Issue 33
June 2009
Being a National Coordinator
The editor has asked me to write about my role as Textile Crafts coordinator for the U3A, which I took on two years ago.
I started by writing to all the Textile Group Leaders to introduce myself, saying that I was a retired teacher – though not of textiles, which was an interest I developed after retirement, subsequently taking the City & Guilds Embroidery course. I asked the leaders for feedback and a pooling of information and also, very importantly, to tell me who they were, how their groups were organised and what they did.
Once I had these contacts I started writing newsletters which were sent via U3A National Office (N.O.)
My first letter was really a Start Up leaflet for new leaders. I wrote about what had worked well for me – and what had not! I gave advice about basics such as the necessity for good light and space in the venue and touched on finances, meeting rooms, timing and publicity.
All this started a response from the leaders who told me about their groups and work. It was very interesting to be in contact with them, to receive their letters and photos; I was impressed by their enthusiasm. Luckily, we had the Ridings event in my first year and I was able to meet the Yorkshire group leaders.
Altogether, I am in contact with 93 textile groups of which one is in Scotland and six in Wales, which means there are approximately a thousand U3A members indulging in some form of textile work. About half the groups concentrate on patchwork and quilting while the rest have mixed projects. Some do work for the community or for charitable causes such as making quilts for babies in prison or for children’s wards.
In my newsletters, I pass on news of groups’ activities, prize winning successes and books and products which members recommend.
Usually I include a simple idea or a project which can be taken on by a group or I introduce ways of making or using fabrics and write about various techniques. I also have a “Textile Tip” thanks to a retired textile lecturer who contacted me after reading his U3A News.
I am sometimes asked for advice and do my best though , being fallible, I certainly do not have all the answers. These are some of the more difficult requests I’ve had:
“Are there any free textile courses at colleges near my home?” this from a young man in the Midlands.
“Which mills in your area supply cheap wool?”
“Can you get U3A News to print the photo of our work larger?”
“Are groups female or can men join?”
Is there a downside to being the textile crafts coordinator?
Yes – the time to write Newsletters comes round too fast.
Yes – when N.O. lost my Christmas Newsletter and sent it out in March with instructions for making Christmas cards.
Yes – when N.O. wanted a run down of groups by regions, using titles such as Mercia and Wessex and I had to resort to my atlas.
But, on the whole I enjoy it – most of the time!
Julie Clark