Latest News

NASO Art Groups Exhibition

At the Jesus Centre, Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AE from 04 May to 30 May '09.  There is a special community gallery space that has regular exhibitions of local creative work.  Link to Jesus Centre web site here.

Go along and admire the artistic work of the our NASO Art Group members.  Also be impressed by how the Jesus Army have transformed the former ABC Cinema.  There is also a cafe selling hot and cold food.  This building would almost certainly have been lost had the Jesus Army not stepped in to buy it!  There is always a welcome at the door and they want more people to visit their centre.

The first NASO Art Group was created five years ago and most of the original members were complete novices.  Since then, the groups have grown in number and enthusiasm.  Several members have completed the Certificate of Higher Education in Painting & Drawing at Leicester University (Northampton Centre).  All NASO Art Group members are interested in experimenting and increasing their skills.

Di Liebscher, the NASO ART Groups Leader, hopes that you enjoy the paintings and would appreciate your comments.  Purchases of those paintings for sale can be arranged by telephoning 01604 832 745.

GO ALONG TO THE JESUS CENTRE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR NASO ARTISTS AND ALSO OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE JESUS ARMY IN PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WIDER DISPLAY OF OUR ARTISTS' WORK.

Apology from Stephen (Website Manager)

Stephen W offers his apologies for not updating the site over the last few months.  He has been diverted by his teaching adults course and other personal development courses.  He is now back in the saddle and giving his tribute to Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, at the NASO Wednesday Group on 06 May '09.

NASO MEDIEVAL DAY

The details for this event to be held on Saturday 07 March '09 have been finalised.  Many thanks to Emily & George Twiselton for putting together the programme and their fellow enthusiasts from Northampton Medieval Society. 

Cogenhoe Discussion Group - next meeting

Cogenhoe Discussion Group meets next on Monday 12 January, 2009, at 2.30pm in the Village Hall. Our AGM will be followed by a light hearted discussion under the heading of 'Free Thinking'.

Info sourced from Cogenhoe entry in 'Down Your Way' section of Chronicle & Echo newspaper: Monday 05 Jan'09.  Worth buying on Mondays for detailed information and events in both town and county by local volunteer correspondents.

New Publicity Leaflet

The new NASO Publicity Leaflet for January to July '09 can be viewed, downloaded and printed off from this website.  Both MS Word & PDF versions can be found at the bottom of the Home Page.  Would all members please make an extra effort this year to help publicise NASO  and so help us to gain more members.  People have to know that we exist before they can join!

New Group Programmes for Jan to July '09

We are pleased to release details of the N'pton Tues & Wed Group Programmes for the new season.  We have 'visits' to the Canadian Rockies, Malta, and Gambia.  History lovers will look forward to The Churchills, The Brunels, and the Descendents of Queen Victoria.  Our usual mix of internal and external speakers, with the odd discussion or two!  Baden-Powell will also 'make an appearance' and a Barn Owl, although probably not at the same time.  Thanks to Doreen Frost and Richard Chapman for their hard work as programme arrangers for their respective groups.

£405 Sent to 'Youth in Action'

Thanks to all our NASO members for helping us  us to raise this valuable sum to fund outreach work with teenagers at risk in South Northampton.  The Fundraising Day in September raised £305, including additional donations from N'pton & Cogenhoe groups.  Eric Frost secured another £100 from the Diageo Foundation. We are currently, as usual at this time of year, focusing our money-raising for the Northampton Nightshelter.

NASO News No 13 hot off the press!

Di Liebscher has just released the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter (No 13, Nov '08).  It gives further coverage of our recent County AGM, a fundraising update, Eric's continuing NASO history, and diary dates including the forthcoming Christmas Party.  Copies have been distributed to groups but an electronic version can be found at the bottom of the Newsletters  Page.

