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FEBRUARY 2020
U3A MANAWATŪ NEWS
Dr. Sy Taffel then tackled the hot topic of fake news.
He examined recent scandals about fake news
distributed via social media. The Cambridge
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF U3A MANAWATŪ
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
As at the time of going to print,
we would like to welcome the
following new members:
Virginia and Neil Travers,
Terry Greatorex, Elizabeth Hill,
Bruce Thomson, Susan Corbett,
Marie O’Brien
Lots to do in 2020! See inside...
IN THIS ISSUE . . . . . . . . . . . Spring Seminar Series 2019 1
From the Chair 2 Civic Honour Award - Graham Slater 2
Queen’s Service Medal - Cushla Scrivens 2 Next Seminar Series 2 Around the groups 3-4
Two love poems by Lucy Marsden 4 U3A Manawatū contact details 4
MISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS
Chris Phillips
The 2019 Spring Seminar Series took place at
Crossroads Church on four Wednesday afternoons
commencing October 23rd. The series was
coordinated by committee member Stuart Birks, and
the theme ‘Misinformation and Fake News’ was a
highly topical one.
The series was opened by Professor Mohan Dutta.
He examined the role of power in cultivating
disinformation, and posited that disinformation was
a strategic communication tool serving the power
elite. He saw disinformation, often driven by hate, as
a threat to democracy. Digital disinformation was
driven by an entire industry of surveillance and
influence. He presented strategies for examining
disinformation and fighting back.
Slide from
Mohan
Dutta’s
seminar
Analytica scandal showed how this material could
be leveraged to influence elections, and the
traditional gatekeeping and fact checking function of
news media effectively bypassed. The production of
misinformation is not new however and predates
digital media. There is a history of propaganda being
disseminated.
In the third seminar, Dr. Cathy Strong examined
local government in New Zealand in regard to
public information. New Zealand may be one of the
most democratic countries in the world, but some
local governments play hide-and-seek with public
information, and ratepayers can be left in the dark.
She argued for a more consistent code-of-conduct
across the country to keep local government open
and transparent.
In a lively final seminar, Professor Frank Sligo
examined the rise of Donald Trump, and how his
brand of populism, which thrived on conflict, had
attracted disaffected and anxious voters. He
compared Trump’s Twitter approach, with the TV
medium used by John Kennedy, and the radio
medium of Roosevelt. The age of social media had
introduced radically new forms of political
communication, which served to feed the prejudices
of partisan interest groups.
Overall, this was a highly relevant and entertaining
series. Attendances averaged well over 100
throughout. Three of the speakers were from
Massey’s School of Communication, Journalism and
Marketing, and the other speaker, Dr. Sy Taffel, was
from Massey’s School of English and Media Studies.
2
FROM THE CHAIR
Graham Slater
Greetings for 2020. I hope
Christmas was an enjoyable
time for everyone. I am looking
forward to another interesting and busy year. It
seems like just last week we were welcoming the
new century. I am not sure where that time went.
I would like to acknowledge the passing of an early
champion of the U3A (as well as quite a good
runner), Sir Peter Snell, who recommended U3A as a
great way to combat the aging process with
continuing stimulation of the brain.
We begin the new year with 273 paid up members
distributed across 35 existing Learning Groups.
There will also be two new ones: a Plant-Based Pot
Luck Lunch group and Democracy and Populism.
We are always on the lookout for new groups and
ideas to expand our offerings. If you have ideas for
new Learning Groups or ideas for activities please
feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Not only is this 2020 and a new decade, but also the
year U3A Manawatū will celebrate 20 years of
existence. The plan is to celebrate the milestone with
a dinner and hopefully some other events to mark
the achievement. Carol Phillips is currently writing a
20-year history publication to mark the event.
Following the successful seminar series in 2019 we
are already working on the next series of seminars
for the autumn. Details will be available soon.
