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**PRESIDENT'S REPORT ** Welcome to 2013! The previous year has seen great changes for our members. The extensive range of courses and the members' response to them has been very encouraging for the Committee.

The Committee also underwent changes both in structure and direction. This has resulted in a lot of exciting and creative courses already on the agenda for 2013, with travel and technology playing a large part. Our regular and continuing courses are the core of our U3A. To those leaders who just keep on keeping on, we thank you on behalf of all our members. Then there was the major change with the opening of our 'home' at Tura Beach. It was a major undertaking, and one that had been discussed for many years. We are still developing our management skills and there have been some minor problems, but we are addressing these as they occur. Financially it looks like we should be able to continue. This will be revisited later this year. My thanks to all involved, it was a mammoth task.

Please read your newsletter right through and mark relevant dates on your calendar. Respond early to book your course or place your name on a waiting list. Too often I hear members say "I didn't know that was on". The other alternative is to go to our website, (address at top of page), and check out the newsletter, photos and other issues. It really is an excellent source of information.

Mandeni is on again this year, in Seniors Week. As we use this as our social event for the year, we invite all members to come along. Information on this and all other events are in this newsletter. We will also be having a second activity for 'Seniors Week'. It will be in the form of an 'Expo' and will be held in the Sapphire Room at the Bowling Club. This will be an opportunity to 'try' various activities and obtain information on all aspects of 'Healthy Living'. We hope to see you there.

As this will be my last term I would like to thank the membership for being so open and receptive to the many changes that have occurred over the last three years. Liz Sweaney, who stepped in as Vice-President while I was absent, has been a treasure and a mountain of support, not only to me but the whole Committee. Thank you Liz. To the other committee members and their support teams, thank you for the amount of time and selfless energy you put into your role. I also would like to single out Lynne MacMillan who has been instrumental in the adventurous French tours, her cooking classes, her food at events and her time on Committee. Lynne is an inspiration, thank you.

I encourage members who think they could give of their time to be part of the Committee, to please nominate yourself or others. We have over 400 members, but we cannot function without a full and effective Committee. Please give it some serious thought.

Thank you everyone for allowing me to be part of your lives. HOPE: //"Hope is what sustains humanity".// ** Note these dates in your diary: ** 23rd January - Registration Day - Page 4 25th January - Course Leaders Session - Page 3 6th March - AGM (Annual General Meeting) Page 3 17th March - Mandeni Event - Page 4 22nd March - Expo - Page 4 Page1