A very Happy New Year to you. I won't go on about New Year's Resolutions because we all know they are a very transient stage in the passage of time. Instead, I'll just say that I shall be updating our website seasonally from now on, at four updates per year. For the past year I've produced a monthly update in an attempt to convey to our members up-to-date interesting information and relevant reminders. Unfortunately, the numbers viewing this website have not increased at all in the first week of each month, something I'd hoped a monthly update would cause. In fact, we barely achieve 10% of our total membership number viewing this site weekly. When you add in that some of those viewers are not members, it means even fewer of our current members are accessing the site. We do gain new members who have been attracted by the website and, of course, it is viewed by other U3As far and wide. The site will therefore continue in the knowledge that it provides a service in attracting new members, if not a service to many existing members. Even those without a computer could view it in a Library.

I'd like to remind you about our Talks this Spring Term, itemised on page 3 of our Spring Newsletter which you will have received already by e-mail and, if you responded to our Application Form poll to say you wanted a printed copy, that is on its way if you've not yet received it. Our first Talk is on Friday 13 January when Charlie North Lewis, General Manager of the Tivoli Theatre, will talk about that jewel in Wimborne's crown. It promises to be a very interesting morning. I'm giving the following Talk on Friday 17 February, about the forthcoming Digital Television Switchover in March and April. Everyone who has a television and who doesn't rely on satellite or cable will be affected by this. Thanks to a grant from Digital Outreach, entry is free and there's even a free cup of tea/coffee for each attendee! U3A members are advised to reserve a seat by using the usual e-mail contact address since the Talk will be open to the general public, as usual. In case you see a reference to such a Talk from Ferndown or Bournemouth U3As, it's the same Talk as I'm providing it to them as well. The final Talk is on Friday 9 March when Maggie Crowe will be talking about the Macmillan Organisation which has helped and continues to help so many people. All the Talks are at 10.00 am for 10.30 am, at the Wesley Hall of Wimborne Methodist Church in King Street. They usually finish between 11.30 and noon.

I've received an offer to provide a course in some advanced areas of computing, like Networking, Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi), Cloud Computing, Open Source applications (free software available from the internet), Operating Systems (there's more than just Windows) and Maintenance and Security. The offer comes from a previous Lecturer in Information Systems at Bournemouth University. If you think you would be interested please let me know, either by phone or e-mail, and I'll add your name to the list. I should think the course could be tailored to suit the specific interests of the members participating. An Autumn 2012 start is currently envisaged.

Kindest regards,

Colin Moore