County AGM Feedback

Although it would have been nice to have had more members present, we had a positive meeting in Northampton on Sat 25 October. The Northampton Tuesday & Wednesday Groups are both well-established groups with key individuals who make valuable contributions to their success. Both groups have attracted some new members as a result of increased publicity and word of mouth recommendation.  We now have two Art Groups who go from strength to strength and are gaining wider recogition of their work.  The small Friday Evening Table Tennis group meets weekly and is probably our most diverse group with participants aged from 16 to 84 years!  The Cogenhoe Affiliated Group have a busy monthly programme but Higham Ferrers Group did not inform us of their activities.  The success of the past year's organized events were recalled with pleasure.   Most of the Officers offered themselves for election again and were re-elected en bloc.  However, we now have an Events Team rather than an individual Events Organizer.  It was suggested that an Annual Lunch be held to replace the yearly outings and this received a favourable response. Pauline gave an update on the national NASO plans and activities.  Di needs more feedback and copy from members to support the Newsletter and Nick & Stephen would like more help in promoting NASO to the unconverted.  Eric and Doreen were both pleased that others had come forward and were now responsible for running various aspects of our organization.  Beryl quite rightly said that in these troubled times, with very gloomy news reports, that NASO is a like a welcoming and peaceful port away from the choppy waters!

Volunteers required for new project - recent request received via our NASO website!

I’m launching a new volunteering project in Northamptonshire which may be of interest to your members. CSV Transform is an opportunity for people in Northamptonshire to get involved in a truly innovative project. Volunteers will learn new skills, get the chance to go on a specially devised free training course and be part of something really positive which is happening in Northamptonshire. A variety of roles will be available so volunteers could be doing anything from befriending and advising to going out and doing leisure and community activities. The project is being run in conjunction with Northamptonshire County Council and we will be looking for people to volunteer with NCC’s customers who are moving towards managing their own support needs through an individual budget. Individuals needing support will include people with physical and learning disabilities, older people and mental health service users. As the roles are so varied we will be looking for a wide cross section of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. I have produced a recruitment leaflet, which I can provide you with copies of, and I am also happy to come and talk to local groups about the project and the benefits of volunteering. We will be providing volunteers with expenses, a three day training course and frequent support from the project. I would be really grateful for any help you are able to give in recruiting volunteers to this new project. Thanks very much.

From: Helen Hunt

Postal address

Post / Zip code

NN5 9AG

 

Phone

01604 583329

 

Mobile phone

07964349123

 

E-mail address

hhunt@csv.org.uk

 

Wednesday Group visit Playhouse Theatre

A group of our members made a welcome return to Clare Street last Wednesday night to see 'Trivial Pursuits' by Frank Vickery.  This comedy featured a large and talented cast that raised many laughs.  However, the play came to an abrupt end with no firm conclusion and many loose ends! The website for this  enthusiastic local amateur dramatics group can be found at www.theplayhousetheatre.net/.

Welcome Elizabeth!

We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth from Semilong as our latest recruit.  She attends the  Wednesday Evening Group and responded to our request for younger members.  The average age of our members has now dropped considerably!  Together with Stephen, Janet & Vic we will soon have to consider laying on a minibus from Semilong!

New Publicity Leaflet Launch

Our new publicity leaflet has just been printed and features our planned weekly meetings in Northampton until January 2009.  They are now double the thickness for impact - no toilet roll jokes please!  They also feature the names of speakers and plug our Money Raising Event on Sat 20 Sept & AGM on Sat 25 Oct.  New members are the lifeblood of any organization, so please help Nick & Stephen to distribute the leaflets to places where we are likely to gain new members.  Don't forget that word of mouth recommendation is also a powerful tool.  When these luxury items run out, all is not lost!  Why not print off some leaflets of your own by downloading the master copy from the bottom of the NASO Home Page?  Please remember that before people can join, they have to know we exist! 

Roadblock protest lifted!

Chron & Echo sources say that the St Michael's Rd residents proposed roadblock has been lifted!  They have temporarily resolved matters with the local council.  Wednesday Group breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to Maurice Billingham with his herbs on 03 September!