If you elected to receive this newsletter by mail, it will be in black and white. A colour copy can be
downloaded from our website at www.u3amanawatu.org.nz
CIVIC HONOUR AWARD
Graham
receiving
his award
from the
Mayor
QUEEN’S SERVICE MEDAL
Congratulations to one of our long-term members,
Cushla Scrivens, an avid historian who has been
honoured with a Queen’s Service Medal in 2020 for
“services to historical research and heritage
preservation”.
Cushla has contributed to the preservation of
Manawatū-Horowhenua’s heritage and history
largely through her work with Historic Places
Manawatū and Horowhenua. She was foundation
editor of The Manawatū Journal of History from 2004
to 2017 and has published various academic articles
and educational material on the subject.
Other community activities include co-organising the
Historic Places Aotearoa national conference in
Palmerston North, liaising with Council planning
staff on heritage policy issues, and organising field
trips. She developed the Manawatū-Horowhenua
Historic Places website and online record and
compiled its quarterly newsletter.
Cushla is currently involved in supervising the
creation of historical displays at Caccia Birch’s
associated Coach House Museum in Feilding.
Cushla Scrivens, QSM Extracted from a photo in the Manawatu Guardian, 9 Jan 2020
NEXT SEMINAR SERIES
The Autumn Seminar Series is currently being
planned for 4 consecutive Wednesdays in May/June.
The overall theme is ‘Unhealthy Societies’: What
makes our societies unhealthy? What can be done to
make them healthier? We are looking to cover a
range of social and environmental aspects. More
later.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2020 DUE NOW
See https://www.u3amanawatu.org.nz/join-us/
U3A Manawatū Chairperson, Graham Slater, was one of
five people to be presented with a Civic Honour Award
at a public ceremony at the City Convention Centre on
12th November. The awards are given for outstanding
volunteer service.
Graham has supported Centrepoint Theatre for over 40
years as sound and lighting expert and board member,
and more recently has been involved with Menzshed as
well as U3A. Congratulations Graham!
3
AROUND THE GROUPS...
2020 PROGRAMME
Chris Phillips
The 2020 Learning Group Programme is now
underway, and you should have received a printed
copy with your subscription form. The on-line
version of the programme is updated as changes
occur through the year and is always available on the
website.
There are 37 groups in total, including two new
groups. This is an all time high for the start of the
year. The new groups are: Democracy and Populism
which meets at 10 am on the 2nd Thursday of each
month. For further information, contact Stuart
Lawrence, phone 022 372 1792, [email protected].
Plant-based Pot-Luck Lunch which meets 12-2 pm on
the 4th Tuesday of each month. Contact Rosemary Krsinich
for further details, phone 326 9598, [email protected].
Two well established groups are to be discontinued
in 2020 – Creative Writing (Jill Gibson) and French
Films (Roger Parfitt). We owe a debt of gratitude to
both Jill and Roger for their hard work and
dedication over the years. Creative Writing was one of
the inaugural U3A groups set up in 2000!
Contributions to this quarterly newsletter are very welcome!
Please contact the Editor (Rosemary at 326 9598 or [email protected])
APPLE iPad GROUP
Mike Lawrence (Group Coordinator)
The Apple iPad group has had a steady and
enthusiastic membership since it was formed two
years ago, the first time U3A Manawatu has offered
a technology topic. The group gives an opportunity
for members to learn more about their iPad. It is
assumed they know the basics of using the device
but want it to be more useful in their everyday lives.
Topics covered have included access to many free
digital resources, including movies, newspapers and
magazines, from the public library; translating
languages; using the iPad while travelling and many
more.
Informal monthly meetings offer members the
opportunity to have their own problems solved and
to share new ideas and applications, with
demonstrations on a large screen TV.
