Dear Members and Visitors,

Wishing everyone  a happy, healthy and peaceful 2019.!

As I write, Christmas has passed and the New Year is fast approaching.  May this New Year be special and may you discover new interests, friends and skills you didn’t know you possessed!

I hope you will  really enjoy the lectures planned for the months ahead.  In addition to our lecture programme in Stalbridge each month,  there are also lectures held at Cerne Abbas and Market Lavington in North Wiltshire.  These are organised by the Wessex Area – very popular and similar in format to our Days of Special Interest, with a light lunch and three lectures.  Have a look online at  www.theartssociety-wessex.org/study-days and remember, you don’t have to sign up for all the lectures – try one and see if you like it.

We have a visit to The American Museum and the Holbourne Museum in Bath planned for June which I hope many of you will enjoy, especially as it will not involve a long coach journey and also an Evening Celebration to be held at St. Mary’s School Shaftesbury in May.  Tickets for both these events and our DOSI in March will soon be on sale at the monthly lectures.  Book early to avoid disappointment!

With best wishes,

Sheila Williams

Chairman

Dear Members and Visitors,
Autumn is here and after the long hot summer we can now look forward to 4 October and the start of an exciting and varied lecture programme.
On behalf of the Committee, I should like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new Members. We hope you will be able to attend the New Members buffet lunch in November which is an opportunity for us to meet you personally. We hope you will enjoy being part of our lively society and that you will make new and lasting friendships.

Almost five years ago, I was invited by a friend to come to my first NADFAS lecture here in Stalbridge Village Hall – and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done! I was impressed by the consistently high- calibre lecturers and how so many of them had the ability to present a seemingly- dull subject into something quite remarkable. I found I came away from lectures having learned so much and was often in awe that they frequently spoke without notes, non-stop, for an hour at a time.
In 2014, I became Programme Secretary, which has to be the most interesting job of all. I could have continued quite cheerfully choosing lectures for years, but Life is full of surprises and I am now your fledgling Chairman.
The re-branding of NADFAS last year saw the rise of The Arts Society with 90,000 members world-wide. You are part of this exciting mission to give a wider understanding of all the arts to both young and old alike. We hope you enjoy all that we offer at The Arts Society Blackmore Vale and that some of you might, in time, consider joining our voluntary Committee where you will be made very welcome.
With all good wishes,
Sheila Williams