Tickets now available for our Fundraising Day

£2 tickets are now now on sale for our main fundraising event of the year on Saturday 20 September at the Northampton NASO Centre.  We are raising money for our chosen charity, Youth at Risk, who do valuable outreach work with teenagers in South Northampton from their base at the Abbey Centre Baptist Church.  Read about their vital work here. There will be a bring & buy, pooled lunch and raffle prizes.  Tickets are available from our usual booking agent, Doreen Frost.  Please consider buying a ticket even if you cannot attend, you might still win a raffle prize and as they say 'every little helps!'.

Latest NASO News now available

NASO News Issue Number 12 (Aug '08) is now available from your local group.  The editor, Di Liebscher, features: forthcoming County AGM, Coventry Outing report, Tuesday Group news, continuing NASO History & Diary Dates.

An electronic version in both Word and PDF formats can be found  here at the bottom of the Newsletters page.

re Proposed Road Block Wednesday 03 September

We have decided to stick to our planned programmme.  We are of the opinion that the police will not allow such a major route to be blocked for very long if at all.

Welcome Vic!

We are pleased to welcome Vic from Semilong as our latest recruit.  He attends both the N'pton Tuesday Morning & Wednesday Evening Groups.  Together with Stephen & Janet, there is a growing Semilong contingent in our ranks!

Visit to Chronicle & Echo Cancelled

Our planned visit to the Chronicle & Echo newspaper premises on Wed 15 October has had to be cancelled.  The owners have decided to move all printing from the site to Peterborough.  It is likely that another afternoon outing or visit to another destination will be arranged - details to follow.  With the likely closure or sale of the Herald & Post, it has not been a good couple of weeks for Northampton newspapers.

Proposed residents' roadblock of St Michael's Road!

As reported in the Herald & Post yesterday, St Michael's Road residents in N'pton are planning to stage a 24 hour roadblock on Wednesday 03 September.  They are protesting about parking permit issues and speeding.  The Wednesday Group have a Guest Speaker that evening so this might have to re-arranged for a later date.  Further news to follow.

New Northampton Tuesday & Wednesday Group Programmes

We are pleased to present our new programmes for our Northampton Tuesday Morning and Wednesday Evening Groups.  Thanks to Doreen Frost and Richard Chapman for working hard on behalf of their respective groups.  Please consult the relevant pages on this website.

Kinky Boots spotted near the NASO Centre!

Did you see the television premiere of the film 'Kinky Boots' on BBC2 last night?  The Northampton based film was filmed in and around Tricker's Shoe Factory in St Michael's Road.  I can picture the road being closed at the time of filming and the buzz it created in the town when it was released.  Very much a feelgood film and puts Northampton and its quality shoe industry on the map.  DVDs are available and a short trailer can be seen here,  official website here, and soundtrack here.

Advance Dates For Your Diary

Northampton NASO Groups' Annual Money Raising Event will be held on Saturday 20 September '08 at 12 noon at the N'pton NASO Centre.  Start getting together those unwanted gifts and help us to raise valuable funds for our chosen charity.  You will be surprised what is on offer for sale on the day! 

The County AGM is scheduled for Saturday 25 October '08 at the N'pton NASO Centre at 2.15pm.  A chance to have your say and see how we have been doing over the past 12 months.  Listen to reports from current Officers and elect new ones if required!  If you are not happy with how things are run, please let us know.  Why not get more involved so the burden rests on more shoulders. Usually, the more you put in, the more you get out!

New Programme Planning Underway

Both Doreen Frost (NP Tuesday Group) and Richard Chapman (NP Wednesday Group) have been busy working on their respective Weekly Programmes from August to December '08.  When these have been finalized they will appear on this website at the earliest opportunity.  Thanks to Doreen & Richard for their hard work and to any members who have had their arms twisted or volunteered their services or contacts. 

Peter Looking For His Balance!

