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Groups still at the planning stage
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Members seeking support for new interest groups covering subjects not already
listed here are invited to submit an outline of their ideas to the website editor, who will include them here.
(Please note that suggestions can only be accepted by email and must include all the standard contact details below.)
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 Introduction to Internet use
Several members have got on-line for the first time over the last few months through pilot sessions aimed at demystifying the internet for people who had never used a computer before so we hope we can build on that start.
We aren't planning a series of lectures but this Group could provide an opportunity to share experience, learning from others to help you to cut living costs by an average of £500 pa, to develop hobbies, to expand social frontiers and exercise your mind.
You won't need your own computer as free internet access is available at all public libraries, paid-for in part by your own council tax, with staff available to help when you want.
But librarians don't have the time to give hours of one-to-one support to start you from scratch - which is where Mansfield U3A could help.
Some of the topics this Group might like to discuss include:
- What is the internet? (The Word Wide Web and emails are just some aspects.)
- How to create your own email address.
- How can it help you? (Save money and time buying products and services on-line at big discounts relative to shop prices, develop hobbies by exploring reference sources, join on-line groups to play chess, bridge and other games, store and share photographs with friends and family … )
- Basic terminology in simple terms.
- Web sites and how search engines help you find what you want.
- Browsing web sites and pages. (How to open them and find them again quickly.)
- (Hyper)-links. (How pages and sites connect and how they make it easy to find what you want.)
- On-line ordering. (Price comparisons, legal protection, how to place secure orders using your credit card and how to get confirmation .)
- Hands-on: Using a mouse and keyboards and how to navigate around popular websites.
Where and when
The group has access to a modern community computer suite at Albert Street, Stanton Hill on the first Wednesday morning of every month by courtesy of long-time member Terry Whitehead who is also chairman of the Notts CC-backed New Opportunities for Stanton Hill (NOSH).
Costs
Room hire, including exclusive use of ten modern computers would cost £16 per 2-hour session. Thus a minimum of six participants contributing £3 per session is the minimum for this to be viable.
(Five of the computers are also available to us free of charge every Wednesday afternoon from 1 - 3 but these are during public drop-in sessions when mentoring is difficult because we wouldn't want to distract other users - nor to be distracted.)
Leadership/co-ordination
The group will need a team of volunteers to mentor members on a maximum of a one-to-two basis so that everyone can learn at their own pace, exploring particular topics of interest.
Group Leaders and/or a bookings secretary will also be needed to ensure that sessions are not overcrowded and that enough mentors are always available.
(I will do what I can to help from time to time but I could not commit to a regular role, even if anyone wanted me to!)
David Ling
 Elaine Richardson and Eileen Wass learning happily!
Phone: 822994
email: mansfieldu3a@aol.com
Meeting venue: Stanton Hill Baptist Church, Albert Street
When: First Wednesday, 10.00 - 12.00.
Cost: £3 for room hire, with a minimum of 6 participants; £2 for 8 or more; per session.
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 Digital World
Several members own digital cameras ranging from camera-phones, compacts and super-zoom point-and-shoots up to semi-professional DSLRs and want to improve their skills. So this new group is at the preliminary planning stage while we visit similar groups at other local U3As. to learn from them.Some U3As have groups that concentrate on use of the camera - IE discussion of available settings and how they help. Others offer help to improve and manipulate image files with open-source (free!) software and commercial ones aimed at hobby and professional users.Please let me know if you would like to become involved, either as a learner and/or as a helper if you have any experience in this field.
You would be very welcome to join me at Burton Joyce U3A's established digital photography group on the first and third Wednesday of each month (2 - 4) but space there is limited to I would need to check with their Group Leader that he could cope with another guest.
Thanks!
Contact: David Ling
Phone: 822994
email: mansfieldu3a@aol.com
Meeting venue: Sill seeking somewhere suitable.
When: Dates still to be discussed.
 Sunday Lunchers
SEVERAL OF US have felt at a bit of a loose end on some Sundays so we've decided to become Sunday lunchers, meeting on the fourth Sunday of every month for a meal and chatter. Our first lunch at the Andwhynot? in Leeming St. Mansfield on 25th April was a great success with good company enjoying an excellent and economical menu so please let me know if you'd like to join us. Or just come along as there's plenty of room,.
Contact: Jessie Best
Phone: 628671
email:Contact Us
Meeting venue: Andwhynot?, Leeming St, Mansfield
When: Fourth Sundays, 12.30
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