President Torrevieja U3A - AGM report 2025/26
Firstly can I say a big thank you to everyone for being part of the u3a Torrevieja association and making time to attending the various monthly meetings, coffee mornings, events and outings over this last 14 months and helping to maintain the ethos of the association. The committee has tried its best to continue to provide a variety of group activities, social activities and events and I hope you have felt the benefit of your subscription.
Through your support we have managed to maintain the yearly subscription at €7.50 for coming year. I like to think exceptional value for money.
I am extremely grateful to all those who have helped and supported me. To those who work unnoticed, not just the committee members, but everyone who has helped and assisted me, offered advice and help. Meet and Greet, Sound technician, Press and welfare officers, notice board arranger, raffle coordinator, books, First Aid, Data protection information and the list goes on. All these people need recognition. It’s your association and that’s how it should be. Your involvement helps its continued success and stability and enables us to meet our association objectives.
My personal thanks go to the members of the committee for this last year. The time and effort these members put in to creating association stability, reviewing policies and in some instances the use of personal financial assistance due to banking restrictions and charity statute changes and requirements has been amazing. I thank them all for their valued commitment and support. I would also at this point like to thank the partners of these committee members as without their patience and support a lot would not be achieved.
My chosen charity for this last year was slightly different and I was amazed it took so long to purchase, position and train personnel. Who would have thought that offering to buy a Defribulator and position it in the CMO building would take so long. As it transpires it did, and finally we got there with your financial help and support. We bought and positioned a Defribulator only to be told we could not position it and make it available to anyone using the CMO building. Due to health and safety restrictions we had to remove it. (Well done Torrevieja town hall). A difficult decision was made to offer the machine to the Stroke Association in Benijofar. At least it is now continuously available each and every session and they “The Stroke Association” are extremely grateful for our support.
Whilst the defribulator was the primary Presidents charity for this last year, we have been able to support and help many other charities within the area Helping Hands, Reach Out, Donaciones de Torrevieja, Help at Home, Finca de La Castellana, Movers and Shakers and San Jose children’s orphanage all of whom have benefitted from our monthly CMO collection and donations. The Bridge Group, Pilates and Line Dancing also made individual group donations. Long may we be able to support those less fortunate than ourselves.
Our new welfare secretary has continued to offer help and advice to members and in some instances non members and we have acquired various pieces of equipment for members to use during periods of lack of mobility and those with continuous health issues. I am pleased that we have been able to increase the help available to our members through our committed welfare secretary Ann.
We have once again sadly lost some of our members and loved ones throughout this last year and I hope that the association has been and still is of comfort to those that remain in the time that you need it most. To those that have left our shores for other countries, whether it be the U.K. or elsewhere, let’s hope that at some point they get the opportunity to pay us a return visit.
Our group activities have grown over the year with more now than ever before and also for the first time “pop up” groups. Small one off group activities, rather like a taster session. I hope you managed throughout the year to try one of the groups and even join one of the newer group activities. It is our intention to continue where possible to increase group activities for your enjoyment. The Groups Fair in January was very well attended and most group leaders felt it beneficial and successful.
As the year has progressed, so to has our understanding and need to continue to work with and move forward with technology. Our website is being continually updated and modernised and following the initial construction, I like to think we as a committee have begun to be in a position to make amendments and additional to the site ourselves without too much assistance from third parties. The downside to this and technology is that our meeting membership has reduced due to the ability to now pay on line for most events and membership. However, I believe that for many, this is the way forward.
I feel that the association is continuing to go from strength to strength and I would like to thank each and every member for continuing to support the association, helping it to help others and to continually develop and evolve. I feel that those who had the foresight to initiate the Torrevieja u3a and lay its path years ago, some of whom are still active with us today should feel pleased and proud.
In conclusion, I would like to add a reminder that the association relies on you as members to continue to develop and whilst the committee at this present moment is, I believe doing an extremely good job in continuing the association ethos and constitution. It does need fresh personnel, ideas and impetus to maintain its progression.
Thank you to everyone for being a Torrevieja U3A member, for your continued involvement, your input and your support.
Peter Shaw
President – Torrevieja U3A 2025 - 26