Peter Liebscher has requested that members now pay their outstanding balance of £7 for the forthcoming Day Outing to Coventry. 

Latest NASO Newsletter now available

NASO News Issue Number 11 (June '08) is now available from your local group.  The editor, Di Liebscher, features: Ivy Clarke's third prize in the NASO National Poetry Competition, Cogenhoe Group's May '08 Meeting, Pauline Smith's long service recognition at the National NASO AGM + first prize in the NASO photography competition, Eric Frost's continuing history of NASO in Northampton, repairs to the NASO Centre and the state of our 'storage warehouse' + Diary Dates.  An electronic version in both Word and PDF formats can be found  here at the bottom of the Newsletters page.

Tuesday and Other Groups Where Are You?

Like Delia Smith's infamous outburst at Norwich City football stadium, the webmaster asks 'Where Are You?  Let's Be Having You!'.  There is only so much news that I can harvest from my Wednesday Group.  So come on and redress the balance, let me know what is happening in your Group and I will gladly announce it.  Just e-mail your info to steve_wely@tiscali.co.uk.  Please take up my challenge or I will send Delia after you!

NASO Northampton Groups 2008 Charity

Members have been asked to express their preference from: 'Ability Northants' (advice and support for local physically disabled and carers); 'Mayday Trust' (sheltered housing and living skills for ex-prisoners & homeless); 'Youth at Risk' (youth work supported by Abbey Centre Baptist Church in their patch); 'Motor Neurone Disease Assoc'n' (for local branch to provide holidays, equipment and transport; 'NARA' (breathing charity that provides nebulisers & respiration monitors for local people).  Please indicate your choice, ranking 1 to 5, on the appropriate form.  Thanks to Nick Berridge for researching these charities.  The 'winner' will be announced shortly. 

Northampton Wednesday Group 61st AGM

The Group had a very positive AGM last night with a good turnout.  The excellent weekly programme and some additional new members have provided a boost.  Only a bit of arm twisting is needed for members to rise to the occasion if a new talk is required.  We have had a good year and can look forward to the next 12 months.  The Election of Officers for 2008/9 produced a new Chairman - Peter Liebscher who hands over Programme & Events Planning to ex-Chairman Richard Chapman. All other post-holders were willing or persuaded to stand again.  So Ruth Chapman continues as Secretary, Ann Johnson & Pauline Smith as Deputy Chairs, Stephen Welyczko stays as Treasurer and Eric Frost continues as Weekly Report Organiser.

Moving Pictures Come To NASO!

Stephen Welyczko made extensive use of our digital projector last night to give the Wednesday Group a tribute to 'Laurel & Hardy'.  This featured a documentary on the early life of Stan Laurel in Ulverston, the silent film 'We Faw Dawn' (1928), the famous sawmill film - 'Busy Bodies' (1933) in colour, and an extract from a 'This Is Your Life' TV special made in 1954.  Members were pleased to see our new equipment put to full use and appreciate its potential for future presentations.

Four out of Ten Feet Point The Way

John White & Charles Brett from the local 'Ten Foot Club' entertained the Wednesday Group last night with their 'Northamptonshire Round' talk.  They provided a slide show and commentary on their innovative 50 mile circular walk around Northampton.  This walk has attracted both local and national publicity.  Further information can be found at www.tenfootclub.org.uk.

Which Charity Should We Support This Year?

NASO Northampton Group members are requested to make their views known on which local charity we should support in 2008.  We have traditionally supported smaller local organisations where our monies can make a real difference.  Please indicate your preference and justify your selection when this matter is discussed in your Group.  Our previous sums raised for local good causes can be found here with an additional £450 raised for NAB in 2007 and £130 for the local Night Shelter at the end of 2007.

Informative 'Green One Day School'

Around 25 Northampton Group members enjoyed the 'Enhancing Our Local Environment' Event yesterday, held at our NASO Centre.  We are all now better informed about the strategic planning role of the 'virtual' River Nene Regional Park and the valuable work done by our local Wildlife Trust.  Many thanks for members supporting this event and to Peter Liebscher for organising it.

