation, a monthly restaurant assessment (luncheon), mah jong, solo, scrabble, writing for posterity, laughter for health, tennis, croquet and boules. But by far and away the most popular activity that we have, and which has been run ever since our club was formed is our "Speaker's Forum" which is presented three times a month and has been on the go ever since our club was formed in 1999. This attracts approximately two thirds of our membership each meeting, whereas other classes may only contain six members and perhaps only last a short time.

4.. We like the opportunity to meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests.

5.. We'd like to think that more people in Australia could be encouraged to take a wider interest in worldwide cooperation It is a big country a long way from Europe and North/South America making personal visits expensive and time consuming both within Australia and internationally. We think the internet offers real opportunity to establish worldwide U3A cooperation and develop understanding and worthwhile activities among our U3As. We congratulate Jean and her group on this initiative.

Bonjour! Je suis MAITE Robert de UIA Versailles.

Notre universite inter-ages est nee en 1978 a Versailles.
Cree grace a une tres forte volonte politique elle a precede la creation de l'Universite de Versailles(Enseignement superieur). Nous sommes un service de la Ville ayant signe une convention avec Paris IV Sorbonne. Notre adresse: 6 impasse des gendarmes.

Nous avons 2500 etudiants; c'est donc une grande famille ou de nombreux liens sociaux se creent. Nous n'avons pas de site mais vous pouvez trouver le programme de nos activites en allant sur
le site de : Mairie de Versailles- Culture- Institutions culturelles-UIA-programme. Bonne lecture, cordialement.

Our 'Inter-Age University' began in 1978 in Versailles. It was created thanks to a strong policy decision and preceded the creation of the Higher Education Department of the University of Versailles. We are a locally run service and have signed an agreement with the Paris VI University of the Sorbonne.

We have 2,500 students, so it's a big family where many social links are developed. We haven't got a web site but you can find the programme of our activities by going to our local web site: Mairie de Versailles/Culture/Institutions culturelles/UIA-programme.

Hello to everyone - I am Maria Angeles Tortosa from Valencia in Spain. Here are your answers:

1) Where? Programa intergeneracional "La Nau Gran" para mayores de 55 anos de la Universidad de Valencia, en Valencia city.

2) When it started? in 1999 and How many members in 2005? 850

3) Activities: the Nau Gran Program has 7 different curricular itineraries: Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities, Art History, Geography and History, Health and Sciences. In each itinerati students take introductory courses and also elective and general courses that share with young students. Students have to earn between 900-1200 hours (3-4 years). There are also other complementary courses during February and June of specific subjects (cinema, astronomy, memory, arts, etc.) for Nau Gran students or other people who are not registrered to the itineraries, Health and Social Sciences cicle of conferences (entrance free) and excursions. There is more information of the Nau Gran Program at www.uv.es/%7Eviceext/indexc.html and you can find some pictures of our group here.

From Ian Sinclair, Blossomfield (Solihull) U3A.
I am a founder member, a past Chairman, and now the Education and Development Contact for the West Midlands (of England) with special responsibility for the Solihull Cluster of U3A's.
1. Blossomfield is named after a district in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull - Solihull lies between Birmingham & Coventry in the West Midlands of England, and has a population of nearly a quarter of a million people.
There are now 10 U3A's in the Solihull Cluster, and, in the past months, I have been very busy in the formation of a new U3A in Solihull, probably to be called Solihull Central (so far, we have over 130 on the enquirers list) . This means we will cater for nearly 1,400 U3A members within the Cluster area of Solihull.

2. Membership numbers Blossomfield was founded nearly 10 years ago & now has a membership of 115, which is determined by the capacity of our meeting place.
The practice within the Solihull Cluster is to keep our U3A's on a manageable human scale, which is primarily determined by the capacity of the meeting places. Thus, most of the U3A's within the Cluster are limited to about 100.

3. Activities. Blossomfield has a monthly core meeting, on the first Monday afternoon of the month. This is usually attended by between 80- 90% of the membership. It is made clear that members are expected to attend regularly, that such membership is a privilege, and members should try to attend unless they have a "good excuse".

In Solihull, we have a wide range of societies which are open to the general public, and so our U3A only seeks to provide activites where the needs are not met in the wider community.
In Blossomfield, we have Activity Groups, which usually meet at least once a month - examples are;- art appreciation, books, computers, current affairs, family history, French, garden visits, history, literature, Local Studies (2 groups), music appreciation, painting, rambling.

4. What I like. Blossomfield is a very varied, mixed, caring and interesting group of friends, where almost everyone does something constructive towards the running of the U3A, usually by leading meetings or groups, or being responsible for different activities. We share jobs around, with major offices changing usually every two years. We keep the numbers to a limit where it is possible to know every member personally, and we aim to include every member in a group and in an active capacity.

5. Personal message. I have been involved in U3A's ( Blossomfield & Dorridge) for some 14 or so years, and also I have enjoyed attending an Annual Conference & a Summer School, and also meetings with other EDC's. There are so many opportunities there for participation, especially as there is such a great cameraderie. My wife & I also lecture regularly on cruise ships and we are always delighted to find other interesting U3A members on those cruises. U3A certainly deserves to be one of the fastest growing groups for retired people in GB - long may such united individuality flourish.