Apple iPad group members at a recent meeting
POETRY FOR PLEASURE
Gloria Slater (Group Coordinator)
A poet is, before anything else, a person who is
passionately in love with language. W. H. Auden
While members of the Poetry for Pleasure group,
themselves, might not write poetry (though some
do), we would certainly describe ourselves along
with Auden, as ‘passionately in love with language’
with all its richness and diversity. Poetry, perhaps,
more than any other language form, epitomises such
language in its ‘purest’ form which can evoke, with
its sparseness of words, the whole range of human
experience and ideas. Oh, and yes, sometimes it
rhymes too! (cont. on Page 4)
CREATIVE WRITING
Jill Gibson
The Creative Writing group has been part of the U3A
fabric since its inception in Palmerston North 20
years ago. Rolf Panny and Fred Symes spent lengthy
times as coordinators and finally with a typical Fred
'sleight of hand' deal, the baton was passed to me
while I was away on holiday.
The position as Creative Writing Coordinator has
bought me so much pleasure. I have enjoyed the
challenge, met some great fellow writers, but now
it's time for change.
This leaves a great opportunity for someone to come
in and form a new Creative Writing group and put
their own stamp on it.
During my time I was continually surprised at how
so many professional people spend their life,
researching, report writing, etc. and then find it hard
to find a creative writing path. People have come
back to me and said, 'Thank you for unlocking my
creativity. I can now write about anything!' That
makes it all worthwhile.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FORMING A NEW CREATIVE
WRITING GROUP please contact Graham Slater at
4
U3A MANAWATŪ CONTACT DETAILS
Mail: PO Box 9076, Palmerston North 4441. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.u3amanawatu.org.nz
Committee
Chairperson: Graham Slater 353 0586 [email protected]
Secretary/Newsletter: Rosemary Krsinich 326 9598 [email protected]
Treasurer: Ron Paddock 357 5857 [email protected]
Membership (including changes to address/email): Larry Haist 280 4471 [email protected]
Learning Groups: Graham Slater 353 0586 [email protected], Chris Phillips 358 1991 [email protected]
Seminars: Stuart Birks 021 204 7903 [email protected]
Website: Chris Phillips 358 1991 [email protected], Rosemary Krsinich 326 9598 [email protected]
Social Events: Janet Black 356 6251 [email protected], Merle Smillie 357 0778 [email protected]
Technical Equipment: Graham Slater 353 0586 [email protected]
Enquiries: Chris Phillips 358 1991 [email protected]
Promotion: Merle Smillie 357 0778 [email protected]
Other contributors
Social Events: Bev Charlton 356 0094 Promotional Displays: Jill Gibson 354 0994
TWO LOVE POEMS
by Lucy Marsden (U3A Member)
If I loved you
If I loved you
I would bake a cake
with yellow icing
and bring you coffee,
real coffee, as you
sat in your La-Z-Boy.
We would discuss
news of the day,
quietly and calmly
as befits our age,
then I would teach
you how to sew
those buttons
on your shirt
yourself.
If you loved me
If you loved me
you would hold my hand
as we walked
down the street,
stroke my cheek
at end of day,
tell me grey hair
is cool, then
with just the smallest
of sighs,
explain computers
to me yet again
in words that I can
understand.
From ‘Five take Flight’, published in 2019 by Kinross Panny Press. ‘If I loved you’ was also published in ‘4th Floor’, Whitireia’s on-line journal (2013).
POETRY FOR PLEASURE (cont. from Page 3)
Each month we go off and hunt out poems we each
think represent the chosen theme for the next month
- this is itself regarded as a highly enjoyable part of
the group activity as we explore through our books
and the internet - and then bring them back to the
next meeting to share by providing copies and
reading them to the group. We’re always amazed at
the large variety and perspectives that we come up
with - from ancient to modern, from many different
countries and styles and sometimes even the odd
funny or children’s poem (A. A. Milne and Edward
Lear e.g. feature often). For those of us (actually most
of our generation) brought up on a school diet of
only British, male, Romantic poets, this has opened
up a whole new world for us. Of course, some poems
provoke discussion about e.g. meaning or word
usage and recently we have added a section called
‘Poet of the Month’. Generally, then, we would all
agree that poetry is truly a pleasurable experience
especially when shared with good friends.
Some of the members having festive fun as another year ends
ARCHIVES: Structured archives have now been set up
for material dating back to our beginnings. Contact
Chris Phillips for further information.