'New Boy' John has an early Baptism!

One of our newest and youngest recruits gave an illuminating presentation to our members last night, hopefully the first of many!  John  gave a fascinating  insight into his growing  antiques collection and 'veteran' Stephen W provided examples from his eclectic music collection.  Members enjoyed this unusual presentation from this newly-formed double act on the theme of 'Collectibles and Collecting'. 

Wednesday Group visit Playhouse Theatre

Some of our members made a welcome return to Clare Street last night to see 'Art' by Christopher Hampton.  The Wednesday Group usually visit this venue every six months.  The website for this enthusiastic local amateur dramatics group can be found at www.theplayhousetheatre.net/.

NASO Weekly Subs Increase!

Increased running costs of the NASO Centre have required weekly subs rises but are still good value.  New weekly subs: Tues Group 50p, Wed Group 70p, Table Tennis 50p.  The additional Annual NASO Membership is still only £6.  Probably one of  the cheapest mornings or evenings out in Northampton!  The cost of Room Hire will also need to increase for the variety of outside organisations that hire our premises.

Second Art Group for NASO

There is now a new Art Group that runs every Friday afternoon at the Northampton NASO Centre. It was started by a group of of members taking an art course at the local campus of Leicester University.  There is no tuition at this group, just lots of mutual encouragement!

Latest NASO Newsletter now available

NASO News Issue Number 10 (Feb '08) is now available from your local group.  The editor, Di Liebscher,  features: the continuing history of NASO from Eric Frost, the increased running costs of our premises, a focus on the Art Groups, and forthcoming Diary Dates.  An electronic version in both Word & PDF formats can be found here at the bottom of our Newsletters Page.

One Day School Goes Green on Friday 4th April 2008

'Enhancing Our Local Environment' is the theme for our next One Day School at the NASO Centre, Northampton.  CLICK THE ABOVE LINK FOR FULL DETAILS.

N'pton Wednesday Group Programme Change

Please note changes for Wednesdays 19 March & 07 May '08

Another £130 raised for local Night Shelter

Our Christmas Appeal raises further funds for NAASH

N'pton Wednesday Group Programme Change

Please note changes for Wednesdays 13 February and 27 February '08

NASO members look forward to being 'Sent to Coventry!'

Preliminary details of the Tuesday 01 July 2008 day outing to Coventry. 

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK FOR FULL DETAILS.

Only Girls Allowed in New Church Discussion Group!

A new female-only discussion group in Moulton Village

Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008!

We are pleased to present the new N'pton Group Programmes for Jan to July '08

Christmas Comes Early to NASO

Telegram...Just got back from NASO N'pton Xmas Party!

NASO Art Exhibition in full swing

The work on our Art Group students is now on display at the NASO Centre

Wednesday Group visit Playhouse Theatre

Another enjoyable visit to the Clare Street venue to see their latest production

NASO Christmas Appeal

Details of our annual Christmas appeal for the Northampton Night Shelter

Another £100 raised for Northants Association for the Blind

Additional £100 raised for NAB thanks to the Diageo Foundation

Latest NASO News now available

NASO News Issue No 9 (November '07) has been published

NASO Publicity Machine Swings into Action!

Read about our initiatives to raise the profile of NASO and recruit new members

£350 raised for Northants Association for the Blind

Our County Treasurer confirmed today  the sum raised for NAB

Quality of Life - A Handbook of Discussion Topics for 2008

Listing of the Contents of next year's NASO Handbook

Handbook Theme for 2008 - 'Quality of Life'

Handbook theme for 2008 confirmed at yesterday's meeting in Northampton.

National Adult School Executive Commitee to meet in Northampton

Details of their meeting in Northampton on Thursday 18 Oct 07

Amount raised for NAB to be announced soon!

Our annual fundraising event on 15 Sept and details of previous sums raised